Amazon TV Box
 

Another domestic demon (non-goddess) post.

Who was it who had that flat TV receiver that mounted behind a flatscreen TV and picked up broadcast TV, including american channels?

Lived in Pickering if I recall correctly.

Looks like my time to purchase is finally upon me!

Re: Amazon TV Box
 

We been using a crappy dollar store antenna on the upstairs TV, and we get CBC in HD great for news and corrie on an evening while making tea, also Olympics will be on free to air too, then later we switch over to our Apple box and watch a movie on Netflix or cast Film on from an iPhone and also watch live sport etc.

Downstairs I have the Android box, limited Rogers cable 70$ month which includes sports, EPL MLS and a Surface 3 with a Microsoft display adaptor and watch free movies on a dodgy movie app. Watched the secret life of pets at the week end, great movie v funny.

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I'm looking to go to zero cost TV and $50 internet. I wouldn't ever watch the thing but I'm not 100% sure I can get away with internet only for the kids.

I recall the box was something like $200.

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Have u got an iPhone? Up to date 5 or 6

Lots of idea in this thread

http://britishexpats.com/forum/maple...art-tv-846729/

You will need a internet plan with lots of GB to stream TV for a month

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If you go Internet only and you have kids you do realize you can never go to sleep again. It's called patricide.

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Well I don't have them full time...

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This idea always reminds me of an old cartoon I saw in the paper back when people like Mary Whitehouse were regularly complaining about things they hadn't yet seen.

"In my day we made our own sex and violence."

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I've tried searching and come up with nada.

I didn't dream it did I?

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OP, it was me, I have one of the following on the wall

https://www.amazon.ca/Winegard-FL550.../dp/B00BN5Z2WM

27 channels is the minimum that I get in bad rainy, stormy weather- other than that 40 channels is the norm even in the blue sky winter months. Antenna is taped to the bedroom wall, facing SE, away from the CN tower to capture the Buffalo & Rochester staions. Was a trial & error postioning to find the optimum.

The TV station map

Toronto, Ontario & Buffalo, New York OTA HDTV Channel Map

We gave our son one of those antenna, he gets not less than 17 channels.

He lives on Vaughan north of St Clair, second floor north east facing between brown stone apartment buildings all around him, no clear view of the CN tower

This is my channel list. Basically 40+ channels as far away as 90 miles with an indoor antenna

2-1 WGRZ NBC Ch.2 Buffalo
2-2 WGRZ Antenna TV Buffalo
2-3 WGRZ Justice Network Buffalo
4-1 WIVB CBS Ch.4 Buffalo
5-1 CBC Toronto
7-1 WKBW ABC Ch.7
8-1 WROC CBS ***
8-2 Bounce TV***
9-1 CFTO Toronto
10-1 WHEC Rochester ***
10-2 MeTV Rochester***
10-3 WHEC-WX Rochester***
11-1 CHCH Hamilton
13-1 WHAM Rochester
13-2 CW-WHAM
13-3 GRIT
16-7 (RF 16-7) PBS Radio (no video) Buffalo
17-1 WNED PBS Buffalo
17-2 THINK TV Buffalo
19-1 TVO Toronto HD
23-1 WNLO CW23 Buffalo
23-2 BounceTV Buffalo
25-1 CBLFT Toronto (French)
26-1 WYNB TCT Jamestown
26-2 TCT-HD Jamestown
26-3 TCT Kids Jamestown
26-4 ABN Jamestown
27-1 Global TV Peterborough HD ***
27-2 Global TV Peterborough SD ***
29-1 WUTV Fox29 Buffalo
29-2 ZUUS Buffalo
29-3 GRIT-TV Buffalo
31-1 WUHF (FOX) Rochester ERP 20.935kw
31-2 GET Rochester
35-1 CHCJ (CTV 2 CKVR) Hamilton
36-1 CITS-dt (YES TV) Hamilton
39-1 WDTB-HD Hamburg ***
40-1 OMNI 2 Toronto
43-10 (RF43-10) WNED Buffalo (FM radio broadcast only, no video)
41-1 Global TV Toronto HD
41-2 Global TV Toronto SD
47-1 OMNI 1 Toronto
49-1 WNYO MyTV Buffalo
49-2 Get-TV Buffalo
51-1 ION Buffalo
51-2 WPXJ qubo Buffalo
51-3 ION Life Buffalo
51-4 ShopTV Buffalo
51-5 QVC
51-6 HSN
56-1 Cozi TV Buffalo ***
56-2 Retro TV Buffalo ***
56-3 Rev’n TV Buffalo ***
56-4 Throwback TV Buffalo
56-5 PBJ Buffalo ***
57-1 City-TV Toronto

*** Channels that come & go, because they are distant, low power & affected by weather conditions, fog & Rain

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in adition to the antenna, I have a Amazon firestick that has Kodi TV loaded on it

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Fire-T.../dp/B00GDQ0RMG

There is always the DNS/VPN or other service to watch TV which may help you save a few bucks. Google is your friend on that

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That's the fella!!!!

You are a Scholar and a Gentleman!

(and not just because it's 1/4 the price I remembered).

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remember you asked last time about kids tv on the antenna, I replied that COZI TV ch 56 had kids programing, as does a new one I found not on my list that is there every day WXXI TV ch 21-1, ch 21-2, ch21-3 which is a PBS station that has EI (education programming)

http://interactive.wxxi.org/tv

kids only programs

http://pbskids.org/tv-times/?display...4&station=WXXI

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Anything decent on them channels ? Other than CBC

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I'd argue there's nothing decent on any channel, no matter what your subscription looks like. Unless you go the whole monty, sacrifice your first born and get the NFL ticket.

As it is I think it's better to watch the 16 Cleveland Browns losses in the pub.

Re: Amazon TV Box
 

Pizza, if this is useful, this is our setup.

1) We have an HD indoor antenna that Mr S installed in the attic. Cable is running to two televisions and one computer. I think the antenna cost about $200-odd. It's pretty bad-ass. And large - 3ft x 4ft I think. But we get about 40-50 channels, pretty well the same list that not2old posted above. 36.1 is the only one that gives us some trouble, but only on cloudy/rainy days.

2) Desktop computer that ... acquires content. Managed in Emby which also has a server running. Desktop is hooked up to the family room television.

3) Nexus Player hooked up to the family room television. We bought it for $100 when it was brand new. There are other Android boxes you can buy for various prices. They'll all be similar. We have Netflix, Crackle, and Kodi loaded on it. I've only started using Kodi in the last few months. It's a bit hit and miss with its various add-ons. If you have some time to tinker with it, it's pretty neat. I've used to to stream some sports, it's not as good as cable, but it's decent. The Exodus add-on is fantastic for movies.

4) Chromecast on the bedroom and basement televisions. Can then play Netflix from phones. Casting is also supported by Emby (#2) so any content on the desktop can be played on any television by casting it from a phone.

We don't have any cable package. Our antenna was a one-time setup cost of $200 to purchase all the bits and bobs for it. Internet is about $60/month for 300GB, 25/10 through TekSavvy. (TekSavvy is unlimited between 2am and 8am, which is when the desktop does its work, not that we've ever come close to using that 300GB!) TekSavvy also has the up-front costs for setup and modem purchase. Our home phone was a one-time setup of $50, can't remember the name of the service, but we get free in-Canada calling, and it hooks up to Google Voice so we use that for the occasional UK call.

Works well for us!

Hope that helps!

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Thanks Schnooks- Always good to hear what other people have working!

The neighbour (other half of my semi) has and outdoor aerial and she said I'm welcome to splice off it. $50 for the amazon antenna sounds like a better idea though, and avoids the need to bring a cable in through the back wall.

Ideally once I've bought the antenna and the TV that will mean zero monthly TV costs, which is higher than I'd like, but gotta think of the ankle biters :)

I was thinking of techsavvy first for internet access. I'll work out streaming later but both kids are generally happy with YouTube at the moment.

And I don't want a landline so good with that.

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Yeah, if you can avoid having to run cable, that is ideal. The amazon antenna looked pretty neat. Quite a convenient option. Worth noting that picture quality degrades ever so slightly the more times you splice it. Ours is spliced once, not real notice in quality reduction, though, but it's a thought.

We are very happy with TekSavvy. They needed about 3ish weeks of lead time to come and get things installed. We outright bought the modem instead of renting, it was cheaper in the long run. We have had no problems at all with their service. No surprises on our bill, either. They email my husband when he's used half of the data, and presumably more once we get closer but we've only crossed the halfway point twice I think, lol.

If the kids are happy with YouTube, a few TV channels, and presumably Netflix, then an Android box would certainly do the job just fine.

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before I purchased the Amazon flatwave FL5500A I tried three other indoor antenna with amplifier, they were OK, but I could never get more than 15 channels.

My wife did not want an outdoor or attic antenna & neither did I when you take into account the real cost & work involved.

Being the 'retired' thrifty guy that I am, the Amazon flatwave was a good deal from the standpoint it has a 30 day refund policy & shipping it back is free. So what did I have to lose.

Of course, its different results for different folks. Its money back guarantee

As I mentioned our son in the downtown concrete jungle is getting 17 channels

Last night was a good reception night 44 channels, all the US stations, PBS & the Canadian channels.

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I ask again tho N2O is there anything worth watching on them free channels or is it all in French, cooking, and news ????

Actually French cooking news would be interesting lol

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refer you back to post#9 for the channel lsiting

Its all of the network stations, all of the canadian channels, PBS channels & all buffalo & Rochester stations that you get on cable

What is not on the digital 'ove the air' that I do not get are the specialty channels, such as ... CNN, BNN, TSN, Discovery, FOOD network, Life stationschannel40 channels as in post 9, match those to what you have on full blown 100 channels from Rogers or Shaw

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I'm not N2O but I get the same channels.

Mr S and I don't watch that much television anyway, but the main networks carry a decent number of shows... basically you get general programming. You don't pick up any of the main sports networks (ESPN, TSN, SportsNet, etc) so if you are wanting to watch sports you are mostly SOL. That said, you do get SOME sports on the main networks - Olympics are covered on the main networks, CBC has hockey on Fridays and Saturdays, some of the American channels have American football, NBC carries the occasional football game, and so on. So you do get a bit.

I mean, "is there anything worth watching" is a bit like how long is a piece of string... You hear from lots of people with 500 channels who complain that nothing is on...

Go to TV Listings - Find Local TV Shows and Movie Schedules - Listings Grid | TVGuide.com, and click "Setup a provider" when prompted. Enter zip code 14201, click Antenna, and then click "Buffalo Area Broadcast" and that gives you the listings of what's on as well as the channel list, of which you should be able to pick up most of them. (We can pick up about 80% of it.)

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I can't answer that one. I've managed my whole life without a TV on my own account. If I'm watching sport I prefer to go out and watch socially in a pub; mind you thats easier with 16 NFL games a year compared to 40-odd premier league.

If the kids squirrel too much about the free to air stuff we'll see what we can down;load.

I've no idea what to expect in terms of internet requirements though. We're at 200G at present but as I don't have the kids that much I should get away with well under 100.

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Thanks snooks that helps

Looks like local programs mostly with different areas featured. And lots of cooking and local news channels.

Just as an example:

Last night I watched:

CBC News and Corrie (free upstairs)

Toronto FC game while streaming the League 1 all star game on my surface. (Rogers downstairs

I like to watch car shows usually, anything on history, comedy stuff and some drama shows

Then CNN

And fell a sleep.

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Other than Doctor Who on Space and, of course, the football (and Rugby World Cup) there is absolutely nothing I watch "on TV" these days.

The last I watched was the Boston Marathon bomb.

I used to watch the various CSIs, Laura Norder, Person of Interest, Blue Bloods etc

They were the best that was on.

But then once you see stuff produced by the likes of HBO and Showtime and, yes, Netflix, the CBS type stuff just doesn't "do it" anymore. It becomes fodder.

And you can't seem to get those channels (and the football ones) without having all the other stuff to begin with.

I have Netflix but something like 90% of my viewing comes courtesy of downloads from streaming sites like Primewire and WatchSeries, some of which is also on Netflix anyway.

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in conjunction with the interactive channel map on post 9 also

Magnumpi, are you still paying Rogers for basic channels - is it worth the extra cost to fall asleep?

Repeating myself - the OTA channels have most of all the cable channels including corrie on CBC - just not the premium channels mentioned up thread

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I watched most of "Vinyl" on the plane back to TO, enjoyed it, surprised it's not getting a second series. I also watch Big Bang Theory & Modern family on the plane.

I get my news from BBC online, watch Browns games in the pub, and thats about it folks.

Last night I read a few chapters of Harry Potter 2 after chainsawing down part of a tree that's overshadowing the new cherry. Hoping I'm not too late.

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Yeh I pay $70 month and have all the sports and history etc. No movies or kids. This is all on my basement T v

But I wanted to know because I want to add it to my main room T. V as my OH would like to use this TV other than for the Apple T.v Box and $store 4 channel antenna

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so basically, its $70 for sports, CNN, History & Discovery - all which you said you could get on your android box? Are you still using the android box?

Best to get a DNS service for catchup TV, even vmedia type service appears cheaper than Bell internet together with the Rogers cable add-on IMO

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The Android box is ok but not great for sports, eventually u may find the game u want but by then it's half over. I am lazy and like to just click and play. We have reduced the bill from almost 120$ down to 70$ so I am happy with that. The main feature for me is the PVR box we have, that is great to use. :cool:

The antenna u use sounds like a good compromise on my upstairs Tv.

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I had an older RCA flat powered antenna I found in my shit I don't use cupboard. I connected it up and 14 channels came up lol. One I don't get on Rogers called "Bounce" dedicated to black TV programmes. Wonder if they will show "Love Thy Neighbour" ?

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[QUOTE=magnumpi;12020621]I had an older RCA flat powered antenna I found in my shit I don't use cupboard. I connected it up and 14 channels came up lol. QUOTE]

Worth a try, doing the following should help you get the 'Bounce' channel, even more than the 14 you are getting now ;)

If you want to get more channels, a suggestion for you is one of those aluminum oven drip trays from the dollar store mounted about 3"-6" behind the antenna. It acts as a reflector to provide more sensitivity & gain. Position for best results, do one or two scans for each placing of the reflector.

For me getting more stations, thats what I have [the aluminum tray] mounted behind my flatwave antenna thats on the wall with a framed canvas picture hung over the antenna.

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Thanks for all the info in this thread so far, it's good to read up on the reasonable options for TV viewing. I currently use newsgroups to download the series I wish to watch and stream to my TV via my PS4.

I did want to ask those who watch hockey what is the best way to catch the games. Last season in the UK I was using NHL Gamecenter with Unotelly to duck the blackouts. It seemed good value at USD $99.99 and being able to use my PS4 to watch it.

I digress, basically how much does it cost to watch hockey in Canada (or more specifically Quebec)

Thanks :)

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It depends how much hockey you want to watch, and what team you want to watch.

For example, in Montreal, the Montreal games will be blacked out because they air on the cable stations. However, you can watch all the San Jose games (except when SJ is playing MTL) if you wanted to watch that team. Or whatever other team. You basically just can't watch your local team.

That said, you can continue to use UnoTelly to get around the blackout region as you were doing in the UK and you're good to go.

In addition, if you just want to watch a handful of weekend games, CBC has games on Fridays and Saturdays, so an antenna would be just fine as you'll get those weekend games. The weekday ones that air on the sports channels (TSN, SportsNet, etc) you'd have to subscribe to a cable package.

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https://gamecentrelive.rogers.com/?asc_refid=nhl

Hockey night is a free to air programme on CBC

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Excellent. Well as a Habs fan I guess I will have to see how I get on :lol: Still at least I have Unotelly as a fall back in case it all gets too much!

Thank you.

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I kept my Rogers Cable and pay $70 month all in, taxes HST etc. It's a reduced package with all the sports I want. It's just so much easier if you are a sport fan. We mostly watch the Rapters an EPL in winter and MLS Formula 1 and NASCAR in summer. It does cover all the hockey and base bat ball, tennis and curdling, but that's not watched in our house

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This sounds fair, I will consider looking into this too once landed. Thanks :)

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If you're wanting more sports than just hockey, then a cable package is probably worth it. If you just want hockey, then gamecentre would be cheaper. Of course just make sure your internet package has enough speed and cap space to support it!

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Oh indeed, to me having decent internet is a higher priority than a TV package. Streaming and downloading is the way to go.

If I don't get out there before the season starts I will probably subscribe for another season and it will tie me over once I move... providing I have the good internet :)

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Well I've ordered my antenna off of Amazon. We'll see how it goes.