How do I best stream Netflix to a TV

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Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek

#142809 25-Mar-2014 12:46

Hi,

Would like ideas on how I can best stream Netflix to my TV in the bedroom. By best I mean cheapest and easiest way.

My bedroom TV is connected to an Xbox 360 as a Windows Media Center extender only. I have Netflix set up in WMC in the lounge which is serving the Xbox in the bedroom, but found that the Netflix tile does not show on the extender which is a shame. I don't want to pay for Xbox Live Gold just to get Netflix.

How can I easily stream Netflix from my iPad to my bedroom TV? It has both spare HDMI and USB ports.

I have an Orcon Genius router so I am not sure if the DNS trick I've read about elsewhere would work with a Google Chromecast. Plus my girlfriend works from home and is on a VPN all day so I'm also not sure if redirecting the DNS at the router's end would stuff up her VPN connection.

I'm using UnoTelly, and making the necessary DNS changes on each device.

Any pointers/suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers.

BigMal

996 posts

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#1012410 25-Mar-2014 13:20

Because you need to change DNS on the device you can forget Roku and Chromecast. Maybe go for an Apple TV? The interface is a bit dated but it's a solid enough Netflix player.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1012439 25-Mar-2014 13:33

I have an Orcon Genius router so I am not sure if the DNS trick I've read about elsewhere would work with a Google Chromecast. Plus my girlfriend works from home and is on a VPN all day so I'm also not sure if redirecting the DNS at the router's end would stuff up her VPN connection.

I use unblock-us and its configured on our router. This gets the Roku and all other devices working.

I work from home often via my companies VPN and so does my wife. We never have any problems ...

Cbfd

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1012530 25-Mar-2014 15:00

What sortoftv is in the room

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1012546 25-Mar-2014 15:44

2nd hand PS3 is a good option (and you can use it for blu-ray and games f you want too).

You can probably get a 12GB PS3 from trademe for less than $200

DNS change is very easy.

(also gives you access to other things like BBC iPlayer, Amazon on demand, Hulu plus etc etc)

Regs

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Snowflake

#1012801 25-Mar-2014 22:18

I just use Netflix on the Xbox 360 in the bedroom. At US$60/yr that's about $5 per month which is much cheaper than buying another device! At the moment you can also get free games (2 per month) with a gold membership: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/games-with-gold

JimmyC

726 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1012883 26-Mar-2014 08:40

If you're not a gamer, paying M'soft an Xbox live sub simply to access to another company's product (Netflix) makes zero sense... I can't believe they can get away with that but hey.

I'd get an Apple TV. Rather than use the iPad for viewing, set up a US iTunes account and get the native Netflix app on the Apple TV. Several advantages - 1) you only need to configure the alternate DNS on your Apple TV so it doesn't affect the rest of the devices on your network. That can be very beneficial on some ISP's. 2) you can use AirPlay to flick whatever you're looking at on iPad to your TV. Haven't tried doing that with the Netflix app but I'm guessing if you AirPlay it it'll most likely be 4:3 rather than 16:10 resolution.

jonathan18

7413 posts

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#1012917 26-Mar-2014 09:31

JimmyC: 2) you can use AirPlay to flick whatever you're looking at on iPad to your TV. Haven't tried doing that with the Netflix app but I'm guessing if you AirPlay it it'll most likely be 4:3 rather than 16:10 resolution.

Luckily not the case - I initially thought it was, as the image on the TV was indeed limited to a cut-down 3:4, but at that point I was using mirroring -once I set it to only display on the TV it was full-screen glory in the original ratio.

I was saying only last night the Apple TV has been worth every cent, even if we don't stick with Netflix; for example to be able to search for a video on the iPad but display it on the TV is SO much easier than trying to use the HTPC. Even some of the free content available via it (eg Smithsonian channel) is pretty intereresting.

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JimmyC

726 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1012925 26-Mar-2014 09:42

jonathan18:
JimmyC: 2) you can use AirPlay to flick whatever you're looking at on iPad to your TV. Haven't tried doing that with the Netflix app but I'm guessing if you AirPlay it it'll most likely be 4:3 rather than 16:10 resolution.

Luckily not the case - I initially thought it was, as the image on the TV was indeed limited to a cut-down 3:4, but at that point I was using mirroring -once I set it to only display on the TV it was full-screen glory in the original ratio.

Good to know!

trig42

5809 posts

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#1012986 26-Mar-2014 10:25

JimmyC: If you're not a gamer, paying M'soft an Xbox live sub simply to access to another company's product (Netflix) makes zero sense... I can't believe they can get away with that but hey.

I'd get an Apple TV. Rather than use the iPad for viewing, set up a US iTunes account and get the native Netflix app on the Apple TV. Several advantages - 1) you only need to configure the alternate DNS on your Apple TV so it doesn't affect the rest of the devices on your network. That can be very beneficial on some ISP's. 2) you can use AirPlay to flick whatever you're looking at on iPad to your TV. Haven't tried doing that with the Netflix app but I'm guessing if you AirPlay it it'll most likely be 4:3 rather than 16:10 resolution.

Just a note here - you do not need a US iTunes account, you just need to setup the UnblockUS (or other proxy service) DNS settings, change the AppleTV iTunes store to US and restart it. I have not setup a US iTunes account, and it works fine for me. I suspect I would need a US iTunes account to buy/rent movies off the ATV.

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek

#1013828 27-Mar-2014 12:45

Yeah I definitely see no point in an Xbox Live sub. Neither of the two Xbox 360's I have in the house have ever seen a game. They are both purely WMC streamers.

Apple TV may be the best route for me to take, but would wait as I believe it is due for an update any time now.

Chromecast would still be my preferred option from a cost point of view, but I'm still worried about the VPN thing. My girlfriend's VPN is to the UK and not locally. But then I have no idea if this would make things more complicated.

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek

#1015958 31-Mar-2014 12:33

I solved my problem. It turns out that my Sony Bravia TV in the bedroom has the ability to stream Netflix via its smart TV capabilities. I changed a few settings and I was off...

Thanks for everyone's input here.

kharris

1209 posts

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#1018300 4-Apr-2014 10:14

Satch: I solved my problem. It turns out that my Sony Bravia TV in the bedroom has the ability to stream Netflix via its smart TV capabilities. I changed a few settings and I was off...

Thanks for everyone's input here.

How do you get the netflix app on your Sony Bravia TV

Kirk

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek

#1018464 4-Apr-2014 12:37

kharris:
Satch: I solved my problem. It turns out that my Sony Bravia TV in the bedroom has the ability to stream Netflix via its smart TV capabilities. I changed a few settings and I was off...

Thanks for everyone's input here.

How do you get the netflix app on your Sony Bravia TV

I can't remember the exact steps sorry. But I put my UnoTelly DNS server numbers into the Bravia's network settings, updated my internet content on the TV and voila! The Netflix app became available.

kharris

1209 posts

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#1019966 7-Apr-2014 13:55

Satch:
kharris:
Satch: I solved my problem. It turns out that my Sony Bravia TV in the bedroom has the ability to stream Netflix via its smart TV capabilities. I changed a few settings and I was off...

Thanks for everyone's input here.

How do you get the netflix app on your Sony Bravia TV

I can't remember the exact steps sorry. But I put my UnoTelly DNS server numbers into the Bravia's network settings, updated my internet content on the TV and voila! The Netflix app became available.

Thanks, that worked.

I updated the router DNS but didn't refresh the apps properly last time. Just changed DNS server on TV this time.