Computer Related > Amazon Fire TV Stick	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Ambo	Replies: 25

New Wed 23 Nov 16 11:54   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Ambo

I have been using Apple TV for Netflix access but found the system would not allow (for me, essential) subtitles for British material (it would for American) and that the picture was always dim compared to TV or Lovefilm DVDs. Neither was there enough film or other material of interest to the Ambos. I gave the Apple away and am thinking to install Amazon Fire instead. Can any user comment on their experiences with the device please? If relevant, my TV is a Panasonic Viera 32", 6 years old; my BT Internet download speed 56 is Mbps; I don't need gaming, so presumably can expect enough power from the USB socket alone. I realise I may need Prime. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Nov 16 12:21   Amazon Fire TV Stick - smokie

I bought one really for more of a look at how I could reduce the cost of my "TV services" in future (I currently pay Vorgin a tody sum for TiVo boxes etc). So while I've not used it much, and I don't have any subscription, it is easy enough to use and provides a decent picture and sound. My internet is faster than yours (100 meg) but I imagine you'd be OK with your 56. I also "sideloaded" some apps and they also seem to work, though the quality of most of the "illegal" channels is not watchable (e.g. dodgy Sky Sports). As I'm not interested in them anyway, I deleted it. Those channels are somehow being digitally copied by some nerd somewhere so I wasn't surprised they were no good. But for basic TV it works fine... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Nov 16 12:22   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Manatee

My daughter has a firestick, via which we all watched the 'Grand Tour' last week on her non-smart TV. It worked perfectly. We used subtitles too - they are much neater than the old teletext type, are superimposed rather than displayed in a large black rectangle, and you can choose the size of the letters. Just make sure your wifi signal reaches your TV. You will also need a spare HDMI (not USB) socket on the TV. Incidentally, my daughter's internet speed is around 20Mbps. That is plenty for HD. Last edited by: Manatee on Wed 23 Nov 16 at 12:26 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Nov 16 12:32   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Ambo

Sounds promising. As Apple TV worked, doesn't that mean the wifi signal reaches the TV? I thought the stick could be plugged into a USB socket. Why do I need an HMDI socket as well (I have one)? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Nov 16 12:56   Amazon Fire TV Stick - VxFan

>> I thought the stick could be plugged into a USB socket. From what I gather you plug the Fire Stick into the HDMI socket. But the stick needs power from an appropriate USB supply. Either from one on your TV, if it has one, or via a Mains / USB adapter. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Nov 16 13:05   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Manatee

The stick has an HDMI plug on it. A power adaptor is supplied. You don't need a USB socket. See "what's in the box" - amzn.eu/2JUAPxo Last edited by: Manatee on Wed 23 Nov 16 at 13:06 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Nov 16 17:29   Amazon Fire TV Stick - rtj70

The Amazon FireTV stick with the basic remote is £25 on Amazon due to Black Friday. Worth a try? Netflix runs on it - I've not tried subtitles. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Nov 16 17:45   Amazon Fire TV Stick - rtj70

Tried an episode of Top Gear with sub-titles and they work. What was the issue with the AppleTV? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 24 Nov 16 13:19   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Ambo

As noted, subtitles would not show on British material, only American. The picture was always dim compared to ordinary TV and DVDs. The programme material choice was poor for our tastes. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 24 Nov 16 13:20   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Ambo

>>Worth a try? Yes, I expect mine any minute. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 24 Nov 16 13:47   Amazon Fire TV Stick - rtj70

I only tried Top Gear for subtitles but they did work. Turning them on for my account must trigger something centrally because they were then turned on for my phone too. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 26 Nov 16 11:24   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Ambo

I Installed mine yesterday. An initial difficulty: the Fire called for my password but would not accept the "Admin Password" as given on the card on the back of my BT Home Hub 5. This failed but, after several attempts, I tried what BT calls the "Wireless Key", also on the card and that worked. There we no problems with subtitles or luminosity. Many thanks for all the above comments. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 26 Nov 16 17:27   Amazon Fire TV Stick - VxFan

>> I Installed mine yesterday. Same here. Picked it up from Argos as same price as Amazon were charging. Well impressed with it. If you've got a smart phone, then download the App for it. You can then use voice search on it, and it's also got a keyboard for easier entry of things. Last edited by: VxFan on Sat 26 Nov 16 at 17:30 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 26 Nov 16 17:49   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Manatee

Mine just arrived too; bargain at £25, presumably because they hope we will pay for some chargeable content - which we will I am sure in due course. There's a non-smart TV in the conservatory which is the boss's domain, so I have installed it there and she is watching 'Goliath' while sewing. She is delighted, I wish I had saved it up for her Christmas present! There was a hiccup with the wifi which I solved by restarting the router. I am convinced the wifi on the TalkTalk HG633 is flaky so this will tease it out (the main TV is connected via ethernet). If necessary I won't mess about, I'll just buy my own router. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 27 Nov 16 10:44   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Ambo

I had two pleasant surprises from the stick. I found sections for foreign films, which are popular chez Ambo, although the selection wasn't that impressive in the two I have checked, French (Prime version) and German. Then I came across a whole audio section devoted to Jacgues Brel. He is my favourite "chansonnier" and I have all of his lyrics in a book. I stumbled by accident into the paid section and inadvertently called up the near three-hour film "The Baader-Meinhof Complex". However, it only cost me 49p after deduction of the introductory discount and I found it superior to British or American terrorist thrillers. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 27 Nov 16 16:32   Amazon Fire TV Stick - rtj70

The FireTv stick is a similar price (or same) as Google's Chromecast. Depends on discounts. But the Amazon device works independently of another device and is superior IMO. There are more apps you can install that aren't on there by default. Just making sure you know. So you can access more free TV content. There's also Kodi but that's more complex - some use that to access content illegally. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 27 Nov 16 17:23   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Manatee

Having bought one for "her" TV and seen what it does I have ordered another for the main TV. It's a Sony Smart TV but it's a pre-Android one that came out in 2014, which is limiting its smartness. It has the Amazon video app so I don't need a stick for that, but the Fire stick has has the All4 (channel4/E4/More4) and ITV catch up apps, plus a few more useful ones that are not available on pre-2015 Sony smart TVs. £25 (for today, anyway) solves the problem and in fact makes any TV smarter than many smart ones. All the ones I've seen have been much clunkier in use than the Firestick. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 27 Nov 16 18:53   Amazon Fire TV Stick - rtj70

>> All4 (channel4/E4/More4) and ITV catch up apps, plus a few more useful ones Channel 5 on demand available too. And many more. Netflix too of course. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 27 Nov 16 19:52   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Manatee

>> Channel 5 on demand available too. And many more. Netflix too of course. Yes indeed. C5 (and Netflix) and BBC iPlayer are already on the Sony TV, but the Firestick completes the available catch up services. I should have said that so as not to mislead. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 27 Nov 16 21:15   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Rudedog

The trouble you will find with My5 on the Firestick is that it doesn't show the same content as if you opened it on a regular internet TV or computer website, on mine it's missing all of the 5USA programmes where as I can see them on my laptop or other internet-ready TV. The Firestick filters out a lot of US programmes. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 27 Nov 16 21:57   Amazon Fire TV Stick - rtj70

Good to know - thanks. I've had it for a while but didn't use it much. More of an experiment. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 28 Nov 16 00:34   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Stuartli

NOWTV also offers all the catch up and on demand services by downloading the apps from the Sky Store - plus a vast range of Sky choices and around a dozen "live" channels. At £6.99 a month, the Entertainment Pass is a true bargain, although I also use the Mobdro.com app for tablets and Smartphones (this offers many, many hundreds of streamed channels). Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 30 Nov 16 12:24   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Manatee

I've bought quite a few CDs from Amazon over the years - many have now appeared in my Firestick music, presumably on the basis that I 'own' them. Useful. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 30 Nov 16 21:40   Amazon Fire TV Stick - rtj70

You could also download an MP3 version of the album too. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 1 Dec 16 00:17   Amazon Fire TV Stick - Stuartli

>>Useful.>> You should be able to download all the music that you've purchased from Amazon over the years in MP3 form but, as I've found, it's not always straightforward....:-( Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 1 Dec 16 00:48   Amazon Fire TV Stick - rtj70

It was when I used their app. I lost a lot of original CDs when my Golf was stolen in 2000. I never replaced some of it. But some of the missing music was downloaded much more recently when Amazon introduced this facility. Reply to this message | Report message