iPlayer no longer supported - stand-alone replacement iPlayer device??

Mel_P

Mel_P

Mel_P

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Hello,

I have a Panasonic freesat Hard Disc / Bluray recorder. Which currently does what we want. Records 2 channels onto HDD or bluray, allows me to archive things onto bluray when the HDD begins to get full AND when needed plays programmes we missed from iPlayer.

BUT from Sept 16th the BBC have stated via a banner page before iPlayer runs that the version of iPlayer the Panasonic runs will no longer be supported and no update will be provided. Sucks!!

The TV itself does not provide iPlayer.

Question - I have an internet connection next to the TV and want a "simple" (ha!) device that will plug into the internet (LAN cable) and TV (hdmi) and allow me to access iPlayer, ITV player, 5-whatever its called, 4-whatever it's called (i.e. catch up services). No other service is needed. I used to use the WD box for iPlayer but that version was abandoned by the BBC as was being able to use the Wii to access iPlayer TV and radio.

So I just need a stand-alone catch up TV player as the result of BBC etc abandoning older equipment. Any ideas please?

Thanks, Mel
 
simple and cheap.

Now TV will give you that for £15 and you can probably get something like 3 months sky movies included.
 
1. I will not touch Sky with bargepole!

2. I want a stand-alone box I can buy with NO ongoing costs

3. Now-TV is for streaming live TV and movies - I don't want these.

Apart from that, thanks!!
 
Well a NowTV box does exactly what want with no ongoing costs you just pay the £15 for the box you dont have to subscribe and can continue to use the other functions, failing that I'd look at a Roku streaming stick or Amazon stick for around £30-40.
 
Now TV boxes work just like a Fire stick. Although it is sold with their service in mind, you can freely use services like iPlayer, ITVPlayer, 5OD, etc.. without needing a subscription. Think of it like an android streaming box because that is exactly what it is.
 
Mel_P said:
1. I will not touch Sky with bargepole!

2. I want a stand-alone box I can buy with NO ongoing costs

3. Now-TV is for streaming live TV and movies - I don't want these.

Apart from that, thanks!!
Click to expand...

Do not bother to ask for advice if you do not have enough sense to listen to it.
 
Sorry - thought I knew best! Having read a review Now Tv does do catch up services and there is no ongoing costs. The same review - and further posts have beaten me into listening to others (I AM now listening - SORRY!!!!!)

http://www.trustedreviews.com/now-tv-box-review

The same review I read however did say now TV is only 720 "HD Ready" and not full HD 1080 (which my TV is) so I need to look at the other suggestions to see which are full HD

THANKs to all (chastened, listening Mel). (I still don't like Sky though!)
 
in that case going up in cost ....

Fire tv stick (wireless so I would say avoid but as low as £20) any of a million android boxes , almost anything will work and they can be very cheap but..

an Amazon Fire TV is a very good choice but a lot more expensive as are any of the Roku boxes.
 
As you say the Amazon fire TV looks a good choice as I want to use Ethernet. Wifi s bit weak near TV and 500AV homeplugs already installed. It outputs 1080p and does catch up (for Free) and wants you to buy lots of other things once you have one!. Available for same price with 2 year warranty so will take a look around nearer 16th Sept. Thanks all.
 
I have the Amazon Fire TV Stick, does all the catch up channels perfectly. £35 at the moment, but got mine for £25 and it was down to £20 in the Amazon sale. They often have special prices.
 
To help grandchildren who are learning coding, I am having a raspberry Pi 3 microcomputer for my birthday and whilst surfing re the above came across info that with a raspberry pi3, a smartphone and kodi, a Catch up TV player can be produced. Well - I have a few weeks to play with this and see if it works!

http://www.alphr.com/media-centres/...an-xbmc-media-center-build-a-fully-functional

BUT I expect it will be a bit flakey (and not user friendly) and only I will be able to use it, and end up buying an Amazon 4k fire TV device so the whole family can use it ! Thanks, Mel
 
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I did have the above for a while and it worked, but as you say, it can be a bit flakey as when BBC / 4od / whoever change something, it can take weeks for the add-on developer to update it. I went Amazon in the end as it'll be an official app for each catch up service which will be kept up to date for a good few years.
 
Craig321 said:
I did have the above for a while and it worked, but as you say, it can be a bit flakey as when BBC / 4od / whoever change something, it can take weeks for the add-on developer to update it. I went Amazon in the end as it'll be an official app for each catch up service which will be kept up to date for a good few years.
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I expect I will follow your journey - just to see if I can. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Mel
 
Iplayer catchup 'HD' is only 720 or even 540 (we discussed streaming quality in OC media threads) so not 1080, I am doubtful if 5/4/itv catch-up services are 1080. (maybe amazon?)
Nonetheless the latest nowtv will apparently output 1080 when used a plex client, not tried it myself(old one), but you can pick up box even cheaper(I payed £9 for parents) from folks who have used the accompanying passes.
 
Another option not yet mentioned is the Chromecast, similar really to the Fire TV stick although I find as the UI is essentially your phone/tablet it's a bit nicer to use and less laggy, but not a huge amount in it.
 
I think the OP's point #1 is fair enough. I would never want to pay Rupert Murdoch any of my hard-earned, ever! :)

I think a FireTV box fits the bill perfectly. The remote is great, the iPlayer app works great and it has ethernet. I can't recommend it highly enough. Plus if you do want to pay for additional subscriptions going forward, you have the option of Netflix or Amazon. Just not NowTV but that sounds like it is not an issue. In the meantime you can always pay to rent movies from Amazon with it, rather than subscribe to a service.
 
SKILL said:
Another option not yet mentioned is the Chromecast, similar really to the Fire TV stick although I find as the UI is essentially your phone/tablet it's a bit nicer to use and less laggy, but not a huge amount in it.
Click to expand...

Love my Chromecast, my old dumb TV has never been so internet smart.
 
Scam said:
I think the OP's point #1 is fair enough. I would never want to pay Rupert Murdoch any of my hard-earned, ever! :)

.
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Sky subsidise the now TV box so if you buy one at £15 and never use the sky service you are actually screwing Murdoch.

And I totally agree if you want just the catchup services a 4K fire TV is the best choice but there are much cheaper android boxes that can do the same thing.

I personally like the Nvidia shield but it is let down by not having some of the main catchup services.
 
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