Watch TV Anywhere Using a Portable TV With a Built-in Tuner
The portable TV has come a long way from the CRT tubes of yesteryear. These new portable televisions are lightweight, small, and easy to transport, due to their LCD screens and components. All of these handheld TVs can be powered from a wall jack and are equipped with lithium batteries. They come with built-in digital tuners and foldable antennas so you can watch over the air television signals. They are convenient for camping, the RV, tailgating, or the office.
Portable TV Features
Many of these portable televisions come fully equipped with rechargeable batteries allowing for many hours of viewing. When you are low on juice, just plug it into your nearest outlet for a recharge. All of these portable TVs will receive free broadcast OTA television using the provided antenna. Channel reception will vary depending on how far you are from the broadcast towers. You can use the built-in speakers or the headphone jack to listen to your favorite program. Let’s look at some of the most popular portable televisions on the market.
RCA T227 7″ Portable Widescreen LCD TV with Detachable Antenna
The RCA T227 comes with a 7” widescreen LCD with a built-in ATSC tuner to capture OTA signals. It comes with a detachable antenna, so it allows you to plug in a larger antenna if you like. This may be required depending on your location. It has a convenient flip-out stand that enables this handheld TV to stay propped up on its own. The RCA T227 has an easy and straightforward channel and menu control on the front panel. It also comes with fully functional remote and parental controls. The picture quality is quite good for a small TV. This is an overall good buy and value for the money.
Specifications:
- Weight: 1 pound
- Dimensions: 9.8 x 2.5 x 11.3 inches
- 7-inch LCD display
- Built-in ATSC digital/NTSC analog tuner
Where to Buy:
The RCA T227 7” LCD TV is available at these retailers:
eBay:
Amazon:
9” Supersonic Portable Widescreen LCD Display with Digital TV Tuner
If you are looking for a slightly bigger portable TV with a few more options then the 9” Supersonic LCD portable TV is a great option. It has a larger 9” display and the ability to play videos from an external USB stick or SD card. This portable TV also has two AV input jacks allowing you to plug in an external video source like a DVD player. It has a built-in adjustable stand for raising or lowering the TV. The 9” Supersonic portable TV is compatible with DC voltage which allows for use in a car or RV. The picture quality is very clear and bright on its 9” LCD screen. You can’t go wrong with this well-built portable TV.
Specifications:
- 9″ Widescreen LCD TV
- Built-in Digital TV Tuner
- Built-in Lithium Rechargeable Battery
- USB Input Compatible Allows You to Play Video & Audio Files from an External Device
- SD/MMC Card Reader Compatible, Allows You to Play Video & Audio Files from an SD or MMC Card
- Screen Mode: 16:9
- Resolution: 800 x 480
- On-Screen Display
- 2 x AV Input Jacks
- Rotary Rod Antenna
- Earphone Jack
- Built-in Speakers
- Stylish Up and Down TV Stand
- AC/DC Operation: Watch Your Favorite Shows at Home or on the Go
- Full Function Remote Control
- Power: ETL Approved Adapter: AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz & DC 12 Volt Compatibility
- Maximum Power Consumption: 12W
- Input Terminals: Component, Audio/Video/Audio Headphones
Where to Buy:
9” Supersonic Portable TV with OTA Tuner is available from these retailers:
eBay:
9” Supersonic Portable TV with OTA Tuner
Amazon:
9” Supersonic Portable TV with OTA Tuner
More Powerful Portable Antenna
August DTA240 High Gain Digital TV Aerial
You may want to consider buying a more powerful OTA antenna if you live outside the city limits. We recommend using the August DTA240 high gain OTA antenna. It is slightly larger than the antennas that come with these portable TVs but is much more powerful. It will offer better signal reception and better gain. It comes with a magnetic stand which is perfect for mounting on metal surfaces.
Where to Buy:
The August DTA240 High Gain Digital TV Aerial is available at these retailers:
eBay:
August DTA240 High Gain Digital TV Aerial
AliExpress:
Amazon:
August DTA240 High Gain Digital TV Aerial
Conclusion
Portable televisions can be very handy and can be taken just about anywhere. These small portable televisions are perfect to watch OTA TV without drawing too much attention. They are lightweight, easy to set up, and can fit in just about any location.
Hi Johan,
Was looking at a video playback device with 5.5 inch screen that plays stored content which is input through SD card or USB flash drive. Cheap device with only this limited capability – entertainment for the rural poor, bottom of the pyramid folks.
Please point me to right sources for this.
Cheers
Muthanna
You may want to look at a portable digital media player. They are devices about the size of a deck of cards. They allow you to play content off a SD card or USB drive. They have HDMI and RCA outputs. I have an article explaining how they work: https://www.overtheairdigitaltv.com/the-best-digital-media-players-for-usb-drives-and-sdsdhc-cards/. You could pair it with a small TV monitor. The other option is in this article I wrote: https://www.overtheairdigitaltv.com/watch-tv-anywhere-using-a-portable-tv-with-a-built-in-tuner/. Some of these small TV’s have the option to play SD and USB content built in. I hope this information helps.