Would love feedback on best streaming device for use with Harmony remote, primarily watching live/recorded TV, Netflix, and Amazon

Channels DVR Server
#1

Got Channels DVR set up on my PC and it’s working great. Unfortunately, the only streaming devices we have are an HTPC and a Roku Ultra, so looking to get something new. I know the answer is probably “just get a 4th or 5th gen Apple TV”, but would love feedback with this in mind (especially if a Fire Stick will do at half the price):

-Main TV is controlled using a Logitech Harmony remote (the basic remote that came with the Harmony Hub). Want to make sure whatever streaming device we get can easily be controlled by this remote.

-For live/recorded TV, want to make sure it will be easy to skip forward/back and skip commercials, ideally using the Harmony remote.

-Has to work well with Netflix/Amazon (and ideally Plex)

-Would like Atmos support since the connection for the main TV goes through a Yamaha receiver (via HDMI).

Thanks!

#2

ATV4K works great using Harmony remote (supplied with Hub).

Latest I could find about Atmos on ATV4K…it’s in Beta (due in fall)

#3

My take, from what I’ve read and our own, personal experiences:

Avoid Amazon Fire TV sticks. They don’t handle de-interlacing properly. The Amazon Fire TV pendants are supposed to be ok. The Amazon Fire TV v2, of which we have two, work ok, but the bugs in the Fire TV OS are a constant headache for Channels’ devs. Ditto: Fire TV v1. (The v1 and v2 are no longer available, except on the used market.)

The Apple TV 4th Gen is alleged to be very good.

Avoid the “no name” brand Android TV devices. They are an unknown quantity. May work. May not. Maybe something in-between. May change from one day to the next. Some (most?) of them aren’t even running Android TV, but a bastardized release of the Android mobile OS.

I would avoid the Xiaomi MiBox 3, of which we have two, also. They screwed it up with the Android TV Oreo release. Some of their subsequent updates, such as the most recent one, appear to have made things worse.

The nVidia Shield I believe works well as a client. (I haven’t been tracking that one very closely.) Some people use it as a DVR server. Results appear to be mixed.

#4

Are you referring to the firmware update from two days ago with WiFi stability fix? I was hoping that was a step in the right direction…

#5

Yeah, so were all the MiBox 3 owners. Read and weep: Build 2303 - Bug Feedback

It’s pretty ugly :frowning:

1 Like
#6

Perfect, thank you.

#7

Fire tv 3 works great with harmony hub and echo