- Jun 16, 2020
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Firestick is an Amazon trade name. But there are alternatives. I bought a 4k firestick under one of Amazon's special offer days. I got it to make my old Avtex into a smart tv and it worked a treat. I agree, the 4k was wasted on a small TV but it was on special offer. After selling the caravan and the Avtex, I was going to sell the firestick as the home TV’s are all smart. But I have kept it and a granddaughter has doctored it so I can get live F1.
So a fire stick is a great way to improve an older TV. You do not need an Amazon account, but you will need to pay for apps like Prime, or Netflix. But iPlayer, ITV hub, more 4 and 5, etc are all available.
You will need to create a hot spot on your phone and link it to the fire stick.
John
- Aug 5, 2022
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I use a 240V TV and run it off battery as well as mains via an inverter, so they can work fine off grid that way. Only issue is battery capacity , you would probably want solar as we have to make this work practically,
Steve
- Sep 21, 2022
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That's interesting Steve, I am a Noobie, I do have a solar panel, but no experience with inverters, perhaps you could tell me which type of inverter you run.
Pete
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I’m running it from a quite expensive Victron 1.6kW inverter that provides power to multiple sockets in the van. It’s designed for powering a system assuming it is professionally installed with proper connection of the protective conductor. Cost over £600 I think. Victron kit is designed for boats and mobile use both, it’s top quality if costly. Look at Victron if considering installing a van wide system. That said you could run just a TV from a much cheaper inverter sourced on eBay etc. It just needs to cover the max power needed which would be 300W max for most TVs, often less. So, just needs a small and cheap one. Doesn’t need to be fancy as the TV power supply will work from any likely waveform square or sine. The key issue is feeding it enough 12V DC amps, 120W needs over 10A at 12V etc etc. So would need a chunky DC cable back to battery. Or a longer 240V lead to TV. Do not try to power multiple circuits from a cheapo inverter, single appliances MUST be plugged into it individually. Search “500W inverter” to find some cheap options.
Steve
Steve
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- Jul 18, 2017
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You would only require an inverter if going off grid i.e. no EHU. Richer Sounds offer a 6 warranty of all their TVs and have good support.
- Jul 18, 2017
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The Victron is top of the range and worth paying the price. However of rmost caravans I would think that 300-500w is more than adequate. We managed on a Ring 150w. many years ago. Now we have not gone off grid for several years, but it is in the top drawer.
- Nov 30, 2022
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I have been running domestic TV's off a cheap none sine wave inverter for many years with no issues whatsoever, so I don't feel it's necessary to over invest in expensive inverters.
In addition I would caution against opting for a 4k Firestick or similar for the simple reason 4k chews through internet data at a terrifying rate compared to standard or even HD.
In addition I would caution against opting for a 4k Firestick or similar for the simple reason 4k chews through internet data at a terrifying rate compared to standard or even HD.
- Jun 16, 2020
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I ran a 4k Firestick without issue, I think this is due partly to dirt-cheap data plans. But my TV was not capable of UHD and I think this is recognised by the stick which matches its signal accordingly.
I now use the same stick on a 65 UHD TV at home. The new Wild Isle is incredible.
John
- Nov 30, 2022
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I didn't say it couldn't be used, just that 4k streaming eats data very quickly. If you have a limited amount of data (as you probably would whilst streaming in a caravan) that's a serious issue!
SD uses about 0.7Gb per hour.
HD uses about Three Gb per hour and
4K uses about Nine Gb per hour.
SD uses about 0.7Gb per hour.
HD uses about Three Gb per hour and
4K uses about Nine Gb per hour.
- Jun 16, 2020
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But only if 4k is utilised. Was my point. I purchased my 4k partly as it was on offer, but also to be future-proof.
John
I run a cello 22" traveller tv with built in disc player, satelite receiver, freeview receiver it is 12v/240 compatable and came with the relevent 12v connection and the 240 domestic connection, to turn it into a smart tv for streaming i also use the amazon firestick, when i get round to setting it up on satelite i will just need to plug a dish into the back of the tv and hopefully point it in the right direction to get satelite tv. I hope to have an external connection point added to my van for the satelite cable later this year
Hi, I have the same TV as you and I'm looking for the best type of satellite dish set up to get externally. Are the ones that suck on to the side of the van any good and is all I need a co-axle type cable to run from the dish to the TV as it has built in set top freesat ? TIA
- Nov 30, 2022
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If you are half handy it's just a matter of getting an old satellite dish, a tripod and a signal meter (I have an Aldi one, cost about a tenner so don't buy an expensive one)
Coax cable and a few "F" fittings and you will be sorted. Just remember you need to run the cable to the TV. A window rubber will compress enough to allow you to feed it through a window down and then close it.
Loads on youtube about how to line your dish up, it's NOT difficult at all, once you have done it a couple of times it becomes second nature. Just be sure your TV has FreeSAT rather than a FreeVIEW tuner. Totally incompatible with each other
If you are planning on heading abroad you will need a domestic sized dish AT LEAST but you won't get much of a signal south of La Rochelle due to the "footprint" of the signal from the satelitte..
If just for the UK then I woukd stick with terrestrial Freeview, no need for a satellite dish
Plenty of info about all of the above on tge Internet, plus YouTube etc
Coax cable and a few "F" fittings and you will be sorted. Just remember you need to run the cable to the TV. A window rubber will compress enough to allow you to feed it through a window down and then close it.
Loads on youtube about how to line your dish up, it's NOT difficult at all, once you have done it a couple of times it becomes second nature. Just be sure your TV has FreeSAT rather than a FreeVIEW tuner. Totally incompatible with each other
If you are planning on heading abroad you will need a domestic sized dish AT LEAST but you won't get much of a signal south of La Rochelle due to the "footprint" of the signal from the satelitte..
If just for the UK then I woukd stick with terrestrial Freeview, no need for a satellite dish
Plenty of info about all of the above on tge Internet, plus YouTube etc
One on the side of a caravan would be very difficult to "aim" as you would tend to be in the way of its view of the satellite, whilst stood there trying. A free standing dish can be put anywhere on site it can see the satellite, a fixed one needs the van to be in such a place.
This touches on a vital aspect in our camping dishes, unlike domestic ones we need to aim ours every time we move our location. That aiming has to be quite precise so a "good" camping dish should be easy to aim, probably that is the most important feature to focus on with selecting a suitable dish.
IMO this means clamps designed to move with precision and be readily tightened with fingers; ie not spanners.
There is little magic about dishes themselves, IMO, as I said its that ability to precisely adjust its aim that we need to consider.
In this, it tends to be the mounting rather than the dish where we find solutions; like the dish is easily turned on it, and the whole mounting tilted to set the elevation. Here, note in the UK we don't need to move over more than a few degrees, either in elevation or in turning "azimuth" , but move through these very precisely.
Edit: I have found for sale the excellent but long out of production model we have used for many years; LINK You rock the whole lot slightly on it's two front feet to precisely set the vital "elevation", then set the telescopic rear foot to maintain this . All done stood behind it so not blinding its view of the satellite.
The only downside I have found is being low on the ground its less able to see over site hedges than an elevated one would be. However, remember the beam from the satellite is come down at a slope of about one in two, so if the dish is twice as far away from a hedge or tree as these are high, then it sees over them.
The beam travelling from something 30 odd miles over the equator, it coming a few more feet to a low dish, that aspect is no big problem
I say this in jest, but once somebody told me it was a problem with my dish relative to his on a tripod stand!
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- Nov 11, 2009
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I used a Fastfinder successfully in UK and as far south as Carcasonne before the footprint of the satellite changed. Great piece of kit and really easy to set up. Surprised at the number of people that would come over to the outfit and want to talk about it. They found it difficult to believe it could work. At the Ebay price it’s a snip. Here’s a picture taken at Montignac the satellite dish is just to the left of the dog crateOne on the side of a caravan would be very difficult to "aim" as you would tend to be in the way of its view of the satellite, whilst stood there trying. A free standing dish can be put anywhere on site it can see the satellite, a fixed one needs the van to be in such a place.
This touches on a vital aspect in our camping dishes, unlike domestic ones we need to aim ours every time we move our location. That aiming has to be quite precise so a "good" camping dish should be easy to aim, probably that is the most important feature to focus on with selecting a suitable dish.
IMO this means clamps designed to move with precision and be readily tightened with fingers; ie not spanners.
There is little magic about dishes themselves, IMO, as I said its that ability to precisely adjust its aim that we need to consider.
In this, it tends to be the mounting rather than the dish where we find solutions; like the dish is easily turned on it, and the whole mounting tilted to set the elevation. Here, note in the UK we don't need to move over more than a few degrees, either in elevation or in turning "azimuth" , but move through these very precisely.
Edit: I have found for sale the excellent but long out of production model we have used for many years; LINK You rock the whole lot slightly on it's two front feet to precisely set the vital "elevation", then set the telescopic rear foot to maintain this . All done stood behind it so not blinding its view of the satellite.
The only downside I have found is being low on the ground its less able to see over site hedges than an elevated one would be. However, remember the beam from the satellite is come down at a slope of about one in two, so if the dish is twice as far away from a hedge or tree as these are high, then it sees over them.
The beam travelling from something 30 odd miles over the equator, it coming a few more feet to a low dish, that aspect is no big problem
I say this in jest, but once somebody told me it was a problem with my dish relative to his on a tripod stand!
- Nov 30, 2022
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How long ago was that Clive? As I have never been able to get a decent signal further south than La Rochelle for years now, and Carcassonne is way south of there, hence my query.
Below is a footprint map, the larger area is fir a 69cm dish and the smaller for a 40cm dish, and the area pretty much aligns with my experience.
I use a Sky type elliptical dish
Below is a footprint map, the larger area is fir a 69cm dish and the smaller for a 40cm dish, and the area pretty much aligns with my experience.
I use a Sky type elliptical dish
I agree entirely with that, a spot on interpretation of what we in our niche usage needed, both in its in use function and compactness for stowage.
Just not "cool" enough, bit William Heath Robinson and with that less prone to be admired by others, unless they actually knew or could realise its attributes.
Purchase ours local to you in Melksham from the long gone and also excellent retailer Melksham Satellites, so indicates how long its been serving us.
Our was pre the adoption of an "EasyFind" LNB, I added one when the TV went belly up and I replaced it with a Avtex that had the EasyFind decoder. Possible the TV was not best focused purchase, too reflective screen in those days for our use within a box with windows everywhere.
Is that the site that a Brit ran who was active on these forums?
Post the footprint reduction I was able on "good" days to get a viable signal as far south as Martel in the Lot, but it was weather dependent, heavy atmosphere like pre a thunderstorm it would break up, often our first indications of one brewing.
The footprint map I suspect implies able to assuredly get a signal in all climatic conditions?
Not been able to return since 2019; greatly missed.
The footprint map I suspect implies able to assuredly get a signal in all climatic conditions?
Not been able to return since 2019; greatly missed.
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