1. Speakers:The original speakers though the dash audio receiver head (3 above the windshield, one on each side of the bed) function quite well for my tastes. There was an aftermarket residential surround sound audio amp/mixer in our coach when we purchased it - but it was a power hog, which is a no-no because we spend a lot of time unplugged. So we pulled it, pulled the aftermarket polk audio speakers, and we use the original speakers
2. Sound Source: We simply installed a new Alpine stereo receiver with bluetooth in the dash, and use the bluetooth on a dedicated "music tablet" to play on these as our primary speakers. The dash stereo runs on the house batteries (in our coach, at least). We chose not to configure the TV to run through these speakers.
3. TV source:We use an HP Stream Mini (PC Computer) hooked up to our TV for almost all of our viewing. We actually kept the old-school DVD player because it only uses 6 Watts AC- that's fantastic! We also have a Chromecast hooked up to the TV - but with a media computer hooked directly to the TV, we rarely use it.
4. Data: We have been using cellular hotspots as a primary data source outside of the house for years, as we always spent a lot of time on the road. It always has worked great - cellular data is reliable in most places these days. However, when we moved into the FT full time a few months ago, we knew we would need more than 12 GB / month. So, we started renting a grandfathered verizon wireless unlimited plan sim card (from eBay), put it inside this MiFi router: Amazon.com: Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot - AC791L (Verizon Wireless)..., and when we are in areas with only 2 bars of service, we'll plug in this non-powered antennae: Amazon.com: 8dB Verizon NETGEAR AC791L Mobile Hotspot External Antenna w/OEM...
It works great. Our home base currently only has 2 bars of verizon service, but when we plug in the antennae we get 15-50 MB/sec download speeds and 4-8 MB/sec upload speeds.
5. Computer: We have that small low powered HP Stream computer for TV usage, and I also have a separate workstation with multiple monitors that I use for work, and that is more power hungry.
If you are going to use an external TV monitor for computer viewing, I would recommend a dedicated location and hard-wiring. Otherwise, and particularly if you have a laptop, don't do anything with wires that you can do wirelessly. The technology is only get to get "more wireless".
6. Satellite/Video: We don't "flip through TV". If we want to watch something, we usually already know what that is, and we can find it on the internet. Plus, the satellite and antennae hardware on the roof took up valuable solar panel space, and created shading on existing panels!! So we pulled roof hardware. We put in a non-powered $35 Winegard Flatwave on the interior of an overhead cabinet so we could get local channels in metropolitan markets. This is mostly just so we can get PBS Kids and play some sesame street for the little guy!
7. Charging Devices: The newest wave of cell phones now has a different USB charging port - the USB-C - which will mean you'll need an adapter even for some of the integrated USB ports that started becoming more common a few years ago. Older USB charging devices all have adapters that are rated for different charging speeds, and even the wires are rated for different charging speeds. Integrated USB ports are generally not built to be power-variable - some ports are rated for 1A, other for 2.1A, others for 3A, etc. While devices do have some forgiveness for USB charger rating - A 1A port will take forever to charge your new ipad, while an older cellphone consistently left plugged into a 3A port overnight will quickly see decreased battery capacity, so it's not perfect.
An integrated USB power system installed today would undoubtedly be ultra-convenient - but the technology is not finished evolving, and in a few years you may need to start using all those adapters again, or else do the next power outlet upgrade. Just things to consider.
For us, if we need AC power at a DC outlet, we just use that little car-style 75W Inverter. If we need USB power there, we plug in a USB charger, or unplug the inverter and use a straight DC->USB adapter, etc. Once everything slowly "found it's place," there really wasn't much plug/wire switching taking place, and it is convenient enough for us.
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Topic: Technology "Survey"