WDTV Live Alternatives

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iamian

46 posts

Geek

#171220 10-Apr-2015 09:12

Hi There

We currently had a WDTV Live, and it's OK but the menu's are getting quite laggy and Netflix often freezes. This morning it's just completely frozen, so I guess it's time for something new. Rolled back the firmware and it's still the same :(

Quite happy with the WDTV overall, apart form the menu lag - this is the main thing I would look for in something new - fast menu! I had a quick search but all the threads seemed to be old/outdated.

It just gets used for playing media files (1.5Tb over 2 hard drives - menu lag only happens when more than 500Gb is attached), and netflix.
The kids like to stream from it to watch stuff in their bedrooms on their laptops too - it was doing this ok via wireless but that recently stopped working, so it is wired to the modem now - wireless is handled by 2 x Unifi APLR, so I don't think it's that side of it that was causing the issues there (and it now works fine now the WDTV is wired).
Needs to be relatively easy to use so the wife/kids can use it.
A better netflix app/user interface would be good too... the WDTV one is a bit crappy.

Any ideas? Would it be worth looking at one that also does android tv/whatever?

Thanks!

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#1280212 10-Apr-2015 09:17

Amazon firetv does everything you need. Great netflix. can install kodi (xbmc) and play movies from usb. Can install most android apps, in this case plex which will allow you to stream movies to laptops etc.

Click on the gold affiliate link up the top of the page and have a look :)

sidefx

3711 posts

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#1280213 10-Apr-2015 09:17

Amazon Fire TV seems popular for the streaming side of things (haven't tried it but have been recommended it) but I think you'd need a plex server or similar to watch media files as I think it's just designed for streaming.

EDIT: lol, beaten to it :P

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robjg63

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#1280222 10-Apr-2015 09:25

Amazon fire tv - just stick kodi(xbmc) on it to play back/access media on a network share.
Works great - seems to play pretty much anything I have chucked at it.
The latest fire tv firmware supports locally connected USB devices now.
There were some restrictions on the type of USB devices ( http://www.aftvnews.com/overview-of-fire-tv-software-update-51-1-5-0/ )
but I gather it works well.

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

marlinz

441 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1280226 10-Apr-2015 09:27

what they said

Amazon Fire TV user here , very happy , i was in the same situation as you with a WDTV Live as my netflix player

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iamian

46 posts

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#1280228 10-Apr-2015 09:27

Thanks for the quick replies guys! I'll have a look at that now.

Is anyone using one with a similar amount (or more) of data connected to it? I really don't want any menu lag, but think that might just be a WDTV Live thing?

iamian

46 posts

Geek

#1280232 10-Apr-2015 09:31

So would the hard drives need to be attached to the modem, as the Fire can only handle flash memory up to 128Gb, with file sizes limited to 4Gb - both below what we have...? We just have the crappy free white Vodafone one... when we have previously had a HD attached to it it was kinda slow... before the Unifi APs though.

Thanks!

marlinz

441 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1280244 10-Apr-2015 09:36

iamian: So would the hard drives need to be attached to the modem, as the Fire can only handle flash memory up to 128Gb, with file sizes limited to 4Gb - both below what we have...? We just have the crappy free white Vodafone one... when we have previously had a HD attached to it it was kinda slow... before the Unifi APs though.

Thanks!

i use Plex , you would have to have the drives attached to your pc (or similar) to access them

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iamian

46 posts

Geek

#1280245 10-Apr-2015 09:36

I just tried to order one to check the shipping and it says it cannot be shipped to my address, but Amazon is usually fine with shipping to NZ? Do you have to go via youshop?

iamian

46 posts

Geek

#1280246 10-Apr-2015 09:37

marlinz:
iamian: So would the hard drives need to be attached to the modem, as the Fire can only handle flash memory up to 128Gb, with file sizes limited to 4Gb - both below what we have...? We just have the crappy free white Vodafone one... when we have previously had a HD attached to it it was kinda slow... before the Unifi APs though.

Thanks!

i use Plex , you would have to have the drives attached to your pc (or similar) to access them

Hmmm... we all have laptops so there isn't one that's on all the time so that wouldn't really work...

garvani

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#1280252 10-Apr-2015 09:39

Yeah youshop it, it only adds $20 to the total cost.

Some users have had success with normal mechanical hard drives, the 128gb flash isnt strictly enforced. the 4gb file size is as they have implemented fat32.

However: Depending on what version it ships with you can look into blocking the firmware update when you get it, then can root the device and use stickmount which allows normal hard drives with ntfs. Theres articles on xda and that aftvnews site about it all.

robjg63

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#1280265 10-Apr-2015 09:56

Hate to say it - but if using USB hard drives connected to a media player is your preferred method then the Fire TV might not be perfect solution for you.

Maybe another WDTV might be best.

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

iamian

46 posts

Geek

#1280266 10-Apr-2015 09:58

robjg63: Hate to say it - but if using USB hard drives connected to a media player is your preferred method then the Fire TV might not be perfect solution for you.

Maybe another WDTV might be best.

Is there nothing else that could do it but without the menu lag? It sticks for up to 10 seconds at a time, and if you have to navigate into 4/5 folders etc that can be annoying!

Thanks!

PS the USB doesn't have to be connected directly to the media player, it's just how it is at the minute... It just has to somehow (easily) play on there - more for the kids!

marlinz

441 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1280267 10-Apr-2015 10:00

robjg63: Hate to say it - but if using USB hard drives connected to a media player is your preferred method then the Fire TV might not be perfect solution for you.

Maybe another WDTV might be best.

you can always use the WD for your USB hard drive viewing and Fire TV as your Netflix,Hulu Plus , etc

Trust me the difference is amazing , i am on VDSL getting about 30 down and 5 up and i used to get quite a bit of buffering on the WDTV Live , now if it buffering happens its very rare

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iamian

46 posts

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#1280273 10-Apr-2015 10:07

marlinz:
robjg63: Hate to say it - but if using USB hard drives connected to a media player is your preferred method then the Fire TV might not be perfect solution for you.

Maybe another WDTV might be best.

you can always use the WD for your USB hard drive viewing and Fire TV as your Netflix,Hulu Plus , etc

Trust me the difference is amazing , i am on VDSL getting about 30 down and 5 up and i used to get quite a bit of buffering on the WDTV Live , now if it buffering happens its very rare

The WDTV is slow and freezes, so needs to be replaced so the kids can watch their stuff on the HDs :( Wouldn't want to get a new one if it's going to be as slow on the menus either.

garvani

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#1280278 10-Apr-2015 10:08

Another wdtv, you must be kidding. AFTV is a far superior device and does everything he needs. Since searching didn't happen ill provide the link to the guide that allows you to root the device then install stickmount that will allow access to the 1.5tb of storage through the usb port.

Btw that guide will look daunting! but its very well laid out and following it step by step will only take an hour at most.

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