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8/8/2015

Index to posts

August 2015

     Television

July 2015   Debriefing

February to July 2015 Travels all around Europe (see Travel Blog)

February 2015

      The weight of the completed van

      Tables

      The completed gas installation, and problems encountered

January 2015

      Curtains and blinds

December 2014

       The Floor

November 2014

       The completed water system

       The washroom

August 2014

       Building furniture- The utilities tower

July 2014

       Building furniture-top cupboards

       The kitchen

       The bed

June 2014

        Professional help at West Country Campers,Clutton :-

        Installation of Propex space heater, skylights, first-fit electrics, water tanks

May 2014

         Fitting windows

         Insulation

         Replacing seats

         Removing the bulkhead

         Planning and specifications

April 2014

        Insurance

Purchase of base van

Television

8/8/2015

Following my return from my long European road trip I finally fitted the 16 inch Cello TV(with built-in DVD player) which I had bought previously.I had been intending to install it in one of the top lockers,with a fold-out arm.In the event I decided that I needed the extra storage space for the long journey and left the TV in its box at home .I was of course able to watch DVDs on my laptop.

Now I have finally installed it and it works well.With a standard pivoting arm the TV can be easily lifted out and then hangs at a lower height than the locker in which its housed,allowing for easy viewing.

TV reception is an issue in remote spots.I have a simple signal booster which helps, although I need 240v hook up for that to work.For a while I despaired of finding a signal but then it clicked that I had to retune the TV when away from home,as the local transmitters have a different wavelengths.

The option that will give signal in the remotest of spots would be a satellite dish.This is pretty big to store in the van, especially the size needed to get signal in Scotland(or an even bigger one needed to get UK signal in northern Europe).Professionally made campervans often have a retractable dish on the roof but there are also portable collapsible options. I have decided for now to stick to a very simple aerial, and the smallest of all options ,a 15cm stick aerial with a magnetic base to temporarily attach anywhere on the roof or walls of the van, outside.(actually it also works with in good reception areas inside the van.This has given me acceptable signal in the Lake District and in North Yorkshire, and the Peak district.I may give a conventional aerial on a pole a try,but again this would mean more paraphernalia to transport in the van.

The top locker above the kitchen sink

The TV stowed away.Padded tight with a piece of foam packing

TV folded out ready to watch

The supporting arm mechanism

The Van's Construction : Renault Master campervan conversion

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