Standalone device for iPlayer, ITV, Ch4 and 5 catchup, and YouTube?

googler

We currently use a Nintendo WII for iPlayer and YouTube, but 4OD, ITV and C5 catchup aren't available on this, and the wireless perform is woeful despite many attempts to tweak it.

We want a standalone device which will connect wirelessly to our router, and which will feed a HDD/DVD recorder using composite video or SCART connections.

So far, the main candidate seems to be a Sony PS3 via Playstation Network, but I haven't been able to find out if this network subscription is totally free or not.

We have an XBOX 360, but accessing catchup via this requires subscription.

Any other suggestions?

Quiet_Spark

Buy an HP Microserver for £129, install XBMC or Plex, job done!

googler

Quiet_Spark wrote: »

Buy an HP Microserver for £129, install XBMC or Plex, job done!

It doesn't appear to have a wireless card, doesn't appear to have any audio output. It seems rather large for the lounge setup, and appears to a honking big fan, so is liable to be a touch ... noisy, shall we say?

Ideally looking for a fan-free, out of the box solution, in a box that won't look out of place next to DVD recorders etc. in the rack under the telly.

marcarm

PS3 is free to access the network, it's the extras that require ps+, but for I player etc it's free.

googler

marcarm wrote: »

PS3 is free to access the network, it's the extras that require ps+, but for I player etc it's free.

Thanks, looks like I'll be surfing eBay for one soon....

Cornucopia

Streaming output on many devices is copy protected and can't be recorded to HDD/DVD. Certainly true of PS/3.

googler

Cornucopia wrote: »

Streaming output on many devices is copy protected and can't be recorded to HDD/DVD. Certainly true of PS/3.

Rules that one out, then. No copy protection on the WII ....

Quiet_Spark

googler wrote: »

It doesn't appear to have a wireless card, doesn't appear to have any audio output.

Plenty of room to add both

googler wrote: »

It seems rather large for the lounge setup, and appears to a honking big fan, so is liable to be a touch ... noisy, shall we say?

The bigger the fan the slower it needs to turn, hence less noise than a small fan that will need to rev it's nuts off to shift the same amount of air.
I have one and can just about hear the fan if the room is absolutely quiet.

collywobs

Hi There ,
I use a Raspberry Pi with xbmc installed feeding a hard drive so it all hooks up wirelessly to the router. It cost about 30 quid - is fanless and runs power from a USB socket in the back of the TV. Its so small it fits in the gap created by the wall bracket for the TV. - it runs at 5 watts so I leave it switched on while sickbeard downloads all my catch up TV to the hardrive, so basically I get all the on demand TV I need instantly when I want it. I have since cancelled SKY saving 70 quid a month, and got a freesat box, for any programs i cant download - but in fairness I hardly use it.
The xbmc interface is a doddle to use so is techphobe friendly.
Best moneysaving choice i ever made and i registered with unlimited talk talk superfast fibre with pre paid telephone for a year - saving MORE money.
Lots of wiki info here and simple to set up if you can use a keyboard and a computer http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Raspberry_Pi - hope it helps