Switching to a IPTV Box - recommendations?

manub

I'm one of those people affected by the Virgin Media price hikes, and I'm looking at broadband alternatives. I realised that we don't really watch much TV apart from the BBC channels and sometimes ITV. I'm not sure my antenna signal is strong enough to get a Freeview HD decoder so I was pondering to buy an IPTV box instead. I'd like it to be pretty basic, offering some free-to-air UK channels (BBC and ITV, bonus points for anything else) but most importantly with a very basic user interface (much like a traditional Virgin/Sky box). 

Does anybody have a IPTV box in place of a Freeview/Sky/Virgin box? If yes, which one and would you recommend it?

Thanks!

JJ_Egan

Do you not have IPlayer etc on TV  or Freeview . .

Bit overkill to buy a box when a Firestick will give the same options for basic Internet TV .

They don't come with Freeview etc , but run apps like IPlayer etc .

manub

JJ_Egan said:

Do you not have IPlayer etc on TV  or Freeview . .

Bit overkill to buy a box when a Firestick will give the same options for basic Internet TV .

They don't come with Freeview etc , but run apps like IPlayer etc .

That's a good point - I could try using a stick and see if that would work for me. Thanks!

mobileron

A firestick will do all you want apart from recording,streaming is now the way to go.Theres lots of free apps for you on the stick.

HaroldWren5

manub said:

JJ_Egan said:

Do you not have IPlayer etc on TV  or Freeview . .

Bit overkill to buy a box when a Firestick will give the same options for basic Internet TV .

They don't come with Freeview etc , but run apps like IPlayer etc .

That's a good point - I could try using a stick and see if that would work for me. Thanks!

You could buy a Firestick and use BBC iPlayer to watch the BBC channels via the Internet. In addition, you can use catchup apps to stream TV programmes via the internet. And of course other apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Youtube. 

I think Vodafone do an IPTV box in Ireland. But as yet, the only big name IPTV service for all channels is the Sky Glass service. However, sounds like your best bet is to either go with Freeview, or pay a one off cost for Freesat (receiving free to air channels via a Satellite). And then use a Smart TV, or Firestick to stream via the internet. 

Rodders53

Most TVs have Freeview built in and if it's an old TV only DVB-T capable, so SD if those all work reliably it's most unlikely it won't work for the BBC B PSB HD multiplex.

It may, though be necessary to get your UHF TV aerial sorted so that it works properly?
Freeview PVRs are cheaper than the alternative of installing a freesat dish and PVR.

Modern TVs have streaming apps built in but alternative like Amazon Fire TV (sticks/boxes), Chromecast TV, Apple TV and Roku devices will allow much of what you say you want...  Check out the exact services you want and the device offerings:  you may need more than one device to cover all bases.