TV in the Med - on your TV using the internet.

[Hurricane]

Mike

Very good write up and very interesting. It does seem complicated but as you say it was quite easy. Can I ask how you would rate your IT ability out of say 10 where 1 is a complete novice and 10 is an IT professional

Regards

Dennis

Hi

I'm really only a kind of "power user" who retired early.
Google is your "best friend" and I am one of those people who will keep on Googling until I have a solution.

That said, I have done a bit of programming in the past and I started in the days of the 8080/Z80 so I know how the basics of how computers work.
But, as I said, in these days, anyone who knows how to search Google can do it - you just need time (and bloody mindedness)

 

[Cardo]

I've been using OpenElec on a RBPi 2 for a couple of years now. Great for watching all sorts on the boat. However, we also have a Plex media server running at home, so I have the RBPi dual booting with the option of RasPlex. Similar to OpenElec, but it's an embedded Plex media centre install, which will happily stream from my home media server.

Definitely the way to go.

 

[KevB]

Another option if you have good broadband abroad and are a Virgin Media customer with a tivo box is their offering called 'TV Anywhere'. You'll still need a VPN but you can stream any of the channel content and mirror cast it to your TV.

 

[jrudge]

Consider an alternative view to live TV which other than the new - which you get on your phone anyway - has no reason to be live.

I have a 3tb media drive on the boat. They are cheap - about £100

http://www.tesco.com/direct/wd-my-b...h9ACFWYo0wodLzkB7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds&source=others


and can store more TV than you can probably watch in a lifetime.

This then connects to the boats Smart TVs using either wires or wireless.

Everyone can watch whatever they wish whenever they wise.

I have hundreds of movies and thousands of TV programs ( mostly series) and after 4 or so years I always find something to watch.

We had a load of kids on the boat. Dad have we got Harry Potter? Let me look - yes 6 of them. Happy Kids.

To me this is the way to go. Huge onboard library, minimal cost, no satellite, 4g, Wifi etc. it just works!

 

[Hurricane]

Consider an alternative view to live TV which other than the new - which you get on your phone anyway - has no reason to be live.

I have a 3tb media drive on the boat. They are cheap - about £100

http://www.tesco.com/direct/wd-my-b...h9ACFWYo0wodLzkB7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds&source=others


and can store more TV than you can probably watch in a lifetime.

This then connects to the boats Smart TVs using either wires or wireless.

Everyone can watch whatever they wish whenever they wise.

I have hundreds of movies and thousands of TV programs ( mostly series) and after 4 or so years I always find something to watch.

We had a load of kids on the boat. Dad have we got Harry Potter? Let me look - yes 6 of them. Happy Kids.

To me this is the way to go. Huge onboard library, minimal cost, no satellite, 4g, Wifi etc. it just works!

Sorry, I cant agree.
Yes local storage is great - I too have a couple of 2TB drives with loads of old movies and TV shows.
But, as I say - have a look at Exodus.
There is no need to store this stuff anymore.
The way forward is broadband streaming.

 

[Hurricane]

I've been using OpenElec on a RBPi 2 for a couple of years now. Great for watching all sorts on the boat. However, we also have a Plex media server running at home, so I have the RBPi dual booting with the option of RasPlex. Similar to OpenElec, but it's an embedded Plex media centre install, which will happily stream from my home media server.

Definitely the way to go.

Yes, Openelec is so easy to install and use.
All the usual operating system parameters are within Kodi so you don't need any knowledge of Linux to set it all up.

If you have been using Openelec for the last couple of years, you will have been using the older Raspberry Pis.
The new ones launched last January now incorporate WiFi so OpenElec can now connect to an access point without running wires throughout the boat.
But you may already know this and have upgraded.

I've done a bit with Plex (mainly to watch the F1) but never considered a Plex media centre.
I'll Google and see if it does anything for me.

 

[TonyR123]

I guess it depends on what you want to view and when. Generally when abroad we will watch the news and sport. So for that we need to stream the content and the large storage is not for us.

 

[Mikehp0]

If you just want BBC1, BBC2, ITV 1-4 plus Channel 4, Channel 5 and their various spin-offs, I've been told that they are available on FilmOn.com worldwide.

via

https://www.filmon.com/group/uk-live-tv

No idea how they get away with this or whether it is legal so can't recommend it and, of course, have never used it myself. I am, after all, an ex-estate agent and we are all pillars of our communities and paragons of virtue. However, I understand that the service has been up for years. FilmOn used to be a channel on the Sky program guide - showing its own youth focused content.

They have an iOS app and I've heard of people that have used it in Spain and Cyprus on an iPad connected with an adaptor and HDMI to a TV. More recently, I've heard of someone else using the Android version on a phone to "cast" to a smart TV. This has benefits because the person in question gets free data in Europe with a standard UK tariff - no need to pay for data or set up routers, VPNs etc.

there's an article with more information about FilmOn and another similar service here

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/vpns...uk-tv-abroad-sky-go-iplayer-and-more-for-free

Hope this helps


Mike

 

[Bigplumbs]

I've been using OpenElec on a RBPi 2 for a couple of years now. Great for watching all sorts on the boat. However, we also have a Plex media server running at home, so I have the RBPi dual booting with the option of RasPlex. Similar to OpenElec, but it's an embedded Plex media centre install, which will happily stream from my home media server.

Definitely the way to go.

Is there anyone else on here who thinks that sounded like a new language

 

[Hurricane]

If you just want BBC1, BBC2, ITV 1-4 plus Channel 4, Channel 5 and their various spin-offs, I've been told that they are available on FilmOn.com worldwide.

via

https://www.filmon.com/group/uk-live-tv

No idea how they get away with this or whether it is legal so can't recommend it and, of course, have never used it myself. I am, after all, an ex-estate agent and we are all pillars of our communities and paragons of virtue. However, I understand that the service has been up for years. FilmOn used to be a channel on the Sky program guide - showing its own youth focused content.

They have an iOS app and I've heard of people that have used it in Spain and Cyprus on an iPad connected with an adaptor and HDMI to a TV. More recently, I've heard of someone else using the Android version on a phone to "cast" to a smart TV. This has benefits because the person in question gets free data in Europe with a standard UK tariff - no need to pay for data or set up routers, VPNs etc.

there's an article with more information about FilmOn and another similar service here

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/vpns...uk-tv-abroad-sky-go-iplayer-and-more-for-free

Hope this helps


Mike

Or - as said above via the Raspberry Pi / Kodi - FilmOn addon
Which makes FilmOn work more like a set top box.

But if you use the Raspberry Pi, you have a load more features (Exodus etc)
And, we have only been discussing Video features - remember that Kodi is a fully featured media center in its own right.
Even exposes itself on the LAN as a DNLA device so you can play your music through it.
Anything to do with media, video, music, TV, photos - Kodi does it.

 

[Mikehp0]

>>as said above via the Raspberry Pi / Kodi - FilmOn addon
Which makes FilmOn work more like a set top box.
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-using-the-internet/page3#6V34oo1WLVFzgAF3.99

Apologies... I didn't read all of the original post and missed the reference to FilmOn. I'll probably treat myself and have a go at building a Pi solution for fun. Now that Game of Thrones is over, I've finished my Day Skipper Theory Online course and it is too dark to play boats, this will give me the excuse I need to avoid Strictly Come Dancing (with wife) and Made in Chelsea (with daughters)
Mike

 

[Bigplumbs]

>>as said above via the Raspberry Pi / Kodi - FilmOn addon
Which makes FilmOn work more like a set top box.
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-using-the-internet/page3#6V34oo1WLVFzgAF3.99

Apologies... I didn't read all of the original post and missed the reference to FilmOn. I'll probably treat myself and have a go at building a Pi solution for fun. Now that Game of Thrones is over, I've finished my Day Skipper Theory Online course and it is too dark to play boats, this will give me the excuse I need to avoid Strictly Come Dancing (with wife) and Made in Chelsea (with daughters)
Mike

Any reason to avoid Made in Chelsea (or MIC as her indoors called it the other day) should be applauded

 

[Hurricane]

>>as said above via the Raspberry Pi / Kodi - FilmOn addon
Which makes FilmOn work more like a set top box.
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-using-the-internet/page3#6V34oo1WLVFzgAF3.99

Apologies... I didn't read all of the original post and missed the reference to FilmOn. I'll probably treat myself and have a go at building a Pi solution for fun. Now that Game of Thrones is over, I've finished my Day Skipper Theory Online course and it is too dark to play boats, this will give me the excuse I need to avoid Strictly Come Dancing (with wife) and Made in Chelsea (with daughters)
Mike

You could start without the Raspberry Pi
If you have a PC, you can load Kodi on right now and check it out.
Remember Kodi runs on virtually every platform (except the iPad/iPhone - without considerable effort).

I use a Windows PC for this kind of thing.
Here's the link
https://kodi.tv/download/

Download Kodi and install it.
Make sure you have an internet connection and it should just work.

After some "one off" install screens, you should end up with the main screen.
Tip - don't try to change the skin - I spent ages trying and most skins aren't up to date - best to go with the flow and use the default skin (Confluence)

This is the default skin and what Kodi should look like after installation

The next thing is to make it do something.
Best to install Addons.
Addons live in Repositories and need to be loaded.
After installation, Kodi will be loading some default addons in the background so don't be surprised if things pop up as you go along.
Anyway, as I said above, it is best to install a special Addon called the "Addon Installer"
The Addon Installer is an interactive addon that downloads other addons from the various repositories interactively.
No need to understand how it does it - once loaded, the Addon Install makes it easy to pick an addon and install it across the internet.
Unfortunately you have to install the Addon Installer, the hard way - after that it is easy.
This page explains "step by step" how to install the Addon Installer.
https://seo-michael.co.uk/tutorial-how-to-install-setup-fusion-add-on-installer-kodi-xbmc/

After installation of the Addon Installer, click the Programs menu in Kodi
Then click Addon Installer
You should then have a display like this

I suggest that you start by installing the FilmOn addon so select Video addons and click through the pages until you see FilmOn
You can see the FilmOn addon on this screen.

When the FilmOn addon has been loaded, go back to the main menu and click on Videos then click Addons
On the next page click Video addons - you should see your FilmOn addon ready to use - just click it to get loads of TV channels across the world.
Tip - Kodi remembers where it is in menus and sub menus - initially this leads to confusion but later when you get used to it, it can speed up the selection process. If you get lots, Exit Kodi and start again.
Another Tip - press the X key to stop a video or TV program being played

If you are successful loading FilmOn, I suggest that you load Exodus in the same way - use the Addon Installer in the Programs section.
You will then realise just what Exodus is!!!

Finally, there are loads of settings that can be set - a favorite of mine is to set up shortcuts.
Go to System - Settings - Appearance - Skin - Settings - Addon Shortcuts
Under Home Page Videos Submenu - click on Addon 1 and select the addon you want for the first shortcut
Do the same for up to 5 addons
Go back to the main menu - just pless the Esc key several times.
You should now get a Videos Menu like this:-
All you need to do now is click the graphic shortcut.

Similarly, I like to hide the main menu items that I don't use
Go to System - Settings - Appearance - Skin - Settings - Home Window
Hide (say) Music, Pictures and Weather - don't hide Programs or you won't be able to install new addons.

Then, if you like it, you can buy a Raspberry Pi and install Kodi/OpenElec onto the Raspberry Pi.
You may need some notes from me if you decide to go this far.

Sorry if I'm babbling on a bit.

 

[MikeA]

All of this can be also be achieved with an Amazon fire stick, for me it just seems a simpler and neat solution - plug into hdmi port on TV and power from USB port on TV if you've got one. You've now got a smart tv able to run kodi and the various add-ons with endless channels, complete with a voice controlled remote control. Of course, if you choose to run the live sky tv channels etc., then you may be outside of the law but they're all there and running them through a satellite dish in Spain with a uk registered viewing card was also not permitted.

 

[jrudge]

Sorry, I cant agree.
Yes local storage is great - I too have a couple of 2TB drives with loads of old movies and TV shows.
But, as I say - have a look at Exodus.
There is no need to store this stuff anymore.
The way forward is broadband streaming.

I think this is a little dismissive. There are many ways to solve a problem and I have access to what i want when i want it - and they are not old movies but current releases!

As home do I use it? Hardly ever. I use Netflicks and so on.

On board I use it exclusively. I have never ever found a decent marina wifi and which I appreciate that UL data packages are now available in Spain they are as far as i know only available on contract with the associated long term cost that brings. Head to france, italy etc and you have to start again looking for a sim card. Boats move!

I often have 3-4 TVs running at the same time watching stuff and I would be very surprised of a 4g connection could support this ( not saying it wont but that is a lot of data to stream.)

It also depends on how you use the TVs. My kids go down and watch tv if we are underway on a long passage. You dont get internet offshore.

So I dont disagree that to some extent it is the way to go, but there are many ways of solving problems and live streaming is just one, and is not without cost and complexity and reliability issues on board. Bear in mind that i simply use what Samsung have been kind enough to put in their TV set - there are no boxes, Pi's etc hanging around, things to configure and so on, you just select it on the remote and it works.

Streaming will work for some, local storage for others.

 

[PEJ]

Consider an alternative view to live TV which other than the new - which you get on your phone anyway - has no reason to be live.

I have a 3tb media drive on the boat. They are cheap - about £100

http://www.tesco.com/direct/wd-my-b...h9ACFWYo0wodLzkB7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds&source=others


and can store more TV than you can probably watch in a lifetime.

Excuse my ignorance but how do you get the films on to the hard drive? Did you buy the DVDs in the first place or did you record them off the telly?

 

[PEJ]

Thanks to great advice and help from Steruth1 of this parish I rented a MiFi unit when I was in spain and with a VPN accessed live TV, BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub and so caught up on all the telly I wanted on my iPad.

All I need now is an HDMI cable to go from the iPad to the telly and I can watch it on the big screen, apparently. Looking forward to trying this out next time I am there.

 

[Nigelpickin]

Thanks to great advice and help from Steruth1 of this parish I rented a MiFi unit when I was in spain and with a VPN accessed live TV, BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub and so caught up on all the telly I wanted on my iPad.

All I need now is an HDMI cable to go from the iPad to the telly and I can watch it on the big screen, apparently. Looking forward to trying this out next time I am there.

It's a really simple and straight forward way of doing things. We rented from Portugal Internet, (who also cover Spain) and they had a mifi unit waiting for us at Porto Marina when we arrived. Totally unlimited and provided a boat length of broadband. We've since bought a sim and payg contract from a Portuguese supplier for €25 a month!!

I do think you need to be aware that lighting port to hdmi is often blocked by Sky and the like but always seems to work with a lap as assume some users will be sending to a separate screen. They also lock down air play mirroring.

I guess the next thing that we will try is Now TV as that would probably suit us better if it works, I'm gong to pick up a unit from the office next time we are in the UK.

 

[Hurricane]

Excuse my ignorance but how do you get the films on to the hard drive? Did you buy the DVDs in the first place or did you record them off the telly?

Thats what Exodus is all about!!
Stream ANY film or TV series using the Exodus addon and Kodi.
Kodi can, of course run on a number of devices but I prefer the Raspberry Pi.

 

[Bigplumbs]

As I posted above I have bought a Raspberry Pi 3 starter Kit and got it running. I have to say that after about 3 hours I hate it with a passion. I am generally quite good with IT but trying to download Kodi seems impossible to me. I have watched more You Tube videos than I care to and still no joy Typing things into comment lines....... Well where is the comment line. IT HAS GOT ME BEYOND WOUND UP. It would seem that you cant just download direct to the Pi you have to download to an SD on another PC first and do all sorts of stuff. I am off to get a big hammer and smash the little piece of electronics to bits

This is not easy in my view