Media Box query.

**gordon_s1942** · 03-08-16, 01:20 PM

I have been looking at getting one for awhile and saw one on Ebay called a KODI XBMC for $65.
What I am hoping it will do is connect to the big TV in the Lounge and I can then link it to the router to access the Internet.
The simplest way to achieve this would be to connect the Computer to the TV and use it as a monitor as I use a spare TV as a Monitor now.
The problem is its not convenient to run a cable from the Computer where it is to the Big TV nor do I want to relocate the Computer to be near the TV so thats why I wanted the Media box to connect via WiFi to the internet etc.

Have I bought the right devise to achieve this or have I stuffed up again?

**ol' boy** · 03-08-16, 01:34 PM

Well, that kind of depends on what you want to do gordon.

If its for Media Playback and Internet Streaming, Yes
If its for normal computing stuff like Word Docs or Spreadsheets, No.

Given you have posted in the Sound/Visual/Digital Multimedia, i take its the first option, in which case, bang on

As a heads up, i really don't like Kodi much anymore, as a Media Player, especially over LAN.
Much better options out there, like boxes that come with default Media players.
Thats been my experience anyway, others will be different

Also, i'm very suspicious on Media Boxes that ain't well known or well tested
There is far more rubbish out there than good boxes.
Even the boxes that ALDI sell are disgraceful.....

You can have a very negative first experience with a crappy Media Box.
Enough that it puts you off.

**gordon_s1942** · 03-08-16, 04:37 PM

I rarely write letters and I havent a clue how to use a spreadsheet so neither of them are of any interest.
All I want to do is try to stream the odd show from FoxtelGO or SBS ondemand etc.

The other day we were out unexpectedly late and She missed her episode of Bold and the Beautiful so I ran it on TENplay on the tablet for her and that pleased her no end.........

I dont expect it to do wonders and spit miracles, not at that price anyway.

**Philquad** · 03-08-16, 07:57 PM

problem is you cant stream the fox go to the android device, theres no fox go android app
you can from the pc to a google chromecast, but it works crap
i buy them media players for $40, great for usb sticks & stream netflix ok but the remote sucks balls
a lappy to the tv via hdmi is best, then you can do fox go

**gordon_s1942** · 04-08-16, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Philquad

problem is you cant stream the fox go to the android device, theres no fox go android app
you can from the pc to a google chromecast, but it works crap
i buy them media players for $40, great for usb sticks & stream netflix ok but the remote sucks balls
a lappy to the tv via hdmi is best, then you can do fox go

I dont know where or who told you that Phil but YES, there is a FoxtelGo APP and yes it will stream to an android devise coss I have and I just doood it !!
And I dont use Chomecast on either the Galaxy or the Desktop.

What I cant do is load the App onto the Desktop but I still have a shortcut to open the Homepage and select what I want to see.

The devise I have is a Galaxy Tab 3 about 3 years old now and I had no problem selecting the FoxGO App from the Google Playstore and installing it onto the Tab.
I wont say its perfect but I ran a few minutes of a Micheal Bolton concert done in the RAH London and screened on the ARTS channel.

Hopefully this Kodi Media Stb will do this too.

**Philquad** · 04-08-16, 06:18 PM

you are correct sorry gordon
its the microsoft store that hasnt got the fox go app
i got them mixed up

**ol' boy** · 04-08-16, 06:30 PM

Considering the whole purpose of this thread, was to ask if you have "bought the right thing or stuffed up again?"
Yet no where in your 3 posts have even mentioned the Model, Model No. or a link to what you have purchased so we can make an educated guess.

The words KODI and XBMC relate to a bit of software, they have nothing and no relation to any box.

You don't even mention the OS?

Is it Android or Windows or Linux or Something else?

**gordon_s1942** · 04-08-16, 07:24 PM

Sorry, I just thought these were fairly common garden gadgets and while no one might have the one I was looking at, they might have some info regarding them.

Here is a link to the ebay listing of the one I have bought.

**ol' boy** · 04-08-16, 07:42 PM

Box: M8S
CPU: Amlogic S905 Quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53
OS: Android

Please let us know how you go
Don't hold your breath on Foxtel Go working unless you know a few tricks

Should do everything else as you expect
You may find firmware at Freaktab, depending whom built the unit.

**jakeyboy** · 04-08-16, 10:52 PM

oceanboy,there are no tricks to Foxtel go working.i have it working on an android laser media box.

**gordon_s1942** · 05-08-16, 02:15 PM

Arrived today and its TINY to say the least.
The instruction sheet supplied is the size of a Toilet Roll Tissue with diagrams of what each port/connection is and little else and being of a semi gloss paper, not much use for my first impression.
On the box and instruction leaflet is one of those 'Scan/Patch' things for a tutorial on Youtube, the problem is I dont have the app to use it so I will have to wait until my Son comes home with his SMART phone.

One thing troubling me so far is that there appears to be the need to connect to an Ethernet feed.
What I was wanting was a devise to connect to the TV in the Lounge room and then by WiFi/Bluetooth or whatever to the Router which is (SING) connected to the Modem which is connected to Satellite which is connected to the Internet (end Song) so I can surf the net on the TV.

I am going back to Youtube to see if I can find another tutorial (last was in Russian) regarding this devise.
*****************

Checked out and found a couple of tutorials and one showed the user just connecting the STB via the hdmi cable and plugging in the power.
If I heard correctly he said he had already set up the WiFi before he did the Video so it appears the Ethernet connection isnt required.
Nothing like trying it out, is there???

**Philquad** · 05-08-16, 04:33 PM

thats it, i havnt 1 here atm but from memory just settings\ internet\ wifi eg.
what you can do:
browse net ect
put teamviewer on it & control it remotely
use usb or 2.5 portable drives
you can be tricky too like me, put on it & your pc, than you can copy movies ect to it (usb device)
i do this so i dont have to move lol

**ol' boy** · 05-08-16, 05:10 PM

Did a WiFi antenna come with your box gordon??
Its often bundled with the AV Leads etc

EDIT: I see after re reading your eBay ad, it has WiFi antenna built in, so there is no external antenna port or antenna to connect.
Its just a very simple matter of plugging the thing in and turning it on and connecting it to you network

**ol' boy** · 05-08-16, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by gordon_s1942

One thing troubling me so far is that there appears to be the need to connect to an Ethernet feed.
What I was wanting was a devise to connect to the TV in the Lounge room and then by WiFi

Why don't you just use the WiFi to connect your new box??
It comes with WIFI, its in the eBay ad

**gordon_s1942** · 05-08-16, 05:50 PM

Indeed it does as well as bluetooth HOWEVER, I had no instructions of HOW to connect.

After THREE solid hours of clicking on this ,that and the Dogs Collar, I first found how to set the Date and Time, setting the region was easy peasy.
THEN I eventually got into the Menu, which I will swear on a stack of Flpppy discs, was NOT there before or at least, didnt want to open up and there found where to do the Date and Time changes as well as the Wifi and Bluetooth so using the Remote I entered ONE Letter, Number at a time to enter the Password!!
Now I am ONLINE so I opened the GooglePlay APP find and load SBSonDemand, again ONE Letter, number at a time using the cursor on the Remote (Boy is it SLOW!!) and thats when I found out that if you put the cursor arrow on the WRONG part of the Letter you want, you get a different character set !!!

OK, I installed SBSondemand, picked a show and ran about 10 minutes of it Full screen and it was as good as when it was broadcast.

I am going to need to work out how to connect a keyboard to the Media box as using the remote is indescribably BAD !!!

So far so good using the Media player and I am happy with it but GEEEEZ, did it have to be so difficult???

**ol' boy** · 05-08-16, 06:08 PM

Its not difficult gordon, its just difficult to you, because its the first time you've done it.
If you've used Android before, its a total walk in the park.

I don't even bother with keyboard remotes now
You get pretty fast at entering words after some practice

And once set up, you rarely need to enter anything again.

Pls try Foxtel Go and let us know how it went for you

**gordon_s1942** · 05-08-16, 07:46 PM

Just ran into a little problem with Foxtel. I have loaded the APP for FoxtelGo but when I try to use it, I get the message that 'Video Playback is not available via an external screen' , 'Please remove your external display connection to continue'

SOOOO, Foxtel dont mind their customers streaming their programs via a 'Devise', they aint gunna let you run it on a screen big enough for all the Town to enjoy.............and with no screen on a Media Box, you aint gunna run it at all.......unless 'someone' knows a way to bypass this restriction.

**Philquad** · 05-08-16, 07:46 PM

lol, told you the remote sucks
yes usb keyboard & mouse is the go, even better
put the teamviewer app on it & control it from your puter

**ol' boy** · 05-08-16, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by gordon_s1942

Just ran into a little problem with Foxtel. I have loaded the APP for FoxtelGo but when I try to use it, I get the message that 'Video Playback is not available via an external screen' , 'Please remove your external display connection to continue'

Not according to jakeyboy whom posted in this thread gordon.
I'd be asking him how he did it

He seems to think its easy enough to achieve.

Start from Post #9 and re-read gordon