Turn your Computer into a TV

by Chris Guld, www.geeksontour.com When we first bought our motorhome, it had 2 TVs.  One in the front, living/dining area, and one in the back – the bedroom.  We got rid of both of them and set up a TV tuner with a projector and a window-shade screen.  It’s great!  We have a big screen with surround sound – a pretty good home theatre for any house, let alone a 30 foot class C motorhome!  When I recently purchased a new Windows 7 laptop, we wondered what to do with my old laptop.  It was still working fine, ( see rule #1 for buying a new computer) so I wasn’t going to send it off to recycling.  How about a TV for the bedroom!  Jim found a stud in the wall and installed a TV shelf bracket that fits my old laptop just perfect.  The antenna connection was already there, all we needed was the TV tuner.  The one Jim got is the ATI  TV Wonder (he got a great deal – $25 – by buying it on the daily special at Woot.com), but he’s also used the Hauppage.  Just google for USB TV Tuner to see lots of other choices.  Basically this tiny box is the guts of a television!  Just plug one end into the USB port of your computer, and the other end into an antenna.  Of course, there is software as well, and you need to be sure whatever you get works with your computer’s operating system.  Once you have it all set up, you have TV!  Ours even came with a remote control.  And, since it is still a computer – it is even better than a TV – you can get the... Read more

Is HDTV Wiring Just Smoke and Mirrors?

HD (High Definition) TV is taking over the market.  Broadcast networks are all switching or rapidly making the transition to this newer technology.   The difference in picture quality is quickly recognized when both SD (Standard Definition) and HD are compared.  All the new TV’s, DVD and satellite receivers are being built to deliver this format, including video game hardware like the Sony Play Station.   Read more  Read More →

Will Changes Obsolete The RV Sat. Dome Antenna?

The Lug_Nut View In-motion satellite antennas have become very popular on all RV’s. It is an option that most people order when purchasing a new rig.  But, will this change in the future?   It would appear it may.  The latest satellite technology being used operates within the Ka (Kurtz-above band) frequency band.  This differs from the Ku (Kurtz-under band) frequencies currently used in the RV roof type dome units.  Generally the Ku band used for satellite TV service is between 12.2 to 12.7 GHz and has a band width of 27 MHz.  In contrast the new Ka band uses 18.3 to 20.2 GHz and has nearly double the band width at 50 MHz. Read more  Read More →

Need an HDMI Cable? Don’t Get Ripped Off!

Do NOT use HDMI cables as mental floss. With the recent switch to digital broadcast signals and the dropping price of HDTV sets, many of us are upgrading our RV media centers. The best cable connection for HDTV sets is called HDMI. If you walk into any electronics store, you’ll find HDMI cables are expensive, with some selling for $50 or more. Quite frankly, these high-priced HDMI cables are a RIP-OFF. Don’t get suckered into overpaying for an HDMI cable. Digital signals consist of ones and zeros – there’s no discernible difference in signal quality between a $50 cable and a $5 cable. It either works or it doesn’t. Read more  Read More →

BenQ Joybee GP1 Palm-sized Projector

We want to tell you about a sweet little projector called the Joybee GP1. It’s a palm-sized LED projector that can be used to project from a computer, a DVD player, a TV Tuner, a video camera, a game console (like Wii) or just pictures on a USB drive. With an optional docking unit, you can also attach an iPod. First, you might want to check out the manufacturer’s promotional video on the Joybee. Read more  Read More →

Replacing Your TV In Your Current RV

Last week, we covered some of the choices available for televisions in new or existing RV’s. (Link Here) This week, we will look at upgrading the equipment in your existing rig.  Recently this has been a popular project for many, so let’s try to understand why. Read more  Read More →

Interesting new product

Anytime I travel in the motorhome I take an LCD projector with me.  I do this for several reasons.  First, I use the projector in my work to give seminars on electrical safety.  Second, I use the projector for viewing my photos.  Third I like to project movies on the side of my motorhome for friends and family to enjoy, and finally, once a year the group I camp with gets together to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes play the Penn State Nittany Lions and we use the projector to view the football game on a large screen. I recently became aware of a new product on the market that attracted my interest.  The Benq Joybee GP1 Mini Projector.  On the surface this is a very clever tool, weighing in at 1.4 lbs. and fitting in the palm of your hand. Read more  Read More →

TV Choices in Today’s RV’s

Rv’s have to hold the record for the most television sets per square foot for any type of dwelling. There are many class A’s that have four, class C’s with three and even class B’s with two and possibly more. So where are all these sets in such a limited area? Generally there are up to two in the living room and kitchen area, one in the bedroom and one in an outside bay for patio viewing.  The CRT type has been replaced by lighter more compact LCD or plasma panel types.  The LCD has become the popular choice as it is available in so many sizes, is cost efficient, and seems somewhat more resilient in the mobile application. Now all of these are starting to come equipped for high definition broadcasts, requiring more sophisticated receivers, antennas and wiring. Is this new high definition a “must have” in an RV?  Perhaps not, in my opinion, though many may disagree.  Don’t get me wrong, HD (High Definition) produces a remarkable, photo like, picture.  While this is a stark difference from SD (Standard Definition), I don’t believe it adds that much to watching a movie on TV.  Viewing sports, for example, may be a little different, as the far sharper images can, in fact, make a vast improvement. So how many are too much? Most RV’s today come standard with one or two TV sets.  Generally each comes with a set in the living area with perhaps an additional one in the bedroom area.   An optional set is often available in... Read more

VIDEO: Gear to Get with Brian Brawdy – Eton’s NOAA Radios

If “April Showers bring May Flowers” then “The Heat of Summer brings more than Thunder.” Summer brings violent weather. Period. Thunderstorms, lightning strikes, hailstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, heat waves and flash flooding are the prices we pay for warm, sunny days. What turns violent weather deadly, most times, is when it catches us unexpectedly. When we are unaware of a forecasted storm, our chances of weathering that storm diminish greatly. Unfortunately, summertime is, most likely, the time we will be out and about, vacationing, traveling, RVing, boating, cycling and away from our normal shelters and weather media outlets. Getting caught off guard while your on the road is never smart. Away and unaware is the perfect recipe for misfortune. One of the pieces of gear I always carry with with me is either my Solarlink FR360 or the Microlink FR150 from the Eton Corporation. These portable, powerful AM/FM/NOAA Weather radios are the perfect solution to getting caught with your guard down. It’s the “smartest” radio I know. My “bad-weather-crystal-ball” I like to say. In this short video you will learn why it is one of my Top Ten pieces of gear and how to never again worry about the impromptu characteristics of Mother Nature. For more information on the products highlighted in this video, visit EtonCorp.com or CampingWorld.com ______ To learn more about summer survival tips, visit BuriedLogic.com  Read More →

2009. The Year Of The Revival Of The RV “Bat Wing”

Welcome to the year of the bat wing.  The “Bat Wing”, the “T” shaped crank up off-air television antenna found on pretty well every RV.  Have you noticed how many you see now in the up position in every campground?  Even large highline rigs are displaying their bat wing antennas.  So, why has this changed from last year, or previous years? The government has legislated that television broadcasters switch from analogue to digital.  This was done to make better use of the frequency spectrum and allow more services to have the ability to better share these frequency bandwidths.  This changed has brought a whole new view on off air reception.  Top quality high definition programming is now on many local channels in the U.S.A.  This will boost the number of viewers of off air substantially.  This is a definite bonus to those of us that have an RV.  Many homes get their local news through cable and probably don’t even have an off air antenna.  Many RV’s have satellite dishes, but on occasion wish to view the local news via their off air bat wing.  Whether you have a newer TV that is already digital ready, or add an analogue/digital converter, you will love the picture quality. With this increase in use of the “Bat Wing” antennas on RV’s, will come more accidental damage caused by forgetting to retract it prior to departing camp.  While some rigs have warning buzzers and lights, many do not.  Additionally, with this... Read more

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