One STB to rule them all?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › One STB to rule them all?

deadlyllama

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#229212 12-Feb-2018 20:54

At the moment we have too many things plugged into our TV.

Samsung Smart Blu Ray player (on loan from friends) - TVNZ on demand, Netflix, youtube
Roku 3 - Netflix, youtube, iPlayer
Raspberry Pi B - Kodi for files off server & the Freeview NZ streams app

I'd like to get rid of one or more of them. Our budget isn't huge, and our old TV only has two HDMI inputs. The obvious options are to get a chromecast - but that has no Kodi and we'd have to sideload iPlayer onto our phones - or get one of the Android TV boxes to replace the Raspberry Pi.

Are there any cheap (<$80) android TV boxes that aren't rubbish, and run Kodi & TVNZ onDemand well, and ideally Netflix and iPlayer too, with a button based remote control rather than having to use a flymouse?

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#1956047 12-Feb-2018 22:11

Can you get something to do all that, and do it well? The answer is yes.

But not for less than $80. You are pretty much talking a fully-fledged HTPC, with a wireless keyboard, remote control, optical drive etc. Expect to spend quite a bit more than $80 to do it well. Nearer $1,000 than $80 - particularly if you want decent storage and TV tuners as well.

wazzageek

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#1956049 12-Feb-2018 22:21

I know it's not less than $80, but I'm more than happy with my Apple TV4. I don't have kodi, but do use plex. The Apple TV 4 is capable of TVNZ on demand, TV3, Netflix, YouTube, Iplayer.

Freeview NZ streams, I'm not sure on that one. You do get the touch screen remote with it, but you can still use an older all button remote, or if you have a universal remote that talks "apple tv v3" then that will work as well. (In my case I also have a Bluetooth keyboard that I use with the unit)

I don't regret putting the money down for the Apple TV4.

And again ... sorry about being more than $80

Kiwifruta

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#1956089 13-Feb-2018 00:44

What about a fire tv stick with Kodi? You can stream TVNZ through Kodi. The basic stick is available from amazon without having to use a forwarding service like you shop. Price USD50 + postage.

geekiegeek

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#1956094 13-Feb-2018 05:45

I would second the Apple TV4, TVNZ and Mediaworks streams are available live through their respective apps so unless you want to watch Parliment Tv or something else outside of those twos programming you should be fine. Personally, it's the first time I have had a one box solution after years of running HTPC and a streaming box.

Rikkitic

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#1956095 13-Feb-2018 05:59

I have a cheap Android box that does all these things just fine. It is available on Aliexpress for around $40. It is called the S6 Pro. You get what you pay for but if you just want a basic box for little money this will do the job. The IR remote is rubbish, though. The buttons work fine but the range is unusually narrow for some reason so you have to be directly in front of the box for it to work properly.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Stu1

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#1956108 13-Feb-2018 07:06

3rd recommend apple TV with plex and a DNS , dont even use Blu-ray player or laptop now

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GV27

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#1956112 13-Feb-2018 07:17

It's a shame the PC on a Stick lines never got a refresh.

kobiak

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#1956168 13-Feb-2018 09:36

xiaomi mi box 4k - ~$90 delivered.

netflix, all google services, kodi, plex, runs since may last year without issues. we love voice control :)

helping others at evgenyk.nz

deadlyllama

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#1956200 13-Feb-2018 10:49

Can you "cast" to the Mi box? i.e. use it like a chromecast?

robfish

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#1956268 13-Feb-2018 11:40

Yes

Rob

robfish

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#1956270 13-Feb-2018 11:42

Fire TV is pretty good too.

On special at Amazon at the moment US$50

(You can cast to them with "All cast" too)

Rob

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MikeAqua

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#1956297 13-Feb-2018 12:30

deadlyllama:

Can you "cast" to the Mi box? i.e. use it like a chromecast?

Yes but some people have had issue with some apps. For example I can't get Lightbox to cast to the MiBox no matter what I do.

It also won't run videos via the ATV Lightbox app.

Pretty much everything else casts to it just fine.

Mike

Benoire

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#1956298 13-Feb-2018 12:34

Other issues with Android TV based products is that TVNZ/Mediaworks have no native applications yet. You can side load the APK for the phone versions but they're generally designed for touch and not the remote. The Mi Box is ok, I'm about to sell mine as I've got 2 nvidia shields now instead.

robfish

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#1956382 13-Feb-2018 14:58

I believe that there are Kodi addons for TVNZ/Mediaworks

Rob

langi27

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#1956401 13-Feb-2018 15:49

I'm thinking of ditching the T95 and getting either Xiaomi Mi Box3 or the MECOOL KIII Pro which has DV-T and -S tuners built in.

alot of the cheap chinese andriod boxes (like my T95) wont do TV3 or TVNZ, neon or lightbox as they are rooted devices. I think the Mi Box3 (international version) might be ok.

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