Amazon fire TV for peanuts

The FireTV function is good but, to get the best out of it, you need to add some apps etc. We have a couple of Firesticks, we take one away in the motorhome in case of poor weather etc, and have a couple of media servers, one of which we take away. By using Kodi ( an app you can load on the Firestick) we can then access video library.

The Amazon Prime Video library selection isn?t wonderful in my view. There is the odd thing but, all in all, think of the second/ third rate Tapes which used to fill the shelves of places like Blockbuster. There are some old film gems, if you like those.

Netflix is much the same.

Both Amazon Prime and Netflix require a subscription, not a lot but a subscription.

I sideloaded Kodi onto a Fire TV stick but it made it run slow. I used Nebula and Exodus interface seems but every screen had a weird comic illustration designed for those who demand comic art, swamp monsters, space stations, gothic typeface, maidens in distress, mythological creatures, magicians, devils and all that.

I'm all for imaginative graphic art but not when I'm slumped on the sofa idly looking for something on the telly.

I found bootleg video streams from Kodi add-ons, like Cinema HD, had limited quality and the selection of titles were in line with the weird illustrations.

Netflix aims mainly for 16 to 25 year olds while Amazon Prime Video aims for an older audience. If I had to choose between the two, I would take Amazon.

What is the picture quality like? I had the impression Bravia's usually have a great picture whereas JVC is distinctly less good.

And ones without Alexa for £400? ;-)

No TV ever made has 'really good' sound. Near adequate to poor is more like it.

I?ve had no problems with speed. I started with Wi-fi but added the Ethernet adapters as I prefer to have fixed things on Ethernet.

Even on Wi-fi it was fine.

:-)

So long as it can truly be disabled and still work sufficiently, then possibly acceptable. But I simply do not want Alexa.

Video streaming is in general 2-5Mbps. I have had trouble on wifi at 5Mbps.

Even 10Mbps ethernet will be fine and most people have 100Mbps Some have gigabit

But would you really want to buy a JVC telly ??

Think is it's one of those things I manage OK without. And looking at the nasty lash ups people end up with to get voice control is something I couldn't bear looking at here. If doing so on a new installation, possibly.

I?ve got a domestic 4G router in the MH. In good signal areas Fast.com reports 40M or so at times. In poor signal areas it drops to 3G sometimes and slower speeds, sometimes below 1M.

Generally I?ve noticed it needs between 4 and 5M to maintain Video from Amazon, which ties in with your comments.

You can, of course, download films to a tablet ( such as an iPad) via the Amazon app. The files are about 250M for a episode of Picard (45 mins I think). I think there is an app to display iPad video on the Firestick (well the TV ) but I?ve not tried it.

I?ve not noted the performance of Netflix in similar conditions- I don?t use it much.

But will it last for at least 13 years ?. This is how long my little Sony 17 inch LCD tv lasted. CRT TV's seemed to go on for ever though.

Too soon to tell.

Problem is the AD on catchup only seems to work on ch 5. Brian

Andy