klutchdust
Orange, California
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Joined: 06/09/2004
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Was discussing with a few friends that my TT does not have reception on the TV. I no longer have a satellite carrier and don't know much about the antenna on my 2012 work and Play trailer. One person commented he purchased a smart Tv with roku and uses his phone as a hotspot. So, what amount of data would it use. What are the downsides of this. Antenna upgrade? thanks in advance.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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What antenna do you have?
Do you have in the wall power supply (booster)? Does if light up?
Make and model?
What is make and model of TT?
Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow
2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker
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pinesman
virginia
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Joined: 08/21/2006
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That is what I do. I used to have the family phones and a hotspot for traveling internet. I finally got smart and realized the data is unlimited on our phone plans but rather expensive on the hotspot. I bought another phone on ebay, activated it and deactivated the hotspot. This phone is just used as a dedicated hotspot when traveling. I also have a booster in the fiver with an external antenna mounted on a painter's pole which can go up 20 feet or more. If there is any signal at all, I have pretty good internet for streaming netflix, etc.
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Tzman4
Mesa, AZ
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Joined: 11/12/2002
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Most movies will run about 1000mb per show. That all depends on if it is 720, 1080 ect.
Dennis & Patty Martin, Sami & Sassy
2011 F450 KR
2021 Forest River RiverStone Legacy 42FSKG
2020 HD FXST
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Lwiddis
Southern California :(
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Joined: 08/12/2016
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Do you know how to scan for available OTA TV channels? Rare I can’t find one, two or more.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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klutchdust wrote:Was discussing with a few friends that my TT does not have reception on the TV. I no longer have a satellite carrier and don't know much about the antenna on my 2012 work and Play trailer. One person commented he purchased a smart Tv with roku and uses his phone as a hotspot. So, what amount of data would it use. What are the downsides of this. Antenna upgrade? thanks in advance.
Data usage is the main downside.
According to HERE you can expect to use 1 GB of data per hr at standard definition (SD 480i).
For HD video (1080i) that rises to 3 GB per hr
For UHD that rises to 7 GB per hr..
So, if you have a cheap data plan with say 10 GB per month you can stream 10 hrs at SD, 3.3 hrs at HD 1080i or 1.4 hrs at UHD..
While you can in general stream past the data limits and still have data, the downside is the data is throttled down to very low speeds which may or may not sufficient for SD streaming..
Choosing SD quality is often the most cost effective way to stream via cell hotspot but then now you have this ultra huge fancy Ultra High definition TV which is not going to ever show its full potential at SD quality video.. May as well bring a bunch of DVDs as those are SD 480i and save a ton of money on your cell bill.
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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The two issues are
ONE BANDWIDTH.. You need lots of it for Streaming video. Even "Unlimited" plans often "Throttle" after so much data.
The only TRULY unlimited plan I've ever seen is FMCA Tec Connect 50 dollar set up and 50 a month it used SPRINT towers which are now partnered with T-Mobile.. I do not know the current status of the plan or if it is still offered. But it was Truly Unlimited.... I once "Broke the needle" on my Internet speedometer with their hotspot... But only once.. often I did not have the bandwidth to stream video.
Next is how good is the tower you are connected too (See "Often I did not have the bandwidth")
And finally do you even have a good cell signal Been in places where I could barely make a phone call or send a SMS.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
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klutchdust
Orange, California
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Joined: 06/09/2004
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enblethen wrote:What antenna do you have?
Do you have in the wall power supply (booster)? Does if light up?
Make and model?
What is make and model of TT?
2015 Work and PlayUltra by Forest river. Second owner. TV that came with it did not have a remote. It's a brand that I have not heard of. The antenna looks like a flying saucer on a short pole. I travel solo fishing and attending desert racing events. I would like to have some reception of some kind even if it were some local news channel. As far as movies,netflix etc that is not important. There is a booster switch behind the TV . I have no problem replacing the TV and the antenna on the roof if necessary. Satellite TV I have no interest in.
So, what are my options. Having a TV is not a necessity but let's see whaat you guys come up with, thanks
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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klutchdust wrote:enblethen wrote:What antenna do you have?
Do you have in the wall power supply (booster)? Does if light up?
Make and model?
What is make and model of TT?
2015 Work and PlayUltra by Forest river. Second owner. TV that came with it did not have a remote. It's a brand that I have not heard of. The antenna looks like a flying saucer on a short pole. I travel solo fishing and attending desert racing events. I would like to have some reception of some kind even if it were some local news channel. As far as movies,netflix etc that is not important. There is a booster switch behind the TV . I have no problem replacing the TV and the antenna on the roof if necessary. Satellite TV I have no interest in.
So, what are my options. Having a TV is not a necessity but let's see whaat you guys come up with, thanks
Why would you ask about "streaming" if you don't want movies, netflix ect then?
Granted, some TV stations do stream their newscasts, but it often is delayed and you get old news hrs or even days old or you get incomplete "snippets" or "teasers"..
Flying saucer antennas are "omni-directional" antennas and they work equally bad in all directions so for distance might work OK if you are high on top of a hill and no obstructions like trees and buildings between you and transmitter, it isn't raining, snowing and wind isn't blowing and you are less than 20 miles from the transmitter antenna..
Step up from the flying saucer is the venerable Winegard "batwing" antenna which is a bidirectional antenna and you have to turn the antenna to get best reception.. might get you perhaps 40 miles on a good day.. If you are farther than 40 miles from any transmitter, good luck..
If stations are 40+ miles then much, much bigger antenna which you will have to setup after you setup camp (6ft-8ft long) plus preamp on a tall mast with a antenna rotor is your friend.
But, before you start changing/replacing and spending wads of cash, try camping with the existing setup and see if it works OK for your places of camping.. Just bring along a few of your favorite movies on DVD just in case the OTA doesn't work.
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Acampingwewillgo
USA
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Joined: 11/15/2002
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Get on the "Visible" group rate for "unlimited" talk,data and hot spot. Granted its not really unlimited but I use it just as a back up when needed. My wife and my T-mobile phones on the geezer plan give you quite a bit of data/hot spot.
Back to Visible.....my plan is 25.00 a month on Verizon network but I think they still offer AT&T network, if that works better for you. I still do have Sat but streaming is nice to have when you want it/need it.
96 Vogue Prima Vista
The Kid's: Humphrie, the Mini Schnauzer and Georgie,wire haired dachshund.
Rainbow Bridge: Laddie,Scoutie,Katie,Cooper,Kodie,Rubie,Maggie, Cassie, Mollie, Elvis, Potter and Rosie Love You! (40+ years in all)
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