My turn..
After being tired of looking at an extremely mis-converged CRT I decided to pull the TV and fix it.. until it was on my shoulder and I said there was no way it was going back in. After CAD'ing up my cabinet I spent hours at WalMart, BestBuy, Sears, etc. looking at what would fit and look OEM, finally settling on the Sharp LC-32SB24U. This apparently is a BestBuy, WM, (and I'm sure others) "store model", but it has one of the best pictures of all I've seen, and even at 720 for a 32" is just fine. Geeeze, it's just camping!
What started this sticky was a place to post Do's, Don't's, and stuff to watch out for. Here's mine:
Do buy a Wingman! They absolutely help the OEM batwing, but are not the magic answer to being 75 miles away. It's a cheap upgrade to the batwing.
HERE is a geek test I did on it awhile back.
Don't buy a 4x3 screen! It may be a good deal and fit within the frame, but the world is going 16x9 and these displays will either cut off the edges, or force you to underscan to see the antire pic, just as with a CRT.
The TV should be able to "update" it's scan (mine doesn't) so when you go to a city and do a new scan, then move to the next place and do another scan (or update), you won't lose what you previously scanned. The TV will only stop on a channel that has signal so you are not entering useless channels, but this prevents you from having to do an entire channel scan every time you move. Anytime you return to that area you already have the local channels in memory. Make sense?
If you run the TV into an external audio system and want to use only the TV remote, MAKE SURE that the TV not only has external audio out, but it is VARIABLE output that tracks with the TV's volume control. In the case of the Sharp listed above, it has a pull-down menu that selects internal speakers and fixed external out, OR internal speakers off and variable audio on the RCA Line level outputs. The Sharp also has a 5.1 optical output that plugs into my Sony VHS/ DVD/ Surround system that I think also tracks the TV's volume. I'm not familiar with the Winne "built-in" surround, but anyone having the Sony combo will find an optical input in the rear that interfaces with the TV just fine. This seems to be a hot button.If you're not sure, get the model# and look for the manual on the web and see what it's supposed to do.
Other Inputs:
1- PC (VGA) for VMS or Flight SIM 8)
2- HDMI
1- 'S'-Video
2- Additional component/ composite Inputs
It has a USB jack for firmware updates. Haven't use it yet.
When dry camping, keep the brightness down as there is a significant difference in consumption depending on brightness level.
One thing about this install is that the TV mounts on top of the frame, meaning that the only way to secure it is to have the lower shroud removed. No problem as I was able to dress the cables and really secure the monitor down. The rear 8 screws are more than enough to hold it in, it doesn't need to be mounted to the frame in front.
Coach Bracket
Rear Panel
Finished Install
Goose'd up the roof too
One more thing.. Installing this monitor involved sawing about 1" off of either side of the frame, so it's an intentional snug fit. To keep the squeaking and wear down, I bought a package of thick sticky-backed felt from Home Depot and cut it into 1" strips that now line the interior of the frame. The only two things the monitor comes in contact with are the rear mount and the felt lining.