WiFi only option for new TV.

Vitor

 - a mains socket was mounted on the chimney breast for the TV, but no facility to route additional cables. -

Have you looked at pulling an aerial cable, assuming the mains cable is laid into conduit, and use a faceplate with socket and outlet.

Peter999_2

Amazon fire TVs have freely built in - some of those look pretty good TVs.    Unfortunately it is only the Fire TVs and not the firesticks that have freely.

WIAWSNB

Vitor said:

 - a mains socket was mounted on the chimney breast for the TV, but no facility to route additional cables. -

Have you looked at pulling an aerial cable, assuming the mains cable is laid into conduit, and use a faceplate with socket and outlet.

Thanks.

I'll ask him to ask his builder. 

All the walls have been finished after the cable was routed to this new socket, and there's no cupboard or anything either side of the fireplace, or any 'blank' plates that would suggest a duct has been added.

I'll check, but I'm pretty sure he told me his builder convinced him no 'cables' were required these days, only WiFi...

But, I'll confirm.

WIAWSNB

Peter999_2 said:

Amazon fire TVs have freely built in - some of those look pretty good TVs.    Unfortunately it is only the Fire TVs and not the firesticks that have freely.

Thanks. Yes, it suggests that Fire can show 'live' TV, I presume via each channel's player.

That sounds very positive.

sausage_time

WIAWSNB said:

Peter999_2 said:

Amazon fire TVs have freely built in - some of those look pretty good TVs.    Unfortunately it is only the Fire TVs and not the firesticks that have freely.

Thanks. Yes, it suggests that Fire can show 'live' TV, I presume via each channel's player.

That sounds very positive.

Yes, the 'sticks do support the individual channel player apps.  It's functional if you know what you want to watch, but no good for browsing through the channels.

There's a 30-60 second delay for buffering which some find irritating.   For example, tennis scores can pop up on phone before you see the action!  

WIAWSNB

sausage_time said:

Yes, the 'sticks do support the individual channel player apps.  It's functional if you know what you want to watch, but no good for browsing through the channels.
There's a 30-60 second delay for buffering which some find irritating.   For example, tennis scores can pop up on phone before you see the action!  

Cheers. Yes, I've read that Fire Sticks can be sluggish. Not necessarily a problem, provided it does everything else, and is intuitive to use.

I've been looking at actual Fire TVs, too, as a single remote control would be better. However, they appear to be physically quite thick - over 8cm - so hardly ideal for wall-mounting. 

The search goes on. 

sausage_time

My Amazon stick remote can also control the (JVC) TV.   Needed to be "paired".  On/off and volume - which is all you need really.

WIAWSNB

Or any other.

I understand that 'Fire' is the poor cousin here, often only added to more budget sets? Is that fair?

Freely is up-and-coming, but again only currently available of budget makes.

Google is looking more high-end, for some reason?

Any experience?

Cheers.

MattMattMattUK

WIAWSNB said:

Or any other.

I understand that 'Fire' is the poor cousin here, often only added to more budget sets? Is that fair?

Freely is up-and-coming, but again only currently available of budget makes.

Google is looking more high-end, for some reason?

Any experience?

Cheers.

I do not have experience of Freely, Fire is generally at the budget end yes, but it is still very functional. I have Google TV on both my TVs at home and it is very good, access to apps from the Play Store (some, not all). Personally Google TV would be my choice, it is great, fully featured and everything is well integrated, however if you are a bit more budget conscious then Fire is totally reasonable. 

RumRat

WIAWSNB said:

That's all terrific info, thank you.

I can confirm that a mains socket was mounted on the chimney breast for the TV, but no facility to route additional cables. 

The cove was keen on the Samsung Frame sets, but I've had it confirmed that these must use their 'one' box, so that will require their - admittedly clever - single silvery cable connections to the TV. Problem is, even that's ugly, and there's no place to position the 'box' - there's a refurb'd Viccie fireplace underneath, and now't to the sides. 

The owner is keen to have 'paintings' displayed when not on as it'll have a prominent position on the feature wall, just above the fireplace. 

So, I've suggested that 'all' that's needed is a 'normal' TV but which is slimmish - say up to 50mm - and has a matte or anti-glare screen. Then his amazing builder can add a proper timber picture frame if he really wants.

As to Firesticks et al, it doesn't matter too much how slow they are to respond, as long as they display a stable pic once running.

Freely sounds good, but the best make - Hisense - doesn't seem to have one with their 'anti' screen.

Lawdie....

The Hisense UN8 has an anti refletion screen, not sure how effective it is. No TV eliminates reflections completely.
Not sure why people put their TV's over the fireplace.....They are always too high. Each to their own.   However if it's on a chimney wall that doesn't have a working fire, could they drop the aerial down the chimney and drill in behind the TV to feed it through. If they have a working fire then putting a tv above is not ideal.
If the builder can't hide the cables in the wall, find another builder...