Best streaming device and (maybe) IP phone for Switzerland?

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
Hello, I'm thinking of getting a streaming device and dumping Swisscom's expensive(though not too bad) TV/Phone/Internet offering in favour of an internet-only deal.

So, looking at the streamer, it looks like it's between AppleTV, Roku 3(4 not available for Europe yet) and Amazon Fire TV or whatever it's called.

Replacing the phone with an IP phone is a bit of an afterthought, but it seems logical. Maybe not as easy as it should be yet?

I have an international VPN provider already but have no idea how easy it is to configure any of these streamers to use them. For info I'm a Brit not an American otherwise I guess it would definitely be the Roku.

Any got any experiences or knowledge they can share?

Thanks in advance.

2
OK, it depends... for streaming, standard TV or stuff that's not so easy to find, sports events for example? For the former Zattoo is good not to mention free. There is also a paid service which offers higher quality, no ads and you can store shows for later viewing for less than 100 CHF per year, also available on many different platforms. For the non standard stuff any device that can run Kodi/XBMC. We have a standard phone plugged into a Fritz!Box, a Zurich phone number through italkworld, frequent phone calls including across Europe plus the number work out to about 5 chuffs per month.

3
Hi, thanks for reply.

Zattoo wouldn't do - I want to stream, specifically, as many UK channels as possible, the main Swiss channels, the main French channels and any Brazilian channels would be a bonus. Basically I want to replace what I currently pay Swisscom a lot for. (170 chf per month TV/Internet/Phone)

From what I can tell, to do this cheaply I could use a Roku 3, AppleTV, or Amazon streaming device to get the channels from the different countries but would need to go through a PC or another device to set up a virtual router, as the streamers don't support the direct use of VPNs.

It would be quite a messy solution, so I'm hoping someone's going to tell me "No, No it's simple, you can do this".......

4
I use appletv to get iplayer, Zattoo, Netflix and sky Nowtv. I subscribe to a dns service so the appletv appears as if in the U.K. Zattoo hd (which I get free with my salt mobile subscription) provides live tv coverage of BBC, itv etc. plus Swiss channels. All you have to do is change the DNS setting in the Appletv network settings.

Bonus is j get all the other appletv features too like iphotos, airplay, movies etc.

There's also a dedicated box you can buy which makes it easier to get live tv and a load of other stuff. I'm sure you can google all these providers, normally based in Guernsey or the like. The streamer is a Mag 254 or 256, I think.

You can probably search this forum for more details.

5
I second AppleTV, but the Roku would seem to als fit your needs. Just haven't got any experience with it.

6
Hi,

unless you want gaming on your streaming box I would not bother with the Apple TV box or want to use itunes. Also it has a big problem as a streaming device as it has no optical audio output. It is very expensive compared to the alternatives.

I am very happy with the amazon fire box for Netflix, iplayer, itv hub, Amazon prime etc. I also use a Roku box for Now TV, CBS and Hulu and I am really pleased with that.

Saying that we have a Samsung Smart TV and I get all the UK streaming and catchup services as well. That also works really well.

Lots of great choices out there.

Have fun

Martin

7
I use Zattoo for TV. In my case it runs on an addon (Zattoo Box Extended) for the Kodi Media Center Software on an Android TV Box. A TV Box will cost about 35.- from China. At this time you will probably want one with the Amlogic s905X chipset (for example a Scishion V88 Pro) and add an airmouse remote (a TK617 would do). The Gearbest store will have you covered. And if you want to go really cutting edge, flash the TV box with Libreelec.

.....sorry, if this may all sound very 'nerdy'.

If you get the basis DSL offering from Sunrise, a phone line is included. There really is no need for fancy Swisscom or Cablecom TV offerings. They will not do more than Zattoo can do on a cheap TV box.

8
Thanks, I will try and investigate this (as a very non-nerdy IT person I feel I should be able to as a matter of pride based on this info but an idiots guide would reduce the googling :-) )

9
an idiots guide ? well first I would recommend some shopping:

http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_471369.html

http://www.gearbest.com/mice-keyboar...64.html?wid=21

after the parcel has arrived - plug everything in and switch on the TV Box.

Register on the Zattoo Webpage

head to the https://www.kodinerds.net/ webpage

download the Nerdsrepo file (a zip file) onto an USB stick, but don't unpack the Zip file

stick the USB stick into the Android TV Box

open the Kodi app on the Android TV Box

head to System/Settings/Add ons

click on 'Install from Zip file'

select the zip file on the USB stick

wait for the file to install

head back to the Kodi main menu

head to System/Settings/Add ons

select 'Install from repository'

select Kodinerds.net Add-0ns

select Video add-ons

select Zattoo Box Extended Beta

wait for the file to install

head back to the Kodi main menu

head to System/Settings/Add ons

select My add-ons

select Video add-ons

select Zattoo Box Extended Beta

select Configure

enter the configuration settings (Username, Password, Swiss IP address, max bandwidth 5000, EPG time offset -1

YOU ARE DONE !

Replay TV (going back in time in the EPG) will only work if you are a paying Zattoo customer. Also before you can use replay TV you must first activate in in the settings on the Zattoo website.

10
Thanks very much for that. I will go for it, I think, the investment isn't big so not too scary if it takes me a while to get it going.

As a related question -

Anglo Info sent me an ad by email for a service which looks, well, if not illegal, borderline. However it also looks excellent and cheap(apart from the price of the set top box) as it in theory includes all the sports and film channels for 29GBP a month. They seem to be streaming everything out of the States to escape the EU piracy laws. Hmmmm

Here's a link - can't track down much in the way of real customer feedback on it for now.

http://angloinfo2.uktvbox.net/

Got an opinion on that one? Anyone?

11
....doesn't sound like anything you could not set up yourself.

http://www.bestdroidplayer.co.uk/xbm...odi-uk-abroad/

https://seo-michael.co.uk/best-live-...for-xbmc-kodi/

12
You can also get these from Amazon.de, branded Trongle. Delivered with a mini keyboard/touchpad for slightly less. We have two.

13
The problem with Amazon is that they don't ship electronics to Switzerland. Of course it is possible to have items shipped to pickup locations across the border (Konstanz, etc.). However for people living in the middle of the 'island' this is not a viable option.

14
There are sellers that do ship electronics to CH. for the ones that do not, admittedly there are many, we use a delivery service that send via Swiss Post.

15
they do - but not all.

16
https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product...43638?tagIds=1

17
fnac.ch sells Roku 2, 3 and the stick 2016