Streaming Box Choices

[NetworkGuy]

I am looking for another Streaming TV box that will play SageTV.

So far I have two 4K FireTV sticks, a Shield and a Roku.

I like the menu system on the Roku best, but it does not support SageTV.

Shield also has a great menu system, but it is expensive.

Amazon keeps screwing around with the menu system on the firestick and it is a mess. But it is cheap.

What are other people using?

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I am looking for another Streaming TV box that will play SageTV.

So far I have two 4K FireTV sticks, a Shield and a Roku.

I like the menu system on the Roku best, but it does not support SageTV.

Shield also has a great menu system, but it is expensive.

Amazon keeps screwing around with the menu system on the firestick and it is a mess. But it is cheap.

What are other people using?

Google Chromecast TV.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by nyplayer

Google Chromecast TV.

Chromecast can do SageTV? I’ve got one, but never tried.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Chromecast can do SageTV? I’ve got one, but never tried.

The new Chromcast with GoogleTV can do Sagetv.

https://store.google.com/product/chr...20~%20Features

[wayner]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Chromecast can do SageTV? I’ve got one, but never tried.

Only the newest one that came out a month or two ago. It is essentially an AndroidTV device. Older Chromecasts were much less capable devices.

I haven't used a Shield, but I tried using SageTV on a Firestick and a MiBox and I still prefer a HD300 or HD200.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by wayner

Only the newest one that came out a month or two ago. It is essentially an AndroidTV device. Older Chromecasts were much less capable devices.

I haven't used a Shield, but I tried using SageTV on a Firestick and a MiBox and I still prefer a HD300 or HD200.

When was the last time you used the SageTV MiniClient ... It is now fully supported and has been updated .. to be able to transcode and remote access works. New release was recently uploaded to google Play store and FireTV Store. Remote access even works on my Samsung Tablet/Note 9.

[wayner]

It has probably been a year since I tried and the device that I was using was either a MiBox or a non-4K Firestick. The main issue was the playback of MPEG-2 files. I prefer Roku as a streaming device as it has the best selection of apps, as well as an API that works well with my Control4 Home Automation system.

I assume that a Shield would work better than the above but I am not sure it is worth buying one as I have a very large inventory of SageTV exetenders. Is a Shield a better solution than an HD300 plus a Roku?

One good thing with my setup is that Control4 can control SageTV using IP controls that are the same as the Web UI. And these appear to be done directly with the SageTV server and work with any and all miniclient. So I don't have the drawback or a crappy remote control with only a couple of buttons.

[jpwegas]

Originally Posted by wayner

It has probably been a year since I tried and the device that I was using was either a MiBox or a non-4K Firestick. The main issue was the playback of MPEG-2 files. I prefer Roku as a streaming device as it has the best selection of apps, as well as an API that works well with my Control4 Home Automation system.

I assume that a Shield would work better than the above but I am not sure it is worth buying one as I have a very large inventory of SageTV exetenders. Is a Shield a better solution than an HD300 plus a Roku?

Shield support is getting really good thanks to Josh's work! My main issue with MPEG2 playback was that most of my recordings were using an MPEG-PS container which for some reason the Exoplayer didn't play well. Now that I'm generating MPEG-TS containers it's pretty good. Still working on getting a remote with more than 4 buttons, which is the Shield default but lacking for Sage use.

I still prefer my HD300s at this point, unless I want to watch one of the few 4K shows I've recorded, which the HD300 of course does not support.

--John

[EnterNoEscape]

I just bought this one based on a conversation on a recommendation from Reddit. I wanted something cheaper than the shield with built in ethernet so I could do ADB and have a wired connection. My other requirement was that the box be Google Certified. I'll let everyone know my impressions.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

I just bought this one based on a conversation on a recommendation from Reddit. I wanted something cheaper than the shield with built in ethernet so I could do ADB and have a wired connection. My other requirement was that the box be Google Certified. I'll let everyone know my impressions.

Lets us know if it can do DRM ? if you have any channels using HDHomeRun APP.

[phelme]

I have both the new Chromecast with GoogleTV and an Amazon 4K Firestick.

for SageTV use (and Plex as well) I'd overwhelmingly go for the Firestick, just for the remote. The remote on the CwGTV simply sucks for shuttling, no dedicated REW/FF/Play/Menu buttons which the Firestick has. One has to go back and forth too much with the on screen navigation tools (not that I'm not thankful they are there ).

Now that the Firestick has HBO Max (as of today I think). I'm likely to go back to it, even though the CwGTV is a bit quicker.

But... I still can't ditch using the HD300, because the Android Mini Client still looses it's place too much when shuttling around. I know Josh is actively trying to figure it out what's actually going on there.

Edit: oh one more downer about the CwGTV. it doesn't do onboard AC3 decoding, which if you're like me and have to plug it in to the TV (because my receiver is ancient ) it means Plex has to transcode audio on the server end. The Firestick doesn't have that problem as it'll handle AC3.

[RonBoyd]

We, now, have added Fire TV Recast to out FireTV Cube. We, also, have a Tablo Quad -- which runs through a streaming box, such as ROKU or Shield. (I suspect the new Tablo will operate similar to the SageTV HD300.)

The difference between the two (Tablo/Recast) is most striking in the replay of recordings -- the Tablo is miles ahead. This, however, is not a serious difference but still...

The main advantage to Recast is that in addition to your OTA channels, you also have access to all of the other networks (as you would with ROKU or Shield) with a single device. The other advantage being that it is all voice activated (well, if you choose). For instance all you need do is Say "Alexa, go to TABLO TV" and it will open the TABLO App. Or say "Alexa, go to Guide" and you get a EPG of your local channels. Or simply say "Alexa, go to channel thirty one dot (or point) one" and it will play local (OTA) channel 31.1.

All in all, I am really impressed with Recast. I am, however, a little irritated that too many of the adjustments (including adding Apps) can only be done within the Amazon Website.

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by nyplayer

Lets us know if it can do DRM ? if you have any channels using HDHomeRun APP.

No problem. I know it should run the HDHomeRun app based on other people's experiences, but I too want to test out DRM since I know it doesn't work everywhere.

[EnterNoEscape]

I received the Ematic AGT419 and did a decent amount of testing already. I decided to open a new thread here to discuss it.