How to Stream NZ Netflix to a not-so-smart Panasonic TV?

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Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1268080 26-Mar-2015 08:57

Regarding the Fire TV devices, is the Fire TV stick as good as the Fire TV, or put another way why would i buy the $99 jobbie over the $39 jobbie?

marlinz

441 posts

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#1268095 26-Mar-2015 09:04

Wade: Regarding the Fire TV devices, is the Fire TV stick as good as the Fire TV, or put another way why would i buy the $99 jobbie over the $39 jobbie?

Click and compare the two compare Fire TV and Fire Stick

I myself prefer ethernet connection of the FireTV which the Stick does not have the ability to do

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jonathan18

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#1268302 26-Mar-2015 11:36

marlinz:
Wade: Regarding the Fire TV devices, is the Fire TV stick as good as the Fire TV, or put another way why would i buy the $99 jobbie over the $39 jobbie?

Click and compare the two compare Fire TV and Fire Stick

I myself prefer ethernet connection of the FireTV which the Stick does not have the ability to do

Another consideration may be whether the Fire Stick will (or is even able to?) get the firmware upgrade to enable the access of content on external USB harddrives, as discssed in the main Amazon Fire thread recently (not sure if you'd use if for this purpose?).

I agree with the post quoted above, though - I'd always pick the Fire TV over the stick version for the very reason of ethernet - I'd like the assurance of the best-possible picture, and not be at the mercy of the quality of the wifi at the time. (At least the Fire TV Stick comes with a remote, the absence of which was one of the significant failures of the Chromecast for us when we tried it before replacing it with a Fire TV).

Also, Amazon have dropped the price of the Fire TV to $79 a few times since its launch, so if you're not in a hurry I'm sure you'd get it at that again.

It's a great device, and with being able to run XBMC/Kodi and access material off a NAS it's a brilliant deal (for us it replaced the use of a Mac Mini in the lounge at a fraction of the cost).

Wade

2225 posts

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#1268336 26-Mar-2015 11:56

marlinz:
Wade: Regarding the Fire TV devices, is the Fire TV stick as good as the Fire TV, or put another way why would i buy the $99 jobbie over the $39 jobbie?

Click and compare the two compare Fire TV and Fire Stick

I myself prefer ethernet connection of the FireTV which the Stick does not have the ability to do

I did see that but was questioning form an operational perspective they both do the equivalent job of streaming media to a tv? the Dual core stick still brings the goods to the table so to speak?

For me cabling from modem to TV is not an option so no value for me there but sure i can see the benefits if I could

I need to get a second chromecast and hadn't considered the fire stick until seeing this thread and it has got me thinking... I like the idea of having a standalone device with remote so that no-one's device (phone/ipad etc) is tied to whatever is streaming

I probably need to read the main Fire TV thread and do a bit more research

Kiwifruta

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#1268412 26-Mar-2015 13:24

Wade:
marlinz:
Wade: Regarding the Fire TV devices, is the Fire TV stick as good as the Fire TV, or put another way why would i buy the $99 jobbie over the $39 jobbie?

Click and compare the two compare Fire TV and Fire Stick

I myself prefer ethernet connection of the FireTV which the Stick does not have the ability to do

I did see that but was questioning form an operational perspective they both do the equivalent job of streaming media to a tv? the Dual core stick still brings the goods to the table so to speak?

For me cabling from modem to TV is not an option so no value for me there but sure i can see the benefits if I could

I need to get a second chromecast and hadn't considered the fire stick until seeing this thread and it has got me thinking... I like the idea of having a standalone device with remote so that no-one's device (phone/ipad etc) is tied to whatever is streaming

I probably need to read the main Fire TV thread and do a bit more research

Have you considered ethernet over powerline? (basically you use the electrical wiring as a substitute for ethernet cabling) I have one and it's magic.

robjg63

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#1268424 26-Mar-2015 13:38

I use mine over powerline units as well - much more stable than wifi.
My only advice is get units that allow plug through. ie they plug into the wall plug but have their own power sockets.
Like this: http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=419010

They are super easy to set up.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

macuser

2120 posts

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#1268427 26-Mar-2015 13:43

Chromecast or Apple TV or Fire TV.

Don't use a game console or an old PC, they use too much power.

I'd recommend a Chromecast if you have a smartphone, it makes Netflix really great to use as you navigate and control with a smartphone

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Wade

2225 posts

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#1268434 26-Mar-2015 13:57

Kiwifruta:

Have you considered ethernet over powerline? (basically you use the electrical wiring as a substitute for ethernet cabling) I have one and it's magic.

And this is why i love Geekzone, solutions to problems i didn't even know i had!!

Ironically the router and the TV are literally 4mtrs away from each other but on different walls with an access way inbetween, I hadn't considered this method but great food for thought!!

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#1268449 26-Mar-2015 14:30

macuser: Chromecast or Apple TV or Fire TV.

Don't use a game console or an old PC, they use too much power.

I'd recommend a Chromecast if you have a smartphone, it makes Netflix really great to use as you navigate and control with a smartphone

don't you find it annoying using your smartphone as a remote? i.e. everytime you want to adjust the volume or play/pause you have to unlock your screen. I found it a PITA.

You can control Apple TV from iPhone too, but after trying it out I found it much more convenient to just use the provided remote.

jonathan18

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#1268463 26-Mar-2015 14:52

NonprayingMantis:
macuser: Chromecast or Apple TV or Fire TV.

Don't use a game console or an old PC, they use too much power.

I'd recommend a Chromecast if you have a smartphone, it makes Netflix really great to use as you navigate and control with a smartphone

don't you find it annoying using your smartphone as a remote? i.e. everytime you want to adjust the volume or play/pause you have to unlock your screen. I found it a PITA.

You can control Apple TV from iPhone too, but after trying it out I found it much more convenient to just use the provided remote.

I'd never again touch a device that relies on the use of another device to control it, as with Chromecast.

One thing slightly frustrating about the Amazon Fire (and Fire Stick) is that the remote is bluetooth, so can't be controlled by most all-in-one remotes, including the Harmony One that we use. It's destroyed our 'one remote to rule them all' situation in the lounge, whereas at least the Apple TV is IR (that said, I still haven't sorted it out so that the Apple TV remote doesn't turn on and muck about with the controls of our Mac Mini!).

macuser

2120 posts

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#1268498 26-Mar-2015 15:59

NonprayingMantis:
macuser: Chromecast or Apple TV or Fire TV.

Don't use a game console or an old PC, they use too much power.

I'd recommend a Chromecast if you have a smartphone, it makes Netflix really great to use as you navigate and control with a smartphone

don't you find it annoying using your smartphone as a remote? i.e. everytime you want to adjust the volume or play/pause you have to unlock your screen. I found it a PITA.

You can control Apple TV from iPhone too, but after trying it out I found it much more convenient to just use the provided remote.

I have an Apple TV, that's a true PITA

Don't own a chromecast, gave it to my mother though and she likes it a lot I think

Kiwifruta

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#1268528 26-Mar-2015 17:18

robjg63: I use mine over powerline units as well - much more stable than wifi.
My only advice is get units that allow plug through. ie they plug into the wall plug but have their own power sockets.
Like this: http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=419010

They are super easy to set up.

Totally agree about the units that have a socket on the back. Keeps the socket available for other devices, a multiboard or double adaptor would cause signal interference.

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