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Old 10-18-2006, 02:28 AM   #1
Wrenchtraveller
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LCD TV for the Montana

I found a nice LCD for the Montana . I bought a 26" Panasonic after doing a lot of research. The Panasonic has one of the smallest cabinet sizes in a 26 " screen size and also has the new HDMI cable connection which looks like a wide USB connection. One cable does video and audio, cuts down on cable clutter and gives the highest quality connection. These HDMI cables can be expensive but the Panasonic LCD I bought at Costco for 1000 bucks Canadian came with a HDMI cable.
We are very impressed with the picture and features on our new TV.

The LCD will be used in our bedroom in the stickhouse and I have a plan how I will install it in the Monty when we travel. I have a wall mount for it that will work fine and the base is removable. Some of the cheaper LCD's are not made for wall mounting.

Also we bought a new RCA DVD player that upgrades your DVDs to high resolution and it also came with it's own HDMI cable and the DVD picture on my new LCD tv is outstanding.

This new DVD has two slots that take almost every memory card of most popular digital cameras and you can show your photos on your TV without a computer or burning them into CDs so this is handy .
The great thing about this new DVD is it's low price. I paid 94 Canadian but you can get this set in the US for about 75 bucks.

I should have the units both installed in the Monty in the next two weeks and I will post Pics. Have a great Day.
 
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Old 10-18-2006, 06:35 AM   #2
Fire5er
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Did you get the DVD at COSTCO also? Heading there today to look.

Karl
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Old 10-18-2006, 08:26 AM   #3
DarMar
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Don: Congrats on the new tv. That's a greaaaat price and a very good brand of television.
We have sold the Panasonic brand of products in our store for 24 years and they truly are one of the best! I look forward to seeing those pics once installed in the 2955. Till this point we have just put up with the RCA bubble tube that came with our rig, don't really know why?
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Old 10-18-2006, 03:03 PM   #4
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Fire5er, I got the DVD at a Superstore but I am sure Costco will have something like it.

Darmar, thanks . LCDs are really dropping in price and Costco had a Viewsonic 27" LCD for 650 Canadian but after reading all the reviews I decided to go with the Panasonic. The Source also had the Panasonics on for 1000.00 but no HMDI cable. You should be able to give yourself a great deal on an LCD and I will post the install pics as well. I got the wall bracket from Walmart for 48.00 and I have mounted the TV part on the new set. In the house, we will use the stand and keep it on top of my chest of drawers in our bedroom, but in the Montana, I will construct a solid wall recessed into the present TV cabinet. This is where I will mount the LCD when we use the Montana. This mount is rated for TVs up to 90 pounds and the Panasonic LCD is only about 35 pounds.
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Old 10-18-2006, 03:22 PM   #5
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Thanks for the great info on the Panasonic, Don & Donna. I'm hoping to replace my Toshiba one of these days, too.

Have you thought about mounting the LCD on a door attached to the TV cabinet? A friend of mine did that in his Auto Mate 5th wheel, and he can swing the door open with the LCD on it and use the cabinet for storage. Of course, his 5th wheel was custom built and he had the manufacturer build the cabinet door for him. I'm hoping to find someone handy with woodworking to build one for me.
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Old 10-18-2006, 05:03 PM   #6
bsmeaton
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I know there are a few different technologies out there for flat screen TV - and I am a few light years away from keeping up, but a silly question,

Are the LCD TVs susceptible to freezing? i.e. could I leave the LCD TV in the Monty for long term winter storage?

I've often wondered but was afraid to ask. It may be unfounded by I even worry about my laptop sometimes.
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Old 10-18-2006, 05:12 PM   #7
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Sharon, that is a great idea for a smaller LCD and would be perfect for the bedroom area in our Montanas but a 35 pound 26" LCD would take a pretty solid door to support it, but it is possible.

I love Toshiba TV's and we have an old 36" Toshiba Tube job in our living room that won't die and still kicks out a great picture but I will say high defintion TV does make it pale by comparison.
The 26" Toshiba LCD was on my short list but it is 1 1/2" wider than the Panasonic and would have not fit the place in my 2955RL nearly as well. Your 3670RL may be a different story.
You take care .
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Old 10-18-2006, 05:20 PM   #8
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Brad, About freezing I don't know for sure but mine will be in the stick house when not on the road.

The manual on the LCD shows the operating temperature must be between 41 F and 95 F and the humidity between 5 % and 90% ( non condensing ) No mention of storage temps but the fact that some upscale RVS come with LCDs leads me to believe they can handle freezing temps for storage.
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Old 10-18-2006, 05:25 PM   #9
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I've been eyeing the Samsung 27" - it'll just barely fit (behind the trim inside the cavity). I'm a little worried about viewing angles in our rig, but I think it'll be ok. If memory serves, it was 170-175 degrees.
What caught my attention was the high def dvd player...
I'll have to look into that more, as I have quite a collection of DVDs. I don't know if those were recorded in high def, so I don't know what I would gain.
The LCD tv is on my list for winter improvements (already did a nice surround setup) along with an autoformer and water softener, but it's a tough sell at home...
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Old 10-18-2006, 05:39 PM   #10
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Another related issue -- I use Dish Network and have a DVR 510 (digital video recorder, similar to Tivo). Will I need a different device to work with HDTV? I guess I can ask Dish about this... but if you know, do tell!
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Old 10-18-2006, 06:40 PM   #11
fulltimedreamer
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Don,

Congrats on the new HDTV. I have not taken the HDTV plunge yet, but the prices are getting there. I recently purchased a RCA DVD Recorder/Player. The ability to upscan my DVD's to a higher resolution was a major reason I chose that unit. I know I will be going to HDTV when the prices get right. Anyway, enjoy your new toy!!

Brad,

The LCD TVs will be fine if kept within the temperatures defined for storage. 0 - 140 degrees for mine as I recall. The operational temperature range is tighter. I have had one in my coach for two years with no problem. I don't winterize my coach as it sits in my driveway and I keep a small heater in it to keep it just above freezing. I do bring the TV above 50 degrees before powering on.

Sharon,

I believe you will need to upgrade to a HDTV receiver and will also probably need to get a new dish pointed at a different satellite to get HD from Dishnetwork. Go here for more info. http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/p...hd/index.shtml
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Old 10-18-2006, 07:01 PM   #12
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Thanks folks on the freeze question - We do hit -20 - -30 so it would benefit me to keep it in the stick house for the winter. Besides, why promote a break in.

Gypsy,
I have HDTV Dish at home (500 dish) which is nice on the few channels it offers, but - recording is a different story. The memory requirements for HDTV are huge. The standard Tivo or DVR has the storage, but can't keep up with the speed required to process and write the needed for HDTV. Dish offers one video recorder that will record HDTV, but it's around $600 and has bad reviews. It seems they get corrupted occassionaly during record and it can take up to 2 hrs to reboot itself - plus you lost your recording. I thought I would wait for the techno to get better.

Also, while shopping for a new TV for the Monty saw all 2007 hight end HDTV televisions went to a 1040P instead of 1040i. (multiple times higher resolution). If you thought HDTV was good last year, you should see the new format. The new format is limited to DVDs recorded in 1040P, as there are no digital transmissions available for live 1040P, yet.

Brad
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Old 10-19-2006, 01:03 AM   #13
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Sharon, I went to the link you posted and at the bottom it says: "3 Requires Caller ID subscription with local phone company. Phone line must be connected to receiver." Does anyone know if this mean the receiver couldn't be used for HD reception in an RV then???
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Old 10-19-2006, 01:37 AM   #14
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Fulltimedreamer, Thanks for the link. I explored the site and learned a lot!

Brad, Thanks for the tips on problems with the new DVR, as well as info on the new HDTV format. It looks like the recording technology has a way to go before catching up with HDTV. Also, with only 26 channels now available, I'm not sure the change and expense is worth it yet. I've gotten so spoiled with being able to record programs whether I'm home or not, then watch them later and skip the commercials, I don't want to give that up or start having problems.

Wannabe Full-Timer, That note regarding the phone line currently applies to any Dish Network subscriber. However, the RV waiver you sign makes you exempt from the requirement. It means that they can't directly diagnose problems with your system and you can't directly order PPV events, but you can still use the service. If you call them to order PPV events you'll pay an extra dollar, but you can order them online to avoid that surcharge.
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Old 10-19-2006, 01:50 AM   #15
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Thanks Sharon for that info!

Sandi
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Old 10-19-2006, 06:05 AM   #16
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Gypsy - Are you saying if I'm in the RV in the camopground watching DishNet with my Dish 500 receiver and satellite on a tripod with no phone line connection or hookup, I can still use my cellphone to call and order a PPV movie (extra $1) and I can receive it? Do I give receiver ID number or something ??
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Old 10-19-2006, 06:27 AM   #17
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VanMan
We do this and also order online. You use your account number that is on your invoice. We order the boxing matches on line all the time. We have DirecTV but I think Dish is the same. We have never had either of our receivers plugged into a phone line.
Happy trails.........................
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Old 10-19-2006, 07:16 AM   #18
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VanMan, Yes, what Sue said is true for Dish as well. I do it all the time. I like it best when I have free WiFi so I can order movies online and I don't even have to use my cell phone minutes. You'll need to register a username and password at www.dishnetwork.com, then logon and click "Order Pay Per View" on the left side of the screen.

If you call and talk to a real person ($1 extra), your account should be recognized by the phone number you call in on. If your home number is the one on your account, and you're using your cell phone, you'll probably need your Dish account number to ID yourself, and the person may ask you to verify other info like your mailing address. I've forgotten, because my cell phone is the only one on my account, and because I usually order PPV online.
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Old 10-20-2006, 02:35 AM   #19
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If you watch 740 progressive scan it is as clear as 1040I . You can see the pores on people's faces and many celebrities will be using a trowel to put on make up. I am sure Tammy Fay would gag a maggot on high def.
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Old 10-20-2006, 03:45 AM   #20
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Ewww...that was a bit much to take for still having my first cup of coffee...
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