What to buy .

[mrtor]

Good evening from cold, locked down Melbourne.
I currently have foxtel iq4 via satellite and I don’t have a tv antenna on my 2 storey semi detached home.
I have a Netflix subscription, a stan subscription and apparently an amazon prime subscription that I have never seen.

My 32” tv is as big as i can fit in my space n the lounge, currently several hdmi leads, multiple remotes.

I would like to cancel my $100 a month foxtel
We have 100 mb fibre to curb unlimited nbn already

But

I lose the fta channels if i get rid of satellite which is a deal breaker for my family.
A tv antenna on the roof is going to cost $350.

So, can get all fta channels on anything other than a fetch tvbox ?

So many confusing options looking at android streaming boxes, so many bad reviews

Is there a smart tv that will do all fta, netflix, stan, amazon that i can get in a 32” size or a good streaming box that is straight forward for my non technical wife to use ?

In lockdown we can’t go shopping in a jb hifi, good guys etc so I need some expertise from here please.

Thank you in advance
Stay well

Mike

[mtv]

All the networks stream their channels, including additional channels you don't get via a terrestrial antenna/tuner.

eg: 7plus, 9now, TENPlay, ABCiview, SBS on Demand. So any smart TV can tune them.

[lsemmens]

The only issue I seem to have with streaming is that some of the streaming options are timed on the E.S.T. so, in South OZ looking for the news for example, sometimes I can only get Sydney news. I haven't looked at the issue too closely so it might just be my setup.

[coalminer]

In my case.
Android tv , kodi. Doomzday wizard....usa adults build
and i can watch any Australian Captial city tv live

[mrtor]

Good Morning Everyone

Thank you for that, having no experience your insight has proved valuable and I have learnt some new key words such as "kodi and Doomzday Wizard" !

Off to try and buy a new TV online

Appreciate this community and support/spirit with which that is given.

Cheers
Mike

[fandtm666]

i dont have an aerial and as mentioned above i just use the streaming
apps that work great

[Johnno]

Same here, Stream the FTA show using the apps. Very Simple.

[LeroyPatrol]

yup streaming here too. On a side note, if you look on 7+ there is so much more olympics to watch than the olympics on 7 and 7two

[wherealien]

The only issue I seem to have with streaming is that some of the streaming options are timed on the E.S.T. so, in South OZ looking for the news for example, sometimes I can only get Sydney news. I haven't looked at the issue too closely so it might just be my setup.

I use Brisbane but you could use Adelaide for correct local timing and content etc.

Any good streaming box Nvidea Shield etc and an IPTV client like Simple IPTV or countless others will work.



Cheers

[lsemmens]

Thanks, wherealien, I thought it could be done, it's just that I have not deemed it too important to fix. I only need it on the TV in the kitchen for when I'm cooking as that is not connected to an aerial. Maybe, when I get my rumpus room back up to speed again (crap all over the billiard table) then I might spend more effort on the TV out there and work out what is needed. The TV out there is connected to a computer whilst the TV in the Kitchen is connected to either a Telstra TV or a Fetch box though I think my son has the Fetch Box which leaves the Telstra TV. The bedroom uses a Chinese android box. It probably gets even less use than the Rumpus room one at this stage.

[Smacca]

There are a couple of downsides when moving from traditional FTA viewing to FTA streaming via catch-up apps (the way they want you to stream!):

1) There are more ads within the linear streams and they are not always timed perfectly. Viewing can quite often be interrupted and multiple ads can play in a row which can be annoying.

2) You can't just channel surf everything. For example, to watch Nine you have to go to 9Now, use their app and interface to watch. If you want to watch Seven, you have to exit 9Now and open 7+, completely different interface, etc etc.

3) You can't record. The idea is you look through their on demand libraries instead of recording things, but not everything is on demand, and you have to still put up with all the additional inserted ads. No ad skipping or seeking past them - you're locked into watching every ad always.

4) No full HD. The best you'll get is 720p HD which isn't too bad but not as good as traditional FTA.

5) Not all channel variants are available. For example, SBS channels are only available in NSW time no matter which state you're in. ABC TV Plus/Kids/Me are the same.

6) Not all programs are available. AFL and cricket on Seven are blacked out - you must pay either Cricket Aus or Kayo to watch them using their apps. Some dramas, comedies and movies on Network 10 are also blacked out.

You can get around some of these limitations by using 3rd party apps with playlists. Kodi with IPTV Simple Client or Matt Huismann's add-ons are great. Tivimate with playlist is another great option. They will eliminate the extra ads and allow you to channel surf everything at once and give you a very similar experience to traditional FTA viewing. But the problems with full HD, recording, blacked out programs and missing channels can't be solved.

Hope this gives you some insight.

[peteramjet]

[QUOTE=Smacca;846180]
4) No full HD. The best you'll get is 720p HD which isn't too bad but not as good as traditional FTA. [/QUOTE

That may depend on the area. In Sydney, it’s definitely full HD on the programs I watch. Good example was the State Of Origin, which was far better quality via 9Now than via the full HD TV broadcast, albeit delayed by 30 seconds or so.

6) Not all programs are available. AFL and cricket on Seven are blacked out…

This is the big one - sport. Most FTA sport is blocked on the apps. Likewise local news may not be available.

[Smacca]

That may depend on the area. In Sydney, it’s definitely full HD on the programs I watch.

I just flicked through every FTA stream and none of them are 1080 Full HD.

Good example was the State Of Origin, which was far better quality via 9Now than via the full HD TV broadcast, albeit delayed by 30 seconds or so.

Progressive frame rates at 720p do look good, but the 9Now live streams are not 1080i or 1080p. On-demand content might be, I haven't checked 9Now's library. From memory ABC iView was offering 1080 for some on-demand programs. But all the streams are definitely maximum 720p.

[Xplorer]

Another option is Google Chromecast.

There are two versions.
I have the $99 one "Chromecast with Google TV" available from good electronics stores.
Cheaper one around $55 doesn't have as many features.

The $99 one after downloading some apps, has all FTA channels and access to Stan, Disney, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Foxtel and many others.
Basically, if the app is available from google playstore, you can have it on this.
Also allows you to cast the screen from your phone, tablet, computer to the tv.

Connects to your WiFi for streaming, HDMI cable to TV and requires AC power plug nearby.
Control via your phone, tablet, computer or the Chromecast remote.
Mine is configured to a new google (gmail) email account I created solely for this (no mobile at all), or you can connect via another phone using a google (gmail) email account.
You do not need a google phone, or even an android phone, you can configure it even if you have an apple phone; but you do need a gmail email account.

There are negatives to it as others mentioned above.

[NoAIR]

In my case.
Android tv , kodi. Doomzday wizard....usa adults build
and i can watch any Australian Captial city tv live

I've never had much luck with Kodi. Spent more time trying to find something to watch than actually watching. What is Doomzday?

[coalminer]

doomzday