Digital entertainment

[BigRedHiker]

I've noticed quite a few campers have TVs, DVD players and stereo systems permanently install in their trailers.
It seems to me that this technology is constantly changing so I'm considering not installing anything too permanent along those lines, but rather stream a smart phone or player to Bluetooth speakers, and a portable DVD /TV player instead.
I may have a cable hookup from out side coach to inside the cabin in case I need the video connection.
Whats the take on this?
Am I missing something?

[dales133]

I've installed a bluetooth single din head unit without Cd or DvD function.
I'll have a laptop hard drive full of music plugged into the rear usb and can play music off my phone as well.
I'm also installing a tv and it will also have a hard drive installed full of movies and TV shows.
I'm not bothering with a dvd or cd player, I'll have speakers inside and in the galley

[bc555af]

My fiance threw in her portable DVD player and then I have an old Linux netbook that we pack for watching downloaded movies kept on the hard drive. We haven't used either one of them yet since we try to spend as much time outdoors as we can. It's mostly just there in case we get rained out. We also pack some USB powered computer speakers to play music either using a phone or the netbook. I am considering throwing in a USB TV tuner card and mini antennae I have laying around somewhere to watch over the air or cable TV on the netbook if we take a longer trip. The main reasons we didn't go with a permanent install is:

1. Cost
2. We already had the laptop and DVD player and both were collecting dust anyways.
3. We would rarely use it
4. We don't watch much TV or movies so if we never use them we can just take them out to save room

[noseoil]

We watch movies, so I'm including a BluRay player (12v), 22" LED TV (12 volt) & sound bar (18v????) for rainy weather or evenings inside. There's a CD player aft in the galley & radio antenna for broadcast radio stuff. I may add a cable connection on the side for the TV, but right now I don't have the input connection on the plans. I figure it doesn't hurt to have the extra capacity for digital stuff, since I'm in the middle of the build & everything is going in that direction anyway. If I add the cable connection for the outside, I guess a Redneck TV antenna would be in order for news & other stuff, the best of both worlds......

[jstrubberg]

We carry a good Bluetooth speaker (the Bose color is my favorite) that we can connect to our phones for music. Video is usually on an iPad and normally only if we get rained out. The tablets also provide email, etc whenever we can find signal.

We've talked about a TV, but it would be more or less for watching football in the fall. So far it hasn't been worth the space. If we do put the TV in, I will attach my raspberry pi running XBMC. Then we will have a full media player setup @ very low power draw.

[rowerwet]

I just bring my smartphone, laptop, speakers, I already have them and don't want to buy something that will only be used a few times a year.
We only use them when it rains in the evening.

[Zipline65]

We bring my laptop, a tablet, our phones and a personal wifi run on the Verizon network. I need to be connected for work. We haven't been out camping many times yet but knowing we have something to do when it rains is good. I also have the Bose speaker which has great sound for music.
Liz

[bobhenry]

Once a year I take the tiny flat screen and a el-cheepo dvd player to the shivaree. Those 12 to 13 hour nights get long without some form of entertainment. I went old school with Goodwill finds. I have about $85.00 total invested. I can play rented movies and cd's for music. Summer gatherings are well filled with cast iron cooking long visits with old friends and bonfires to attend.

[Socal Tom]

I've got a lcd TV that was extra mounted, and an older refurbished Roku xs . It's got a laptop hard drive hooked to its USB port for about 100GB of movies. Four screws and the whole thing comes out.
Tom

[capnTelescope]

Besides the usual smartphone, tablet, etc., There's the am/fm/weather transistor radio. Coming soon, a laptop. None of these are permanently installed.

[Fred Trout]

I don't use any of that crap when camping altho a laptop with a few movies on it is nice on a rainy, cold day, since I bring it along for GPS, maps, etc, anyway.

Aren't we supposed to be out in nature watchin the bugs & bears watch us ? Dunno, but it's pretty relaxing sitting around the fire telling stories and watching the stars.

[capnTelescope]

Campfire is better than any TV. And, watching the campfire doesn't make you stupid.

And if it rains, you can watch that.

[Fred Trout]

And if it rains, you can watch that.

"Stupid" is always entertaining to watch as long as you don't get too close and get hit by the blowback When it rains you can always go flyfishing BTW, love the garbage-can add-on to your galley.

If you leave it out, the bears will take out the garbage for you - we had a black bear 3 blocks away a few weeks ago raiding the bird feeders

[dales133]

I plan on staying away for work in mine so tv will be a nice creatures comfort
Plus I'm a terrible sleeper so it eases the frustration

[Shadow Catcher]

Compass Rose has an auto type stereo and I added a docking station and antenna for an XM radio, the TV has a DVD included. The Recom weather radio goes with us from home, lap top, cell chargers and hot spot are added when we go camping.