nvidia Shield - Tips & tricks [Read post #1]

yabadabado · 20-02-2018 11:29am

The ethernet adopter works well for the Mi Box.it was linked here a while back about 10 pound on amazon.
It's a strange move by manufacturers to leave out a ethernet port, it's hardly going to add much cost to produce.

gerrybbadd · 20-02-2018 11:41am

The big draw for me with this box is the ability to use it as a Plex media server. I don't think the Mi box has that capability (or has it?)

The high horse brigade · 20-02-2018 12:07pm

yabadabado wrote: »

The ethernet adopter works well for the Mi Box.it was linked here a while back about 10 pound on amazon.
It's a strange move by manufacturers to leave out a ethernet port, it's hardly going to add much cost to produce.

Not always, there's lots of issues and bugs with usb Ethernet and the mi, Google it. My brother and mother bought 3 mi box and adapters at once, one box never worked right with the usb Ethernet adapter, the adapter worked fine on other mi boxes. My brother then ended up returning his mi over internal SD issues and ended up buying a shield. I guess it's what you get when you buy Chinese. I myself have a shield from day one and am very happy with it.

bloodless_coup · 20-02-2018 12:28pm

The high horse brigade wrote: »

The mi box lacks Ethernet which IMO is essential for a media streaming box

Wireless ac is more than adequate for 4k streaming. Maybe you need a better router.

The high horse brigade · 20-02-2018 1:09pm

doylefe wrote: »

Wireless ac is more than adequate for 4k streaming. Maybe you need a better router.

If you have only one device and nobody else in the house trying to share your connection.

Wireless speeds are completely optimistic, tested in a controlled environment in a lab with no other devices connected and only in one direction. Wireless is half duplex, your ac router will only talk to one device at a time in one direction at a time not both at the same time like a cable.

I'm a firm believer that everything static should be cabled leaving wireless for mobility

xtal191 · 20-02-2018 1:19pm

I'm in no way saying the Mi Box is better than the Shield, it obviously isn't. But it costs a little under €70 delivered while the Shield is roughly €215.

bazzz · 20-02-2018 2:22pm

xtal191 wrote: »

I'm in no way saying the Mi Box is better than the Shield, it obviously isn't. But it costs a little under €70 delivered while the Shield is roughly €215.

Can we save the "but you can get a cheaper box "for the Android box thread.It's long established that the Shield is the best Android box on the market.This is a tips & tricks thread,specifically for the Shield.

54and56 · 20-02-2018 2:23pm

xtal191 wrote: »

I'm in no way saying the Mi Box is better than the Shield, it obviously isn't. But it costs a little under €70 delivered while the Shield is roughly €215.

Is this the latest Mi Box? I've an old Minix Neo X8-H which is stuck on Android 4 so I can't run latest Kodi etc. I don't need Shield type performance for this box but it would be nice to have something which also ran Android TV for consistent menus and user experience.

xtal191 · 20-02-2018 2:42pm

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Is this the latest Mi Box? I've an old Minix Neo X8-H which is stuck on Android 4 so I can't run latest Kodi etc. I don't need Shield type performance for this box but it would be nice to have something which also ran Android TV for consistent menus and user experience.

Yeah looks like it, a lot of people from here used this ebay link and parcel motel or parcel wizard to get it delivered.

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Xiaomi-Mi-Box-4K-Google-Android6-0-TV-BOX-HDR-International-Version-Voice-Remote-/122355472779?hash=item1c7cf4598b:g:PS4AAOSw241YhXlS

bazzz wrote: »

Can we save the "but you can get a cheaper box "for the Android box thread.It's long established that the Shield is the best Android box on the market.This is a tips & tricks thread,specifically for the Shield.

I'm not recommending it over the Shield, also most of those cheapy android boxes don't have Android TV. Anyway thats enough going off topic.

yabadabado · 20-02-2018 6:32pm

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Not always, there's lots of issues and bugs with usb Ethernet and the mi, Google it. My brother and mother bought 3 mi box and adapters at once, one box never worked right with the usb Ethernet adapter, the adapter worked fine on other mi boxes. My brother then ended up returning his mi over internal SD issues and ended up buying a shield. I guess it's what you get when you buy Chinese. I myself have a shield from day one and am very happy with it.

I'm using a Mi box in a bedroom and have had no issues with the adopter. Now it's not used near as often as the Shield but no complaints so far.

The Shield is by far the best option and I'd advise anyone to get one even if they don't game.

xtal191 · 20-02-2018 6:33pm

What do you people on here find better StbEmu or Perfect Player?

yabadabado · 20-02-2018 7:49pm

I prefer STB Emu. Don't think there is a huge difference in them tho.

banie01 · 20-02-2018 8:02pm

I'm in the minority with IPTV in that use Kodi as my hub for it.
Simple IPTV for external providers and I share my E2 tuners to my shields using the Vu+ tuner plug in.

dodzy · 21-02-2018 9:39am

Guys, anyone having any issues with the remote ? The box is superb but when I wake it, the remote is unresponsive for about 20secs. Once this time passes, it's fine again. Although the game controller (used in place of the slick remote) never suffers such lag. Was gonna swap out the 2032 batteries just to see.

clintondaly · 21-02-2018 11:09am

dodzy wrote: »

Guys, anyone having any issues with the remote ? The box is superb but when I wake it, the remote is unresponsive for about 20secs. Once this time passes, it's fine again. Although the game controller (used in place of the slick remote) never suffers such lag. Was gonna swap out the 2032 batteries just to see.

An idea might be to prevent it going to sleep.
I noticed that too but the main reason for preventing it from sleeping is that it seemed to drop its connection with the Plex server set up especially the remote side of the access.
There is an option under developer options to prevent it going to sleep.
To get developer options go to "About" the "build number" and click on this 7 times it will then notify you that you have developer options.
Then go back to settings page and click on developer options and there are various functions which have now been unlocked,one of them being a sleep function.

donspeekinglesh · 21-02-2018 1:30pm

I found it could be slow sometimes, but fresh batteries seemed to sort it. Batteries lasted about 6/7 months.

yabadabado · 21-02-2018 1:43pm

donspeekinglesh wrote: »

I found it could be slow sometimes, but fresh batteries seemed to sort it. Batteries lasted about 6/7 months.

The batteries in mine seem to last no length. Probably not using the best quality but I didn't think it would be that hard on them.

chewed · 21-02-2018 1:58pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

Batteries from euro shops and dealz are rubbish I’ve noticed

Absolutely! You end up spending more on replacing these batteries rather than splashing out on good brands.

McMurphy · 21-02-2018 11:36pm

donspeekinglesh wrote: »

I found it could be slow sometimes, but fresh batteries seemed to sort it. Batteries lasted about 6/7 months.

I got mine last March and I'm only starting to get the battery warnings on mine now, I bought decent replacements (think they cost me in and.around 6 euro) which I havein the press for when they finally give up the ghost.

yabadabado · 22-02-2018 12:22am

Duracell the best battery to buy?
Where's the best value?

dodzy · 22-02-2018 4:57pm

yabadabado wrote: »

Duracell the best battery to buy?
Where's the best value?

Maplin own brand from Blanchardstown are looking for €8.80 for 2 x 2032s (Maplins branded) but I just ordered 6 x Energisers from Farnell for €7.20 ex VAT with free delivery. They should do the job just fine. Delivery 2-3 days.

chewed · 22-02-2018 6:04pm

I'm off to collect my shield from parcel motel. Very excited

gerrybbadd · 22-02-2018 8:26pm

chewed wrote: »

I'm off to collect my shield from parcel motel. Very excited

Mad jealous! I really need to get one when funds allow

alanhiggyno1 · 22-02-2018 8:31pm

chewed wrote: »

I'm off to collect my shield from parcel motel. Very excited

Where did u buy from

chewed · 22-02-2018 10:04pm

alanhiggyno1 wrote:

Where did u buy from

I bought from amazon UK. I didn't really look around so not sure if I could have got it cheaper

chewed · 22-02-2018 10:07pm

Loving it so far. Plex working perfectly which is great. Does anyone know if you can get All4 app? Couldn't see it on Google play

yoshimitsu · 23-02-2018 12:09pm

chewed wrote: »

Loving it so far. Plex working perfectly which is great. Does anyone know if you can get All4 app? Couldn't see it on Google play

Side loading it maybe? Had to do that for a few apps that werent available for the Android TV platform...

chewed · 23-02-2018 12:43pm

yoshimitsu wrote: »

Side loading it maybe? Had to do that for a few apps that werent available for the Android TV platform...

I tried that but it wouldn't launch.

I'm now going to start from the 1st post in this great thread to get as much info as I can, in case I start asking more useless questions!

yoshimitsu · 23-02-2018 1:10pm

chewed wrote: »

I tried that but it wouldn't launch.

I'm now going to start from the 1st post in this great thread to get as much info as I can, in case I start asking more useless questions!

There are several tutorial videos on youtube on how to set-up the Shield to unleash the full potential (both through licit and less licit means). I watched one that was 90minutes long (i think it was posted in this forum or in the Bargain Alerts Shield forum) where the guys goes through the full process from unboxing to side loading, from basic apps to sketchier stuff, from game emulators to STB emulators... some of it was less relevant for me but a general intro on how to do stuff and find stuff that's not necessarily advertised on the NVIDIA website

bloodless_coup · 23-02-2018 2:39pm

chewed wrote: »

I tried that but it wouldn't launch.

I'm now going to start from the 1st post in this great thread to get as much info as I can, in case I start asking more useless questions!

Did you try the Fire TV All4 APK?

bloodless_coup · 23-02-2018 2:49pm

banie01 wrote: »

I'm in the minority with IPTV in that use Kodi as my hub for it.
Simple IPTV for external providers and I share my E2 tuners to my shields using the Vu+ tuner plug in.

For IPTV I use Kodi with DVBViewer Media Server as a backend. With this I get rock solid stability, record and timeshift ability. I could also use physical tuners on this setup if I was bothered.

I did have tvheadend as a backend but setup is a pain and often when you switch to a channel you only get audio.

I run DVBViwer media server on an Atom mini pc with a 3TB external hard drive.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B06XGTC9LH/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The mini pc runs at about 3watts, I use it for NAS to serve media to the shield and other devices, using Plex and/or shared folders.

banie01 · 23-02-2018 3:13pm

doylefe wrote: »

For IPTV I use Kodi with DVBViewer Media Server as a backend. With this I get rock solid stability, record and timeshift ability. I could also use physical tuners on this setup if I was bothered.

I did have tvheadend as a backend but setup is a pain and often when you switch to a channel you only get audio.

I run DVBViwer media server on an Atom mini pc with a 3TB external hard drive.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B06XGTC9LH/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The mini pc runs at about 3watts, I use it for NAS to serve media to the shield and other devices, using Plex and/or shared folders.

Nice set up!
I have my Zyxel 2bay NAS mapped to the Shields as an SMB share for media.

I use a combo of the Vu+ plugin for my physical tuners and Simple IPTV Client to get all channels available via Kodi and then use custom lists for convenience/simplicity within the channel manager.

I've never had an issue with the Vu+ plugin until recently and that turned out to be a simple config issue on my part agter upgrading to 17.6.
Now I've sorted that, it is rock solid again, I've been using variations of this setup since 2015 with almost 0 issues.

My main aim with keeping everything in Kodi is to keep the setup as Wife and family friendly as possible and to that end its working a treat.

OldMrBrennan83 · 24-02-2018 2:28pm

This post has been deleted.

chewed · 24-02-2018 2:48pm

Yeah, it seems difficult to find anything to get it working. It's no problem on the phone and casting it via chromecast!

nedd · 24-02-2018 5:09pm

I have All4 side loaded and it is working fine. Or at least it was a couple of weeks ago when I tested it last.

I got the APK from my samsung tablet.

alanhiggyno1 · 24-02-2018 6:48pm

OK after wanting this for ages finally ordered it and be here Tuesday hopefully.here is my checklist that I need from reading the whole thread.

Es file explorer
Aptoide
Connect my 4tb nas to it
Use 1tb as external storage.
Perfect Player or alternative

Anything else I should get or need thanks

chewed · 24-02-2018 7:29pm

alanhiggyno1 wrote: »

OK after wanting this for ages finally ordered it and be here Tuesday hopefully.here is my checklist that I need from reading the whole thread.

Es file explorer
Aptoide
Connect my 4tb nas to it
Use 1tb as external storage.
Perfect Player or alternative

Anything else I should get or need thanks

Get yourself a VPN client. I use ExpressVPN.

alanhiggyno1 · 24-02-2018 8:00pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

Get a sub to getflix or something similar
Plex is good and if you join someone’s library it’s even better

I have someone's plex library which is brilliant and i have my own and missus has Netflix sub so is it vpn is all I need so. thanks for help

jamesbondings · 24-02-2018 8:06pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

Get a sub to getflix or something similar
Plex is good and if you join someone’s library it’s even better

I don't feel like we get the best use out of our plex. We really only use it for watching what's on the laptop. How is everyone else using it?

chewed · 24-02-2018 8:11pm

jamesbondings wrote: »

I don't feel like we get the best use out of our plex. We really only use it for watching what's on the laptop. How is everyone else using it?

I download stuff on my PC upstairs and link that to the Shield via plex. I use Team Viewer to log in and download stuff in the background. I could be out with my mates and they're telling me about a movie or series (stuff that may not be on the mainstream apps) and I can literally log in on my phone and start downloading to watch the next day.

chewed · 24-02-2018 8:24pm

Does anyone use Plex to watch live TV? I assume you need to buy a subscription?

chewed · 24-02-2018 8:37pm

alanhiggyno1 wrote: »

OK after wanting this for ages finally ordered it and be here Tuesday hopefully.here is my checklist that I need from reading the whole thread.

Es file explorer
Aptoide
Connect my 4tb nas to it
Use 1tb as external storage.
Perfect Player or alternative

Anything else I should get or need thanks

This is a handy video to get you started

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSFTM0N4C04

bazzz · 24-02-2018 8:47pm

chewed wrote: »

This is a handy video to get you started

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSFTM0N4C04

Be careful what you are discussing and linking to.This will get this thread shutdown,bordering/crossing in to Piracy.Just saying;)

chewed · 24-02-2018 8:52pm

bazzz wrote: »

Be careful what you are discussing and linking to.This will get this thread shutdown,bordering/crossing in to Piracy.Just saying;)

I hears ya!

McMurphy · 24-02-2018 9:10pm

chewed wrote: »

Does anyone use Plex to watch live TV? I assume you need to buy a subscription?

Yes

Everything HD too

alanhiggyno1 · 24-02-2018 9:11pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

I would say vpn is all you need then
The plex library I’m using is better than Netflix tbh it has everything on it
Are you using Netflix from Mexico as part of a family to get it cheaper, it was on bargain alerts a while back

No I don't missus has a sub with 2 screens tho. Plex library I use is way better than Netflix and if I want a series that not on Netflix he gets it straight away and have 100s of movies and TV shows

corks finest · 24-02-2018 10:15pm

alanhiggyno1 wrote: »

OK after wanting this for ages finally ordered it and be here Tuesday hopefully.here is my checklist that I need from reading the whole thread.

Es file explorer
Aptoide
Connect my 4tb nas to it
Use 1tb as external storage.
Perfect Player or alternative

Anything else I should get or need thanks

Good luck with it,fab bit of kit

gerrybbadd · 26-02-2018 11:24am

Just bought on of these off Adverts, should have it Wednesday or Thursday.

Can the Now TV App be sideloaded onto this? I'd love to be able to remove the Now TV box from the sitting room, and have this as the standalone device plugged into the tele.

chewed · 26-02-2018 2:30pm

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Just bought on of these off Adverts, should have it Wednesday or Thursday.

Can the Now TV App be sideloaded onto this? I'd love to be able to remove the Now TV box from the sitting room, and have this as the standalone device plugged into the tele.

Enjoy! You should be able to download the APK file for it and install it. There's no official app for it as far as I know. You might need a wireless mouse/keyboard to use it though. Some of the sideloaded apps are difficult to use with just the remote.

54and56 · 26-02-2018 4:40pm

The answer to this might be staring me in the face but how, using the Android TV OS on the Shield or any other Android TV device, are you supposed to watch streaming content from a website as there's no browser built into the OS that I can see?

I'm not referring to watching dodgy streams, I mean the ability to watch legit video content on websites such as https://www.popcornflix.com.

Am I missing something?

nvidia Shield - Tips & tricks [Read post #1]

Comments