TV Tuner options & advice

Phate

Phate

Phate

Caporegime
Joined
1 Nov 2003
Posts
35,691
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Hi all,

Looking for some opinions on the following.

Currently we have a projector with an amp, speakers and watch content via an Amazon Fire Stick which streams from a NAS with the Kodi app sideloaded onto it.

With our internet package we get some 180 channels included in this. To access it we would need to connect to the antenna port on our router. However, we own nothing with a TV tuner, so currently we do not use this.

Wife and I were discussing this morning about ways utilise this. For example when her parents visit they like to have the news on in the background. Currently not possible or at least not easy & convenient to do.

Some options I have thought of but would love some feedback/opinions on it:

1) Buy a TV. I could do this. The only downside would be that it wouldn't be possible to output the TV signal (which would go directly into the TV) to the projector. Not that I can think of anyway.

2) ‎Buy a standalone TV Tuner and simply plug it into an input on the amp. I imagine it would need to run its own software of some description to scan for channels and what not. Any experience on this?

3) ‎Replace the Fire Stick with something more advance which either has a built in TV Tuner or has a USB port where a TV Tuner could be plugged into it (and then subsequently buy one) then use that with Kodi. Like a small PC for example.

I like the sound of option 1 as it would give us something to use when it's bright outside. Currently we have to drop the blinds to use the projector during the day. Little bit frustrating when it's 35C outside but we have gotten used to it now. Just a downside of having only a projector.

I have no idea if the 2nd option is even an option. Just speculating here.

Option 3 is potentially a good idea. I was thinking about getting something with more umph for h.265 content & 4k content...and even maybe a USB 4k player.

What say you, people of OcUK?
 
To access it we would need to connect to the antenna port on our router. - sounds strange

wetek play 2
and
DVB-C/T/T2 Tuner for WeTek Play 2. Not compatible with Play 1.

Broadcast Cable and Terrestrial signal to connect with terrestrial antenna or cable.

a photo of the 'tv port' on the router maybe helpful
 
Last edited:
Phate said:
To access it we would need to connect to the antenna port on our route
Click to expand...
yes strange, I assume it is like BT tv box that accesses both freeview and the BT broadbad distributed streams (it is a humax box isn't it ?)
he needs to hook up the Broadband supplier box via hdmi to his projector.
 
TV Port on the back of the router. The input from the outside world is a single fibre cable which the Telephone, TV Signal & Internet all go through.

W6IZXBk.jpg


It says CATV by the port :)

Thanks for the suggestion on the wetek play 2 with TV Tuner. The 4k playback option is nice for future proofing. I don't have a 4k amp or projector at the minute.
 
In the uk that type of connection feeds a specific box supplied by the internet/tv supplier, that then connects to the tv, all the tuning is done by the box.
can you check with any neighbors to see how theirs is wired up?

Was the router already there when you moved in, if so previous tenants may have taken the box to access tv services?

But who is your provider? NOS Meo?, the NOS packages include a set top box, it also appears you need a meo box for meo?

So much confusion when you dont speak Portugese
 
We had the option to have a box which would have increased the number of potential channels. But we don't have a TV so we just left it. But it definitely isn't necessary for viewing most channels.

Router wasn't already here. Were with Vodafone
 
Looking at the manual to a similar router you may have to configure the output to rf.
So were back to wetek and adapter plus cable in prev post.

Good luck.
 
Hi @lude1962 - just one quick one before I order this. Do you know if this is compatible with the Logitech Harmony remotes? :)

Thank you!
 
I am not sure I understand the role of the wetek, but ymmv
- it will not give access to the 180 channels from internet provider, for which you need your internet suppliers dedicated tv box.
- also, you need a terrestrial ariel to use the the weteks dvb tuner (ie not the catv plug on router), which would then, only give access to Portugese channels.
 
jpaul said:
I am not sure I understand the role of the wetek, but ymmv
- it will not give access to the 180 channels from internet provider, for which you need your internet suppliers dedicated tv box.
- also, you need a terrestrial ariel to use the the weteks dvb tuner (ie not the catv plug on router), which would then, only give access to Portugese channels.
Click to expand...
But the provider gave us the option of having the box or not. Without the box they said with just the antenna cable we can access some channels and with it the full 180. As you mentioned. But the engineer said to me at the time, just plug in the antenna from the router into a TV and it will work. But you're saying thats not the case?
 
From a quick look on the Vodafone website and the help of Google Translate, you don't need a TV box, but you do need something with a tuner, which makes me think it's probably more cost-effective to just get the Vodafone TV box if they'll supply you one.
 
TheVoice said:
From a quick look on the Vodafone website and the help of Google Translate, you don't need a TV box, but you do need something with a tuner, which makes me think it's probably more cost-effective to just get the Vodafone TV box if they'll supply you one.
Click to expand...


Yes, thinking I need something with a tuner makes me wonder if the wetek box will work ok. I can visit vodafone and up my monthly bill by €2 a month to get the box which would solve this issue BUT if that wetek box worked it would also upgrade my Kodi experience and give me more playability.
 
jpaul said:
This seems to be a list of the channels you can get from their tv box
http://www.recursosvdf.pt/ds/docs/rf-canais-frequencias.pdf?v=1
so I think it is doubtful these are also modulated onto the catv output of the router, you picture, the router would need to have some special electronics to do that.

maybe post a picture of the front of the router so that we could find a pdf manual ?
Click to expand...

They may well be. Cable tv is more open outside the uk/US, my tv has a cable tuner, it's just VM don't want you using anything but their kit.
 
connections that we can see in the picture show just an adsl router configuration, with input from a telephone line (so no bandwidth for 180channels)
if anything, the F connector labelled catv could be an alternative cable/vdsl input ?
 
Know anyone who could lend you a TV to see if it can pick up any channels?

You can get network TV tuners like the HDHomerun but the UK/EU version seems to be for aerial connections.
 
Not worried about them being English or not. Sorry should have clarified that. I think I will order the wetek box (if it works with Logitech Harmony, will ask their support) and if it doesn't work...just send it back :D

Or keep it...because, dem h265 abilities...
 
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