Amazon / kodi set top box

[Greg]

Evening folks, Any recommendations for a set top box mainly for Sports and Movies 

I've had a USB firestick for a few months and it works but due to being rural and relying on wifi I'm fed up with continual buffering.

As the stick can only use WiFi I was thinking a set top box with an Ethernet socket would allow me to connect via my Homeplug network and improve connectivity.

i had the same issue with my Sky Q failing all the time until I hard wired it via Ethernet to get a more reliable connection so hoping to do the same with Kodi.

Suggestions please ?

[Lee]

Mate on 4meg internet got one of these boxes from Amazon
www.amazon.co.uk/Largest-Wireless-keyboard-COOLEAD%C2%AE-Streaming/dp/B01IJL3WN8/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1482082961&sr=1-2&keywords=4K+Smart+TV+Box+Mini+PC

Had a play with it the other day and it was streaming media well

Another option is the Amazon fire boxes, which are reduced in the sales at present

[izan]

I have the "from china" version of the box linked by lee .
Nice little device. Set up was easy and it works as expected.

I have heard you can pop a web cam on it via usb and use the microphone for voice recognition functionality.

cheers
I

[morbidmatty]

If only using for kodi can't go wrong with raspberry pi been using different models with no issue plus lots of range when it comes to software my dad pinched my original one which is 3 years old and has not missed a beat. Pi 3 kit link..

If your happier with a normal kodi box look for the ones with Android 6.0 Marshmallow or higher as a lot on amazon are older boards which can't fully utilize the new versions of kodi. Android 6.0 box link

[dagl]

I have no idea what you are on about, however I have a good friend that occasionally comes round and swears profusely at my box thingy- spikeyfridge

[Deleted]

MJD is the chap for step by step guides. dagl its like he's in the room with you!

[tim]

I bought one. Paid well for it. Did the Youtube loading tutorial, it still buffers. If you live rural, you need to get used to "download, watch later" it seems. No good for streaming where I live. No fibre for a while either. They brought it into the village for the school, but that is too far away from me apparently. Like 500 yards.......

[Greg]

Jan 2, 2017 21:16:54 GMT tim said:

I bought one. Paid well for it. Did the Youtube loading tutorial, it still buffers. If you live rural, you need to get used to "download, watch later" it seems. No good for streaming where I live. No fibre for a while either. They brought it into the village for the school, but that is too far away from me apparently. Like 500 yards.......

I'm rural but I have satellite broadband, I'm just not sure which box to buy. It needs ethernet and the priorities are sports and movies. Anything else is a bonus.

[Lee]

Have you tried running kodi on a windows pc that's connected to your router, to see if you have the speed to stream?

All the set up guides are here for windows, android etc etc
www.tvaddons.ag/

That way it will save you laying out money and finding its wasted

[Greg]

Jan 2, 2017 21:31:00 GMT Lee said:

Have you tried running kodi on a windows pc that's connected to your router, to see if you have the speed to stream?

All the set up guides are here for windows, android etc etc
www.tvaddons.ag/

That way it will save you laying out money and finding its wasted

I have a Mac, no PC.

[Lee]

There is a mac version
www.tvaddons.ag/freetelly-mac/

Pre configured as well, so its a nice easy install

[Greg]

A little googling shows I can also install kodi on an old Apple TV (version 2) I have, helix apparently and I can connect my Apple TV via Ethernet to tinternet.

www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/iosapps/how-install-kodi-on-second-generation-fouth-generation-apple-tv-2016-3640061/

Is that worth a try ?

[tim]

Jan 2, 2017 21:31:00 GMT Lee said:

Have you tried running kodi on a windows pc that's connected to your router, to see if you have the speed to stream?

All the set up guides are here for windows, android etc etc
www.tvaddons.ag/

That way it will save you laying out money and finding its wasted

I found this out too late. I didn't know you could run it on a PC until I'd bought a box. Shame on me for not researching. I wouldn't have wasted the cash.

Definitely a way to see if you can get the stream speeds though Greg

[tim]

Jan 2, 2017 22:23:30 GMT Greg said:

A little googling shows I can also install kodi on an old Apple TV (version 2) I have, helix apparently and I can connect my Apple TV via Ethernet to tinternet.

www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/iosapps/how-install-kodi-on-second-generation-fouth-generation-apple-tv-2016-3640061/

Is that worth a try ?

Give it a go. Nothing to lose.

[Lee]

Jan 2, 2017 22:23:30 GMT Greg said:

A little googling shows I can also install kodi on an old Apple TV (version 2) I have, helix apparently and I can connect my Apple TV via Ethernet to tinternet.

www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/iosapps/how-install-kodi-on-second-generation-fouth-generation-apple-tv-2016-3640061/

Is that worth a try ?

Bet you cant guess where there is another guide

www.tvaddons.ag/jailbreak-apple-tv/

Looks easy enough to do, going by that guide