Options to watch streaming services

[Paul_oz53]

The WizTV dongle is no longer usable even for YouTube, which I watch a lot. It crashes frequently, is slow and buffers excessively. I plan to replace it and am willing to spend up to $250.

This raises the question what is the best option?

Apart from media players the possibility of using a single board computer crossed my mind. The Raspberry Pi 4 starter kit being a prime candidate but I read that it lacks the DRM support needed for Netflix, etc. Whilst there is a workaround which involves modifying the Chrome browser libraries it made me wonder if that mod would work for FTA catchup services, particularly ABC and SBS.

It occurs to me that someone out there may have developed their own solution to the problem.

Ultimately, what I want to do is buy a device that will play streams from ABC, SBS, Kayo, Netflix and Binge, etc. I prefer to use a Harmony remote for control but a USB keyboard is an option too. This might be an Nvidia Shield or possibly an SBC based solution.

Over to you guys and gals - any thoughts on what to do are welcome!

[IanL-S]

You could try a Foxtel Box, I picked up one for $59 from Kogan (currently selling for $49).
See here for information https://www.foxtel.com.au/now/box.html. The interface is a bit clunky, and it is rather large, does not (as far as I remember) support 4K and other goodies. The Telstra TV which I got some years ago when I singed up for a 1 year Calbe Internet subscription, is customise Roku and I find it very easy to use; it is currently sold for an over-the-top price of $216, but you can get second hand ones much cheaper on eBay. Not sure I would have paid to get one.

Other possibilities are the Amazon Fire Stick (about $60) or Roku (but it not easy to find versions desgined to work in Australia).

Ian

[Star6key]

You could try a Foxtel Box, I picked up one for $59 from Kogan (currently selling for $49).
...

Ian

Not worth it since Paul wants Kayo & Binge.

[netmask]

Fetch ?
Chromecast ultra ?

[MrQuade]

A shield would be great, but the New Chromecast is a lot cheaper and should still do all the same things.
The new Chromecast is a proper media box with a remote, and not just a mobile phone controlled device now.

I have two Shields and a Chromecast Ultra (not the new one) and have no trouble with the catchup services or streraming.

I don't use Kayo, but the app is available.

[Paul_oz53]

You could try a Foxtel Box, I picked up one for $59 from Kogan (currently selling for $49).
...

Ian

Not worth it since Paul wants Kayo & Binge.

Was looking a chance until that emerged

[netmask]

I have a Chromecast Ultra plugged into my Yamaha amp but my TV remote is able to control it. The TV also has a built in Chromecast unit so not completely sure if it's using it? The SONY also has a dedicated Netflix and Google Play button on the remote.

[IanL-S]

You could try a Foxtel Box, I picked up one for $59 from Kogan (currently selling for $49).
...

Ian

Not worth it since Paul wants Kayo & Binge.

Was looking a chance until that emerged

Had not noticed the change in supported streaming services - I rarely use the Foxtel Now Box. Mainly for Netflix and Stan. Not sport minded so Kayo is not a concern. Got a year subscrition to Bringe fee from Telstra but rarely use it. The user interface is a bit odd.

[paullings]

I use an Apple TV 4k which will be at the top end of your budget. You can install all the freeview apps as well as Netflix etc. I also use it to play my video content stored on my NAS instead of the U4 as it seems to handle it much better. I use the Apple TV remote but you would be able to use the harmony as well.

[Paul_oz53]

Fetch ?
Chromecast ultra ?

Definitely options. Aim is to cut the Foxtel cord but keep access to sports HD.

I can record on the U4 so loss of recording capabilities won't be an issue.

The Fetch mini box is interesting but the bandwidth alerts would drive us crazy in no time. Seems like an own goal not being able to turn them off.

Chromecast tends to buffer too much for my liking. I had Stan for a while via the Chromecast but playback wasn't always first class.

I might get better performance if it were repositioned. Currently at floor level at the rear of the Denon but not easy for me to modify due to mobility issues. The attraction of the dongle is wired ethernet. It gives better YouTube playback than the Chromecast.

It seems that the "Google TV with Chromecast" is also an option if I can improve the WiFi reception.

I also looked at the Amazon Fire stick but user reports on loading Kayo and Binge were mixed. Roku remains a possibility but not a slam dunk.

May yet opt for the Shield...

Edit: Or an AppleTV!

[IanL-S]

Edit: Or an AppleTV!

I have had various AppleTV models over the years - I find the RCU very difficult to use; but that is a matter of personal preferences. I also find it difficult to set up; that is probably just me The Roku RCU on the Telstra TV is much easier to use.

Do not have any probelms with TelstraTV, it is conncected by cable not wifi, as are the Fextel Now and AppleTV.

[paullings]

Should have mentioned that I use an app Firecore Infuse Pro to play my video content which has an annual subscription of around $14.
As IanL-S said it's hooked up via wired ethernet.

[Paul_oz53]

Edit: Or an AppleTV!

I have had various AppleTV models over the years - I find the RCU very difficult to use; but that is a matter of personal preferences. I also find it difficult to set up; that is probably just me The Roku RCU on the Telstra TV is much easier to use.

Do not have any probelms with TelstraTV, it is conncected by cable not wifi, as are the Fextel Now and AppleTV.

It would seem the Telstra TV is a good match to my wishlist. Being derived from Roku is a major plus. It appears to do all I want on a wired connection. However, it appears that the remote is Bluetooth connected which rules out using the Harmony with it. About the only negative I can see.

[Paul_oz53]

Ian,

Do you have to have a Telstra account to use the Telstra TV box with other services?

Cheers Paul

[IanL-S]

Not asolutly clear, I found the following on the Telstra site:

Yes, if you aren't on our broadband network but you have at least one eligible Telstra service, you'll have full access to all Telstra TV features - but you will need a Telstra ID to activate the device. Here's how to get a Telstra ID.

https://www.telstra.com.au/entertainmen ... telstra-tv

This suggests it is possible.

Ian

[Paul_oz53]

Not asolutly clear, I found the following on the Telstra site:

Yes, if you aren't on our broadband network but you have at least one eligible Telstra service, you'll have full access to all Telstra TV features - but you will need a Telstra ID to activate the device. Here's how to get a Telstra ID.

https://www.telstra.com.au/entertainmen ... telstra-tv

This suggests it is possible.

Ian

Thanks again Ian.

[Star6key]

...
I have had various AppleTV models over the years - I find the RCU very difficult to use; but that is a matter of personal preferences.
...

You can add the Apple TV (4k in my case) to a Harmony 650 remote. It's not perfect, but it does the basics well (especially the directional buttons which are a real PITA on the apple remote).

[billyblue]

My 2 cents...
U4 via an AV amp to a screen. Latest beta fw.
Purchased an Nvidia Shield Pro for Xmas last year. Pro is over your budget, the std one would be just in.

First prob. the Pro uses bluetooth for it's remote. I do use a Harmony Hub (with the overly sensitive touch screen remote) that apparently can do bluetooth. Trouble is I can't get them to pair. An old Aldi keyboard pairs straight away.

Yesterday I added an HDMI splitter, feeding the Pro to both the AV amp and the U4's input.

Watched the Pro via the U4. All good.

Recorded the Pro in the U4. Pity I didn't know about the HDMI recording settings in the setup menu needing to be changed! Perhaps in some future firmware the settings could updated to something more realistic...

[MrQuade]

Shield Pro pairs fine with my Harmony hubs. I have the Harmony versions with the physical remote though, not sure if that makes any difference (wouldn't have thought so).

The HDMI in settings are completely different depending on what your video source is. That makes it hard to define a single default set of options.

[Paul_oz53]

My 2 cents...
U4 via an AV amp to a screen. Latest beta fw.
Purchased an Nvidia Shield Pro for Xmas last year. Pro is over your budget, the std one would be just in.

First prob. the Pro uses bluetooth for it's remote. I do use a Harmony Hub (with the overly sensitive touch screen remote) that apparently can do bluetooth. Trouble is I can't get them to pair. An old Aldi keyboard pairs straight away.

Yesterday I added an HDMI splitter, feeding the Pro to both the AV amp and the U4's input.

Watched the Pro via the U4. All good.

Recorded the Pro in the U4. Pity I didn't know about the HDMI recording settings in the setup menu needing to be changed! Perhaps in some future firmware the settings could updated to something more realistic...

Thanks billyblue, you have described almost exactly the setup I envisage.

It hadn't occurred to me that the Harmony hub could do Bluetooth. I hear your warning that it may not work Just played with the Harmony and found it does support bluetooth, at least in principle.

I think I'm going to go with the Nvidia Shield. MrQuade has been using one for ages. By way of contrast, all the proprietary devices seem to have their own oddities that limit their utility and give rise to nervousness.

[billyblue]

Paul,
I can only hope you have more success with the Harmony than I did (bring back the 785!!!)
The Shield Pro itself seems a very good piece of kit. I'm at the point of ringing Logitech about the problems in the hope that they can fix the problems!
I guess it comes down to the problems of linking a variety of different providers together under another one. Hope I can get it to work.
BB

[Paul_oz53]

Paul,
I can only hope you have more success with the Harmony than I did (bring back the 785!!!)
The Shield Pro itself seems a very good piece of kit. I'm at the point of ringing Logitech about the problems in the hope that they can fix the problems!
I guess it comes down to the problems of linking a variety of different providers together under another one. Hope I can get it to work.
BB

I notice that there are different model numbers for the standard and the pro version, which suggests the codes may be different between them. But I wonder if Logitech might have got the codesets reversed. Stranger things have happened!

[Paul_oz53]

Well I have to admit I cheaped out.

As I scrolled through eBay a cheap $40 Chinese player popped up, which is an Android 10 equivalent of the WizTV dongle. So equivalent it uses the same remote codes! Figuring that $40 was not much to lose if it was a dud I went for it.

It is much snappier than the dongle and I've been able to install all the catchup services and the major streaming services too. ABC iView though was a hassle for no obvious reason. Had to sideload it from an archive site.

The interface is marginally better than the old dongle but, although all the apps I installed can be accessed by searching in the playstore, a number of them are otherwise hidden from view. Weird and not recommended for the less savvy user.

Basically, it is serviceable for basic viewing but definitely not a premium product.

[MrQuade]

As I scrolled through eBay a cheap $40 Chinese player popped up, which is an Android 10 equivalent of the WizTV dongle. So equivalent it uses the same remote codes! Figuring that $40 was not much to lose if it was a dud I went for it.

It looks like it runs Android TV as opposed to the WizTV running Android, so it should in theory be more compatible with the TV service type apps.

These sorts of things will generally run fine for most uses, and you just miss out on ongoing upgrades and general fit-and-finish flourishes.

As you say, $40 is a low risk bet.

[Paul_oz53]

Been using the new toy a bit. It's ok on YouTube but poor on Netflix. Can't get it to scroll horizontally on all the genres. Makes it unsuitable for normal use.

And it does appear to be an Android TV operating system.

Not recommended for general use.

UPDATE: After updating the Netflix app and rebooting Netflix is now working OK.

The new gripe is that streaming FTA HD via the Kodi enigma2 plugin is unwatchable. Severe jerkiness and audio dropouts made it unusable.

[Paul_oz53]

My failure to sacrifice a sufficient number of goats, chickens and assorted other creatures came back to haunt me Wednesday - the LG plasma died suddenly!

A quick visit to the local Good Guys store ensued. Fortuitously, it transpires that they were clearing out 4k Samsungs for a deep discount. Walked away with a QA65Q80TAWXXY for under 2k. About $400 less than other local retailers.

Arrived late Thursday so much faffing around later, joined the world of Smart TV with inbuilt apps that completely replace the external media player and work perfectly. It even has Bluetooth so my Bose headphones no longer suffer delayed audio.

What I did learn is avoid HDMI CEC at all costs! A plague on its creator. Had no end of trouble with it switching off devices (particularly the U4) but not turning them back on when required.

Similarly, eARC gave me endless grief. Either I got sound from the U4 and Foxtel but not the inbuilt apps or from the Samsung tuners and apps but not Foxtel and the U4 or T3. Once I set the audio to optical at least a level of (my) sanity was restored.

[prl]

Similarly, eARC gave me endless grief. Either I got sound from the U4 and Foxtel but not the inbuilt apps or from the Samsung tuners and apps but not Foxtel and the U4 or T3. Once I set the audio to optical at least a level of (my) sanity was restored.

I've had no success using ARC between my LG TV and my Sony HT system (see signature block for model numbers). My problem was simpler: I got no sound out of either the TV or the HT system. I've had a couple of firmware updates on both since I last tried, so I should try again, but I'm not optimistic.

CEC seems to be an "industry standard", i.e. the standard you have when you're not having a standard.

[peteru]

CEC seems to be an "industry standard", i.e. the standard you have when you're not having a standard.

There is a spec for CEC, but it's a bad one. The phrase "enough rope to hang yourself" comes to mind...

[Gully]

Similarly, eARC gave me endless grief. Either I got sound from the U4 and Foxtel but not the inbuilt apps or from the Samsung tuners and apps but not Foxtel and the U4 or T3. Once I set the audio to optical at least a level of (my) sanity was restored.

I've had no success using ARC between my LG TV and my Sony HT system (see signature block for model numbers). My problem was simpler: I got no sound out of either the TV or the HT system. I've had a couple of firmware updates on both since I last tried, so I should try again, but I'm not optimistic.

ARC works fine on my system (Sony TV and Denon AVR). Wish I had eARC but I think I need Tatts first!