Buying a New TV

[JudyJB]

I have a technician coming tomorrow morning to try to find out why my front TV is not working. It was working fine, and then just died, with no power getting to it. I crawled up on the front overcab bunk with a flashlight but could not see anything that was unplugged or unhooked. FYI - This TV is on a swing arm, and the arm works, as do the two back TVs. The Satellite works fine and I can watch DISH on the back TVs, one in the hall and one in a closet in my bedroom.

Now, the problem is that I have not bought a TV is about, oooohhhh maybe 25 years, and have no idea what to get, assuming the TV is dead, per the technician. This one was 13 years old, and I watch a LOT of TV.

This TV is almost certainly to spend its entire life in my motorhome. It is going to be entirely used for satellite and possibly cable if I am in a long-term RV park, and playing videos on the attached DVD player. Maybe, but not likely, used for things that require internet data.

I know TVs are getting smarter, but how smart of a TV do I need? And does putting it in a motorhome and dragging it all around the country, over bumpy roads, and such matter? (I know, it is a whole new world out there, but the one I have had has suited me fine.)

Just measured the outside cabinet, and it is 20" tall, 30" wide, and measures 35" diagonally. Might end up tomorrow afternoon having to run out and buy a replacement, so want to know what things I should consider in a new TV, other than the exact size so the arm swings without hitting anything.

 

[Oldgator73]

We buy Vizio smart TV’s. We have several. We don’t have cable so we stream everything on Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Apple, Disney, Max, YouTube, Peacock, Paramount, PBS, and Britbox. And I can get SXM (Sirius radio). Vizio also has movies and TV shows.

 

[JudyJB]

Except I don't plan to do any streaming at all because I do not have enough bandwidth. I am just going to use this TV with my DISH service and occasionally play DVDs. I want something that will survive with a lot of driving and constant bumps.

Someday, I will be off the road and in a permanent home, so can stream then, but it will not be with this TV.

 

[rjshiflet]

Sounds like you need just a very basic (pardon the word "cheap") television. My only question is...can you even find one like that these days.

We recently bought a new fifth wheel and the large living room TV we got is a "dumb" television rather than "smart". We do stream so I got an Amazon Fire Stick to plug in and smarten it a bit. The fifth wheel came with no bedroom TV at all, so we bought one back there. Seems like we had similar measurements to you and had to go with a 24" because 30" was just a hair too big for the opening. The place where our bedroom TV goes is limited because of a sliding "barn door" access from the bedroom to the bathroom.

I say all this to simply say, for $80 or so you can get a smart TV. You may not use all the smart features, but the quality will be good, you're not out a huge expense and if you ever do have access to WiFi on the road you'll be able to stream even if it's just the free streaming services.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Smart or dumb, whatever is on sale. As basically an HDMI monitor for a DVD player or cable box, any TV made will work just fine. Since the make, model and features are secondary, seek out one that fits best in the space you have so you're not fighting with clearance, the mount or other imponderable.

Saying that, I wouldn't go shopping yet until you prove the set is dead. Wouldn't be much of an exercise to try plugging it into a different outlet with an extension cord.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Domo]

Before any "tech" showed up I'd grab an extension cord and plug the suspect TV into a known operating outlet. If the TV does not work - it's broken and can be replaced with nearly anything on the market.

Please know that many (all?) front TV's will not operate if the ignition is on - that way the driver is not watching "days of our lives" while driving. That safety feature means there is a relay that is controlled by the ignition so that the relay "opens" when the motor is running and "closes" when the motor is off. So, you might want to look for the control relay as it's fuse/socket/plug can be corroded/broken before you simply replace the TV.

Just a thought.

 

[dabrooks]

If you do not plan on streaming then don't get a smart tv. They are much more complicated then a non smart TV. Some smart tvs want an internet signal to bring up channel guides and menus.

If you go on Amazon and search for "non smart" tv several will come up.

 

[Jackiemac]

We just bought a new TV authentication picture stopped showing on our original one. We use it for mirroring and dvds. It is an Amazon one but you don't need to have that on.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insign...full-hd-smart-fire-tv/6495086.p?skuId=6495086

The only thing we had an issue with was out tv mount. Steve had to drill 4 new holes into the bracket to fit it correctly into the aperture. They do a 24" one too.

 

[CharlesinGA]

If it is on a swing mount, one thing you need to know is what the screw pattern on the back is, or what the mount can handle if it can be adjusted to various screw patterns.

This is known as VESA compliant and is important as you may buy something that cannot be easily mounted.

Charles

 

[Larry N.]

Just remember, Judy, that "smart TVs" can track you too, if they're hooked to the internet. But most any TV should work fine for you -- the three motorhomes I've had all had normal, mass market TVs installed, and most electronics today are sufficiently rugged for your rig.

 

[8Muddypaws]

Dumb question... Did you check the plug?

Some older TVs have power cords that can be removed from the TV. Check that too.

 

[Oldgator73]

Some older TVs have power cords that can be removed from the TV. Check that too.

We have a new TV and the power cord is removable. I think most are. On occasion our TV will stop functioning. A fix for that is to disconnect the power cord from the TV for 10-15 seconds. Usually works.

 

[gwinger]

It's going to be very hard to find anything that is not 'Smart'. Even the cheap off brands have most of the bells and whistles. But their reliability is questionable.
Just go with a name brand, LG, Vizio, Samsung, etc.

 

[Kirk]

I want something that will survive with a lot of driving and constant bumps.

While I too prefer a dumb TV, do not worry about one tracking you since they do nothing at all when there is no power to them. Amazon has some dumb TVs by major companies. Westinghouse has a 32" and a 24". I see Samsung 55" and 42" as just a few. We really don't have to use the "smart" features if we prefer not to but those sets do have additional menus to deal with

 

[rvlifer]

I would rather have a dumb TV with a great picture and have the smarts in what is connected to the TV. Last thing I need is an update breaking or changing the TV and I don't want another computer with lots of apps to troubleshoot and support. I always set up my router to deny access to the TV so I can control updates. If it works and isn't connected, I don't see any reason to update it. They don't test the updates nearly enough and they rarely offer useful features or changes to the user. Also, we use cellular for internet and the bandwidth still doesn't compare to stationary internet so I don't want a TV update taking up any of my allowable data. Before I switched to FMCA's internet I hit the data limit and got throttled every month.

There are many easy ways to add smarts to any tv - fire stick, roku, xbox, and even your smartphone can do what most people want on their televisions. I just make sure a cable or the input jacks on the tv are easily accessible to make it easy to plug in what I want, and move it where I want.

One of the best pieces of advice I got years ago on which tv to buy was that if the TV has a glossy screen it won't work as well in sunny places cause you get more reflection and glare. Less glossy finishes are better near windows and sunny locations.

You shouldn't have any problems from using any new tv in an rv as long as it is secured properly. Pick the one that fits and has the features and picture quality you want.

Any app on any connected device can be used as spyware. If you want to be safer use fewer apps. If you can use a browser instead of an app the browser has security features that give you some level of protection.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Follow CharlesinGA advice on the mount and buy any reasonably priced TV at Amazon, BJ's, Sam's, Costco, or Walmart. Don't worry about being a smart TV or not. The TV will only become "smart" if you apply an internet connection. Otherwise, it'll work like any other TV with a satellite or cable connection, and play movies beautifully from your DVD player.

 

[RedForeman]

I've been happy with Onn Roku TVs from Walmart. I watch over the air TV and they work good for that. Quick channel scan and has a good guide (internet required for guide content, even if not using the apps). Wouldn't be a big deal using one of the extra HDMI connections for a sat tuner. I put a 32" in my camper bedroom, $88 right now. What sold me is the 24" model I had in my semi truck. It survived that for 2.5 years and now lives on my office wall still working.

You said you have a 20x30 cabinet with a mount bracket.. the 32" Onn Roku TV measures 17.1 x 29 x 3.1 inches without the stand. You might want to buy the cheapest VESA 100 or 200 mount kit you can find, in order to get the mount screw assortment out of it. Should be $10 or less. New TVs don't come with those screws to attach the mount included, and they are likely different than what's in your old TV.

 

[JudyJB]

I went to Walmart and then Best Buy and ended up buying a slightly larger TV completely on the basis whether it would fit in the space I had! Could not buy one taller or it would have hit a ceiling fixture and the rim of a sunroof I have up there. But new one IS 4"wider, which is fine because there is extra space on both sides of current TV.

It turned out to be 40" diagonally, has more than adequate definition, and will do what i need it to do. I would have spent more money on a better one, but better ones were bigger and would not have fit.

I had the Best Buy technician come out to motorhome in parking lot, and he agreed the screw holes were not the same, but he will just drill some more in the appropriate places. It is currently on a very heavy-duty electric swing arm, and I don't want to get into replacing THAT as well. They are going to install it on Friday morning at their store. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Must be nice to just buy a TV and set it up on a table!

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Yeah, must be nice.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[JudyJB]

Yikes!!!!!!