Cockpit TV Choice Revisited

[Hampton]

About a year ago, I got really serious about a cockpit tv. Had to be DC. All lcd screens are DC powered, so, AC vs DC should not have been an issue, right? I chose the best DC tv I could find, waited for it to go into production, then bought one of the first on the market. We got the Jensen JE 1909 (19" 2009 model). It is 16:9, HDTV tuner, tons of inputs and outputs... The picture is simply incredible, but not bright enough for the cockpit.

One guy on here said that the DC would not have enough power, to go with AC. Since the lcd screen is converted to DC internally, would this make a difference? I'm preparing to go with the best 20" lcd (AC) tv I can find: Sharp LC-20D42U (Aquos - must be good 'round water).

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sharp-aquos-lc-20d42u/4505-6482_7-32431995.html

I'll probably hook up an inverter to run it. I want to watch HDTV in the daytime, though not direct sunlight. Anyone else swear by their set in very bright conditions?

 

[skolbe]

I have been very happy with our Sharp 19" with built in DVD Player. The only issue is volume if it is noisy.

 

[Hampton]

I have been very happy with our Sharp 19" with built in DVD Player. The only issue is volume if it is noisy.

Which model?

 

[SR400DB]

I have a sharp Aquos set up outside (and inside for that matter), I can sit outside with my feet up and watch tv day or night. (I do have an inverter set up as well).

 

[Hampton]

I have a sharp Aquos set up outside (and inside for that matter), I can sit outside with my feet up and watch tv day or night. (I do have an inverter set up as well).

Do you know which model (year, or something)?

 

[SR400DB]

I will get the model # this weekend for you, it was purchased in Feb O8, so probably manuf. in '07. I was turned onto the Aquos line when I saw them on boats built by others and I was impressed so I tried one, then got another and now have three.

 

[mawyatt]

About a year ago, I got really serious about a cockpit tv. Had to be DC. All lcd screens are DC powered, so, AC vs DC should not have been an issue, right? I chose the best DC tv I could find, waited for it to go into production, then bought one of the first on the market. We got the Jensen JE 1909 (19" 2009 model). It is 16:9, HDTV tuner, tons of inputs and outputs... The picture is simply incredible, but not bright enough for the cockpit.

One guy on here said that the DC would not have enough power, to go with AC. Since the lcd screen is converted to DC internally, would this make a difference? I'm preparing to go with the best 20" lcd (AC) tv I can find: Sharp LC-20D42U .

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sharp-aquos-lc-20d42u/4505-6482_7-32431995.html

I'll probably hook up an inverter to run it. I want to watch HDTV in the daytime, though not direct sunlight. Anyone else swear by their set in very bright conditions?

John,

Our boat came with a cockpit 19" HDTV Sharp TV with builtin DVD. I replaced this with a 32" HDTV Sharp. It is bright enough for daytime viewing and has a feature that measures the ambient light and adjusts the brightness accordingly. I even hooked the E120 Raymarine video output to the 32" display, pretty cool seeing this as a big marine display. I can even hook my laptop to the 32" display. Both TVs are AC powered but a small inverter should work fine if it doesn't cause any interferrence.

I am thinking about setting up a pair of 200AH golf cart batteries wired to a 1.8Kw inverter/charger to run the TVs so I don't have to run the genny all the time...especially if I go with the Intellan Sat TV system I have been considering. I need to find a place for the batteries though!!

 

[Hampton]

This is all good info. It seems that Sharp is owning the market for lcd picture and brightness. The tv I found goes for $1450 - 20"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I may have found it for $550. I'll have to see if that's a valid price. It's still very high.

 

[Miller]

I am getting ready to install a 19" Toshiba with built in DVD...picture is HD and looks pretty good. I am worried about the glare as well, but I have been told it should be fine. Also, I am having the audio/video guy hook up the speakers in the cockpit to the TV so it should be pleanty loud for football season!!!!!

 

[Petep]

I just changed my 19" Sharp to a 23" Samsung because I couldn't see the Sharp in sunlight. The newer TV's have higher contrast ratio (50,000 to 1) which is why I bought it - $299 @ Costco - Nice TV/Nice Size for the cockpit, my 19" went downbelow in the masterstate room on the bulkhead - out went the old SHARP 13" tube tv and we picked up a whole new storage cabinet portside forward.

 

[K-9]

Sharpe Aquos 15" is 12v DC already I use it home.car's.and boat's also the NEW multifunction displays have a video input Raymarine c120w and no problem in full sun

 

[mawyatt]

This is all good info. It seems that Sharp is owning the market for lcd picture and brightness. The tv I found goes for $1450 - 20"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I may have found it for $550. I'll have to see if that's a valid price. It's still very high.

John,

I got the Sharp 32" HDTV on sale at Walmart last Christmas it was ~$400. I got a mounting bracket for wall mounting with wider JEDEC grid and drilled it to mate with nice SS bracket (smaller JDEC grid) that SR provided with the 19".

 

[Pseudomind]

John,

Our boat came with a cockpit 19" HDTV Sharp TV with builtin DVD. I replaced this with a 32" HDTV Sharp. It is bright enough for daytime viewing and has a feature that measures the ambient light and adjusts the brightness accordingly. I even hooked the E120 Raymarine video output to the 32" display, pretty cool seeing this as a big marine display. I can even hook my laptop to the 32" display. Both TVs are AC powered but a small inverter should work fine if it doesn't cause any interferrence.

I am thinking about setting up a pair of 200AH golf cart batteries wired to a 1.8Kw inverter/charger to run the TVs so I don't have to run the genny all the time...especially if I go with the Intellan Sat TV system I have been considering. I need to find a place for the batteries though!!

You have any pictures of this 32 inch mounted, it would be nice to see

Thanks
:thumbsup:

 

[mawyatt]

Look up!

 

[douglee25]

Go to Walmart and buy the 26" Vizio LCD. It runs typically under $300 and the unit receives very good ratings.

Doug

 

[mawyatt]

I picked the Sharp because of the very high contrast ratio. This is important for daytime viewing in a shaded cockpit, but not a big deal for cabin use. I did a side by side viewing at high brightness levels at Walmart and the Sharp stood out over the others. I believe this is why SR chose the Sharp line. All 4 TVs (for cabin, mid cabin, rear cabin and cockpit) are Sharp LCD DTVs, the cockpit is HDTV with integrated DVD, the others have seperate DVD players.