Which device for video streaming?

[davecooper]

My Samsung smart TV no longer supports video content such as YouTube and Britbox so I need a relatively cheap device to allow me to stream videos. The two options would seem to be a streaming stick like Roku or an Android TV box (all of our phones and tablets are Android). I'm not sure which direction to go in so any advice would be welcome.

 

[Lucid]

I've had an Android TV box until fairly recently. I got it a number of years ago, and it was primarily used for playing my DVD collection ripped to a NAS drive. It worked well for that.

The arrival of a 4K TV prompted me to have a look at an update or an alternative. I ended up going with an Amazon Fire Stick. TBH, it wasn't so much planned; more of an opportunistic purchase. They were going cheap last Prime day or whatever it's called. I also pay for Prime but wasn't using it for the streaming side.

One thing I did look into though before pushing the button was 4K streaming. I know it's not something you've said you're interested in specifically, but with Netflix, Prime and YouTube all offering 4K content, it was a factor for me.

What I found was that the Android boxes at the time might not work so well with 4K for Netflix etc. A big part of the reason is licensing. The inexpensive boxes don't have it, and it can't be added because it requires some specific chip or other. The one Android box that was guaranteed to work was the nVidia Shield, but I didn't fancy dropping £200 on something as an impulse purchase, so I ended up with a £30 4K Fire stick.

Do you know what? It's been great.

Britbox is an app available on the Firestick (4K and the 1080p version). So is Youtube, and Disney+ and Netflix and iPlayer and ITV Hub and All4 and My5 and Redbull TV and BT TV and UKTV Play and Rakuten Firefox (with Flicker, Instagram, Pinterest, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes) and page after page of other streaming apps I'm very unlikely to ever bother with.

It might be worth a look. That, or the Roku stick.


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[davecooper]

Thanks very much. To be honest, a stick was my initial plan. It was only when I was looking at them on Amazon that I saw the Android boxes and this derailed me somewhat. Ultimately, if I want Android on thevTV, I can connect an Android device to it. A stick is simpler and will do all I need so that is the direction I will go.

 

[ericmark]

We in error really got a chrome cast, we were told it would allow voice control of TV that was wrong, but wife watches Utube with it, and it was cheap.

It connects to TV twice, USB and HDMI think just power from USB, but does mean when TV is off so is chrome cast.

 

[davecooper]

Just read that Roku do not support the Britbox app! Not sure whether the Amazon Firestick does either. I only wanted Britbox initially for the new Spitting Image series but was going to look at what else was on there that might interest me before deciding whether it was worth keeping. I am considering changing my broadband from TalkTalk to BT shortly and coincidentally, BT now supports Britbox. In the meantime I will just hook my laptop up to the TV if I want Britbox.

 

[Lucid]

Just read that Roku do not support the Britbox app! Not sure whether the Amazon Firestick does either.

Face palm moment. You didn't bother to read my first reply properly, did you?

Britbox is an app available on the Firestick (4K and the 1080p version).

I have edited to help you.


Just in case you're in any more doubt, here are some shots from my Fire Stick:

Is that clear enough to set your mind at rest?

 

[davecooper]

I do apologise. You did make it clear that the Firestick supported Britbox. In my weak defence, I had been googling devices that supported Britbox and a well known review site stated that the Firestick did not support it and basically said there were very few that did. I think I then went into auto when I wrote my post. Again, sincere apologies.

 

[QfanatiQ]

We have no issues with our
- win10
- android devices
- ipad (reluctantly to say(because I cant control spy ware more on the others))
- our phones
Through the (git that is) chro.me
Who's your provider?
What's the average speed?
What resolution are you looking at streaming ?
Might be one for your providers forum's.
Cheers,,,,,Q

 

[davecooper]

Using Win10 laptop at the moment which does the job ok. Having to use hdmi lead at the moment but might look at chromecast. Big problem with broadband speed at present. With Talk Talk at present and having all sorts of problems, regular drop offs and speed as low as 3mb/s not unusual. Going to change but have a large backlog of stuff recorded on the YouView box so need to get that watched before changing in case TalkTalk want their box back. Unlikely I would have thought but not sure.

 

[Lucid]

Using Win10 laptop at the moment which does the job ok. Having to use hdmi lead at the moment but might look at chromecast. Big problem with broadband speed at present. With Talk Talk at present and having all sorts of problems, regular drop offs and speed as low as 3mb/s not unusual. Going to change but have a large backlog of stuff recorded on the YouView box so need to get that watched before changing in case TalkTalk want their box back. Unlikely I would have thought but not sure.

Is this speed issue definitely your broadband speed and not your Wi-Fi speed? They're two different things you see. Not necessarily connected, either.