Dish AirTV

[valnar]

Looks like another Android device but with integrated OTA antenna support. Add Plex and Netflix and it'll do almost everything I want. I assume it'll support the Sage Mini-client? (Although I'm not sure if OTA is important since my HDHomeRun can be a tuner on Sage). Wonder if it compares to the Mi Box or Shield?

[panteragstk]

Android TV devices running 7+ support all the features that box has. Granted the OTA channels may not show up in the slingTv app, but that may be the only difference.

Nice to have multiple choices. I'm still hoping Google is pumping energy into the Android TV platform. They have a lot of market share to grab from apple and Roku if they do it correctly.

[metapath]

Ordered mine yesterday in a fit of weakness. We'll see how well it works.

Did anyone understand whether or not a channel guide is included? I thought I saw "guide" but there was no mention of EPG fees.

[NetworkGuy]

Looks interesting, but I rarely watch anything live.

I would look into using my original HDHR for OTA, but since a lot of what I watch are cable channels, I would still need to subscribe to something for them.

[metapath]

I hear you NetworkGuy, I hate live TV.
But I'm trying to wean my neighbors off paying Comcast for local HD when they could get free OTA. The big stumbling block for them is that they never know what's on when without EPG.

Until I saw AirTV, Tablo looked to be pretty good (DVR to boot) but EPG fees and external hard drive can be a barrier; Sage is still the best solution. But it can be pricey to setup too and I don't want to be TV Tech Guy for everyone on the block. (Probably too late for that anyway...)

[SWKerr]

This just seems like a branded Android TV box with nothing special.

I guess if you have no DVR it could be a decent replacement basic cable.
But...I can't ever see where just being able to watch live TV would be all that great. Also: most TVs have live TV if you hook up an antenna so where is this really all that useful.

Add DVR to a NAS or USB drive and it is interesting. The Nvidia Shield and Emby sounds promising. Better yet add DVR and USB Hard drive to my MI Box.

[metapath]

I agree SWKerr, but have you tried to support friends who don't have a clue how things work? If you hook up an antenna to their TV and a streaming box (MI box is great) via HDMI, then they have to understand how to switch inputs from ANT to HDMI.

Some of my neighbors can't do that. Heck, my parents can't do that. The one thing AirTV has is integrated OTA and streaming.

[panteragstk]

Has anyone been able to find specs for this thing? SOC, Andoroid version, etc?

[metapath]

Originally Posted by metapath

The one thing AirTV has is integrated OTA and streaming.

It's just not that well integrated. The Sling TV portion has a nice Favorites bar to put all your most-watched channels, but I never figured out how to add OTA channels to it.

In fact, the whole experience has been pretty frustrating. I bought this to try to talk my neighbor into cancelling his Comcast account. Short story: he will be keeping Comcast. Keep reading for Long Story.

Setting up AirTV went pretty quickly for Sling access. While setting up the account, we picked Sling Blue, but we couldn't figure out how to add the extra channels he wanted (CMT and MSNBC). Finally logged onto the website from a laptop to create the account, then back to the TV to enter the account info. Painful.

Then we couldn't figure out how to setup the OTA adapter. After searching for more than 10 minutes, I finally just unplugged the USB tuner and plugged it back in. After a minute or 2, a menu popped up and channel searching worked well.

YES, there is a free EPG source which worked very well. I was happy to see that a guide with look-ahead was provided for all the OTA channels (50 in this remote area outside of Seattle).

Went back to Sling, then tried to find the OTA guide or go back to OTA channels. This took an hour of effort. The remote has a Guide button, but it works ONLY for Sling TV. You have to hold down the right arrow and scroll past all the Sling channels (about 45- 50) before you get to "TV and Internet Channels", then arrow down to select it and click OK. That only gets you back to the last watched OTA channel. Spent another half-hour figuring out that to get the OTA guide, you have to click OK again, and then OK yet again.

So my neighbor totaled the new cost (Sling Blue $25/month, CMT $5/month, MSNBC $5 a month) and figured out he's saving $20 a month over his Comcast TV subscription (about half of his $115 a month internet/TV bill). And he complained that MSNBC looked pixelated and sound was out of sync compared to Comcast. And complained about the poor Guide integration.

Last nail in the coffin was there is no app (that I could find) for Amazon Video. He has a Prime account and wants access to it. Roku has this, so I assumed AirTV would too.

AirTV provided a $50 credit toward Sling subscription but my neighbor isn't thrilled and I think this will go back in the box and returned in the next 2 weeks.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by metapath

It's just not that well integrated. The Sling TV portion has a nice Favorites bar to put all your most-watched channels, but I never figured out how to add OTA channels to it.

In fact, the whole experience has been pretty frustrating. I bought this to try to talk my neighbor into cancelling his Comcast account. Short story: he will be keeping Comcast. Keep reading for Long Story.

Setting up AirTV went pretty quickly for Sling access. While setting up the account, we picked Sling Blue, but we couldn't figure out how to add the extra channels he wanted (CMT and MSNBC). Finally logged onto the website from a laptop to create the account, then back to the TV to enter the account info. Painful.

Then we couldn't figure out how to setup the OTA adapter. After searching for more than 10 minutes, I finally just unplugged the USB tuner and plugged it back in. After a minute or 2, a menu popped up and channel searching worked well.

YES, there is a free EPG source which worked very well. I was happy to see that a guide with look-ahead was provided for all the OTA channels (50 in this remote area outside of Seattle).

Went back to Sling, then tried to find the OTA guide or go back to OTA channels. This took an hour of effort. The remote has a Guide button, but it works ONLY for Sling TV. You have to hold down the right arrow and scroll past all the Sling channels (about 45- 50) before you get to "TV and Internet Channels", then arrow down to select it and click OK. That only gets you back to the last watched OTA channel. Spent another half-hour figuring out that to get the OTA guide, you have to click OK again, and then OK yet again.

So my neighbor totaled the new cost (Sling Blue $25/month, CMT $5/month, MSNBC $5 a month) and figured out he's saving $20 a month over his Comcast TV subscription (about half of his $115 a month internet/TV bill). And he complained that MSNBC looked pixelated and sound was out of sync compared to Comcast. And complained about the poor Guide integration.

Last nail in the coffin was there is no app (that I could find) for Amazon Video. He has a Prime account and wants access to it. Roku has this, so I assumed AirTV would too.

AirTV provided a $50 credit toward Sling subscription but my neighbor isn't thrilled and I think this will go back in the box and returned in the next 2 weeks.

There is not an "official" Amazon video app for Android TV. Yet. You can manually install it and it works just fine. There is actually a thread on here telling you how to do it.

Your review makes this thing sound pretty bad. I'm not really surprised, but was hoping it would be better than that.

[panteragstk]

Supposedly there is an update to better integrate OTA into the guide.

http://cordcuttersnews.com/airtv-pro...a-integration/

[SWKerr]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

There is not an "official" Amazon video app for Android TV. Yet. You can manually install it and it works just fine. There is actually a thread on here telling you how to do it.

Your review makes this thing sound pretty bad. I'm not really surprised, but was hoping it would be better than that.

The Amazon Android app is functional but it really does suck to use. I would love to get a Amazon app that is supported and works more like a Netfix or HBO Go app. Overall I like to use the FireTV mostly because it is the only thing with good Amazon integration. Plus...I actually like the FireTV interface better than the Android TV interface since the latest update.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by SWKerr

The Amazon Android app is functional but it really does suck to use. I would love to get a Amazon app that is supported and works more like a Netfix or HBO Go app. Overall I like to use the FireTV mostly because it is the only thing with good Amazon integration. Plus...I actually like the FireTV interface better than the Android TV interface since the latest update.

Are you referring to the amazon app for tablets and phones or the one ripped from the sony android tv? It is an android TV app just like any other. I use it and have no issues at all.

[metapath]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Supposedly there is an update to better integrate OTA into the guide.

http://cordcuttersnews.com/airtv-pro...a-integration/

The update isn't available yet, "hopefully early 2017". I don't think I'll wait around.

If Tablo would include the cost of EPG with the box, that would make it more attractive for this kind of cord cutting. I guess with the coming demise of free Sage EPG, I'd better get used to paying for it.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by metapath

The update isn't available yet, "hopefully early 2017". I don't think I'll wait around.

If Tablo would include the cost of EPG with the box, that would make it more attractive for this kind of cord cutting. I guess with the coming demise of free Sage EPG, I'd better get used to paying for it.

Well, the sage EPG isn't "free" since you did pay for a sage license, but I get it. SD isn't expensive though. I think it's only $50 per year. Good price since I get to keep using sage.

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Well, the sage EPG isn't "free" since you did pay for a sage license, but I get it. SD isn't expensive though. I think it's only $50 per year. Good price since I get to keep using sage.

Actually it's only $25 per year.

[bcjenkins]

TiVo OTA includes epg in price. 4 tuners and supports major streaming services in a unified interface. Perhaps your neighbor should look into that.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by Tiki

Actually it's only $25 per year.

Well there ya go then. Thanks for the correction.

[metapath]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

TiVo OTA includes epg in price. 4 tuners and supports major streaming services in a unified interface. Perhaps your neighbor should look into that.

Yeah, thanks for the tip, I'll let him know. I wasn't aware any TIVO solution included the EPG without further charge.