How to remember to put TV antenna down...

[SScandalis]

Has anyone found a DTV converter that runs on 12 Volts DC?

My little TV can run on 12 volts so it would be nice to be able to run a DTV converter on 12 volts when running from batteries only.

 

[icman95]

Has anyone found a DTV converter that runs on 12 Volts DC?



My little TV can run on 12 volts so it would be nice to be able to run a DTV converter on 12 volts when running from batteries only.

Since I don't have a 12 volt tv, I hadn't thought about that. A camping buddy of mine does have a 12 volt tv, though, that his kids use to play video games. When we're dry camping the tv will work, but the video game is 120 volt only. He bought a small inverter at Walmart and runs the video game off of that. Maybe you could run your 120v converter with an inverter.

 

[icman95]

Just got back from my trip and have an update.



First, regarding the DTV stuff, the regular antenna does, in fact, work fine just like others have said. BUT there is one major difference. We camp at the same site every year, so all things should be equal. We usually get a crappy signal of 2 channels at that site. Crappy, but still able to see the weatherman through the fuzz on the screen. It's enough to get the day's weather, but definately not home theater quality. Now that we have the DTV, that crappy signal is filtered out by the DTV box and we can't see anything most of the time. DTV is either all or nothing, unlike analog where the weak signals will be shown. My converter box wouldn't show the weak signals most of the time, no matter how I adjusted the antenna position or rescanned the box. Sometimes the signal would get through well enough to watch, but mostly not. Believe it or not, the best signals came in when it was raining! So we've gone from low tech analog that showed weak signals, to hi tech DTV which now shows nothing. Lets hear it for technology!





Now to my original reason for this thread. As we were breaking camp today, my wife was doing all the inside stuff and I was doing the outside stuff. Last minute I took a step back and looked up. Sure enough, she had forgotten to put the antenna down, even with our hairclip reminder. Put it down and we were off. Almost disaster, but I had this thread in mind when checking.

 

[Skydiver]

Just tie a ribbon on the steering wheel. If that does not work then tie some rope from the brake or clutch pedal to the steering wheel.

 

[icman95]

Just tie a ribbon on the steering wheel. If that does not work then tie some rope from the brake or clutch pedal to the steering wheel.

Yup, normally I might do this, but we used the truck a bit while camping. Oh well, at least we caught it in time. Now I know we have to double check each other's work.

 

[Jefff929]

Yup, normally I might do this, but we used the truck a bit while camping. Oh well, at least we caught it in time. Now I know we have to double check each other's work.

See there is the rub. We don't go "camping", we RV. On many occasions, the base camp is just that. We use it as a base to do other stuff, so day trips are common. Only returning to the camp in the evening or the occasional day of lounging. So something in the truck is out of the question, has to be the RV or RV hitch.

 

[brods]

Why not put the hair clip on the trailer electrical connector, jack handle, or whatever when unhitching and when you hitch the truck back up simply move the clip back to the steering wheel?

 

[hbowers]

I seem to learn by my mistakes. I guess I've forgotten about everything at least once. I have a fiberglass wind deflector on my truck and forgot to putit up-------twice. broke a corner off both times. dropped my 5er on pickup only once. so I have learned to do a walk around and look things over before I leave. it's been quite a while since I've screwed anything up now. (knock on wood)

 

[DonTX]

Well, I have been pretty lucky too. I spend LOTS of nights on the road, and have been pretty good at not goofing (for being 71 years old at least). I had several antenna reminders in place, but last week they all failed. I have a crankup dish on the Host pickup camper and forgot to reel it in! I actually drove two days at high speeds before the wife spotted it, and to my surprise, it had not broken or screwed anything up in about 500 miles!. Them things must sure be tough!

I seem to learn by my mistakes. I guess I've forgotten about everything at least once. I have a fiberglass wind deflector on my truck and forgot to putit up-------twice. broke a corner off both times. dropped my 5er on pickup only once. so I have learned to do a walk around and look things over before I leave. it's been quite a while since I've screwed anything up now. (knock on wood)

 

[AABEN]

Put a red tag where you rase your frunt jacks or at the power box whereyou are plug in to .

 

[Bob Cochran]

Sometimes it does not matter how hard we try we humans goof up. Example and I may have told this story before. In Phoenix AZ Nascar race weekend General camping in the desert!!! It was rainy that weekend so when I went to leave it pulled hard at first then was easy. Guy flagged me down I had done something I was sure I would NEVER do. I remember raising the landing gear but I got distracted some how and did not finish!!!! Now I did my usual walk around and how I missed the gear still down I have no idea and I always look under for landing gear stabilizers, etc. are up. Heck I thought it was just sorta sunk some in soft ground, WRONG. Broke one clean off and other bent 45 degree angle. The story about getting it fixed is a whole other long story. Anyway hope that makes all people who only forget antenna feel better. I am allot mor tolerant of people that forget things.

 

[icman95]

That sounds rediculously expensive to fix. Ouch!

 

[jeepit]

Too busy drinking beer camping than to watch TV... just kidding:-laf

 

[Bob Cochran]

That sounds rediculously expensive to fix. Ouch!

Not so much as expensive but what it took to get it repaired. As humans despite our best efforts stuff still happens. No to the rest of the story:



This happened on Sunday and went to Camping World to see about getting it fixed. Otherwise the 5er stuck to my truck!!! Camping World said they could order and it woudl take 2 weeks and even if they had in stock they could not get to replace for a week.



I called a small RV repair place where I stay when not traveling. I was wondering their hours so I could contact them on Monday I figure they would have a recording. Surprise I got the owner he has the calls forwarded to his cell when they are closed. Can you believe that wow!!!



I told him problem he said Monday they could look at decide on parts, ordering said parts, have the parts in 2 days, repair the same day they received the parts.



Guess what they did it as they said. Curiosity got to me so I asked where they got the parts. From a town called Cave Creek just outside Phoenix. Why could Camping World not do that. I have absolutely nothing against Camping World by the way. Still shop there when in Phoenix.



As you can guess I recommend American RV here in Show Low AZ to anybody here that needs RV work. I sure wish our manufacturer these trucks was just a little bit like Larry at American RV.



Ok enough said here to not forgetting putting down the antenna.

 

[GaryOwen]

Put a short chain around your fifth wheel kingpin and padlock it. Hang the key from antenna handle. With a travel trailer, no chain required, just use appropriate padlock and key. Side benefit is to make it a little harder for someone to make off with your trailer when you are gone.

 

[icman95]

Put a short chain around your fifth wheel kingpin and padlock it. Hang the key from antenna handle. With a travel trailer, no chain required, just use appropriate padlock and key. Side benefit is to make it a little harder for someone to make off with your trailer when you are gone.

See, now THERE'S an idea. I use a kingpin lock on my trailer anyway. To hang the key for it around the antenna handle would be no trouble at all and would serve the purpose perfectly!