TVs in caravans

As long as you’re on mains hook up, any telly will do. If you're not, you'll need a set capable of running on 12v.

You may need an aerial booster but you've probably got one fitted. You'll need a coax cable if connecting to a site booster system.

The cable will need to be 25mtr (same as your hook up lead) as the tv booster female plug (if needed) will be on the EHU Bollard then you can plug into your in van tv

For many tears we used a small SONY mains powered TV, even though 90 plus % of our camping was not on an EHU.

We ran it via a small but high quality inverter using 12 volts DC to create the required 230 v AC; not the most efficient way but effective.

We now have an Avtex but only because it came prefitted; if buying today I would get an LG, Samsung or SONY domestic TV, and again use our inverter. I just feel the quality of the product £ for £ on these massive production run products is way better than a niche market offering.

Things to watch for in our case are:

Avoid reflective screens .

Get one with satellite decoder built in ideally a true Freesat ™.

Check the sensitivity of the viewing angle.

Be happy with the speakers.

Make sure any TV you buy is compatible with your existing aerial, for example some aerials require a 5 amp supply from the TV to work - that’s the case with some recent Avtex aerials.

Some domestic tellys, though plugged into the 240v mains are actually 12 volt and are powered via a transformer. The telly we had in our last caravan was such a telly & I just bought a suitable plug/cable & powered it via the ciggy lighter socket in the caravan. Though it was rare that we did not have EHU, a 12 volt telly was handy every now & then.

You pay a lot more for a 12 volt TV so no point unless you want to use it without mains hook-up. Then if you use it a lot on battery you will end up with two batteries and a big solar panel. Then you will want a satellite dish so will need to buy an inverter for the Sky box .... and so it goes on. We used the TV once in 30 years and now take lots of books to read. Gadgets can be fun though.

Some are indeed 12v via a transformer which is why I said "capable of running on 12v". We've had such TVs ourselves bought from the likes of Currys.

As for inverters, Freesat and so on mentioned by others, that’s all down to personal preference and is not essential kit.

Satellite dish doesn't always mean SKY  😉 though only used once, we bought a cheap 12 volt sat receiver & dish so SWMBO could watch Wimbledon when in France one year 🙂

"Then you will want a satellite dish so will need to buy an inverter for the Sky box .... and so it goes on. We used the TV once in 30 years and now take lots of books to read. "

True up to a point, but for those not wanting to limit the use of a TV to just the once in 30 years don't see books as a direct and up to date replacement for some of what TVs can offer.

Modern TVs frequently have built in satellite decoders, though not Sky, there being other options, thus not requiring a "box" or mains powering.

The Aerial will be directional and can be adjusted vertically and horizontally and have a RF amp fitted, we use the "antenna aligner" phone app as this will give a compass bearing, polarisation and signal strength of the TV transmitting aerials in the area, as pointed out some sites have boosters points on the bollards so check if your van is fitted with an external TV aerial socket if so get a coax lead