sdavisnz: I've found the unit gets pretty hot. Was thinking of using some raspberry pi like heat sinks on the case...

Or should I rip it apart and apply to the chip.

Wonder if that will void the warranty lol.

I agree this thing runs hot

psychnurse:

sdavisnz: I've found the unit gets pretty hot. Was thinking of using some raspberry pi like heat sinks on the case...

Or should I rip it apart and apply to the chip.

Wonder if that will void the warranty lol.

 

I agree this thing runs hot

I'm considering getting this for my parents but theres a lot of mixed reviews? 

They're getting Fibre installed, and getting them Ubiquiti gear to take care of their network. 

They have my old 55" Samsung TV which has a beautiful panel but doesn't have SMART features. 

They ordered the Entertainment pack with Spark so get Netflix & Lightbox which they want to get to downgrade their SKY package. 

They want to be able to stream Netflix/Lightbox, and use the cast functions from their phones (android & iphone/ipad), and still watch Freeview. 

I was looking at the Dish TV A2 as well which really the main advantage for them is the terrestrial/dish connectivity for freeview if their internet ever goes down. 

Does anyone know if both/either come with Plex support as well? Im considering putting a NAS in for them. 

Jarsky:

I'm considering getting this for my parents but theres a lot of mixed reviews? 

 

They're getting Fibre installed, and getting them Ubiquiti gear to take care of their network. 

They have my old 55" Samsung TV which has a beautiful panel but doesn't have SMART features. 

 

They ordered the Entertainment pack with Spark so get Netflix & Lightbox which they want to get to downgrade their SKY package. 

They want to be able to stream Netflix/Lightbox, and use the cast functions from their phones (android & iphone/ipad), and still watch Freeview. 

I was looking at the Dish TV A2 as well which really the main advantage for them is the terrestrial/dish connectivity for freeview if their internet ever goes down. 

 

Does anyone know if both/either come with Plex support as well? Im considering putting a NAS in for them. 

Jarsky:

 

I'm considering getting this for my parents but theres a lot of mixed reviews? 

 

 

 

They're getting Fibre installed, and getting them Ubiquiti gear to take care of their network. 

 

They have my old 55" Samsung TV which has a beautiful panel but doesn't have SMART features. 

 

 

 

They ordered the Entertainment pack with Spark so get Netflix & Lightbox which they want to get to downgrade their SKY package. 

 

They want to be able to stream Netflix/Lightbox, and use the cast functions from their phones (android & iphone/ipad), and still watch Freeview. 

 

I was looking at the Dish TV A2 as well which really the main advantage for them is the terrestrial/dish connectivity for freeview if their internet ever goes down. 

 

 

 

Does anyone know if both/either come with Plex support as well? Im considering putting a NAS in for them. 

 

I have one of the new A2 boxes. I am very pleased with Emby (a plex competitor) on it. This works very well.

Emby for AndroidTV served from a Synology DS416play.

sdavisnz:

Parents wont use a nas, get yourself a nas and share your plex library with them and give them a login.

Plex installs on smart vu x, not sure about a2 , I'd say probably yes.

If they have Netflix lightbox then I'd say cancel sky as freeview app will give FTA channels streaming.

Concerning internet going down, on fibre I'd say that's very unlikely.

If you want something more powerful you can get a nvidia shield off trademe, but probably overkill for parents.

I'd say buy one and have a play, there only $100 bux.

I already have a custom NAS myself + Plex box, i was thinking more along the lines of a Synology for general use, and something I could drop things on for them that are more obscure. 

Good news about the Smart Vu X

Eventually the idea is to cancel SKY for them same as I did at home.

Sport is the main thing still tying them to it. It's great that Spark Sport will have RWC, but still hard to get them stuff like NFL, AFL, etc...without something like FanPass. Sky Essentials + Sports, is the same as FanPass (+ the HD ticket)...at the moment they have multiroom and the entire package with everything, so cutting it down will still make a big difference. 

I would say for non-techies Smart Vu X is very "gen 1". The freeview app could do with a few extra features and polishing up. I don't think the unit needs to be so small (and thus hot), an ethernet option would be nice, as would a USB option for recording stuff.

@robbon44: Is there a FV HD recorder which has the Freeview app loaded ? As usual I would be interested in having everything rather than part of something.

You mean like the DishTV Android recorder announced at the same time?

well that may work ! 

having read the thread on the Freeview recorder and also for this smartVu unit it seems that i would still need both units. 

Am i right in thinking the freeview recorder does not stream live TV like the Vu does and also reading in to it does not have netflix or 4k capability. 

As such its a nearly... and the hunt goes on 

may just have to bite the bullet and buy the vu for streaming core channels in HD and buy a Fv recorder for everything else... 

oooh.

anyone done this ? 

just download the APK on the recorder or sideload using USB ? not done this before as been too buried in Sky but interested !