If you want to watch TV in the motorhome, the choice is yours. The traditional solution (hertzian antenna) has gradually given way to the parabolic antenna. The mobile Internet also brings its revolution, by allowing your TV to use the mobile connection of your smartphone. In this article, you will find all the useful information on these new technologies (TV Box, Chromecast, routers and others), in order to make the choice that is right for you. Article by Loïc Bovin and Franck Millardet.
Yes, it is possible to watch television in your motorhome without using a terrestrial antenna or satellite dish . This is of course still relevant, and more and more motorhome owners are using "keys" which allow them to "cast" content accessible by smartphone. They are gradually equipping themselves with Box TV or TV Stick Key to find all the content of their living room television in the motorhome. These products meet the needs of families with children or grandchildren, as well as people traveling as a couple or alone.
Watch live television programs: this is possible on a smartphone, on the channels' websites or apps, or on dedicated apps. This signal can be transmitted to your TV.
Watch programs on streaming platforms, in replay on the apps and websites of television channels.
Listening to the radio, live or delayed (podcast) can also go through the internet.
The purpose of this article is not to legitimize the merits of watching or not watching television in your motorhome. The goal is to discover what exists in order to allow you to choose the equipment that suits you.
Practical information on Internet TV in a motorhome
Antenna, satellite dish, router, TV box, TV key or Chromecast...
We'll walk you through how to install these new systems (and how to power them) . We will tell you about the tariff offers that are increasingly affordable, in order to give you as much information as possible about these technologies. We have found that the major concession chains still do not carry these products. We have also noticed offers from unscrupulous independents, offering a “turnkey” product supposedly special for motorhomes at more than 300 €, whereas these same boxes are sold between 50 and 60 € in the shops.
Read also our article Is TV killing conviviality between motorhome owners?
In the motorhome or at home, we no longer watch TV as before
In the past, a simple television set and three black and white channels were enough to provide entertainment. Today, it is no longer just the TNT channels that offer us content at a specific time, but we who decide what we are going to watch and at what time... Indeed, today, commercial offers like Netflix , Prime Vidéo, my Canal, Disney+, Salto… offer us catalogs of films, series and documentaries on demand. These contents, which we do not find on the classic DTT channels, are sometimes even totally inaccessible on other media.
Streaming, replay, podcast, VOD… work very well with 4G, and soon 5G.
TV shows, movies, series, music and radio
The equipment we are going to talk about, such as the Chromecast, the TV Box or the TV Stick Key, also allows you to listen to music (by connecting to web radios, Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, and other applications. There are many campsites drivers who connect their television to the speakers of their vehicle, thus benefiting from a sound quality much more pleasant than the original sound of a television Some simply use these applications via the Bluetooth of their car radio to put sound in the motorhome.
How to get TV in a motorhome
To date, we are offered three options for watching television, including one with digital content.
1. The traditional terrestrial antenna
It has clearly evolved since today it receives high definition "HD" radio signals. The image quality is quite pleasant but there are several disadvantages in mobile mode, concerning the search for stations and the orientation of the antenna as soon as you change relay. With the arrival of DTT HD, an obvious degradation of reception often with signal problems when leaving urban areas has appeared. This remains the simplest and least expensive solution, but reception is uncertain.
2. The parabola
This is the solution often offered by concessions in addition to or as a replacement for the hertzian antenna. The manual satellite dish is quite complicated to set up at each bivouac. Conversely, an automatic dish remains easy to use and does not require anything special to quickly receive an image if you have no obstacle between the antenna and the satellite. We should also not forget that these antennas are very sensitive to the wind and very often require updates which, if not done, can block daily use. Currently there are two flagship offers, TNTSat and FranSAT. These two offers cost €15 for four years of reception.
3. The Chromecast key, the TV Box or the TV Stick key
Each of the solutions proposed below uses your mobile phone's data plan to operate applications dedicated to television or audiovisual content software.
The simple Chromecast key, or equivalent
The Chromecast Google TV key: you plug it into your screen and use the connection from your smartphone
Why are we talking about “Chromecast simple“? Because Google also offers a new solution with Google TV included. Its name: Chromecast Google TV. Here we choose to tell you about the basic Chromecast key.
The operating principle of the simple Chromecast is to transfer the display of your smartphone or tablet to the television. It is increasingly known by motorhome owners. It has the advantage of being introduced directly into the HDMI socket of your television. You can cast applications from your tablet or smartphone on your television after sharing a connection with your phone or using available Wi-Fi access. If this solution is quite simplistic, it nevertheless requires some manipulations which can prove to be repetitive and/or tiring over time. Depending on the models, the connection complexity for some users becomes tiresome each time you want to watch television. However, if in your entourage you have a good trainer,for around thirty euros , you will find branded and reliable products. This solution can be complementary to a terrestrial and/or parabolic antenna. Its simple installation in the HDMI connection of your television does not require any specific power supply adaptation.
The Box TV
This solution is, in our opinion, the most relevant. This product, you almost all know it, and yet you do not necessarily know that it is over the counter. You now have with your internet operator the possibility of receiving television with a box that you will connect to your TV. Well the TV Box we are talking about is exactly the same. Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free… are the most used operators in France. When you take out an internet subscription with them, they offer you the possibility of receiving television with a box as part of the price or in addition. You will plug it into your television in order to receive television and/or have access to content offers. This is what a TV Box is...
Almost all operators give you the possibility of having access to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, MyCanal. However, when you have new content providers like Salto or others, you can no longer add them if your operator does not want it. On the other hand, a TV Box or TV Stick Key that you buy commercially either under Android or under TVOS (Apple) is open. And that is the whole difference.
You can add the applications you want and without possible commercial restraint, as long as Google Play Store or Apple Store offer it. You have access to classic content, but also to free or subscription offers such as Molotov TV, Deezer, Spotify, VLC, Kodi...
The TV Stick Key
Amazon Fire Stick with its remote control that includes voice function and movie viewing control.
It's exactly the same as a TV Box, but much smaller. The TV Stick is inserted directly into the HDMI socket of your television and is powered by the USB cord of the television. Its remote control will allow you to navigate exactly the same way as the Box TV in the different menus. Its small size makes it a real asset when you want to use a mobile product that you are going to remove to pass it from one television to another.
But if its small size makes it a real asset for motorhome owners, its navigation fluidity is sometimes slower than that of a TV Box, especially when you switch from one service to another (from Molotov to Netflix by example).
4.The trend: Smart TV
More and more, our televisions integrate apps (from content producers, channels, etc.). This is called a Smart TV. But here too, be careful, some televisions use a proprietary format. So you won't find Google "Play Store" downloads. So you have to be careful when buying a product. If you want an open Smart TV, it must be Android compatible.
Power supply 12 V or 220 V
The BoxTV or Stick TV Key can be a complete or complementary solution to a terrestrial and/or satellite dish. As for the TV Box, its fixed installation in your motorhome will require the installation of a USB/DC cord, or a 12 V/5 V converter. More and more motorhome owners are using 220 V , by converter and/or by connecting to 220 V at the stage. You obviously won't have to make any electrical arrangements if you have a 220 V socket near the television. For the TV Stick Key, its HDMI socket integrated into the key allows you to connect it to the television. The power cord supplied with the purchase to be plugged into the USB socket of the TV will suffice to power it.
How do I connect these devices?
For a Chromecast , your smartphone connection is used. You will need to search for the signal of your key, then validate the connection sharing of your telephone to connect the key to the internet in order to be able to cast your smartphone screen on the television of your motorhome. Depending on the key models, the connection is more or less easy and more or less stable. To connect to the internet with your TV Box or TV Stick Key , simply click on your smartphone connection sharing button. The first time, it is necessary to enter the telephone connection sharing code. Thereafter, the connection is automatic. Nothing's easier.
Choosing the right TV Box or TV Key
Last point, you will also need to pay attention to the products you find on online sales sites. You have products costing around twenty euros, which are not real TV Box or TV Stick systems, but more or less compatible pseudo tablet systems. The advantage is that the price is attractive, but without going into detail, when using applications there are a number of security protocols that exist. Over time, updates are no longer possible and these products are not maintained by low-cost manufacturers. So you have to be extremely careful about the products you choose. Here are some examples of open TV box vendors that support updates: Xiaomi Box TV MI S, NvidiaShild TV, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV,
Read also our article Essential motorhome equipment
Internet subscription: a mobile connection
The other question that will arise is: will my mobile internet subscription be enough to watch television with my box? Packages and technologies have evolved a lot, and today, getting internet in a motorhome is no longer a problem. However, we advise you to contact your mobile operator to find out if your subscription is compatible with such use, to avoid unpleasant additional costs.
Small packages are not enough
Suffice to say that the small plans at 2, 5 or 10 € will not be able to give you the possibility of sharing your connection under good conditions.
Adjust your plan to your consumption
There are more and more packages with 90 GB of internet or more. This is already very good for everyday internet use for your laptop. But be careful not to fall asleep in front of the television set every night or to keep the TV Box or TV Stick running all day. Ditto, for 50 or 60 GB plans. For daily use, this can limit the use over time if you are a heavy consumer of images.
“Unlimited” subscriptions often have limits
Some operators offer you unlimited packages. Either directly, or through intermediaries "banks, mass distribution...". We invite you to inform yourself well, since some operators can limit you beyond a certain speed, even by selling you an unlimited package. Depending on the applications you use, you will consume between 1 and 3 GB per hour depending on the definition of the video stream. It takes on average 1 GB/h when you do connection sharing. In addition, for television addicts and fans of Netflix, Prime Video and other suppliers of films, series... and internet on demand in the motorhome.
Use of a 4G and soon 5G Wi-Fi router with integrated SIM card
Huawei brand router.
A router is a device that allows you to connect to the GSM network and share it to allow external devices to connect to it. The fact that it works with a SIM card allows you to get internet with a dedicated subscription, without having to share your smartphone connection. This solution is increasingly used by motorhome owners.
Read also our article Motorhome budget: costs, fees, expenses
Routers for all needs
There are small keys that are easy to recharge and place in the motorhome, up to a more substantial router, but with a significantly greater range and greater speed restitution. The keys are very easy to use and the result is often satisfactory. Some operators are starting to offer turnkey formulas, but beware of the costs: they are often not attractive. Nothing prevents you from buying a router alone and integrating a SIM card with a suitable package. It is significantly cheaper than the turnkey solution.
No internet, no TV
This is one of the disadvantages of Internet TV: if you no longer have a connection, you lose your access to new programs. But if you consult the internet with your smartphone during your motorhome trips, you probably already have an informed judgment on this subject. Our opinion: national and even international mobile internet coverage has evolved extremely well. Abroad too: Roaming allows you to use your package in different countries at a lower cost or at no additional cost (see terms and conditions with your operator).
