I thought this was a good work around for getting TV sound in my new RV

Hugh R · 06:35 PM

I recently bought a new RV. You can see it here. Bought a New Class A RV today

I was surprised when I found that the 32" TV isn't connected to the four house speakers in the roof of the unit that are feeding from the dashboard radio/CD player.

Coachmen suggests I go to an Audio store to have them run wire from the RCA audio outputs on the back of the TV to the radio/CD player in the front dash. Or do it my self, but I don't like the idea of drilling holes and running wires in my brand new RV.

I thought of plugging an RCA stereo to 3.5 mm plug into the back of the TV for the external speakers , and a stereo wireless transmitter and matched wireless receiver into the auxiliary input of the radio. Like this Amazon.com: Audiomate 3.5mm Wireless Audio Transmitter - 2.4GHz Digital Stereo sound Sender and Receiver with Built-in Li-ion rechargeable battery - Compatible with any earphones and active speakers: Electronics

With it running through the radio auxiliary input. I can control volume, bass, treble, fader, balance, etc. It says the unit will transmit 20 to 20K frequency and the reviews say 20 feet or so doesn't lose sound quality. I can do this for around $55. Any down side?

Gogar · 03-21-2013, 06:52 PM

It looks -ok- to me EXCEPT I wonder if it ONLY gets its power-recharge from the USB port in each piece.

IF you can power each of the two pieces with a power adapter or if by some chance you have USB available at the TV or the radio, then I'd say no problem.

Otherwise, keep searching until you can find a transmitter/receiver that will work off of something BESIDES usb power/recharging.

I'd also take a hard look at your stereo deck up front. It's -possible- that it might accept a bluetooth signal, then you could just buy a bluetooth transmitter for your TV and set your radio to the bluetooth input.

If the upfront stereo deck does NOT have bluetooth, then I'd possibly recommend looking into it: you can get into it for a few hundred bucks and you can listen to audio from any bluetooth transmitter - your laptop, or your phone, etc. You can also hook your cellphone up bluetooth to the stereo and do hands free calls.

If you got a bluetooth-receiver-capable deck up front, then you could even listen to Spotify/Pandora/ etc. from your laptop, if you have mobile WiFi, of course. That's the next fun thing.

onewhippedpuppy · 03-21-2013, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

It looks -ok- to me EXCEPT I wonder if it ONLY gets its power-recharge from the USB port in each piece.

IF you can power each of the two pieces with a power adapter or if by some chance you have USB available at the TV or the radio, then I'd say no problem.

Otherwise, keep searching until you can find a transmitter/receiver that will work off of something BESIDES usb power/recharging.

I'd also take a hard look at your stereo deck up front. It's -possible- that it might accept a bluetooth signal, then you could just buy a bluetooth transmitter for your TV and set your radio to the bluetooth input.

If the upfront stereo deck does NOT have bluetooth, then I'd possibly recommend looking into it: you can get into it for a few hundred bucks and you can listen to audio from any bluetooth transmitter - your laptop, or your phone, etc. You can also hook your cellphone up bluetooth to the stereo and do hands free calls.

If you got a bluetooth-receiver-capable deck up front, then you could even listen to Spotify/Pandora/ etc. from your laptop, if you have mobile WiFi, of course. That's the next fun thing.

Really good suggestion. Bluetooth opens up a lot of options, and only requires you to replace your head unit which probably isn't really very good anyway (assuming it is stock). Bluetooth gives you hands free phone, music streaming from your iPod, audio from your iPad, etc. For kid's movies in the car we put our iPad into a back seat mount then stream the audio to Bluetooth for playback through the speakers, it works great.

rusnak · 03-21-2013, 07:23 PM

Why couldn't you remove the interior ceiling to get some real speaker power routed to where you want them? You might want more/ different speakers for the TV.

Hugh R · 03-21-2013, 07:25 PM

Thanks, I believe it has an external power cord to recharge both units wireless units. The radio doesn't appear to be blue tooth capable. I MIGHT upgrade some day, but since I just bought it, I'm reluctant to immediately start changing out stuff. Only the wifey and I will be motoring for the most part. You really can't watch the TV when the sliders are in. I guess you could in the bedroom to watch the smaller TV , but I'm not inclined at this point to buy a GPS tracking satellite system for watching TV like Dish or Direct TV while driving. I am currently looking into Dish or Direct TV for the house and RV. I just want better sound when watching TV or a DVD.

Hugh R · 03-21-2013, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak

Why couldn't you remove the interior ceiling to get some real speaker power routed to where you want them? You might want more/ different speakers for the TV.

I have 145 miles on the unit since I bought it. Its under a 7 year warranty. I'm not inclined to start modifying it to void the warranty the first week or two that I own it.

onewhippedpuppy · 03-21-2013, 07:41 PM

Maybe not a big deal considering it's a camper, but isn't it illegal to talk and drive in CA? That single fact would push me to get a Bluetooth head unit, not to mention it's much safer regardless of law.

Hugh R · 03-21-2013, 07:45 PM

Hands free is legal in CA. I can use my iPhone with a set of ear buds, Blue tooth, or speaker phone legally.

bell · bell's Garage

Hugh......I have done many different video/audio setups in already built RVs.....
What I learned is you are limited to what you can change depending on how it was constructed..
The blue tooth idea is a good one, allot of times I was forced to run wires down under the RV, up through cabinets, through light moldings etc......including the auto tracking satellite systems.

If the main TV/receiver is up high in the bulkhead and the radio in the dash it may not be too difficult.....allot of times I would use raw coax cable and solder the ends on them after it was snaked through.....
If you do have this done, find someone who is good....meaning not best buy to run the cable.

I even restored a handfull of stuff in Johnny cashs' old tour bus, it's now sitting out front of the rock and roll hall of fame...

And did some modernization in Dale Earnhardt sr. old rig......

No 2 RVs are the same.......ever lol

911boost · 911boost's Garage

Hugh, I experienced this as well, fortunately my stereo deck is right next to my tv.

Since you don't want to change much, have you thought about one of those sound bars? They aren't very big and would be fairly easy to plug into your tv. You could get creative mounting it.

Bill