Android boxes, Internet packages, TV package where do I start??

[david k]

hi,

moving home in a few weeks and there isn't Virgin in the area, we currently use Virgin for everything.

So was considering just getting broadband and phone package, we currently pay over £100 a month so looking for the opportunity to reduce monthly fees.

Plus net are £35 a month for phone and unlimited broadband.
BT seem to be £30 a month for same but with basic TV?
Sky, I have no idea, I cannot work out their fees!
Been offered a box which needs a sky dish and Internet and gives all channels for £150 one off fee, guaranteed for 12 months
What's android boxes?
What's google play?
What's fire Amazon stick?

I need fast broadband for work at home
I probably don't need a phone but they tie you in with broadband deals
I want rugby league on my TV, currently sky sports and premier
Only watch free view channels mostly
Like the record function
Want access in three rooms


Help needed, which way do I turn please?

 

[david k]

Anyone have one. Of these?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-W87CUN-Fire-TV-Stick/dp/B00KAKUN3E

 

[Chris_Kn]

Hi David, I use one of these https://droidbox.co.uk/droidbox-t8-amlogic-s802.html

I can watch any movie any time, any tv show past or present any time, plus live tv, any sports channel.
Buy the box and switch it on no more payments ever. I just canceled my Sky tv package, now it's just
at minimum. Best thing sliced bread.

Chris.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I used to have sky but i cancelled it and I now have a Youview box which is basically Freeview but you have iplayer etc built into the program guide so you can go back 7 days without having to go looking for stuff on the internet players it does it for you, once you have bought the box it is free. Plusnet do a package where if you get a Youview box from them for a small monthly payment you get some premium channels as well but I am not bothered about them I like the Youview box I got and in order to get the premium channels you have to use one of their boxes.

I pay Plusnet £9.99 for unlimited Fibre and £15.95 line rental and £5 for unlimited UK calls.

The BT TV is the same sort of thing a Youview box and you can get some premium channels such as BT Sport extra. The reason I bought my own Youview box is that I got the top of the line Humax box which is much nicer to use than some of the cheaper offerings and also it has a Hard Drive in it so I can record.

After my experiences with Sky I would never ever go back to them again

I also have Amazon Instant Video, Netflix and I sometimes use BlinkBox for video rentals, I get those throught my Smart TV and Xbox One. I also have Google Chrome Cast dongles on all the TVs so I can connect my PC, Phone & Tablet to the TVs and stream whatever I want from the internet.

 

[DaveReading]

A couple of years ago it dawned on us that most of the channels we were watching from our £50/month Virgin subscription were available on FreeSat, so we cancelled. A dish and Humax HDR paid for themselves in a few months, with no ongoing charges.

The only thing we've added since then is a £10 (one-off payment) NowTV box, which is a more convenient way of getting iPlayer, etc, than wiring up the Humax to the router.

 

[david k]

I used to have sky but i cancelled it and I now have a Youview box which is basically Freeview but you have iplayer etc built into the program guide so you can go back 7 days without having to go looking for stuff on the internet players it does it for you, once you have bought the box it is free. Plusnet do a package where if you get a Youview box from them for a small monthly payment you get some premium channels as well but I am not bothered about them I like the Youview box I got and in order to get the premium channels you have to use one of their boxes.

I pay Plusnet £9.99 for unlimited Fibre and £15.95 line rental and £5 for unlimited UK calls.

The BT TV is the same sort of thing a Youview box and you can get some premium channels such as BT Sport extra. The reason I bought my own Youview box is that I got the top of the line Humax box which is much nicer to use than some of the cheaper offerings and also it has a Hard Drive in it so I can record.

After my experiences with Sky I would never ever go back to them again

I also have Amazon Instant Video, Netflix and I sometimes use BlinkBox for video rentals, I get those throught my Smart TV and Xbox One. I also have Google Chrome Cast dongles on all the TVs so I can connect my PC, Phone & Tablet to the TVs and stream whatever I want from the internet.

Brilliant advice thank you, I'm currently thinking plus net and some dongles/ android boxes etc. didn't know plus net do a TV box also, that's interesting, may be worth that plus buying boxes dongles for other rooms? Either way I'm saving £100 plus a month and paying around £30, big saving

 

[david k]

Hi David, I use one of these https://droidbox.co.uk/droidbox-t8-amlogic-s802.html

I can watch any movie any time, any tv show past or present any time, plus live tv, any sports channel.
Buy the box and switch it on no more payments ever. I just canceled my Sky tv package, now it's just
at minimum. Best thing sliced bread.

Chris.

Looks good, and cheaper than monthly fees, is it easy to set up? Is it wifi or need a Ethernet cable?
Thanks for post btw

 

[david k]

A couple of years ago it dawned on us that most of the channels we were watching from our £50/month Virgin subscription were available on FreeSat, so we cancelled. A dish and Humax HDR paid for themselves in a few months, with no ongoing charges.

The only thing we've added since then is a £10 (one-off payment) NowTV box, which is a more convenient way of getting iPlayer, etc, than wiring up the Humax to the router.

Thanks Dave, are they easy to set up? I pay for Netflix anyway which is ok but watched most the best stuff now anyway so may cancel it for now

 

[DaveReading]

Thanks Dave, are they easy to set up?

Yes, very straightforward.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Thanks Dave, are they easy to set up? I pay for Netflix anyway which is ok but watched most the best stuff now anyway so may cancel it for now

If you do go for the Youview box depending on what model you get you can connect it to your router with these for example and get all the TV players (iplayer itv player etc) and netflix anyway.

 

[Chris_Kn]

Looks good, and cheaper than monthly fees, is it easy to set up? Is it wifi or need a Ethernet cable?
Thanks for post btw

It is both, but I use an Ethernet cable, a few folk have the odd problem using wireless with them. It's easy to set up,
it comes with a 'Wizard' to do it all for you. They have a decent forum as well. Youtube is the home of 1000's of videos
about how to add extra addons etc etc. The main media player in the box is 'Kodi'/'xmbc', this will play addons that contain
links to 10,000's of films new/old tv shows, also live sport, tv shows that have been on in the US but not over here yet.
Find a decent internet/phone package and buy a t-8 box. No, I don't have any connection to the company just a happy customer.

 

[drummerbod]

I have been through them all and the BT YouView (DTR2100) box is the best terrestial Freeviw box out there - it's fast, records 3 channels at the same time, has the on demand players that work flawlessly and it's yours to keep on a 12month contract. The guide is a dream to use.
I have had a couple of Humax boxes and they are slow and the user friendliness can't touch Youview.

 

[david k]

It is both, but I use an Ethernet cable, a few folk have the odd problem using wireless with them. It's easy to set up,
it comes with a 'Wizard' to do it all for you. They have a decent forum as well. Youtube is the home of 1000's of videos
about how to add extra addons etc etc. The main media player in the box is 'Kodi'/'xmbc', this will play addons that contain
links to 10,000's of films new/old tv shows, also live sport, tv shows that have been on in the US but not over here yet.
Find a decent internet/phone package and buy a t-8 box. No, I don't have any connection to the company just a happy customer.

Cool, does this need a sky dish? The new home has one fitted anyway so no issues
There are so many of these boxes on eBay, I've no idea if they are cheap and as good or cheap as they are less good.

I'm now considering a good recordable , is this recordable box in the main room and maybe a small box, dongle in the other rooms, cheaper option

Google or Amazon? Or is there an android dongle?

 

[david k]

I have been through them all and the BT YouView (DTR2100) box is the best terrestial Freeviw box out there - it's fast, records 3 channels at the same time, has the on demand players that work flawlessly and it's yours to keep on a 12month contract. The guide is a dream to use.
I have had a couple of Humax boxes and they are slow and the user friendliness can't touch Youview.

So you feel you view boxes are better than human android boxes? They are faster but you get less channels?

I would be happy to use one in the main room and a slower one for the second room so I can watch my rugby league

 

[drummerbod]

For Android boxes - look here...
https://www.avforums.com/article/android-tv-box-glossary.11795

If you can get Kodi running on it then it's a winner.

Myself and my colleague have been creating HTPCs since 2000 and none of the boxes ie Android or Firestick etc are a match for Kodi running on even a cheap desktop PC.