Travel Technology - Battery Powered Digital TVs

Many of us have old standby battery powered analog TVs that we use for prolonged power issues... blizzards, hurricanes, and ice storms etc. Mine is a 6 inch B&W that I bought in the early 80s. These battery powered TVs will become useless with the conversion to digital broadcasts in a few weeks.

So what is the consensus advice on battery powered digital TVs? It does not seem that this niche in the market is being addressed very well, does it?

I am thinking of a USB tuner for my laptop ,

but I also have not seen any small portable digital TVs

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A USB tuner is a great idea, but don't forget the antenna too.

There don't seem to be too many options.

http://www.amazon.com/Axion-AXN-8701-Widescreen-Portable-Handheld/dp/B001FWYLLG
- Doesn't say how long the battery lasts.
- Looks the same as one that Best Buy is selling

http://www.amazon.com/Haier-HLT71-7-Inch-Portable-LCD/dp/B001E78UQY
- 2.5 hours of battery life

An ad on amazon.com linked to http://www.lcddigital.tv/, which has a few models listed there along with a battery pack that will run one of their TV's for over 12 hours. (I know nothing about this site, could be a scam for all I know, I just thought it was an interesting option)

I am thinking of a USB tuner for my laptop ,

but I also have not seen any small portable digital TVs

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But if you loser power for several days because of a weather event, act of terrorism etc., there will be no way to keep your laptop charged! Or the products listed above, both of which appear to have internal rechargeable batteries.

I am talking about a digital TV powered by D cell batteries with an alternative AC power cord! Both of the models that are linked above have rechargeable batteries. The product that I think is needed is one that can be powered on replaceable D cell or C cell alkaline batteries!

There is a big market for this product!

There is a big market for this product!I agree. But you can also charge the other items with a car charger, or you can keep an extra UPS around to use to charge these sorts of devices.

But how long will D cell batteries last ? and how many sets do you have ?

I have enough cars around to go for weeks :) , plus 12v battery jumpers too

But yes you need a 12v to 110v converter to charge things ,

Ohh and have a hand powered can opener !

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But how long will D cell batteries last ? and how many sets do you have ?

I have enough cars around to go for weeks :) , plus 12v battery jumpers too

But yes you need a 12v to 110v converter to charge things ,

Ohh and have a hand powered can opener !

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If there is a predictable event (blizzard or hurricane) then one could easily have a small case of batteries on hand. I bet the alkalines will surely last the 2 1/2 hours that these installed batteries will give you.

I agree that the ideal emergency TV will have a car power cord (tailgating etc.) But if we plan to use these for hurricanes etc., then they need to have the capability of running on alkaline batteries.

But if we plan to use these for hurricanes etc., then they need to have the capability of running on alkaline batteries.Why is the car option not good enough for emergencies?

Maybe you should just use a radio instead, since the battery will last longer? But I guess that's an even bigger problem, since I can't find any radios that will tune TV stations after the digital switch.

Guess it's time to find a good AM radio station :D

Why is the car option not good enough for emergencies?

Some power outage emergencies are boring and last too long. For those of us without an attached garage, being able to watch TV in a robe and slippers is important.

An acquaintence has a cabin "off the grid". A few months ago he was complaining he hadn't been unable to find a digital TV that would work with his current solar charger. I recall he charges D cells, but he may be moving up the technology ladder soon.

I don't have personal experience with it, but I'm looking at the Accurian, available from RS (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2855063). My wife's sister and her family picked one up in the wake of Ike, and it seemed very capable. IIRC, it'll handle cable channels and then switch to OTA when the power's off. I need to get something before February...

In the same situation. Have an old Sony portable from the 80's that has lasted me through a few hurricanes. Now that the switch is coming the TV will be worthless. It's a shame to as the TV was great and ran on AA batteries.

I don't have personal experience with it, but I'm looking at the Accurian, available from RS (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2855063)Looks the same as 2 of the TV's I linked above. So I guess this particular model is one of the few choices available, but the good news is you can get it at a lot of different places :)

I've got an Acer Aspire One that works just fine with Pinnacle's USB "digital television on a stick." The Aspire can run for close to 6 hours on a battery charge. Not the perfect solution, particularly for emergencies, but it does work well for those occasions when I must have digital TV access.

I just got an ad today from Thrifty drug stores for a 7 inch portable digital TV for $99.99

So look for them , they are available

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From the Chicago Tribune Wednesday

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/eric2_0/2009/01/portable-digital-tvs-have-promise-but-need-work.html

for a review on the Haier and LCDdigital.tv models.

Or just read the headline

Portable digital TVs have promise but need work

I just got an ad today from Thrifty drug stores for a 7 inch portable digital TV for $99.99

So look for them , they are available

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Same kind of thing at CVS; brand is "digital prism" and it comes with a battery pack, car and AC cords and a remote. Not too bad for $99.99.

Same kind of thing at CVS; brand is "digital prism" and it comes with a battery pack, car and AC cords and a remote. Not too bad for $99.99.
Any link? Is that a recent (or seasonal) item at your CVS, ScottC?

I wish my local CVS would carry this TV. I haven't seen them carrying any portable TV at all. Otherwise I could have burned some of my Extrabucks on it. :(

In the event of a massive attack or other Armageddon type event those may come in useful, as many rogue broadcasters will popup on just about any frequency. While the chances of this are low they may prove invaluable in this situation.

We too are looking for a portable TV; we have an old 1.6" color TV.

A good option if you can't get a car charger for the TV or other device is to buy a power inverter. We picked up a 200W inverter for ~$15 on Black Friday. These come in handy to charge cell phones and any other device you may have in the event of power outages. Also always have an emergency kit on hand with plenty of batteries.

Any link? Is that a recent (or seasonal) item at your CVS, ScottC?

I wish my local CVS would carry this TV. I haven't seen them carrying any portable TV at all. Otherwise I could have burned some of my Extrabucks on it. :(

It was in the insert around my most recent CVS flyer in the mail.

I can try and make a scan of it if you want.

FWIW, here is the CVS ad:

http://cvs.shoplocal.com/cvs/Default.aspx?action=browsepagedetail&storeid=2416665&rapid=653574&listingid=-2090315106&pretailerid=-99973

It was in the insert around my most recent CVS flyer in the mail.

I can try and make a scan of it if you want.
ScottC, thanks! No scan needed. It appears to be one of the weekly specials. I just saw it in the weekly ad this morning in the paper.

Wan't sure if it's a seasonable/regional item when I asked. None of my stores had received it though. They asked me to check back when the trucks come in a day or two. Will try to grab one this week so I can upgrade my little Casio to this 7" one. ;)

OK, does anyone know whether the batteries in this digital TV are standard user replaceable D cells or similar? As I have indicated previously, the truely useful emergency battery powered digital TV will not require charging after two or three hours of use. If I know a hurricane is coming, I can always buy a case of D cell batteries at Costco etc. I am all in favor of the 12v auto charger, but as someone else said, they don't want to have to watch this in the garage in the event of a prolonged power failure.

This past December, a million people went without electricity for over a week in New England after an ice storm. And as I write this, another million people from Texas to Kentucky have been suffering through a prolonged power outage due to ice.

There is a real significant market for a true user replaceable battery powered digital TV.

Scott, any clue whether as this is some cheapy OEM machine, whether it is adjustable to PAL and/or DVB as well?

OK, does anyone know whether the batteries in this digital TV are standard user replaceable D cells or similar? As I have indicated previously, the truely useful emergency battery powered digital TV will not require charging after two or three hours of use. If I know a hurricane is coming, I can always buy a case of D cell batteries at Costco etc. I am all in favor of the 12v auto charger, but as someone else said, they don't want to have to watch this in the garage in the event of a prolonged power failure.

This past December, a million people went without electricity for over a week in New England after an ice storm. And as I write this, another million people from Texas to Kentucky have been suffering through a prolonged power outage due to ice.

There is a real significant market for a true user replaceable battery powered digital TV.Give it up, Robert. :D :D :D I'm thinking of where all those D batteries go when you're done with them...

The CVS models says "rechargeable batteries." I think you're gonna be stuck plugging this into your car in your robe and slippers when WWIII erupts.

The biggest issue with this first wave of portable digital TVs seems to be reception. I would make sure that, if buying one of these, you can return it if you can't pick up the digital signals you want, especially after cutover day (when some stations will go from their current lower power DTV transmissions to "full power").