Firestick general discussion thread

wassie · 19-02-2026 11:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124246646#Comment_124246646

Could be a few things - have you tried these simple checks:

Storage - if its less then 1GB try clearing app caches or unloading unused apps.
HDMI - if its plugged directly into TV HMDI port, try using the supplied HDMI extender incase the TV is shielding the wifi signal
Power - is it powered by TV USB port - if so these may not be delivering enough and you could try the supplied power plug.

Given the 4K Max uses wifi6, its should generally have a solid stable connection. Might also be a router issuer as well - try restarting both the Firestcik and the router to reset the wifi connections between the two. If none of that works come back to us and let us know what router you have.

JIdontknow · 19-02-2026 11:33AM

Try also resetting / restarting the Router. Sometimes I need to do this.

guil · 19-02-2026 10:08PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. The firestick is plugged into the supplied extender and it's connected to a plug in a socket.

The storage was slightly under 1gb at .93gb so I've deleted some stuff and it's now at 1.19gb free

I use the standard wifi7 router provided by eir. Both have been rebooted numerous times

joujoujou · 20-02-2026 12:06AM

Try ethernet adapter.

Nowso · 20-02-2026 01:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124249989#Comment_124249989

change your wifi channel . there are android apps you can get to check for wifi interference , if next door are on the same channel as you . or your using a wifi extender they will transmit on the same wifi channel causing interference

guil · 21-02-2026 12:38PM

II Have tried changing channels and also used a scanner to check what channels other ssid are broadcasting on. No repeaters or extenders.

It's strange that the firestick is the only device with an issue. 2 tvs, 2 apple TV boxes, PlayStations, pc and phones have no issue whatsoever

Thargor · 24-02-2026 08:21PM

Amazon has started disabling sideloaded apps at random but it sounds like a major crackdown is coming.

Does anyone have an alternative? Something fast and simple that the parents can grasp?

Doesnt look like theres anything you can do with the stick itself, I expect to see a lot of them on adverts in the next few weeks!

Sonic the Shaghog · 24-02-2026 08:24PM

Go on Amazon and get an android box. Just watch the reviews as some don't come with the specs listed. Got one lately and very happy with it and a nice wireless keyboard with it too

Thargor · 24-02-2026 08:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124262855#Comment_124262855

Is it a simple interface/boot up that some very tech-phobic elderly parents could handle?

Sonic the Shaghog · 24-02-2026 09:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124262876#Comment_124262876

Well if they can use a fire stick they can use an android box. It's literally plug in it boots to the home screen same as an android phone and click your app.

The only thing is if you someone in the family isn't techie you will have to install whatever apps you are using in the firestick

Mr Velo · 24-02-2026 10:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124262948#Comment_124262948

Can you link the one you purchased?

Sonic the Shaghog · 24-02-2026 10:48PM

https://www.amazon.ie/dp/B0D5YKDH1Y?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_em_apan_dp_7T0GVCG3YB81DEP4X7Q9&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_em_apan_dp_7T0GVCG3YB81DEP4X7Q9&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_em_apan_dp_7T0GVCG3YB81DEP4X7Q9

dubguy45 · 25-02-2026 12:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124263154#Comment_124263154

A budget box. If your expectations are low you will be less disappointed.

Sonic the Shaghog · 25-02-2026 09:48AM

Yes it is and I'm happy with it. Flies with Stremio and sports apps I use and then Netflix etc for herself.

Any recommendations?

ongarite · 25-02-2026 09:57AM

That’s not an android TV box at all. It’s running Android mobile version with no widevine or DRM support.

It’s won’t run any TV apps, only mobile apps modded to run fullscreen.

Not the box you want to get your parents.

The best value officially certified Google TV box is the Mi TV box Gen 3

https://mstore.ie/xiaomi-tv-box-s-3rd-gen/

TheDriver · 25-02-2026 10:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124263685#Comment_124263685

Is this better than a google 4k dongle?

Is there any way that these boxes powered externally can turn off when the TV is turned off? That was a big plus to the firestick.

Thargor · 25-02-2026 11:30AM

After a morning of googling I snagged the last one of these on Amazon UK for €76 but theres a few left on Amazon.ie for €40 more (joke of a site), its a rebadged UK version of that Onn 4K Pro that all the Americans on Reddit seem to be swapping out their firesticks for.

Sounds like an okay replacement that the parents will be able to handle from the reviews anyway:

Thomson Streaming Box 270UK Plus, Built-in Speaker for Voice Control, Google TV, Netflix, Disney+, 4K UHD, Streaming via Wi-Fi, Google Cast, 32GB Storage: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Im in no hurry myself as I mostly use the good old Pirate bay to my Plex server but I have one of these on the way from Aliexpress aswell, there are 4 sticks in my house between the living rooms and bedrooms that my tenants use so if its any good Ill go with them.

Chosen purely from a few Reddit reccomendations:

EDIT: WARNING IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS PROBABLY AN ANDROID BOX NOT AN ANDROID TV BOX, DO NOT BUY AS A FIRESTICK REPLACEMENT

Android 14 TV BOX Amlogic S905X5M HK1 RBOX X50 Quad Core 4K LAN 1000M Dual Wifi6 BT 5.0 Voice Remote Cooling Fan Media Player

Android 14 TV BOX Amlogic S905X5M HK1 RBOX X50 Quad Core 4K LAN 1000M Dual Wifi6 BT 5.0 Voice Remote Cooling Fan Media Player - AliExpress 44

Sonic the Shaghog · 25-02-2026 11:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124263685#Comment_124263685

Thanks for that I'll have a look as the sister is wanting an upgrade. Do you have it? It's mostly Stremio and certain sports apps that can't be named here

Sonic the Shaghog · 25-02-2026 11:37AM

Have you ever bought off AliExpress for these before? My only worry is you'd get a box with less than advertised specs under the hood, like some Amazon sellers. That's why I usually stick to ones Amazon ship as it's easier send it back and free

ongarite · 25-02-2026 11:48AM

the first box you have listed is a certified android TV box. The Thompson 270 is the European version of the Walmart ONN Pro box, which is highly recommended.

the 2nd box you listed is not a certified android TV box, again it’s running android mobile version with custom launcher and won’t work with TV apps. Not a single photo of the interface in the Aliexpress listing.

Thargor · 25-02-2026 12:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124263949#Comment_124263949

Bollocks you're right I think, I thought android 14 was referring to the android tv version. Ah well theres ways around that, there are apps that turn an Android install into a smart tv launcher, thats how I got dodgy apps to run on my phone ages ago, ah well just have to wait and see now.

The RAM/chip shortage and now the Firestick app crackdown is playing havoc with the whole space at the minute, terrible time to be buying.

Thargor · 01-03-2026 05:28PM

Happy with that Thomson box, powers on instantly, way faster than the firestick, every dodgy app I can think of installed without issue after I turned off Play Protect and judging by the football today I seem to be getting higher quality picture and more reliable streams, nice remote. Also Plex which is what I use it for the most is now instant as if the files were hosted locally so a big upgrade there, on FS there was always a delay responding to inputs and a 5-6 second wait for Play/Pause orders.

Google TV is a lot messier than I hoped though and it is honestly way too intrusive with the constant "did you know?" and "explore new features" pop-ups and other noise but hopefully that will go away with a bit of use.

degsie · 11-03-2026 07:53PM

Any current methods for getting RTÉ player working on the firestick? Thanks.

lfc84 · 11-03-2026 08:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124304982#Comment_124304982

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RT%C3%89-Player/dp/B0F3X2VYMG

Thargor · 16-03-2026 04:22PM

The auld lad is delighted with that Thomson box from the previous post anyway, everything is as instant as changing channels on the satbox including booting it up and he hasnt had to reboot it once across a month of F1/snooker/golf/football compared to 2-3 reboots for every event for the same apps on the firestick. I stuck the old 512GB ssd from my Steam Deck upgrade in a USB enclosure and filled it with every decent series of the last few years and he's watching Clarksons Farm on it aswell, this man cant even send a text message you have to ring him for everything.

Cant fault it apart from the horrible cluttered Google TV interface, need to sort out a launcher.

Saw this for 20 quid in a flash sale when I was buying phone cases on Aliexpress last night and took a punt, will see how it goes:

Screenshot 2026 03 16 at 14 53 48 X96 Max Plus Ultra TV Box Android 11 Amlogic S905X4 4G 64G Support

Thargor · 30-03-2026 08:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317308#Comment_124317308

So that X96 Max+ Ultra box I took a punt on Aliexpress in the previous post had the weirdest dodgy looking Android tablet version on it that took about 2-3 seconds to respond to commands from the remote and about 50 non-removable Chinese apps. Didn't risk logging into it I just went straight to flashing it with SlimboxTV:

https://xdaforums.com/t/project-slimboxtv.4152049/

Night and day difference. Every bit as good as the Thomson box that cost nearly 10X as much now (minus the Netflix certifications and all that crap but I pirate everything anyway so I dont care).

This is my main Android/Plex box at the minute and Im not going to bother replacing it, its smooth as butter and the remote has a keypad and mouse function, bargain of the year!