Firestick 4k, RPI 3 or other hardware

[gbq57]

I've been a user or GBPVR/nextpvr since 2006 - my policy is don't touch it unless absolutely necessary but the last of my string of mvp's and NMT's has died and I am now forced to take action ugently (SWAMBO is on the warpath).

I live in the UK and have simple needs - I need to replace my client hardware for 2 or 3 TV's and it looks like the NMT/PCH is not the way forward.

I would like a client that:
a) is cheep - or at least is good value (I have no money at the moment - the more expensive it is the fewer clients I can install).
b) can be connect to the ethernet rather than wifi (we have thick walls and wifi just add's another layer of faults)
c) can play IPlayer and act as a nextpvr client.
d) I don't need to play 4k content (like I say - I have simple needs).

A quick experiment has shown me that KODI now works well on my phone and PC - and if push comes to shove, as a UK Licence fee payer, I have no problem using the IPlayerWWW addon to consume BBC content within Kodi.  I have no interest in accessing any other streaming services at the moment - legal or otherwise.  Another bonus with Kodi is I get to the the Knewc addon - is it me or is the Kodi interface counter-intuitive?

So a Rpi 3 with Kodi is one option as is a Firestick 4K with a Ethernet adaptor.

There seems to be a whole slew of Android TV Boxes out there but none without reliability problems.

I have an aversion to being locked in to any hardware/software platform but the Firestick 4K is attractive - if only in that that it is officially supported by the BBC and others. 

I sweat my hardware and software accets - one they work I leave them alone and revisit them every 2 or 3 years if I have to - don't even ask what the OS the PVR server is running on .

What are your thoughts?  RPI, Firestick or other?

[mvallevand]

What keys on the remote are you used to using?

Martin

[gbq57]

The mvp's had the more logical remotes compared to the NMT's - I liked them (and I have some still).  But honestly I could live with almost any remote that allowed me basic navigation e.g. a progressive skip and an easy to locate pause button for when the phone rings.  We still use several remotes - TV, DVD, AMP and nextpvr client and with a little training the good lady can get to grips with them all and how the systems interact.

[mvallevand]

Forum member might be able to give their comments on setting up a remote with the RPi. Personally I use a remote that mimics a wireless USB multimedia keyboard so it is pretty compatible.

The main reason I asked though is the NextPVR UI works well with number keys so whatever I use with NextPVR needs this. Hitting 30 clicks to move 30 minutes is frustrating and the FTV remote is quite limited. The Kodi PVR app is better with limited numbers of keys.

You might also want to want a week or so for the new Google Chromecast. It will run sub's Android app to give you another client to consider. You also don't have to sideload Kodi it is on the play store and will automatically update you.

As for iPlayer WWW on Kodi I have no experience, but it does scrape the web site and is not official. From that perspective Amazon FTV 4k and Android with DRM are probably better choices.

Martin

[gbq57]

Thanks Martin, I had overlooked Chromecast, It falls into the correct price bracket, and it looks like an Ethernet adaptor is available for it. It does however seem strange that for the limited number of buttons on the remote two of them are dedicated to directly navigating to Netflix and Youtube - neither of which I will be using on that box.

Can anyone recommend any Budget Android boxes with DRM?