Best set up for smart TV overseas

David987 · 06-09-2015, 08:17

We have a holiday home in Germany we have unlimited broadband and watch British TV via Slingbox on laptop. We are looking to get a Smart TV and stream to this so we can have a better watching experience as a family. Obviously the options are myriad but I am not technical so just want the most simple solution, don't need whistle and bells just the ability to watch what we would at home
Suggestions for a Smart TV and streaming device combination to use with Slingbox would be much appreciated, current laptop is Lenovo (entry level so a bit clunky)
Cheers in advance

soulboy22 · 06-09-2015, 13:55

Hello,

Do your laptop and TV have HDMI, if so you could just plug an HDMI cable in to each end.

Regards

David987 · 06-09-2015, 15:20

Have not bought TV yet so answer would be yes for that, really looking for advice , would prefer to operate wirelessly if possible so no unsightly wires, I have Apple IPad so would Apple TV be a good option?

chrisjr · 06-09-2015, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by David987

Have not bought TV yet so answer would be yes for that, really looking for advice , would prefer to operate wirelessly if possible so no unsightly wires, I have Apple IPad so would Apple TV be a good option?

It might depend on the model of iPad and version of iOS it's running. If you can stream from the Slingbox onto the iPad at the moment then provided your iPad meets the requirements for Apple TV use then it could be an option

http://www.apple.com/uk/appletv/airplay/

Scroll down to the small print at the bottom of the page to see the requirements for the various ways of connecting an iPad to an Apple TV box.

oilman · 06-09-2015, 16:19

Easiest option is to buy a long hdmi cable, or a chromecast. Latest slingboxes stream direct to chromecast.
You can also mirrorcast pc to tv but that may be choppy on a less powerful laptop.

If router supports vpn, you could just use a now tv box
The smart tv features might work.

Rolls Royce solution is to buy an itv box from www.storesatellite
com

David987 · 06-09-2015, 17:18

Using Slingbox via laptop at the moment as too mean to buy the app for IPad, however the laptop (Lenovo B50) is now way too slow so may as well spend the right money to get the right result, my thoughts were Apple TV with IPad but I am, as I said, not technical so any better ideas would be much appreciated

oilman · 06-09-2015, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by David987

Using Slingbox via laptop at the moment as too mean to buy the app for IPad, however the laptop (Lenovo B50) is now way too slow so may as well spend the right money to get the right result, my thoughts were Apple TV with IPad but I am, as I said, not technical so any better ideas would be much appreciated

I am puzzled now. How are you using the slingbox?

Normal use is to have it connected in the uk, and access it abroad using a slingplayer app on PC. How are you accessing UK TV?

Cheapest solution by far is just to connect laptop to TV via an HDMI cable (B50 has hdmi ports).

David987 · 06-09-2015, 20:51

Yes Slingbox is at home in UK, we are using it via app on laptop, will invest in HDMI cable, as you say that would be the simplest solution

Darthchaffinch · 07-09-2015, 09:01

We have a smart tv with built in browser so watch through that using watchallchannels.com
Seems to be a problem with channels 5 etc but no loss. Never had an issue with buffering etc apart from that!
(I'm in Scandanavia)

06-09-2015, 08:17	#1
David987 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 4	Best set up for smart TV overseas We have a holiday home in Germany we have unlimited broadband and watch British TV via Slingbox on laptop. We are looking to get a Smart TV and stream to this so we can have a better watching experience as a family. Obviously the options are myriad but I am not technical so just want the most simple solution, don't need whistle and bells just the ability to watch what we would at home Suggestions for a Smart TV and streaming device combination to use with Slingbox would be much appreciated, current laptop is Lenovo (entry level so a bit clunky) Cheers in advance

06-09-2015, 13:55	#2
soulboy22 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 360	Hello, Do your laptop and TV have HDMI, if so you could just plug an HDMI cable in to each end. Regards

06-09-2015, 15:20	#3
David987 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 4	Have not bought TV yet so answer would be yes for that, really looking for advice , would prefer to operate wirelessly if possible so no unsightly wires, I have Apple IPad so would Apple TV be a good option?

06-09-2015, 16:06	#4
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by David987 Have not bought TV yet so answer would be yes for that, really looking for advice , would prefer to operate wirelessly if possible so no unsightly wires, I have Apple IPad so would Apple TV be a good option? It might depend on the model of iPad and version of iOS it's running. If you can stream from the Slingbox onto the iPad at the moment then provided your iPad meets the requirements for Apple TV use then it could be an option http://www.apple.com/uk/appletv/airplay/ Scroll down to the small print at the bottom of the page to see the requirements for the various ways of connecting an iPad to an Apple TV box.

06-09-2015, 16:19	#5
oilman Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,854	Easiest option is to buy a long hdmi cable, or a chromecast. Latest slingboxes stream direct to chromecast. You can also mirrorcast pc to tv but that may be choppy on a less powerful laptop. If router supports vpn, you could just use a now tv box The smart tv features might work. Rolls Royce solution is to buy an itv box from www.storesatellite com

06-09-2015, 17:18	#6
David987 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 4	Using Slingbox via laptop at the moment as too mean to buy the app for IPad, however the laptop (Lenovo B50) is now way too slow so may as well spend the right money to get the right result, my thoughts were Apple TV with IPad but I am, as I said, not technical so any better ideas would be much appreciated

06-09-2015, 17:35	#7
oilman Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,854	Quote: Originally Posted by David987 Using Slingbox via laptop at the moment as too mean to buy the app for IPad, however the laptop (Lenovo B50) is now way too slow so may as well spend the right money to get the right result, my thoughts were Apple TV with IPad but I am, as I said, not technical so any better ideas would be much appreciated I am puzzled now. How are you using the slingbox? Normal use is to have it connected in the uk, and access it abroad using a slingplayer app on PC. How are you accessing UK TV? Cheapest solution by far is just to connect laptop to TV via an HDMI cable (B50 has hdmi ports).

06-09-2015, 20:51	#8
David987 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 4	Yes Slingbox is at home in UK, we are using it via app on laptop, will invest in HDMI cable, as you say that would be the simplest solution

07-09-2015, 09:01	#9
Darthchaffinch Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,104	We have a smart tv with built in browser so watch through that using watchallchannels.com Seems to be a problem with channels 5 etc but no loss. Never had an issue with buffering etc apart from that! (I'm in Scandanavia)

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Best set up for smart TV overseas