Just got the presto deal for 6 months and now need a smart stick for my TV. Only requirement is Ethernet for cable connection. What the best/cheapest option?
Smart TV Stick?
figarow on 27/07/2015 - 10:15
Comments
Understand but I want the stability and speed of a cable. The room already has a cable coming in from the ceiling.
Or you could get a Chromecast, an OTG Y cable and a USB to ethernet adaptor with an ASIX AX88xxxx chipset.
See link here on Whingepool for more details:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2418159My OTG Y cable is on board with driver today. I'll let you know how it goes.
This works fantastically well. I highly recommend it.
I'm hoping Google will release these in Oz soon.
https://store.google.com/product/_ethernet_adapter_for_chrom…
At a comparible price, Raspberry Pi has Ethernet but you are basically running a computer, so the controlling is going to be fiddly - unless XBMC / Kodi has a Presto plugin.
There are, but the sticks don't have Ethernet.
Yes - you could add an adaptor as above, but I cannot speak for support and performance. You will also have to consider a powered hub as most sticks only come with one USB. Mini ones at that.
Understand, thanks for helping. Reason for not wanting to go wifi is our internet is crummy! Even the wired connection is slow. So I'm only willing to go wired. I too was wondering about how ethernet could translate to usb, sounds dodgy to me… Other options might be spend more and get something like this? AKA almost a PC? Or better alternative? I'm not just wanting PRESTO! but also other streaming such as youtube etc and web browsing. Willing to spend more but needs to be value added best bang for buck.
i cannot speak for that specific piece of hardware, but if it has Ethernet, then it does assist somewhat. This effectivly runs XBMC, so would will have to ensure you can get Presto running on it natively (i.e. does it have a Presto pluging for XBMC).
Otherwise, you'll have to somehow screen share from your laptop / tablet. This then introduces wireless, which you are obviously trying to avoid.
I still say go the Chromecast and WiFi. It will be far the least problematic and user friendly. The Chromcast supports 802.11n 2.4GHz wifi, which can operate at a faster data rate that anything your cable can pull down. Also, Presto will operate quite comfortably with a few Mbps rate anyway.
Thanks mate, chewing it over…
The chromecast did have an Ethernet adapter released recently but not sure when it will be available in OZ
http://au.pcmag.com/google-chromecast/35404/news/fight-weak-…
i hear people have been able to make a cheap version of the adapter with an OTG usb cable and a USB ethernet adapter
I've been looking at an device purely for movie playback on a spare TV. didn't want wifi, didn't want to run other devices to link to, no smart function required, didn't need bells and whistles - just and only for movie playback.
ending buying a basic box for US$24. -used some GB points to bring the price down.
but in my search I checked out some other inexpensive options.
does it need to be a stick? what about a mini android box?
like this S805 box with remote control from Gearbest for US$36.99
also this Beelink X2 TV Box for US$34.52
A box is fine, I just used the term stick but where it is going there is plenty of bench space, shelving etc. Don't care about the size or shape just about the compatibility. Sounds like Presto is fussy.
Presto only works with chromecast I believe
Or selected Samsung smart TVs
That's what I was told when I signed up to prestosample from techradar review of presto
The technology
Make no mistake, Presto is an intuitive and simple-to-use service.
Initially available via a web browser on a PC or Mac, or via an iPad app, Presto has added support for a selection of Android tablets since launch.
Officially, the app supports 7-inch Android tablet devices and above running Android Versions 4.0.3 - 4.4, but we found it didn't work with some Android devices like the Xperia Z2 tablet.
That list of supported Android tablets is even shorter when it comes to TV show playback. For that, you'll need either a Nexus 7, or one of a handful of Samsung Galaxy tablets.Given the massive range of Android tablets on the market, this limitation could be a severe frustration for users, especially given the list doesn't even include some of the most recent tablets on the market, like the Nexus 9.
Also disappointing is that even after months of being available for iPad, there's still no iPhone or Android phone app to watch the service on the go on a smaller screen.
Presto has made a deal with Quickflix, which should dramatically improve the number of compatible devices, but in the meantime you're locked to a browser or tablet screen. Or a TV via Chromecast, but more on that later.
Have a look here, I have bought from this site (China) before and they have a ton of these devices in all shapes and sizes, wi-fi as well as ethernet. I have never tried Presto on Android, so cannot comment on how well it may work, even if at all on these Android devices, but many of them are pretty fast. Note that there are Windows devices amongst these too, depends how big you want it to be and where you plan to hide it.
http://www.geekbuying.com/category/TV-Boxes-505/
HMM. Ethernet is kind of limiting your options. Easiest way would be to sort out WiFi at home and then get a Chromecast.