topic Re: Apple TV instead of mini box in TV

Apple TV instead of mini box

Markd53 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:39:45 GMT

I have recently moved to ee broadband and tv, we got a mini box extra for the bedroom but the live tv sometimes freezes and gives notice that connection has ben lost.

my question am I able to buy another 4k Apple TV and put that in the bedroom instead.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Chris_B — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:30:00 GMT

@Markd53 You can have one EE Apple TV or a pro TV box and other additional boxes are the mini box.

The distanced of the box to the router matters as EE state it needs to be no more than 5m away. You could try using a power line or a WiFi repeater.

Silly question but why do you think the EE Apple TV will be any better in this location? Have you tried moving the one you have to this same location and testing it ?

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Midnight_Voice — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 20:17:42 GMT

@Markd53

Sure you can buy a 4K Apple TV, just like I did, from Curry’s or similar.

Just not a jiggered one such as EETV supply 😢

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Markd53 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 22:26:45 GMT

It’s the mini box that is slow it sometime just slows right down. the software must be rank it doesn’t do it all the time but that is now 3 times in 2 weeks I have had to reset it.

I have an Apple TV in the living room which has no problems and a booster for WiFi signal.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Markd53 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 22:28:40 GMT

Thanks for your reply I will buy another 4k Apple TV.

the EE mini box just slows right down sometimes and your clicking buttons and nothing happens then all of a sudden it moves where you don’t want it.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Matt_124 — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:03:40 GMT

Hi @Markd53

Bear in mind that when buying your own Apple TV, it will not give you access to the Live TV Guide on the EETV App so you will not get the same experience as on your other EE-supplied Apple TV.

This due to the fact that the models provided on loan from EE are specifically registered between themselves and Apple to allow the Live TV features to be used. (Assuming this is what @Midnight_Voice meant when he said it wouldn't be "jiggered" like the ones EE supply)

Off the shelf models can download the EETV App but there is no Live TV or Guide apart from some of the TNT Sports channels and the Store for buying/renting movies.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Chris_B — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:26:47 GMT

@Matt_124 There is live TV it’s just not via EE TV. Big difference to what you’re saying.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Matt_124 — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:54:46 GMT

Yes of course, through the individual apps for each service like BBC iPlayer and not the EETV TV Guide, which is what my post was in regard to... the Live TV features with the EETV App.

I don't see how my post was unclear in what it was trying to state. Fair enough I didn't mention the catchup apps, but felt that was self-explanatory enough.

Don't want the OP to go out and buy an additional Apple TV expecting the experience to be the same as their other box, as the caveats weren't fully mentioned.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

mdshamilton — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:36:00 GMT

How can I find out which channels I can receive via an off the shelf Apple TV Box?

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Chris_B — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:59:32 GMT

@mdshamilton What ever app you can download via the Apple TV App Store will give you what that service provides. Without downloading an app like BBC iPlayer you cannot watch any BBC channels. Same with ITV, channel 4 or 5 and more.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Midnight_Voice — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:28:33 GMT

@Matt_124

Assuming this is what @Midnight_Voice meant when he said it wouldn't be "jiggered" like the ones EE supply

Correct!

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Midnight_Voice — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:46:41 GMT

@mdshamilton

Off the shelf (i.e. not an EETV-jiggered one) you don’t get a EPG with Freeview channels, either broadcast or via the internet, like you do with the EETV Apple TV.

Each broadcaster’s player app will bring you that broadcaster’s channels, but the nearest thing to an EPG, perhaps, is the TV Launcher app, which deep links into the live programmes on the various players, where available, and may well be worth a look.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Markd53 — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 21:38:41 GMT

Hi,

You were right i manged to get a hold of an old apple tv 1080p and you can download the eetv app but there is no live tv on there thats no good.

called ee and they cant even sell me another ee apple tv either.

i just wanted a more smooth experience guess i will have to make do with the mini box. ☹️

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

mdshamilton — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 10:41:38 GMT

Is anyone using a live TV app other than EETV on an Apple TV box? I’m contemplating replacing my EETV mini with an off the shelf Apple TV box but also want to view live TV channels and EE won’t sell me a second EE Apple TV box.

I’m not happy with the lack of news channels on EETV and the mini box doesn’t have the ability to download news apps like France24, AlJazeera, EuroNews, Bloomberg News etc - but I still need live TV access.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Matt_124 — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 12:39:11 GMT

There is the TV Launcher App for Apple TV which kind of gives you a Live TV Guide for channels and shows. It opens up the respective streaming app for you and brings you directly to the show. I've found it to work well, although it is not free but a one-time purchase. Best I have found though.

Then just download whatever other apps you'd like to be able to watch subscription channels etc.

You'll just need to sign into each of them the first time and then it'll be smooth sailing.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Midnight_Voice — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 19:35:45 GMT

@mdshamilton

What live channels are you looking for? Ones you can’t get from your TV, or from the apps, like Now?

The only thing that the extended EPG in the EETV Apple TV box does is to put the live channels from Now, TNT and one or two other sources, into a structure where you can seamlessly access them as if they were Freeview channels.

But they are all equally available on a standard Apple TV box; just that you have to dip in and out of the apps for them.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Markd53 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 22:41:42 GMT

Ye I just wish they would sell us another Apple TV with EETV as my Apple TV 4K works 100 times better than the mini box ,I would pay the extra for the Apple TV, they are losing out on sales instead of giving us a free mini box.

I would just have liked the option.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Profile closed — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:34:55 GMT

@Markd53

I am in no way suggesting this will work, but much like EE TV boxes that shouldn’t be sold are readily available at the famous online emporium for people who like auctions, so are EE supplied Apple TV 4K boxes.

I am not flush with cash to check, but if anyone wants to buy one and use it instead of a mini box to see if it will allow access to the EE app and live TV, even if you already officially have one, I support your right to test… 😁

Best case scenario - it works, we all feel better informed and EE learn they need to close a loophole.

Worst case scenario - it doesn’t, you have an Apple TV 4K to use or sell. 👍

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Midnight_Voice — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:41:22 GMT

@Markd53 @Profile closed

EETV know there is a loophole - the question is, will they close it? Apple might make them do that, and it’s easily done, more so than with the Box Pro.

But a line has been crossed - CeX are offering EETV Apple boxes, which weren’t the property of anyone to sell to CeX, and aren’t the property of CeX to sell to anyone else, There are ways round that, of course…

But all EETV have to do is delicense unreturned EETV AppleTV boxes, and they will turn into ordinary AppleTV boxes.

But maybe EETV doesn’t have to care too much; the only people those boxes will fully work for are EETV subscribers who want a first EETV AppleTV box, and can’t get one from EETV because they have a Box Pro, or want a second EETV AppleTV box, and can’t get one from EETV.

So either these AppleTV boxes ‘stay in the family’ so to speak, or they function only as regular AppleTV boxes.

We know you can run a Box Pro and an EETV AppleTV side by side; there’s no technical issue there.

But EETV haven’t pulled the plug on anyone’s unreturned Box Pro yet, as far as I know, if they even can. And while unreturned AppleTV boxes may be a bigger deal, it’s only EETV subscribers who can actually exploit their full potential.

Re: Apple TV instead of mini box

Markd53 — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 21:22:00 GMT

Thanks for all the replies

Before I buy from another site, does anyone know for sure of it working there are a few EE branded apple tv’s on selling sites.

cheers