no hardware - what to get? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

mkaye · 2012-06-24, 05:49 PM

i am currently thinking of dumping Rogers, however, i have the PVR rent-free forever, so i can't drop them & then change my mind
i currently have a PJ, HDX-1000 (NMT) and Oppo 80, so no way to access a streaming service
have PlayOn, Netflix, XBMC & UnoDNS free trials
fired up PlayOn and my laptop & tried access from my NMT - wouldn't work
i have a netbook (XBMC), but i don't want it as the source in my HT
been trying all the free stuff i can find
very little streams in HD so either i am doing something wrong, or it's just a function of the laptop

what i want is a device to access streaming for the Canadian/US networks, TV shows & movies
i've looked at ATV, Roku, NMT's, but they all lack 1 feature or another
maybe an HTPC is really the answer, but i didn't want a computer in my HT
i need the device to be controlled by my Crestron system (IR, RS232 or IP)

mark

Gino34 · 2012-06-26, 01:13 PM

Sounds to me like you're going to have to compromise at this point. There isn't a single device out there that will give you access to everything unless it's pc based.

Have you considered running a cable from your pc to tv? You could always buy a pc to tv converter box like this one:

http://pctvcables.com/how-to-set-up-...onverter2.html

Just a suggestion. I'm currently using my Xbox 360 to stream Netflix, Hulu Plus to my tv.

McPatrick · 2012-06-26, 01:37 PM

the problem with the xbox 360 is in order to use netflix on it you will have to subscribe to the xbox live gold membership which is an additional 50 bucks a year on top of your netflix subscription.

Mexicanuck · 2012-06-26, 01:48 PM

I currently have an HTPC, ATV3, PS3, ATV2 (jailbroken) and a Roku XS on the way. As you have seen, each has strengths and weaknesses.

If I had to limit myself, at this point I would probably go for the combination of a Roku and ATV2 (jailbroken) and either a VPN or unblock-us. This can give you lots of 1080 programming as well as LAN access to local media at 720 using the ATV. Both devices are small. Combined they are much smaller than a cable or satellite box.

audacity · 2012-06-26, 02:11 PM

What I do is on one TV I have a Windows Media Center box, and at all the other TVs I have XBOX 360s.

The PC running WMC of course can access everything - because it's a PC. The XBOX 360 devices can access Netflix and Hulu (and Rogers on demand, etc, etc) as well as act as a extender to WMC. This means that you can get all your OTA content (i.e. major Canadian networks) as well as streaming content.

This works very well for me. YMMV. The main thing I don't get (that I don't care much about) is sports.

2012-06-24, 05:49 PM	#1
mkaye Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Munster Hamlet Posts: 54	no hardware - what to get? i am currently thinking of dumping Rogers, however, i have the PVR rent-free forever, so i can't drop them & then change my mind i currently have a PJ, HDX-1000 (NMT) and Oppo 80, so no way to access a streaming service have PlayOn, Netflix, XBMC & UnoDNS free trials fired up PlayOn and my laptop & tried access from my NMT - wouldn't work i have a netbook (XBMC), but i don't want it as the source in my HT been trying all the free stuff i can find very little streams in HD so either i am doing something wrong, or it's just a function of the laptop what i want is a device to access streaming for the Canadian/US networks, TV shows & movies i've looked at ATV, Roku, NMT's, but they all lack 1 feature or another maybe an HTPC is really the answer, but i didn't want a computer in my HT i need the device to be controlled by my Crestron system (IR, RS232 or IP) mark

2012-06-26, 01:48 PM	#4
Mexicanuck Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cowichan Bay, BC Posts: 1,381	I currently have an HTPC, ATV3, PS3, ATV2 (jailbroken) and a Roku XS on the way. As you have seen, each has strengths and weaknesses. If I had to limit myself, at this point I would probably go for the combination of a Roku and ATV2 (jailbroken) and either a VPN or unblock-us. This can give you lots of 1080 programming as well as LAN access to local media at 720 using the ATV. Both devices are small. Combined they are much smaller than a cable or satellite box. __________________ "Don't quote me on this." - Anonymous

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2012-06-26, 01:13 PM	#2
Gino34 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 182	Sounds to me like you're going to have to compromise at this point. There isn't a single device out there that will give you access to everything unless it's pc based. Have you considered running a cable from your pc to tv? You could always buy a pc to tv converter box like this one: http://pctvcables.com/how-to-set-up-...onverter2.html Just a suggestion. I'm currently using my Xbox 360 to stream Netflix, Hulu Plus to my tv.

2012-06-26, 01:37 PM	#3
McPatrick Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 326	the problem with the xbox 360 is in order to use netflix on it you will have to subscribe to the xbox live gold membership which is an additional 50 bucks a year on top of your netflix subscription.

2012-06-26, 02:11 PM	#5
audacity Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,802	What I do is on one TV I have a Windows Media Center box, and at all the other TVs I have XBOX 360s. The PC running WMC of course can access everything - because it's a PC. The XBOX 360 devices can access Netflix and Hulu (and Rogers on demand, etc, etc) as well as act as a extender to WMC. This means that you can get all your OTA content (i.e. major Canadian networks) as well as streaming content. This works very well for me. YMMV. The main thing I don't get (that I don't care much about) is sports.