Suggestions please: Want to buy an Android TV box, special needs....

by MattR59

Looking to cut the cord on DirecTv. Looking at alternatives. One problem: my wife is not at all tech savvy. So I want a interface that uses a remote where the channel number buttons work as-if we still have cable.
I'm considering Directv Stream because of this, as you can get a Directv Stream Box that has a familiar remote that apparently works identical to the regular remote.

But, they want $120 for each Stream box 😣

So I'm looking at Android TV boxes. Many come with remotes but I can find very little information on the remote, other than that some are very "clunky" and break easily. I would hope that the remote has a Android App that allows you to map the remote, so I could map 'remote channel 02 - play <whatever service><specific stream>'.

Does anyone here have experience with this? I'd like to know before I plunk down coin on a box that does not do what I need it to do (which I've done in the past 🙄).

Thanks all! 🤗

alxtronics

The only way I can think of is the TiVo Stream which remote has an actual keypad. That and tv quick actions is a good option.

MattR59

Off Topic - I love that I can come to a place, ask a question and get insightful well-thought out answers within a few hours. It's one of the great things about Reddit! 😁

pawdog

DirecTV Stream doesn't support Android TV. You can sideload it if you can find the modded version. It does support Fire TV but Fire TV device remotes don't have number buttons.

audaciousnomad

I've just gone through this for a week, reprogramming my Mi TV remote to fit my usage cases. The program you want is TVQA (TV Quick Actions). Here's a demo of its capabilities to reprogram Android TV remotes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO3YzPFtKHg

Kodi_Fan_Omicron

Last I checked the DirecTV-STREAM-app is not available on individual AndroidTV set-top-box/sticks/dongles, because DirecTV wants you to purchase their proprietary AndroidTV box that runs their proprietary TV-service app and pay full suggested retail market price for the box.

So, you'll have to get a Roku or FireTV streaming device to run the DirecTV-Stream-app natively, but both have very simple remotes, which are easy to learn.

My suggestion is ditch DirecTV entirely, try all the other TV app-services that don't lock you into a long term contract.

latinriky78

The Directv Stream is listed there, just ignore it 😉

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE UNITED STATES ONLY:

- AirTV Mini (More info at http://airtv.net/products )

- Directv Stream (More info at http://www.directv.com/stream/technology )

- Tivo Stream 4K (Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. More info at http://tivo.com/products/stream-4k )

- T-Mobile TVision HUB (More info at http://t-mobile.com/tvision/services/hub )

- Verizon Stream TV (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at http://verizon.com/home/accessories/verizon-stream-tv/ )

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE US, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:

- Chromecast with Google TV (Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. more info at http://tv.google )

- Realme stick with Google TV (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at http://buy.realme.com/in/goods/426 )

- Mecool KD3 stick with Google TV (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Xiaomi Stick 4K (AV1 hardware decoding. Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. More info at http://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-tv-stick-4k/ )

- Dynalink TV dongle (More info at http://dynalink.life )

- Homatics Box Q (More info at http://homatics.tv )

- Homatics Dongle Q (More info at http://homatics.tv )

- Mecool KD5 stick (AV1 hardware decoding. 1080p max resolution. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool KM2 (More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Nvidia Shield (The most expensive. Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. Gigabit ethernet. AI upscaling. Suitable for gaming. More info at http://nvidiashield.com )

- SkyStream Max (It's expensive. AV1 hardware decoding. 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. More info at http://skystreamx.com )

- Walmart Onn (More info at http://walmart.com )

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH ONLY PRIME VIDEO FOR THE US, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:

- Formuler GTV (Gigabit ethernet. Exclusive MYTVOnline2 app for IPTV. More info at http://formuler.tv/gtv )

WARNING!, ALTHOUGH MECOOL IS THE BEST OEM WHEN IT COMES TO RELEASING NEW DEVICES EVERY YEAR, THEY ARE THE WORST WHEN IT COMES TO RELEASING FIRMWARE UPDATES TO FIX BUGS AND ISSUES, IF YOU DON'T MIND ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN GET ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MODELS AT http://mecoolonline.com WHERE YOU CAN GET A 10% DISCOUNT WITH THE CODE "MECOOLBOX" AT CHECKOUT:

- Mecool KM6 Classic Edition (AV1 hardware decoding)

- Mecool KM6 Deluxe Edition (AV1 hardware decoding. Gigabit ethernet. WiFi 6. 4GB of RAM)

- Mecool KM7 (AV1 hardware decoding. 2GB/16GB and 4GB/64GB versions)

- Mecool KT1 (AV1 hardware decoding. DVB-T2/S2/C tuner built-in)

- Mecool Now (AV1 hardware decoding. Built-in camera and microphone for videoconferencing)

- Mecool KD2 stick (AV1 hardware decoding)

- Mecool HomePlus KA1 (AV1 hardware decoding. Built-in speaker. DVB-T2/C tuner built-in variant)

For more info about all certified Android TV devices, head over to www.androidtv-guide.com website.

ValiantAquarius

Might be an unpopular option but I'd say get whatever device you want and then help your wife to understand how to operate the new device. I'm sure she's an intelligent woman and would probably appreciate you just being straight forward with her. "This is how you're going to browse your channels now, the way you used to do it won't work now that we've ditched regular cable." Treating the women in our lives like Luddites doesn't do them or us any favours.

ImDonaldDunn

You can also get a third party remote that connects to the box via Bluetooth or USB. If it has number buttons, those should be compatible with some, if not most, of the TV apps.