What else to connect to TV when no TV arieal cable exist?

Schizophonic · 30 Nov 2012 at 12:16

Looking to put a TV combo for someone in a spare room they have and as its an extension there is no TV aerial cable socket.

The TV usage is going to be some light browsing and mainly watching the news. What options do I have to connect to a source to get this working?

AppleTV - Does that stream live TV?
Android HDMI dongle and use BBC Live app?
Some form of media center with a program to stream a TV source?

Any ideas?

Avathar77 · 30 Nov 2012 at 12:25

TVCatchup

Schizophonic · 30 Nov 2012 at 12:38

Avathar77 said:
TVCatchup

Guess its an App on Android or something Apple can do on their devices.

What are the media streamers like (Western Media player) for apps like these?

Avathar77 · 30 Nov 2012 at 12:44

The newer WD Live devices comes with iPlayer but not so sure because my WDLive is an older model.
But I have a hp microserver with Win7 and XBMC installed for upstairs Bed room TV. I use the TVCatchup add on for XBMC and control it with my XBMC remote in the Android phone(also have a cheapo £4 IR remote that works well, even the mouse movement!)

RoyMi6 · 30 Nov 2012 at 14:17

TVCatchup is a free to use website that lets you stream the live freeview channels (http://tvcatchup.com/)

So if you directly hook up a PC to your tele you'll be able to get live TV no bother just by watching it on that website.

They have apps for XBMC and various other things but I've never had any success with them and the interfaces of these apps / integration leave a LOT to be desired.

In the end, in the same situation as you with my TV in the bedroom, I just don't watch live TV. Far more enjoyable anyway.

EDIT: Actually, the one exception I personally had to this is that the iPhone app for TVCatchup is good and I can AirPlay that to my jailbroken ATV2 that's in my bedroom. This works well. But again, live tele is just pants anyway.

Schizophonic · 30 Nov 2012 at 15:56

Thanks for the input, the TV is going up on a wall but not going to really plan to use a server, or PC for TV needs. Its a bit of a overkill and wants something on a lower profile and less to go wrong.

I can use an S3 with the app and hook it up to the TV but stops the usage of the Phone and must be one or the other...

Avathar77 · 30 Nov 2012 at 21:59

Schizophonic · 1 Dec 2012 at 11:01

Avathar77 said:
Pi ?

Possible, low profile and could suite the needs. Thanks

chaparral · 1 Dec 2012 at 12:08

Schizophonic said:
Looking to put a TV combo for someone in a spare room they have and as its an extension there is no TV aerial cable socket.

Any ideas?

Why don't you just put in a new Aerial cable ?? :confused:

I fitted TV's in almost all the rooms in my house and just feed new aerial cables to all of them..

lucid · 1 Dec 2012 at 12:16

chaparral said:
Why don't you just put in a new Aerial cable ??

^ This. Anything else semms like a sledgehammer to crack a walnut if the room just needs live TV.

Shelster · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:18

Coathanger /close thread

Zairs · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:23

Indoor aerial

Avathar77 · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:26

My bed room doesn't get good reception with an indoor aerial, so I use XBMC installed in the microserver - connected to TV.

Destination · 4 Dec 2012 at 21:37

Zairs said:
Indoor aerial

Try this as a first step.
If not you should be directly below the attic and able to run a second cable line leaving only the smallest of holes in the ceiling.

Glaucus · 4 Dec 2012 at 21:42

Pi is useless for media player, slow and harldy any cheaper by the time you throw in case and stuff. and especially rubbish for someone not technology minded and wants hassle free, people need to get over it and use it for more of its intended uses.

Get one of the android tv boxes, as long as you have good Internet. As said tvcatchup, iplayer, netflix etc. and they are dirt cheap. Probably same cost as a decent indoor aerial, which I've never had much success with.

Ug802 dongle is good and fast, but it has rubbish wifi aerial, so you need to mod it or run a cable to it.so wouldn't recommend the android hdmi dongles for average joe people.

swillsy · 4 Dec 2012 at 22:43

I'm looking at this as I'm buying a house and the tv aerial need rewiring as they are hanging everywhere. Thinking of setting up a slingbox in the main room so I can stream it over the local network however I'm wondering if there are any place shifting alternatives..??