2 Part Question: Cable in 1500/2000 Yet? and Cable TV Through a PC?

[KristinU]

Hi All,

Does anyone know if loops 1500 and 2000 have cable yet? If not, does anyone know if they will before Thanksgiving? (well, 11/23 actually)

If not, then my following question is moot - at least for this year's trip.

If so, then my question is this:

Does anyone have their laptop set up so they can hook up cable TV? I've started doing a little research, and it looks like the big name in this game is Win-TV by Hauppauge...but I thought I'd ask for some real life opinions on setting up cable through a PC. I'm wondering if its a big ordeal and if we wouldn't be better off just watching for a small TV on Craigslist or something. We're state parks types of campers most of the time, so the Fort is really the only time I can think of where we'll want to hook up to cable. We do sometimes watch movies on the laptop when we're in "camp driveway", so that's why I thought maybe we'd look into the whole TV card thing...but I'm on the fence. So any thoughts, opinions, etc. would be appreciated!

And yeah, we could live without TV for a week, or just watch movies...but DH and I both really like what we call the "propaganda channels" LOL!

Not sure if this belongs in the main Fort forum or the Fort general discussion forum...

Thanks!

[Mickey Canada]

Good question, I was wondering about the same thing. I will be heading Oct 10th. I am curious if I should bring the cable/TV as well. We would be in either the 1500 or 2000 loops.

[Tri-circle-D]

No cable in the 1500 or 2000 loops yet.

It is supposed to be installed before Thanksgiving, but they seem to be behind schedule with the other improvements, so this probably will be late, too.

TCD

[Mickey Canada]

Thanks ...it's one more thing I don't need to bring. (cable)

However, what is the reception like with rabbit ears? Would I beable to pick up local channels?

[Tri-circle-D]

You can pick up local channels with the rabbit ears, at least through February, 2009- which is when all television broadcasts in the US will go digital. On my last visit to a full hook up site (4/08), I had bad reception of the local channels. I didn't know if it was because some are already broadcasting in digital, or just the configuration of my site. The digital broadcast problem will be eliminated at the Fort, as all sites are going to be provided with cable, and I presume this will get done before February.

TCD

[KristinU]

Thanks TCD!

After lots of research and discussion yesterday since posting, I think we came to the conclusion that the best thing would be for us to just take our LCD TV off the wall in our bedroom at home and rig a stand or mount for it in the camper...that is IF the cable is installed by the time of our trip.

Thanks again!

[medic9016]

You can get a PC TV tuner card on Ebay for around $40. Some require a hard installation(opening up the PC) and some slide in the side in a open wireless card slot. If I had the choice I would go with taking a tv from home.

[tjbarton]

Thanks for the idea. For got about the WinTV that I have. My DD used it last year at UNCG when she was at school. I think I'll bring it just in case loop has it by the time we get there.

[Anne's Family]

Tried our rabbit ears in August and most channels came in ok except channel 2... which we wanted the most because we were there during the Olympics! Reception was horrible on the rabbit ears. Find a way around it!

[bradisgoofy]

You CAN turn your pc/laptop into a tv with something like this (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8512362&type=product&id=1186005934618). There is no need to open the laptop as it is a usb connection. You can find them cheaper then the one I showed you, I just wanted to give you an idea of what is available. The drawback to FW cable is it is mostly Disney or Disney owned channels ( ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, etc. ). Now, if you have a trailer, and don't mind spending a little money, you could add one of these (http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/winegard-batwing-sensar-iii-antenna/26655). I have one on my coach and got lots of local channels, many in HD, in FW. And it is totally compatible with digital signals.

[mrtroutjedi]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3296077&CatId=1427
this is even cheaper :cool1:

[KristinU]

Thanks everyone! Lots of food for thought! Of course, no thought required if they don't add cable to 1500/2000 by November 23rd :lmao:

[KristinU]

Bumping this in case anyone has any update or speculation on the status of the cable in loops 1500 and 2000. Anyone?

[clkelley]

Have no idea. A lot of us will be there next week, so we'll make a point to look. It would be nice to have for December, that's for sure.

[KristinU]

Awesome, thanks Carol!

[KristinU]

OK, don't hate me...but anoyone have an update on cable for 1500 or 2000? I know, I know, I should get 50 lashes with a wet noodle for asking over and over and over and over!

[rapriebe]

We drove through the 1500 loop yesterday and the cable was sticking out of the pipes at the campsites. Haven't been to the 2000 loop yet.

[KristinU]

We drove through the 1500 loop yesterday and the cable was sticking out of the pipes at the campsites. Haven't been to the 2000 loop yet.

Ooh, sounds hopeful - thanks Rapriebe!

We just bought our little gizmo for the PC yesterday - we went with a Pinnacle one, and it seems to work great with our cable at home and over the air broadcasts. :thumbsup2

[GrumpyinNY]

Seems like we could possibly watch the Disney parade for Christmas...yea!!

[Willow1213]

Just an FYI for those of you looking for TV away from home. If you happen to have high speed internet at home and where you will be camping you could look into SlingBox. It basically "slings" your TV onto the internet for you to access anywhere. I have one hooked up and I can even access my DVR recordings from home. Hope this helps a little

~Abby

[marble96]

We stayed in Loop 1500 from Oct 30th - Nov 6th and the cable boxes were in and a cable hanging out but not connected yet. Unknown about 2000 Loop.

[KristinU]

Thanks for the update, Marble96!

[GrumpyinNY]

any updates?

TIA.

[KristinU]

We just got back - spent a week in site 1510 watching cable :thumbsup2 My parents were in the 1600 loop and also had cable. I can't speak to the 2000 loop since all sites were full when we rode around.

Our little Pinnacle tuner stick on our laptop worked like a charm.

Enjoy!

[clkelley]

We just got back - spent a week in site 1510 watching cable :thumbsup2 My parents were in the 1600 loop and also had cable. I can't speak to the 2000 loop since all sites were full when we rode around.

Our little Pinnacle tuner stick on our laptop worked like a charm.

Enjoy!

WooHoo!!! Just faxed in my request for Loop 1500 this morning!!

[FlaFortCampster]

Any news on the 2000 loop cable yet? Camping dates fast approaching and need to know if it's rabbit ears or long cable to be packed.

Any info greatly appreciated.