TV Android & Mini-Keyboard.

Hi,

Quite a while ago Bron and I were suffering lots of TV problems; we very seldom watch "normal rubbish" TV but we were watching lots of YouTube movies/video's via TP Links from our Virgin Media allowing YouTube to connect from my computer to the TV; it worked for a long time but then it started to lose the plot. It worked through a Bluetooth smart DVD player; the TP Links gave cable connection ignoring wifi; I think it was the DVD player on its way out?

We visited our local Maplin store with the outcome of being told we needed a new "Smart TV". Our TV was and still is in excellent condition so rather than spend around £300 for a new TV I started to do a bit of web browsing because I'm a dinosaur regarding modern electronics. I learn on a need to know basis and this is how I found out about the TP Links and Bluetooth player.

I found a product called an Android;

H96 PRO Plus KODI 17.3 Android 7.1 Amlogic S912 TV BOX 4K 3GB/32GB 802.11AC WIFI 1000M LAN

We paid £60 which is a lot cheaper than a new TV and what a tremendous difference it made; the Bluetooth player was discarded and the Android connected without fuss. The android is used every day and has been very reliable indeed. Our DVD player refused to play lots of our old DVD's but I could now burn these to memory stick and "Kodi" on the Android played them all. One of our memory sticks has over 200 movies / TV series episodes on it.

As I say I'm a dinosaur just learning on a need to know basis; I'm familiar with electronics having restored vintage radios for ten years and also building my own power supplies etc using modern electronic components; I just have little interest in things like ipads; tablets or even mobile phones. I can however highly recommend web browsing for information; if I want to or need to know anything I just look for details on the web; I also use the web for reviews before buying expensive items.

I'm just adding this for interest; as to how it all works or in depth discussion all I can say is it works for us; at breakfast this morning I watched a ten minute TIG welding video then watched twenty minutes of this before having to go out; I can pick up where I left off any time I like.



One thing I really hated was having to type in searches using the remote taking a great deal of time; again a web browse and I found these;

Wireless Mini Keyboard Rii i8 Air Mouse Keypad Remote Control Android TV Box | eBay

These mini-keyboards are just brilliant; I just log onto YouTube and use the mini-keyboard; so much technology for so little money; I've been using the original min-keyboard for about a year and have recently bought a second as a back up they being cheap enough.

I've rambled on long enough and hope this is of interest.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

We also had a Kodi box with our old Panasonic CRT but found that the film sites kept closing down or moving and trying to load in the new version of things like Exodus a real pain, though probably easier with a keyboard like you mention.

We also did get written letter from VM one time saying how we had used so much bandwidth that month, think it was only about 12gb; no idea if it was just a general circular or a polite warning, though it did not specifically mention film downloads ?

We now have a smart led tv though with having the VM Tivo box never used the smart functions, will have to give them a try, as if we do move providers, will only go with broadband and phone options; might be an old dog, but can hopefully still learn some new tricks