iplayer / 4od capable box?

miceormen · 24 Jun 2010 at 16:46

Lo guys

Building an htpc for my folks to serve the following purposes:

Watch and record freeview
Watch iplayer and 4od
Play blu ray discs eventually (i.e. add a bd drive when they start watching them)

My question is, are there any set top boxes / media streamers that can do the first two, rather than building a whole computer?

SimonR · 24 Jun 2010 at 17:02

The only one that I can think of that meets all of your needs is the Fetch Smartbox 8000

http://www.fetchtv.co.uk/

FetchTV combines Freeview+ digital television with a full featured digital TV recorder and the best in on demand and online entertainment to bring you something really special. Not only can you watch and record up to 50 Freeview channels, but you can wirelessly connect to your home network to give you so much more!

It does (nearly) everything that you request:
Watch and record freeview
Watch iplayer and 4od

It definitely does iplayer but I am not sure about 4OD currently

You can get one for around £180

or there is the 8320HD version for £200 from the big supermarket

and yes it can stream , fully DLNA so you can stream to it and if you add another one on your network you can stream recorded content from one to another

Mushii

muon · 24 Jun 2010 at 18:33

Freesat+ boxes can record satellite TV and also stream iplayer content with an ethernet internet connection.

Freesat HD boxes don't record but can stream iplayer content.

Freesat boxes only show SD content and can't stream iplayer.

http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=products.Main

SimonR · 24 Jun 2010 at 19:23

ghost101 said:
Freesat+ boxes can record satellite TV and also stream iplayer content with an ethernet internet connection.

Freesat HD boxes don't record but can stream iplayer content.

Freesat boxes only show SD content and can't stream iplayer.

http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=products.Main

The OP said he wanted FreeVIEW not FreeSAT

muon · 24 Jun 2010 at 19:40

SimonR said:
The OP said he wanted FreeVIEW not FreeSAT

I'm sure he's open to satellite.

miceormen · 24 Jun 2010 at 21:34

ghost101 said:
I'm sure he's open to satellite.

Not especially. Freesat might be the only way to go now, if it is then I'll stick to my htpc plan. But it incurs extra expense that I hoped wouldn't be necessary.. like a erm.. SATELLITE DISH. : )