TV via laptop in boat

[jerryat]

Entirely agree with you and Medman! Most of the 'local' Med. programmes are, even if you are fluent in the language, simply awful. We have a very high spec wide screen laptop that will produce good TV pictures in the UK using the Hauppage stuff, but as others have said, you will need another version (Secam?) at least to cover the Med.

We also carry a Panasonic multi-standard/multi voltage portable that is superb, though virtually never use it as a 'TV', but mainly to play videos during the winter. It of course runs beautifully on 12 volts.

The rest of the time, the ultra hi-res screen laptop (which has a VERY wide viewing angle) is used for DVD's, music, wefaxes, RTTY and all the usual stuff, again running off the ship's supply.

 

[Robin]

I bought ours from PC World, it is a tuner that you plug a regular TV aerial into and just uses the laptop screen and software to simulate the TV controls for tuning/changing channels etc.

See http://www.hauppauge.co.uk

 

[Anonymous]

I have a USB digital terrestrial TV module that simply plugs into a TV aerial and a USB port (no other power supplies) and I get all the Freeview channels here in Chichester. It is made by Artec and cost £70 approx from PC World. www.artec.com.tw and select 'TV Box' from the drop down meny. It does need a good signal or it tends to freeze - just as Sky Digital does in bad weather sometimes. I don't use an omni aerial, I use a small yagi that I point to the transmitter.

The literature in the box is in several European languages so I presume that digital terrestrial TV is available in Europe and I am rather hoping that when we get down to the Med in July we will be able to pick up occasional stations in English.

 

[jasu74]

just a external tv-tuner (usb or similar) and an aerial. we've had an analoge tv tuner (can't remember wath) but I've also found digital for terrestial proadcast. You can also buy these "multi tuners" for analoge and digital proadcast.

 

[JEG]

I tried VSAT/freeview on google - yours was the only reference; would you please supply some further details?

Hopeful thanks,


John G

 

[colin_jones]

It is worth doing some research here ... and possibly not being in too much of a rush.

Hauppaage are, as far as I understand, about to release a model which will be dual standard, so usable throughout Europe.

There are also plans for the BBC to have a form of paid-for, licenced satellite television.

PBO is currently researching a magnum opus on entertainment on board cruising boats.... radio, tv, DVD etc

I have an amount of gear here on the test bench and will be field trialling it during a 5 month canal and Med cruise beginning in mid-April. It all looks very interesting and by careful shopping, the price need not be exorbitant.

Watch this space ... or perhaps PBO space ..... or perhaps www.colvicwatson.co.uk where the first findings will appear as we travel.

 

[Magnum]

Yes, but only if your laptop has a built in TV card. Otherwise you need an external TV Tuner box such as this - http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/products/data_usb2.html