New Android TV Box and IPTV

Undervalued

ButterCheese said:

Just thought I'd post an update in case anyone is in a similar situation (i.e. wants a cheap streaming device that has ethernet).

After being initially excited with getting nearly every channel in the world for free on this dodgy box, I have done some more research and it is in fact illegal (I won't bother reporting to Amazon because they won't care or do anything about it).  In China where it's made, it's probably legal to load their software with all access links, but it's illegal to use such a device in the UK.  More than that though, the box itself doesn't work very well at all.  The Android version it runs is very old, and in the settings it says that the latst android security update was installed in 2019!  Yet it said it was fully up to date.  I also had trouble with Netflix (primarily what I'd use it for) as when I eventually managed to sign in, it would not let me select different tabs such as "movies", "shows" etc.  There was a workaround by using the mouse pointer option, but I don't have time for that in my life.  So it has been returned.

There seem to be very limited budget options for ethernet only connections.  You can get an Ethernet adapter for the Firestick but I don't know how well they work.  There is also the Fire Cube which has ethernet input, but they are obviously more expensive.  Then you get into the realms of the NVIDIA Shield which is top of the range but is about £170, and designed more for streaming your own stored media from a server for example.  There doesn't seem to be much else out there apart from Roku and Firestick (neither of which have ethernet ports), but I think there is a reson that Roku/Amazon Firestick seem to have the monopoly - it's because they are simple and work very well.  Android TV Box devices (in my limited experience) seem to emulate a phone, which is great when using it on a phone, but not very good when using it with a remote. 

So I will probably have to bite the bullet and get a Firecube, or get someone in to get my ethernet>wifi thingy working

I have used the very similar Google ethernet adaptor with my Chromecast and it worked very well. Basically a replacement plug in power supply that has an ethernet socket. It then sends both power and the ethernet signal down the one USB lead to the device. When the device senses a wired connection it defaults to that rather than WiFi.

The same adaptor will also work with some (but not all) Android tablets and other devices.

ButterCheese

RavingMad said:

You could buy a firestick and the ethernet adapter from Amazon and return it if it's not fit for purpose?

Yes might try that as well thanks

ifstar

It's sold on Amazon but will be from a seller. It is likely a free trial of an IPTV service that is preloaded on it. 

You will be able to install iPlayer, itv, channel 4 players through the play store.

BFBW

ButterCheese said:

Just thought I'd post an update in case anyone is in a similar situation (i.e. wants a cheap streaming device that has ethernet).

After being initially excited with getting nearly every channel in the world for free on this dodgy box, I have done some more research and it is in fact illegal (I won't bother reporting to Amazon because they won't care or do anything about it).  In China where it's made, it's probably legal to load their software with all access links, but it's illegal to use such a device in the UK.  More than that though, the box itself doesn't work very well at all.  The Android version it runs is very old, and in the settings it says that the latst android security update was installed in 2019!  Yet it said it was fully up to date.  I also had trouble with Netflix (primarily what I'd use it for) as when I eventually managed to sign in, it would not let me select different tabs such as "movies", "shows" etc.  There was a workaround by using the mouse pointer option, but I don't have time for that in my life.  So it has been returned.

There seem to be very limited budget options for ethernet only connections.  You can get an Ethernet adapter for the Firestick but I don't know how well they work.  There is also the Fire Cube which has ethernet input, but they are obviously more expensive.  Then you get into the realms of the NVIDIA Shield which is top of the range but is about £170, and designed more for streaming your own stored media from a server for example.  There doesn't seem to be much else out there apart from Roku and Firestick (neither of which have ethernet ports), but I think there is a reson that Roku/Amazon Firestick seem to have the monopoly - it's because they are simple and work very well.  Android TV Box devices (in my limited experience) seem to emulate a phone, which is great when using it on a phone, but not very good when using it with a remote. 

So I will probably have to bite the bullet and get a Firecube, or get someone in to get my ethernet>wifi thingy working

You just needed a better remote control Either an Air Mouse: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shinekoo-Compatible-Wireless-Backlight-Learning/dp/B0DQL1G3F5/
 or
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ProChosen-Backlight-Keyboard-Wireless-Infrared-Black/dp/B0BJJRR7QD
or one with a Touchpad: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Keyboard-Touchpad-7-colors-Rechargeable/dp/B0BX8NW6HS

£10 and problem solved.
You can buy Android boxes with Widevine Level 1 certification. You bought one without. Example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/KM2-Plus-Certified-Assistant-Chromecast/dp/B0C4WLSLZ5/
https://www.mecool.com/products/tv-box-mecool-km2-plus
https://www.mecool.com/products/mecool-km2-plus-deluxe?variant=43962381861002 Deluxe version if you need better specs than the standard model.
It won't have any IPTV channels installed.  

Exodi

Neil49 said:

I can't answer your question directly but what I can point you to is the fact that the latest Google Chromecast device came without BBC iplayer installed as it had not been through the certification process.

Given that fact I would suggest that your device has not been approved by the BBC therefore the iplayer app is not available on it. 

I wouldn't think too much on it, the Chromecast devices are fine for BBC iPlayer (including the new Google TV Streamer - though I appreciate it took almost 6 months).

I own two Google TV's that initially didn't work with iPlayer. I'd encourage you to either try update the OS, or in my case finding and installing BBC iPlayer from the app store worked (and the preinstalled BBC iPlayer, which looked identical, didn't).

ButterCheese said:

After being initially excited with getting nearly every channel in the world for free on this dodgy box, I have done some more research and it is in fact illegal

Yeah... obviously... 

What ports does your TV have? Presumably not Ethernet (as you could just hardwire the TV in and use any device), but does it have USB's? If so, you can get USB to Ethernet adapters. These are relatively common (though usually because TV's typically use 100 Mbps ports and 'entertainment enthusiasts' who insist you need more will use a USB to Ethernet adapter to get gigabit transfer speeds - relatively daft in my opinion as I understand most 4k uses about 25Mbps).