Posted: 4/29/2011 4:32:10 AM EDT
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With the recent weather event here, this topic has come up twice now, so I thought I would do a thread.
If you use "Prepare for the most likely scenario first and least likely last", then in some crisis you are going to way more need to know what's going on around you than on the BBC and a picture is worth a 1,000 words. My first time using one of these little TVs in an emergency was Hurricane Alicia in Houston. That was one of the Sony B&W little 1.5" screen things but it was unbelievably handy. The media slants everything from sensationalism for entertainment value to social engineering. You learn to watch those pictures and in the case of a weather event, the active radar. In an event like hit the SE this week, there was so much activity commentary even the Weather Service is all geared toward the more populated areas first and less populated last. Like this week, sometimes there is not only so much nobody can reasonably take it all in at once but it moves so fast you really are wasting precious time waiting on others to tell you. The technology they have today is amazing. Some of these doppler radars show 3d images of coming storms and all sorts of neat things, you typically don't find in real time on the net. These are unbelievable tools during power out weather events. Now when the government mandated the shift from analog to digital for TV signals all of us with little handhelds that got unbelievable reception suddenly found our devices useless. Fairly quickly though a market for the digital tuner models developed to where now there is quite the selection from around $50 to $200. What I can advise you though is where 30 years ago the little 2" screen was fine, it most certainly isn't today. With all the detail that modern radar images have coverage areas, a much bigger screen is almost essential. The one we use is 7" but being a flat screen, its not all that bulky or difficult to transport. Now of course, if you live in the heart of a major metropolitan area and don't ever see yourself leaving it for any reason, you can rely on your laptop with some sort of battery net hookup like a cell phone. The more rural you get, the less net images will highlight and actually the less TV stations will highlight and the more important live imagery becomes. Anyway, these are great little tools for gathering local live real time information and for that matter morale with the family while the power is out. Tj |
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We have one too and it really is great! Ours is a "digitial TV" and with the move to digitial we get quite a few channels. We have the AC and DC power cords so we can plug it in either the wall, deep cycle battery, or a car and ours also has a DVD player (I am pretty sure at least it does) so it can provide a very good entertainment system for kids during what could other wise be a very stressful situation for them. I think ours was something like $100 to $125 but we are glad to have it. |
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or get a usb tuner and you can record too $25 and up.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380047%201685342849&name=USB%20Tuner%20Stick&cm_sp=tvtunersubcatstore-_-flashstorefront-_-usbtvtunerstick |
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or get a usb tuner and you can record too $25 and up. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380047%201685342849&name=USB%20Tuner%20Stick&cm_sp=tvtunersubcatstore-_-flashstorefront-_-usbtvtunerstick This is a very good point. Having been a fan of the battery operated TV for emergencies for 30 years, I have TV tuners on two of my home computers. In fact, I'm listening to the news as I'm typing. What I can tell you is I much prefer the quickness of the battery operated TV, just turn it on, while using my computers for internet. Your mileage varies of course. That almost instant on, no antenna to hook up or wait time for Windows to boot, is very attractive when seconds count. Tj |
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Quoted: Quoted: or get a usb tuner and you can record too $25 and up. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380047%201685342849&name=USB%20Tuner%20Stick&cm_sp=tvtunersubcatstore-_-flashstorefront-_-usbtvtunerstick This is a very good point. Having been a fan of the battery operated TV for emergencies for 30 years, I have TV tuners on two of my home computers. In fact, I'm listening to the news as I'm typing. What I can tell you is I much prefer the quickness of the battery operated TV, just turn it on, while using my computers for internet. Your mileage varies of course. That almost instant on, no antenna to hook up or wait time for Windows to boot, is very attractive when seconds count. Tj Like everything else, it is a tool and an option. It is not something we own but really for the modest price I probably should look at getting something like that and a small antenna. God knows if we ever had to bug out our home server and the laptop would go (the server has all of our important docs, photos, etc) so if nothing more this would provide a backup to the TV/DVD. Seems like a worthy say $40 investment (adapter plus small antenna) esp given I can never see a time we would leave without the laptop. OFF TOPIC BUT IMPORTANT FOR SHTF Our media server that I have really grown to love is a Netgear Stora. There are others but this one has worked well for us. I keep it secured in a small bolted down safe in the basement so theives can't just pick it up and run off with it. I can access it from any computer at home, through the internet, and even through my iphone. It also has two 1TB drives set up RAID 1 so if a hard drive ever fails I simply replace the 1TB HD that went bad and it reduplicates the data so it is safe from loss. These types of Media servers are really not that expensive too! Note I did have to add some ventilation to the small safe to keep it from over heating but tht was east to do too with a cheap safe  See: http://www.netgear.com/upload/product/ms2110/stora_ms2110_ds_12nov09.pdf |
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It's funny how you have to re-learn things over the years. Growing up in Oklahoma tornadoes were common and we always had a battery operated TV to watch the weather when the power went out and used it many times. However, I haven't needed one in several years, so that prep slipped off the radar.
It took this thread to make me realize the little black and white analog tv in the closet won't do me any good since the digital transition. I like the idea of the usb tuner since the computer is on most of the time anyway. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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or get a usb tuner and you can record too $25 and up. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380047%201685342849&name=USB%20Tuner%20Stick&cm_sp=tvtunersubcatstore-_-flashstorefront-_-usbtvtunerstick I've got one of these also that I use with my Acer Aspire One netbook. Works well pulling in several digital stations with the included telescoping mag mount antenna. |
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I've got one of the handheld 3.5" digital TVs that runs on AAs. With a shitload of Eneloops and solar charging I can keep the little TV going through extended power outages. Got it for less than $100, and the picture is actually quite good on it. This one...
For hurricanes and other weather related outages this thing is great, especially where the power can be down for weeks at a time. Also useful on camping trips and the like if you can get a few stations. |
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It's funny how you have to re-learn things over the years. Growing up in Oklahoma tornadoes were common and we always had a battery operated TV to watch the weather when the power went out and used it many times. However, I haven't needed one in several years, so that prep slipped off the radar. It took this thread to make me realize the little black and white analog tv in the closet won't do me any good since the digital transition. I like the idea of the usb tuner since the computer is on most of the time anyway. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I hear you. I had four of the little analog battery operated minis bought over the years that other than a Mexican atmospheric jump got government obsoleted. I used them camping and on my boat and of course for emergencies. Tj |
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or get a usb tuner and you can record too $25 and up. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380047%201685342849&name=USB%20Tuner%20Stick&cm_sp=tvtunersubcatstore-_-flashstorefront-_-usbtvtunerstick I have a USB tuner as well. It came w/ an HD antenna, the tuner and a remote (yes a remote). It can actually function as a DVR. The tuner is powered through the USB port and is about the size of a bic lighter. The whole setup is less than 1 lbs. I have planned to use it a long w/ either my laptop or tablet (real windows tablet, not a tablet lite, such as the ipad) for info if we had to bug out. Right now I use it to watch ball games when my kids and wife have the other tvs tied up. RE: satellite images - most of the images available to the media are on the web, it's just a matter of knowing where to look. accuweather, weatherunderground and NOAA all have amazingly detailed images of storms. usually the only difference is that the web images don't update as quickly as those the weather man on tv is using, which generally constantly update. |
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I got a USB tuner awhile back and had no luck with it. Almost never picked up any channels, in the same spot the portable TV would get pretty much everything available. The poor performance of the tuner is what prompted me to buy the portable TV, actually.
Maybe I got a crap tuner. Can anyone recommend a good one? |
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This is sort of on topic, I subscribe to WXWorx, a satellite served weather data service that provides downlinked weather with a tremendous amount of info incl Nexrad, cell location, cell movement, cloud tops, text reports of forecasts, graphic forecasts, in all about 40 or so 'products' including severe storm/tornado items.
The data is delivered by the XM Radio satellites which means an almost postage sized antenna is all that is needed to plug into the receiver that's no larger than a paper back book. Most products delivered are updated every few minutes and are detailed and accurate. In addition, WSI has a similar service delivered by the Sirius radio satellites and I have subscribed to it in the past. The advantage of WSI is that the WSI receiver interfaces with any Windows based PC and Ipaq [as does the WxWorx receiver] , maybe more devices now, and the user interface is easier for me. It's very easy to navagate thru the various products and is boating and aviation friendly [depending on the subscription] as well as for ordinary folks who just want up to the minute wx in a highly portable battery operated system. The WxWorx is a little less operator friendly but has more info and the folks at WxWorx are far nicer and easy to work with and have pretty much taken the market from WSI for this reason. Also Garmin uses WxWorx for it's aviation, marine and vehicle products and no PC is needed. WSI is sort of a stepchild anymore as far as I can tell and that's sad because they have a great product. One of the GPS companies came out a few years ago with WxWorx integrated into their GPS for about $450 IIRC but it didn't seem to catch on. The problem is the cost of the monthly subscription that generally starts at $29 or there abouts and most folks can get the same info from their cell phone ––––until the cell system fails! These systems were designed initially for aviation use [and the obvious marine and emergency services were also added as the product developed] and downlinked weather has become almost a necessary tool for flight in bad wx. About 6 years ago, we were traveling across MN pulling the camper and the night before I used what's now called Hughes Net [satellite internet] to check the wx for the next leg of our trip [we were at Oshkosh] and saw a terrible red blob on the IR satellite and nexrad images on a subscription internet wx service, WeatherTap, an inexpensive and fabulous subscription service. I also had one of the satellite delivered weather receivers in the trailer connected to a very small [for the time] Sony laptop that was mounted to the trailer wall above my tiny computer table and that we used to keep track of wx from time to time on trips without having to deploy the internet antenna. We left the next morning and decided to go to Sturgis and have a look see, but the unusual red blob was several states west and moving fast towards us. We had the option of taking I-35 south and missing the 'red blob' but stupidly chose to head into it and we were to meet at the western state line of MN on I-90 about 20 miles before SD. We could see the ominous dark sky and we aren't newbees to the severe wx and tornadoes in MN and were thinking crap- hope we get through this as we were towing. When we were about 5 miles from the storm that we could watch over the relatively flat terrain, we pulled over to check the vents and look at the WSI weather on the PC on the wall in the trailer to see how extensive it was, look at nexrad, and other details we've come to learn to do. With our hineys puckered, we continued west and entered the storm. Traffic was pulled over and cars and trucks were under bridges. I thought of my training and decided to continue and the vis went down to a couple hundred feet. I saw a tractor trailer in front of me and was surprised he was pushing thru it as well. It was terrible and I remember paying close attention to the wind direction expecting if it changed to the left we were done for. I planned to try to orient the vehcle and trailer into the wind the best I could. The truck was still ahead of me, there was a power line down close to the interstate but we and the truck cleared it. One time I remember seeing the roof of a nearby barn or something near the highway. At times the rain was so hard the vis was only a few feet and I had to slow to a crawl. At some point my SO yelled to slow down -the only problem was as I looked at my spedometer to confirm, we were stopped! It just looked like we were moving fast because there were no outside points of reference except the wind, rain and hail. All of a sudden it started getting brighter and I knew we had made it without being blown over or worse. As we passed under the storm we saw trucks on their sides on a highway that intersected the interstate and damage to bldgs. We could tell where the storm was bad from the way the crops were lying as we continued west into good wx. The trailer didn't leak a drop and there are a lot of penetrations in the skin for all the equipment and 'toys'. All and all a great experience and we often recall it. . |
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Digital broadcast TV sucks if you're on the fringes.  I miss being able to use my little analog hand held.  Waldo is blunt but he's very much on the money. All that BS they fed us while making the change was BS. These digital signals nowhere near reach out as far as the analog under the same conditions. I can't begin to tell you how many rural people I knew who lost their TVs when the switch was made. Many bought brand new digital TVs or got the converter boxes only to find now they have to climb the mountain and put in the antenna from hell just to get what they use to get. Its that way with these portables. Where the little whip antennas did great even up in the mountains with an analog, they don't work for crap even in a house now. It is why almost all of these new TVs and tuners, if they have antenna, it can be removed and replaced. Its so poor I think its a marketing scheme to even give you one. Try to fool you into thinking you don't need big ole Rabbit Ears as a minimum. Bottomline is these new digital devices other than very close in need a lot more antenna. First thing we did that night was grab the BIG rabbit ears and plug them in. Tj |
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Digital broadcast TV sucks if you're on the fringes. I miss being able to use my little analog hand held. Waldo is blunt but he's very much on the money. All that BS they fed us while making the change was BS. These digital signals nowhere near reach out as far as the analog under the same conditions. I can't begin to tell you how many rural people I knew who lost their TVs when the switch was made. Many bought brand new digital TVs or got the converter boxes only to find now they have to climb the mountain and put in the antenna from hell just to get what they use to get. Its that way with these portables. Where the little whip antennas did great even up in the mountains with an analog, they don't work for crap even in a house now. It is why almost all of these new TVs and tuners, if they have antenna, it can be removed and replaced. Its so poor I think its a marketing scheme to even give you one. Try to fool you into thinking you don't need big ole Rabbit Ears as a minimum. Bottomline is these new digital devices other than very close in need a lot more antenna. First thing we did that night was grab the BIG rabbit ears and plug them in. Tj All part of the plan to obsolete what worked and create a huge market for China et al, to waste our precious resources [our money] on and to enrich the lobbyists and evil politicians who passed the law mandating this wasteful change. Another example why we're screwed. OTOH, digital TV is supposed to give a greater BW and a higher resolution pix. It will be wonderful to watch Oprah and other stupid shit like O's idiotic economic speeches and to get a bellyfull of socialist propagada. Enjoy!!! Be sure to drink lots of beer too! 
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Next thing we'll hear from these greedy political traitors is we need to relocate some interstates because some existing ones have potholes.
Anything to waste money on make-work useless projects instead of meaningful effort to create long lasting productivity and jobs and a strong Nation. They are destroying this country at every turn. |
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During the storm here, my only source of info was my 3G iPad. Power, cable, phone all out. The cell phone network was fast busy so we couldn't make voice calls, but the iPad kept me informed. The network did finally fail after about 5 hours, but the storms were gone by then.
We learned how useful LED flashlights were as far as efficiency (all 6 still going strong after providing light overnight), and I swore to purchase an emergency radio and portable tv. I lived in Huntsville in 74 and remember being hunkered down in a pitch black basement scared out of my wits. Drama I can live without. |
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or get a usb tuner and you can record too $25 and up. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380047%201685342849&name=USB%20Tuner%20Stick&cm_sp=tvtunersubcatstore-_-flashstorefront-_-usbtvtunerstick I've got one of these also that I use with my Acer Aspire One netbook. Works well pulling in several digital stations with the included telescoping mag mount antenna. Well, that solves my delima on what to do for a battery operated tv. Growing up, we too had a small BW TV that lived its entire life in the storm cellar and came in handy a number of times. I just ordered in a scanner with WX, ive got a laptop, so this will round out my "when the lights go out" preps. Im a visual person. |
browse goodwill and thrift stores, I have scored two very nice 13 inch 12v/120v TV's one had a built in VCR the other a DVD player (both draw 60watt DC. About $7 bucks each, of course you need a 12v battery and a converter box to watch them. But for the price, I could not resist. My RCA converter box uses a wall wort that puts out 9V, so I bought a couple of battery holders (D cell), wired them in parallel and put terminals on the wires so I can switch from battery power to A/C.
my longest test was 8 hours with the converter box, batteries still were good. This converter only draws 6watts @ 9 volts. I imagine it has at least a 12 + hour run time. Here is my poor old hand-held tv, all hacked up to receive digital: 
I had to open it up and do some surgery to accept a coaxial line (soldered connection to antenna), the TV did not have any inputs. If it wasn't for the surgery/hack job it would have been useless! |
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browse goodwill and thrift stores, I have scored two very nice 13 inch 12v/120v TV's one had a built in VCR the other a DVD player (both draw 60watt DC. About $7 bucks each, of course you need a 12v battery and a converter box to watch them. But for the price, I could not resist. My RCA converter box uses a wall wort that puts out 9V, so I bought a couple of battery holders (D cell), wired them in parallel and put terminals on the wires so I can switch from battery power to A/C. http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt342/sellmytires/100_0247.jpg http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt342/sellmytires/100_0249.jpg http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt342/sellmytires/100_0246.jpg my longest test was 8 hours with the converter box, batteries still were good. This converter only draws 6watts @ 9 volts. I imagine it has at least a 12 + hour run time. Here is my poor old hand-held tv, all hacked up to receive digital: http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt342/sellmytires/100_0253.jpg http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt342/sellmytires/100_0254.jpg I had to open it up and do some surgery to accept a coaxial line (soldered connection to antenna), the TV did not have any inputs. If it wasn't for the surgery/hack job it would have been useless! Nice jury rig set up.
I will mention again though, how well these things work in a storm depends a lot on your local news coverage and radar types they use. The old style, the small screens work just fine. The new dopplers with all that imposed information and a storm with multiple potential funnels so they pan out, getting down to the fine detail is pretty important. That is exactly the size though I used for actually decades. One of the things the little ones do as well as the bigger screens is you get plenty enough imagery of the damage footage which IMHO after a storm is very important. It then that what they say and what we see can be very different. It give you a good idea of where not to go and timing on when things will get somewhat back to normal. Its also after a storm, the internet really comes into its own for the same reasons. Tj |