What to get to replace NowTV Box?

valve90210 · 5 Jul 2017 at 11:48

With the recent update to the Now TV boxes having disabled developer mode and removed Plex, I'm now looking to get something to replace the Now TV box.

It will be used in a bedroom connected directly to the television, no surround sound or anything and will be used the majority of the time for Plex, though I would occasionally like to be able to watch Iplayer or 4OD (or whatever it's called these days), though could potentially still use the NowTV box for those.

I was considering a Chromecast but would really rather something with an interface so I can browse films and TV shows on the television rather than having to use my phone or tablet.

Also, in an ideal world I'd like something with an IR remote so I can still use my Harmony to control it, which counts against the Roku Streaming Stick which (if I'm right) uses an RF remote?

I also want to spend as little as possible really.

Any thoughts on what would might be best to suit my needs?

marcus_667 · 5 Jul 2017 at 14:40

roku 2 box should suit your needs

valve90210 · 5 Jul 2017 at 14:50

I did wonder about that but thought they used a 'point anywhere' remote ie rf? Though have had a bit of a read and it seems they do feature an IR Receiver?

It is really a bit more than I'd ideally like to spend though I'm assuming it'd be as forgiving or file format as the NowTV box is when it comes to Plex, something which sadly can't really be said for the Nvidia Shield I have in another room which has issues with avi files?

Are there any other cheaper options I could go for?

Would any of the android boxes you can get suit me, are they stable and simple to use or are they a bit of a pain?

marcus_667 · 5 Jul 2017 at 14:56

think i have my roku box at home still let me check when finished work. and ill check the ir issue for you. and its pretty much the same as the original now tv box except not gimped by skys firmware

valve90210 · 5 Jul 2017 at 15:45

Cheers, that would be awesome. I have to say I liked the way the black NowTV box worked, it seemed nice and fast and played pretty much anything thrown at it by Plex without a bother, just a shame the recent sky firmware messed it up for everyone.

Would be nice to get to use the newer Plex Roku app though if I did go down that route.

marcus_667 · 5 Jul 2017 at 20:14

valve90210 said:
Cheers, that would be awesome. I have to say I liked the way the black NowTV box worked, it seemed nice and fast and played pretty much anything thrown at it by Plex without a bother, just a shame the recent sky firmware messed it up for everyone.

Would be nice to get to use the newer Plex Roku app though if I did go down that route.

Can confirm my roku remote does send out an IR signal , if i can find the box tomorrow i shall trust you as its just sat about doing nothing

valve90210 · 6 Jul 2017 at 09:53

Cheers

Jamesyboyjim · 7 Jul 2017 at 13:09

The black nowtv box is just a rebranded Roku2 with the restricted software on it. So your now tv remote will actually operate a roku 2 / 3 as well as the 'point anywhere' remote the roku comes with.

jpaul · 10 Jul 2017 at 10:51

(playing catchup

) just became aware of a roku 2 limitation -
have been seeing some judder on nowtv material so looked for an option to adjust output frame rate - however it seems it is fixed at 60hz,
but nowtv+iplayer is streamed at 50hz, so Roku has to convert producing judder.
BUT even the roku plex capabilities are being impacted by this, so cannot get a 'proper' 24hz

seems as though chromecast/shield can do 50Hz (or pc player).
Netflix is broadcast at 24hz, so roku probably uses 3:2 pulldown and maybe produces a better result than nowtv/iplayer (especially if tv spots the 3:2)

some infromation here