This was posted 5 years 5 months 15 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

Related
  • expired

Vodafone TV - $72 Delivered @ Vodafone

3320
This post contains affiliate links. OzBargain might earn commissions when you click through and make purchases. Please see this page for more information.

Nice price on the Vodafone TV - going for half the usual price of $144.

Excellent bang for buck IMO:

  • FTA TV tuner (can record to USB)
  • Inbuilt ChromeCast (has been working great with Kayo)
  • Quality bluetooth remote (dedicated app buttons / tactile buttons / play and pause / numeric pad etc)
  • Ethernet
  • 2 year local warranty

Would snap one up if I didn't already have one ;)

Edit: Confirmed available in store too - thanks krouton24

Specs:

https://sites.google.com/view/droid-tv/pay-tv-provider/vodaf…

Review (USB recording added since review):

https://ausdroid.net/2018/06/04/vodafone-tv-ausdroid-review/

Credit to MrSpeaker72 on Whirlpool

Mod Update 29/12: Still available.

Referral Links

Referral: random (25)

Referrer & referee receive $25-$50 credit after referee's 3rd monthly bill.

Related Stores

Vodafone
Vodafone

closed Comments

    • Have you tried videostream with the chromecast. It's pretty simple and only stereo sound works in my experience but otherwise it's pretty simple and effective… but still using your phone to control i guess.

    • Definitely Kodi

    • -1

      It's only 100mb so you won't be streaming 4K atoms movies

      • will 100mb do just regular 4k movies?

        • +2

          I use a shield myself with gigabit, but 4K HDRs use x265 with much better compression than non HDR x264. Even so i would think 100mbit LAN would be fine but most 4k items as long as its not doing other things.

          • -3

            @Xizor: You need a minimum download speed of 3 Megabits per second to watch a single video stream in clear, standard definition. The best Internet speed for HD streaming is 5Mbps, and if you go all the way up to 4K streaming, or ultra HD, your bandwidth should start at 25Mbps

            100mb ethernet network wont do 25Mbps, it will only do 10Mbps

            10/100 limit is about 11MB/second

            Gigabit is about 110MB/second

            • @asa79: Ok, unless I am mistaken:

              firstly 100Mbps ethernet bandwidth is > 25Mbps

              Where are you getting the 10Mbps limit from?

              assuming it is a 10/100 ethernet port, as long as you connect the other end to a supporting 100Mbps network the bandwidth available should be ~100Mbps.
              10/100 refers to the supported networks, 10Mbps or 100Mbps not any download/upload limits (ie gigabit ethernet ports can be described as 10/100/1000)

              [10/100 limit is about 11MB/second
              Gigabit is about 110MB/second]

              both those statements are correct, however 25Mbps = ~3MBps, so I don't think 100Mbps network will be an issue streaming 4K

              • -2

                @squashedfrog: So how can you get 25mbps from a 10/100 network connection?

            • @asa79: Yes it will… You are getting confused between b (bits) and B (Bytes). 100Mb will quite easily do 25Mbps. If however, it required 25MB/s then it would be too much for the 100Mb connection but we aren't talking about MB/s, we are talking about Mbps…

        • -3

          no, you would be best only with 1080P

          • @asa79: Don't know why you're getting the negs… You're pretty close with the speeds. 100mbps = about 12-13MB/ps. Usually with a 50mbps connection you can play 4K Netflix, Amazon, etc. but maybe not be able to put out the Dolby Vision stream properly. Which it runs for me at 15.26MB/ps (as shown when you click info button). Sometimes if other devices are being used with 50mbps you will probably get a resolution nearer to 1440p and yes sometimes even 1080p. Do these guys even know how to internet!?!

      • Is that the ethernet speed?

  • I have a mibox with prime side loaded but play back is ordinary. The show skips and audio drops for split seconds regularly. Can anyone say if this is the same with the vodaphone?

  • Dumb question, but can you use this on Telstra cable?

    • +1

      Yeah. It's only Vodafone branded not network locked

  • Does it have a micro SD slot?

    • No - USB only.

  • +18

    One other thing you guys might want to do is remove the "Vodafone Recommends" row from the home screen:

    • Go to Settings
    • Under the Device heading, select Apps
    • Under the System apps heading, scroll to and select TchCustomizer
    • Select Notifications, then select Off

    https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2714884&…

    • Was looking for a setting for this.

      Thanks for sharing.

  • +1

    Thanks Kirt. Great recommendation!

  • +1

    I just ordered one, thanks. They charge $72.00 then also charge $1.00 for Vodafone prepaid, so total is $73.00

    • Yep, confirming that too - paid $72, but credit card statement shows two charges: $72 and $1.

      • Just the one charge of 72 clams here

        • +2

          I was charged 72.00 and 1.00, although the 1.00 was immediately reversed.

  • I’ve been using this box for a few weeks now and I must say, this box is absolutely awesome! Everyone in my family loves this. And they are a very difficult bunch to please!

  • Can someone please confirm that 5.1 audio works fine on this box with Netflix?

    My Mibox is has audio skipping issues every minute or so with 5.1 ch movies

    Cheers

    • Same here with the Mi Box, any Dolby Digital content has these damn audio skips.

    • I not seen audio skip with Netflix yet

  • +1

    Already have Apple TV and Chromecast, is there any benefit in me buying this?

    • +4

      Yes. Bragging rights on OzB!

    • +2

      You are pretty well covered with that combo, except for no Kodi, TV tuner, or USB port, however MrMC is decent if you don't use Kodi add-ons, and the Freeview FV app is ok for streaming live tv over the net (although quality isn't great, and a lot of channel 10 content and live events like sports get blocked).

      • Can I just watch FTA TV on a HDMI screen? Like, on a computer display. Or is the tuner only for recording?

        • +1

          You can

    • Depends on what you trying to do

  • Got one, interested to see the difference between this and my Mibox.

    • Keep us posted with a review please

  • can alexa control this via bluetooth

    • No google home or Alexa support except for Google cast which still lacks Netflix at moment

      • +3

        Which you don't need for Android TV devices given the native Netflix app.

        • I find casting youtube and netflix will drain the tablet/mobile battery more than if I were to use the built in app and the Bluetooth.

  • Last year a bought a second hand PS3 for $70, solely for PlayTV use for scheduling and recording FTA ("new" PS3 was required to replace a very worn out PS3 that was very loud).

    Basically, I couldn't justify the $300 for a Fetch Mighty, and although it seemed ridiculous, the PS3/PlayTV combo was unbeatable as far as I could tell (and possibly still is.

    But, how "good" is the recording on this Vodafone device? Recording to external drives via USB is problematic I have heard.

    • Ps3 more power hungry

    • Using crap $6 Sandisk USB sticks from Officeworks, sure. With a decently fast stick (aka. something with better than 4MB/s writes) I’d expect it to be fine.

      Going to try it out when I receive mine.

    • I would view the FTA recording as an "added extra" that can be used to record the occasional show - it pales in comparison to a full-blown PVR like the Fetch Mighty (and the PlayTV / PS3 setup would likely have far more PVR features and settings too).

    • I had PS3 and PlayTV and I found it quite frustrating to use. More so when my PS3 started to pack it in. Would pay $300 for less power use, a better/hassle free experience.

      • Yeah I agree, found PlayTV too much hassle, but my dad still uses one.

        FetchTV is much better and uses much less power as you say, however the Fetch Mighty is expensive.

  • +2

    Available in store as well. Pick up one.
    Thanks

    • Good to know

    • +2

      went to my local Voda store.. they refused to sell it to me.

      • +1

        They shouldn't be this price is in there system.

        • he jumped on the phone to head office and they told him the Vodaphone TV's are only to be sold as add-ons

          • @knackers: They come with the $1 sim, so the android box is an addon.

            • @bobvegas: I bought one online, I wasn't charged the additional dollar

              • +2

                @knackers: I bought from store paid $72 and there is no sim just a tv box.

                • @Hary: I also got mine in-store. No issues, no sim and scanned through at $72.

  • -1

    Does anyone know for sure that the Ethernet is gigabit or just 10/100?

    • from whirlpool "Just confirmed this Vodafone TV box… does NOT have Gigabit Ethernet"

      • -1

        That's a shame so really not much faster then usb Ethernet adapter which is about 200mb

    • +1

      As above I don't believe it is gigabit, however 10/100 is likely more than capable for most - could stream a 44Mbps bitrate UHD BluRay REMUX using the Vodafone TV:

      https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2714884&…

      • -2

        100mb can only stream up to 10mb. You need gigabit to do higher

  • -3

    No Android TV update seems that they have stopped supporting which is probably why the big price drop. My mi box just had another update last night when was the last update for these?

    • +2

      There was an update in August that added the latest security patch and some extra resolutions etc:

      https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2714884&…

      I'm personally happy that they are taking their time with Oreo - the Oreo update for the Mi Box was a disaster, and only in the last few months have they started rolling out fixes to address all the Oreo bugs.

      • +1

        Not sure what bugs as I have two mi boxes and no issues

  • How's this any better than my sony TV's Android OS? Never had any issues, Netflix, plex, Kodi etc.

    • +8

      Not everyone has Sony TVs with Android OS.

      ¯_(ツ)_/¯

    • Sony tv is better as has more apps no side loading

      • How does sony tv have more apps than a native Android TV box? I would have thought at the very best they'd be the same, or the Sony TV wouldn't be as updated/full featured?

        • I remember reading Sony has exclusivity deals.

        • It has all the catch up apps 7,9,10,sbs, abc and the amazon prime etc as standard

          • @asa79: Can't you just side load the sony apk onto a shield or this voda box?

            • @serpserpserp: I have no idea, if there is a way i would be interested. I have sony TV in living room its bulletproof for android TV, even android games for the kids.

              The Mi Box is missing those couple apps and would like to have them on all devices

    • It probably is better. I bought a Sony 9300 with android OS and gave up. Then I bought a Nvidia Shield for a real Android experience.

      • gave up? why is that

  • Nice one kirt!

    Was toying with getting the Mi Box to replace the old Nexus player (my last living Nexus device) - This will hopefully give my TV new life - Sometimes the Wifi is not so stable on the old Nexus player and I have blue cable on hand under the TV - as for live TV - probably the ability to pause and rewind the kids cartoons is all I will need!

  • -1

    Can this thing actually record/pause FTA? Reading here it can, but reviews say yiu can't. Was this added in a later stage?

    • +4

      Did you read the OP????

      • Ah I missed the last part. Good to know they release extra functionality.

        • From the reviews it seems like the later release allowed the recording of FTA but pausing is still not possible

    • I think you can just record. Not pause/rewind/skip etc. and no watching one channel while recording another etc.

      • I asked Vodafone and they confirmed you cannot pause live TV.

  • What's the refund policy if it's not what I expected?

    • What are you expecting?

    • They would probably only refund if faulty

  • Is this powered by normal wall plug or can it be powered through USB?

    • Wall plug

  • Vodafone TV or Nvidia Shield?

    • +1

      I feel like the Old El Paso girl because I now have both!

      • +1

        Wow really? How does a NVIDIA Shield not do everything you need?

        • In one room yes, I bought this for a secondary room.

  • Will the built in chromecast work with Google Home commands?

    • Yes for casting of everything except netflix

  • Does it work casting to Netflix?

    • Yes you can cast netflix.

    • No google cast doesn't support Netflix casting. Just YouTube and stan

      • -1

        There is a play on option on Netflix mobile app and you can select Vodafone tv from there it works as similar to Google cast.

Login or Join to leave a comment