Do you use the radio if you have one mounted in the van, or do you just tune into a station on the digital TV?
If I was to set out specs for a van to be made, is the radio worth the cost?
Dougwe said
07:42 PM Apr 28, 2015
YES!
I have it on all day but just loud enough to hear. I mainly have it on for background noise and uses less power than the TV. I also like to leave it on if I go out. If not the radio, I plug my iPod into it.
For the little cost involved, it is worth it. I don't have and don't need outside speakers. No need upsetting the neighbours.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 28th of April 2015 07:44:20 PM
iana said
07:53 PM Apr 28, 2015
As opposed for instance to a Bose speaker system for the TV?, I reckon the cost of cutting out the panels for speakers, wiring, installation labour and the cost of the unit would be up at $500-$600.
ballast2 said
08:06 PM Apr 28, 2015
G'day. definite yes. when we brought our van I noticed that it had a car radio fitted. it was not until we were on the road again and I started playing with it I found out it had 2 short wave bands on it as well as normal am/fm bands. this was perfect for me as I like to listen to the real world even if out in the sticks. this is great for us but maybe not for you. a car radio and a couple of speakers does not take much space or weight. using the tv is only possible if you are in range. hope this helps
Cheers
Dougwe said
08:07 PM Apr 28, 2015
Shut the front gate! BOSE SOUND SYSTEM hey.
Now you are making it hard.
Mmmmmm, bugga it Ian, get both mate. It's only money.
iana said
08:13 PM Apr 28, 2015
That's the trouble, the financial adviser said we don't have it. Generally our new age TV's have crap sound. Bose put out a small speaker system that greatly improves the sound. Our Teac TV takes thumb drives and I imagine an Ipod. Just trying to find out how to pull back the cost on a 5wheeler.
Thanks for the input.
Aus-Kiwi said
11:43 PM Apr 28, 2015
Have one on when camped.. That way I have excuse not to hear words from the Mrs .. Lol
JackieP said
11:49 PM Apr 28, 2015
we have a car radio installed in our van and use it often when camped.... like to keep up with the news sometimes it is just a tad to quiet so the background noise good....it's also a D player so I can put on music I like
03_Troopy said
10:29 AM Apr 29, 2015
I just fitting a Kenwood car stereo to our Avan. There was already a partial cutout behind one of the panels where the radio would have been fitted during manufacture, if it was fitted. For the speakers I used a couple of Yamaha surround sound speakers I picked up from a garage sale for a couple of dollars, and mounted them under the cupboards using some ally brackets a couple of screws, and some super strong double sided to hold them firm . I will wire the TV sound into the AUX in sockets in the back of the radio for better sound sometime soon. The good thing is that it has a USB input for playing music in mp3 format. It also has a remote control. I might even wire in another set of speakers to use the rear speaker output in the radio later as well. The radio I picked up from a garage sale also for about $40.00. It was brand new unopened, but 12 months old. I have tested it and the sound is great, and plenty loud enough for a van. Similar radios can be bought for about $150.00 brand new from various auto parts places and you can get them with bluetooth to use with your smartphone or I-things if you want to.
Yes, just fitted a new Kenwood radio MP3 player, use it constantly, particularly in the outback, no TV signals in the bush.
Seems no matter where we are can find the AFL match we want on the weekend, even if we have to resort to Radio Australia.
Nothing on the radio? we play music from our collection saved on a memory stick.
PeterD said
04:05 PM Apr 29, 2015
I suggest that you will do similar things when camped as you do at home. Do you listen to the radio at home? If you do then you will miss it on the road if you don't have one.
You will find that you will camp at places without TV reception. You will be completely out of touch without a radio. How will that effect you?
The thing to consider is will you use a radio if it is fitted and not whether we use one or not. Also consider that a van may be able to sell later on if it does not have a working radio in it.
chopit said
04:52 PM Apr 29, 2015
Yes, we go "old school" with a portable am/fm radio.
4 x AA batteries last about a month.
Can have it inside or outside -- just pick it up & move it.
We have it on most days.
When we get tired of a local station we have an MP4 player with all our CDs on it.
Plug it into one of the 4 cigarette lighter plugs in the van.
We got a waterproof extra speaker from Aldi. Plug that into the MP4 at happy hour.
Cheap & effective.
03_Troopy said
07:05 PM Apr 29, 2015
chopit wrote:
Yes, we go "old school" with a portable am/fm radio. 4 x AA batteries last about a month. Can have it inside or outside -- just pick it up & move it. We have it on most days. When we get tired of a local station we have an MP4 player with all our CDs on it. Plug it into one of the 4 cigarette lighter plugs in the van. We got a waterproof extra speaker from Aldi. Plug that into the MP4 at happy hour. Cheap & effective.
Is that an MP4 video player, or an MP3 audio player... or... a quoted as MP4 player that is actually an MP3 player with video an added video codec player?
iana said
07:40 PM Apr 29, 2015
PeterD wrote:
I suggest that you will do similar things when camped as you do at home. Do you listen to the radio at home? If you do then you will miss it on the road if you don't have one.
You will find that you will camp at places without TV reception. You will be completely out of touch without a radio. How will that effect you?
The thing to consider is will you use a radio if it is fitted and not whether we use one or not. Also consider that a van may be able to sell later on if it does not have a working radio in it.
I know it sounds stupid, but I'm as deaf as a post so I don't listen to the radio as back ground noise, I have tinnitus for that. However the wife does and so I have to address the problem. I intend to have only satellite TV (Vast) which I believe is available everywhere. A radio can be retro fitted, and the estimated cost of supply and installation is between $600 - $750 dollars. A portable radio is cheaper.
iana said
07:42 PM Apr 29, 2015
Thanks for the input so far folks.
In case you are wondering, I'm trying to work out what I can leave off the build, and what is essential.
PeterD said
09:48 PM Apr 29, 2015
iana wrote: However the wife does and so I have to address the problem.
In that case I suggest you ask her whether she will make use of the radio if it is fitted.
Phil C said
10:31 AM Apr 30, 2015
We had a fusion system fitted at the factory during our build. It caters for iPod, MP3 on a usb stick, dvd, cd, and am, fm reception. Frankly I wouldn't be without it and it was worth the extra bux I paid.
Cheers
-- Edited by Phil C on Thursday 30th of April 2015 10:32:21 AM
chopit said
04:50 PM Apr 30, 2015
Troopy.
It plays MP3s and MP4 videos.
Screen smaller than a matchbox.
Never had much luck with the video side, gotta get the right format, so haven't bothered much.
When playing a ripped CD the screen shows the album cover.
Called an Iriver.
hako said
05:22 PM Apr 30, 2015
iana wrote:
Thanks for the input so far folks. In case you are wondering, I'm trying to work out what I can leave off the build, and what is essential.
I'd leave it off and buy a portable radio which is much more versatile and can be used anywhere inside or outside the van. Saves all the wiring and aerial hassles as well.
Good Luck.
03_Troopy said
05:30 PM Apr 30, 2015
Or buy one at Supercheap or similar and fit it yourself.
iana said
10:02 PM Apr 30, 2015
I noted that there are 48 local stations available on the VAST system, also when the TV is on digital radio, the screen is 90% black, which on my understanding meant that the screen is pulling very little power. And I think a car radio would be a bit of a hog with power usage. I'm tending to agree with hako on all of this.
-- Edited by iana on Thursday 30th of April 2015 10:02:58 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
01:15 AM May 1, 2015
Yep Kenwood, Vast ,2 X 5 terabyte hardrives for music clips , movies also..
Surround sound Bluetooth system..
Cloak said
12:42 PM May 3, 2015
I once set up a shortwave at Mallacoota CP and for once I was popular... had people dropping in with cakes and snacks all day.
Do you use the radio if you have one mounted in the van, or do you just tune into a station on the digital TV?
If I was to set out specs for a van to be made, is the radio worth the cost?
YES!
I have it on all day but just loud enough to hear. I mainly have it on for background noise and uses less power than the TV. I also like to leave it on if I go out. If not the radio, I plug my iPod into it.
For the little cost involved, it is worth it. I don't have and don't need outside speakers. No need upsetting the neighbours.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 28th of April 2015 07:44:20 PM
Cheers
Now you are making it hard.
Mmmmmm, bugga it Ian, get both mate. It's only money.
Thanks for the input.
I just fitting a Kenwood car stereo to our Avan. There was already a partial cutout behind one of the panels where the radio would have been fitted during manufacture, if it was fitted. For the speakers I used a couple of Yamaha surround sound speakers I picked up from a garage sale for a couple of dollars, and mounted them under the cupboards using some ally brackets a couple of screws, and some super strong double sided to hold them firm . I will wire the TV sound into the AUX in sockets in the back of the radio for better sound sometime soon. The good thing is that it has a USB input for playing music in mp3 format. It also has a remote control. I might even wire in another set of speakers to use the rear speaker output in the radio later as well. The radio I picked up from a garage sale also for about $40.00. It was brand new unopened, but 12 months old. I have tested it and the sound is great, and plenty loud enough for a van. Similar radios can be bought for about $150.00 brand new from various auto parts places and you can get them with bluetooth to use with your smartphone or I-things if you want to.
Yes, just fitted a new Kenwood radio MP3 player, use it constantly, particularly in the outback, no TV signals in the bush.
Seems no matter where we are can find the AFL match we want on the weekend, even if we have to resort to Radio Australia.
Nothing on the radio? we play music from our collection saved on a memory stick.
I suggest that you will do similar things when camped as you do at home. Do you listen to the radio at home? If you do then you will miss it on the road if you don't have one.
You will find that you will camp at places without TV reception. You will be completely out of touch without a radio. How will that effect you?
The thing to consider is will you use a radio if it is fitted and not whether we use one or not. Also consider that a van may be able to sell later on if it does not have a working radio in it.
4 x AA batteries last about a month.
Can have it inside or outside -- just pick it up & move it.
We have it on most days.
When we get tired of a local station we have an MP4 player with all our CDs on it.
Plug it into one of the 4 cigarette lighter plugs in the van.
We got a waterproof extra speaker from Aldi. Plug that into the MP4 at happy hour.
Cheap & effective.
Is that an MP4 video player, or an MP3 audio player... or... a quoted as MP4 player that is actually an MP3 player with video an added video codec player?
I know it sounds stupid, but I'm as deaf as a post so I don't listen to the radio as back ground noise, I have tinnitus for that. However the wife does and so I have to address the problem. I intend to have only satellite TV (Vast) which I believe is available everywhere. A radio can be retro fitted, and the estimated cost of supply and installation is between $600 - $750 dollars. A portable radio is cheaper.
In case you are wondering, I'm trying to work out what I can leave off the build, and what is essential.
In that case I suggest you ask her whether she will make use of the radio if it is fitted.
We had a fusion system fitted at the factory during our build. It caters for iPod, MP3 on a usb stick, dvd, cd, and am, fm reception. Frankly I wouldn't be without it and it was worth the extra bux I paid.
Cheers
-- Edited by Phil C on Thursday 30th of April 2015 10:32:21 AM
It plays MP3s and MP4 videos.
Screen smaller than a matchbox.
Never had much luck with the video side, gotta get the right format, so haven't bothered much.
When playing a ripped CD the screen shows the album cover.
Called an Iriver.
I'd leave it off and buy a portable radio which is much more versatile and can be used anywhere inside or outside the van. Saves all the wiring and aerial hassles as well.
Good Luck.
I noted that there are 48 local stations available on the VAST system, also when the TV is on digital radio, the screen is 90% black, which on my understanding meant that the screen is pulling very little power. And I think a car radio would be a bit of a hog with power usage. I'm tending to agree with hako on all of this.
-- Edited by iana on Thursday 30th of April 2015 10:02:58 PM
Surround sound Bluetooth system..