Do I want an Android TV box?

by Shytkicker

I'm a big raspberry pi user but am wondering if an Android TV box would be better suited.

I have a pi VPN server (OpenVPN) that I use to connect to and watch my TWC Spectrum subscription on the go. However, I'd like to be able to be able to cast to my TV. On my phone (Nexus) I connect to the VPN and view using the TWC Spectrum app. The app doesn't have casting ability, and using Google cast doesn't work when connected to the VPN.

I'm hoping an Android TV box would allow me to VPN in and watch my TWC Spectrum. Thoughts on this?

Thanks.

flavioxavier

I highly doubt you'll be able to cast while on VPN on Android TV.

I'm also like you I used a pi but wanted a solution for kodi and casting so I brought a mi TV, I'm happy, but the platform is missing several things still, but it works for what I do. But in your case if it's for casting with VPN (since your pi is working fine) I whould tripple check if it was possible.

Also unlike the other posters here I think that in your case maybe a Chinese box would be better since they run full Android you can just install the same video app there and the same VPN app from your phone. But you whould loose casting (but I think you already have some casting solution from your post)

LiquidPoint

If I understand you correctly, you want to VPN from anywhere to home, and cast to a TV where you are?

Google cast is designed to work only when you're on the same local network. I would think it's possible to create a transparent VPN bridge using another pi or small openwrt (or similar) compatible travel router (virtually extending your local network on layer 2).

That's more of a networking routing issue, not super easy to do, and also outside of the scope of this sub. Also, in such a scenario it'd be irrelevant whether you use an Android TV or Chromecast device.

If you instead mean to ask whether an ATV device would be able to run Android apps on the big screen, the answer is "most likely", as sideloading works pretty well despite controlling the apps can get cumbersome, but I'm no expert on how well VPN is implemented on the platform. So, in that case, a china-box may be the tried and tested solution.

OssotSromo

An Android TV device would be good.

An Android "box" is Chinese horse shit. And we frown on that here.