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An efficient streaming box for the TV

Posted: 15 Aug 2015, 00:13
by francois
Looking for some more efficient installation setup for streaming on my LG HD non-intelligent TV thru wifi (though it was sold as being so, around 2012), I would like to profit from the experience of users of the porteus forum on such matters. The information on the net is not evident: there is too few and too much. Maybe some of you have interesting suggestions.

In more general reviews, the authors seem to be biased and disagree over roku, apple tv, android tv, chromecast, raspberry pi 2, ...:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-options- ... ia-center/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2402133,00.asp
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2402133,00.asp

HARDWARE
1.0 Raspberry pi system:
The rasberry pi 2 could run kodi multimedia software. You could build such a multimedia box for around 71$ and 111$ US:
http://www.htpcbeginner.com/fix-raspber ... ng-issues/
http://mymediaexperience.com/raspberry- ... /#chapter3

There seems to be disagreement for the rasberry pi 2 being an efficient multimedia center:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/view ... 2&t=100476

However Anand reports that he could fix annoying buffering issues with some hardware or sofware adjustments:
http://www.htpcbeginner.com/fix-raspber ... ng-issues/

Linux users has some choice with the raspberry pi:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/view ... 2&t=100476
http://rpi2.fatdog.eu/index.php?p=downloads

2.0 Chromecast.
I have tried chromecast, I thought that would be a good quality/price ratio, but had to return it to the store. I could not get it running on linux so to link it to my tv. It said it would just work on windows. It is often hard to know what is the best solution, unless you try the devices yourself.

I know that my linux-box should be my best bet. The problem is that it is not always convenient to move it to the HD TV. I understand that I will have to have a good wifi router.

3.0 Android TV?
As kodi works really well on my android phone, would google TV or the like be the solution? I thought that some device working with android or any linux system running kodi would be my best bet. I would like an installation with which there will be as little lagging as possible. Do you have any suggestion hardware?

Has anybody tried Amlogic S802 Quad-Core Cortex-A9 or the like? This devices solds for 63$ US? I am currently owning one in the form of

SOFTWARE.

ARM devices defined:
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/ARM-processor

ARM and LINUX:
https://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/5 ... m-distros-

There had been some tentatives to develop a porteus variant for arm device. But the efforts has not been pursued:
viewtopic.php?f=112&t=2012

There is an arm version of slackware, but it seems that its hardware coverage is somewhat limited. You have to try it to see if it fits your hardware:
http://arm.slackware.com/installation/

To install different linux distribution on android, including slackware, there is linux deploy:
http://arm.slackware.com/installation/

Kodi mutimedia center on porteus (cttan):
viewtopic.php?f=49&t=4469

Buffering issues on kodi:
Looking for in depth threads on buffering issues, I could not find threads specifically for linux. The propositions from Anand on buffering issues on the raspberry pi 2are interesting:
http://www.htpcbeginner.com/fix-raspber ... ng-issues/
- the data folder for android is Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/.kodi/userdata/
- how to choose a wireless driver
http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Wireless-Router

Python speedtest cli for download and upload:
http://www.tecmint.com/check-internet-s ... -in-linux/

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 15 Aug 2015, 20:06
by KnallKopf
1 -2 years before i have build a TV with a Raspberry Pi B and a RTL2832U DVBT-Stick.
I pluged in to HDMI, Ethernet and the TV-Stick to Antenna.
But I need the MPEG-2 and (or ?) VC-1 license key to see TV.
The remote control from TV works fine. It use HDMI.
I can see some Internet streams with Kodiaddons.
And i can Stream the Program from TV-Stick via LAN to my Smartphone.
I use Rasbmc because it give your a ssh control so i can use it as normal Linux and compile rtl_tcp to Stream SDR to my PC where SDRsharp on it.
And now i can heare the voice of my neighbors babyphones, bike messenger and radioamateurs.
(Rasbmc is now called OSMC and i have not try it.)

My greatest problem is to missed a soft off switch on the Raspberry-Pi. When you switch of the Pi via pull plug, rasbmc wont work again.
I must switch off the Pi via kodi.
(of course it is possible to realize it via GPIO but i am to lazy)

Fazit:
- It is slow but usable. (Modell B)
- It is not efficient. It is a toy, but it make fun.
- The big advantage of the Pi you can use it for other things.
For example you can install asterisk and try to find a solution for here.
My Pi is now a simple alarm system.

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 18 Aug 2015, 00:22
by francois
Thanks for your comments. :)

Have you been using your installation to stream cable content from the internet? Was it slow? Was there a lot of pauses?

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 18 Aug 2015, 16:46
by beny
hi francois the tbs company have a streaming box but you have to buy also a dvb tuner S or T or cable,the minix h8-plus now is the best of android media center,btw you can choose raspberry and tweak it in a full way but the minix have a quad core processor and an octa core mali in graphic section.

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 18 Aug 2015, 20:32
by KnallKopf
What do you mean with cabel content? No i think no.
I have tested normal Internet-TV via Kodi-addons watching on TV-screen.
It works fine without problems via DSL->Router->Ethernet, but they are normally not in HD.
And I have tested Streaming from TV-Stick (Antenna) and TV-Headend via Ethernet->Router->Wlan on Mobile phone.
It work without pauses, but TV-Headend are very difficult to use.

The Raspberry-Pi 2 Modell B have 4 cores to.
But the main differens are that the tbs-box and others are ready solutions.
On the Raspberry does nothing work from alone.
You must install a OS, you must extra buy the videocodecs (5 EUR), you should solder a soft of switch, etc.

But i love my Pi. I am sure that the Raspberry-Pi and my RTL2832-TV-Stick are the best invention of this century, but not for watching TV. :Rose:

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 18 Aug 2015, 21:25
by beny
hi http://www.tbsdtv.com/products/iptv-streamer.html and you are right the raspberry have a lot of gadget but you have tried openelec on it and i have a tbs usb sat device and via tvheadend i can watch directly on my tv from my computer,android it is a good system but no driver inside so you have to do all via htsp.

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 18 Aug 2015, 21:39
by francois
Thanks both of you for your feedback.
@knallkopf:
You just gave me the answers I was looking for. I was not looking for content available thru an antenna.

Cable TV provide internet services here in Canada. Sorry to have mislead you.

@beny:
I found a review yesterday nite that stated that the minix is one of the best solutions for around a 100$ US. I am begining to refine my knowledge of the subject and am accordingly falling on better threads. I should have used kodi streaming device review as keywords. Good that you confirm that android is not best suited for the job, and as KnallKopf wrote that openelec is a more flexible software solution. Thus there is no need to buy a device that is all setup beforehand with android kitkat and kodi on it. I imagine that the install it yourself devices must be cheaper.

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 18 Aug 2015, 21:54
by beny
hi francois minix have also a windows 8 device named Z64 but isn't cheaper.and kodi you can download the arm nightly build if you want,i have the isengard version and work very well.

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 19 Aug 2015, 00:15
by francois
@beny:
I have the isengard version too on my laptop.

Some reviews on the best android boxes with pros and cons:
http://www.overtheairdigitaltv.com/the- ... dia-boxes/
http://www.htpcbeginner.com/android-media-players-2015/

A suggestion of DIY AMD Linux-Powered Home Theater PC:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/three-tiny ... build-now/

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 20 Aug 2015, 03:53
by francois
Finally, I think I will go for the MXIII, good rating in consumers report. A version comes with Amlogic Quad Core Mali450 4K 2G/8GB 2.4G/5G Dual Wifi preloaded android 4.42 and kodi. I have to document that supports my decision more factually:
http://www.abrandao.com/2014/11/22/andr ... x-kodi-tv/
http://hometheatrelife.com/mxiii-m82-an ... pressions/
http://freaktab.com/forum/advertisers-a ... b-capacity
On freaktab, they have been able to install openelec which seems the smallest and most multimedia adapter linux version:
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-sup ... nsmart-s89

I wonder if I will be able to run a usb tv antenna on such a device? This way I would get free waves free and save streaming bandwidth.

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 30 Aug 2015, 03:55
by francois
With the MXII for two weeks. Very satisfied presently. I have the impression that many raspberry pi 2 owners will go for this device. With a HD screen and some usb keyboard and mice, and some additional memory on the hardware side, and openelec or some light linux os, maybe porteus on the software side, this might be my future linux box. I will have to test that. :D

Re: How to choose a streaming box for your TV

Posted: 06 Sep 2015, 19:34
by francois
I had some small buffering issues that grew up in different wifi setup. I have made some modifications to the first post accordingly. This is a work in progress. It seems that raspberry pi 2 is a fairly functional streaming box according to an author.

Re: An efficient streaming box for the TV

Posted: 10 Sep 2015, 03:14
by cttan
Hi francois,

I have just bought a 40" Toshiba Android TV model 40L5400VM.
Installed Kodi using Google Play and tested it is working beautifully.

No clutter as all is built in the TV. Android and WiFi all built in.

The only disadvantage is maybe it is slower in startup comparing to old fashion TV if you switch off the main plug.
No problem if you put it to standby mode.

Re: An efficient streaming box for the TV

Posted: 11 Sep 2015, 02:53
by francois
From what I read, it seems that 2015 smart TVs are more smarter than 2012. Maybe the 2015 have been in school for a longer time. :twisted:

However, some report that buying a non smart TV to which you add Google TV would be the best return for your money. However, I did not see these conclusions supported by numbers up to now.

An efficient streaming box for the TV

Posted: 11 Jun 2016, 13:27
by fullmoonremix
Salutations... :good:

I used to use an Android (Jellybean) Asus tablet to stream.
Then I purchased a third party Android (Jellybean) TV box.

For n00bs any of these class of devices are wonderful hassle-free solutions. Problem for me
was I could not reliably "root" them w/o bricking ($$$) them and Google keeps making it harder.

Also IMHO... :oops: everyone should stay away from "smart" TV's for 2 reasons...

If they are are compromised (firmware bug?) or fail... your technicians bill will be a king$ ransom. Also they are non-upgradeable
(or you will again pay a king$ ransom) so you will be back to standalone's anyway which are inherently cheaper and likely "smarter".

If you are not a n00b then why not enjoy a dual boot Chromebox w/ Porteus? :unknown:
(see... http://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=5927 )

"Best Regards"... :beer: