Electronics and cold

[Uncle Grump]

Been pondering getting one of the small portable TV's sold by Best Buy (the combination AM/FM/TV type units for about $30), to watch football, etc when fishing is slow.

Question is - how does the cold effect the
guts of stuff like this? I have a "luggable" softside house - no insulation, so temps are rarely above 40 degrees in my house when fishing. I know the
electronics in the gear we normally tote - ie the Vex and cameras like the Aqua View are up to the task, but the TV?

The TV will also be a positioning "move" for the purchase of a Aqua View at some point.

One last question - if you already are transporting a TV out on the ice - how are you packageing it against breakage?

UG

[Guest]

I would think that moisture would be the biggest issue. But if your house is always 40 degrees, then you shouldn't have a problem. But your house is 0 degrees and then 65 later ten minutes later, the condesation may build up and cause issues. None of this is factual, just ideas. But I have read on some things that I can't remember,... that you need to warm things up slowly so you don't get any moisture.

[Ishmel]

I'm curious about this too. I'm planning to leave a tv/vcr in my house this winter so that I can bring the kids out with me, but I hadn't thought about condensation.

Any ideas?

[Kidd]

I've been using a cheap little TV for quite some time now. Started using it when I had a permanent shack on Mille Lacs (about 10 yrs ago). It's worked fine and I never had a problem. I've since traded in the shack for a Fish Trap and I bring the TV along for Gopher hockey or Viking football. One thing to note; If your going to be any distance from a transmitter, you can buy an antenna booster to enhance reception. Go ahead and buy it, it sure come in handy on those slow nights.

About packaging for hauling. I don't have a snowmobile or 4 wheeler so It doesn't get banged around much so I just Duck taped the box and use that. If I were going to pull it behind a snowmobile, I would just wrap my fishing towel around it. Their pretty tough little units.

[This message has been edited by Kidd (edited 10-07-2002).]

[Guest]

I've got a TV/VCR in my '96 conversion van. There's no problem with moisture, and tapes play well, but it is almost always impossible to get decent reception on TV. Perhaps if I was at Calhoun or a city lake I might see something, but get 30 or 40 miles out and it's no TV.

[Ishmel]

Thanks for the information. From reading your posts I assume that neither of you leaves your electronics in the house permanently? I guess I was thinking about leaveing them out there, building a cabinet or something.

d

[Uncle Grump]

Last week I went to one of the Twin Cities electronics retailers. I spoke to one of the sales staff there - regarding cold and condensation on TV and TV/VCR combos - and that I was intending to use the TV in a fish house.

The reply I got was to take out one of the service contracts and to not worry about it. A contract on the $29 TV I am going to get is all of $10. The contract is good for 4 years. If the TV craps out, bring it in, get it fixed. If it can't be fixed, it gets replaced under the service contract.

Seems like a win-win situation at this point.

UG

PS: On the $150-ish TV/VCR combos, the service contract is about $60. Still seems pretty reasonable.

[rvvrrat]

I have a three season cabin that has no heat at all in the winter except a wood buring stove for when I am there. I leave my TV there all the time and it is always fine, whether turned on when cold or after warming up. I'm cheap and would save the 10 bucks.

[Dave]

I have one of those TV/VCR combo AC/DC TVs. The power button got pushed in (kids). They sent it in to get fixed (extended warranty) and it happened again. Took it to Best Buy (out of warranty now) and I told them I looked at the "fix" they did the first time; a big glob of glue inside on the plastic switch lever.
The guy says "go grab a new one". With the price drop over the years, I got a new TV plus another 4 year extended warranty for $10. I was happy.

[Jim W]

TV?????????

Heck my "TV" is getting tuned into my Vexilar, slowly getting entranced to the point of being mesmurized!!!!!LOL

If they ain't biten, time to move!lol

Jim W

[bigeyes]

I have a small d/ black and white I bought 4 seasons ago at cuircut city(couldn't even tell you the brand). I still works good, I use it for football or when the wife comes along. It is also used in a clam portable and some condensation is on the tv from time to time. Still works great although I doubt it will last forever, but for the $30 I will get another one and not think twice.