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UK TV in Portugal

7K views 110 replies 15 participants last post by  patp 
#1 ·
Hi Guys n Galls.Just wondering if I can condense things for our next trip to Portugal.
At the moment I lug a great 24" All in One PC to watch UK TV via the net and https://easyview.eu or any other free TV site. But it's a bit unweildly and occupies half the boot. I'm thinking there must be easier ways.


The apartment we rent has a nice modern 32" TV but only Portuguese channels via a MEO router.
Is there a small and simple box like 'NowTV' or similar I can access the net via Wi-Fi and stick a HDMI into the nice 32" TV.
Would I be able to get all UK regular TV channels and not the annoying so called 'International' ones?


Keep it simple please.
Ray.
 
#3 ·
Thanks Barry.
Sadly the laptop I also bring is an older Win 7 model and no HDMI. Plus it gets used while Mrs. is watching TV.
So back to something simple and cheap I can just feed the TV in the apartment.


Ray.
 
#4 · (Edited)
One of my children suggested having a look at a Roku stick as you plug that into a TV via a USB port and can watch streamed TV easily, BUT I do not know if it is possible to pick up things like the BBC but I suspect it can't......

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roku-Streaming-Stick-Player-Black/dp/B076FH18TC/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

The UK free to air channels are very closely ring fenced for supposedly copyright reasons by the broadcasting companies so that they should not be able to be picked up outside the UK Generally a VPN is needed to access such things and even easyview.eu struggles at time from my experience.

So something to look at for things like Amazon Prime access or Netflix or YouTube but possibly not the Beeb......
 
#5 ·
Thanks Dave. Yes that my confusion. I'm not sure what will work yet and anything I do buy and try will have to be set up when home in Normandy.


Ray.
 
#8 ·
hi ray

let us know how you get on

thanks for the link to easyview

i just got julie to try it on her ipad and it seems to work good barry
Only problem we find is no channel 4 or 5.

Ray.
 
#7 ·
Hi Guys n Galls.Just wondering if I can condense things for our next trip to Portugal.
At the moment I lug a great 24" All in One PC to watch UK TV via the net and https://easyview.eu or any other free TV site. But it's a bit unweildly and occupies half the boot. I'm thinking there must be easier ways.


The apartment we rent has a nice modern 32" TV but only Portuguese channels via a MEO router.
Is there a small and simple box like 'NowTV' or similar I can access the net via Wi-Fi and stick a HDMI into the nice 32" TV.
Would I be able to get all UK regular TV channels and not the annoying so called 'International' ones?


Keep it simple please.
Ray.
We have an Amazon Firestick and have just had it upgraded so that we can get literally 1000s channels by using Wifi and plugging it into the TV. I will send you a link by PM.
 
#10 ·
Have just tried MOBDRO and it downloaded OK but using it takes forever to load and then keeps locking up.
So I guess the internet speed here is not good enough even at 10mbps. I wonder of an Amazon Firestick would be any better.



Ray.
 
#12 ·
Yes Andy. I do have internet but it seems only 10mbps and this does not stream MOBDRO sufficiently. It does permit some sites access to UK channels.
So it looks like I'm stuffed and left with limited channels. But I'm still looking to divest myself of the large 24" all in one PC. I have a painfully slow Win10 Netbook back home with an HDMI outlet. Have to give that a try.


Ray.
 
#13 ·
Yes Andy. I do have internet but it seems only 10mbps and this does not stream MOBDRO sufficiently. It does permit some sites access to UK channels.
So it looks like I'm stuffed and left with limited channels. But I'm still looking to divest myself of the large 24" all in one PC. I have a painfully slow Win10 Netbook back home with an HDMI outlet. Have to give that a try.

Ray.
Get yourself a cheap second hand lowish spec laptop off eBay! You won't need anything particularly flash as streaming TV won't tax the processor, and you will still be able to send emails/surf the net etc.

Just a thought.

Andy
 
#14 ·
Yes, thats not a problem Andy. But how do I get channel 4 & 5.?
I guess I would need a better internet speed to use something like a Firestick or MOBDRO.
And would my painfully slow Win10 Netbook work?


The block of flats we were in the first two years and very cheap have been sold. I met the new owner today who is Portuguese but has worked in Paris 40 years and speaks good English. But now my wife has experienced this new apartment she doesn't want to go back even if it is cheaper.



Ray.
 
#15 ·
Well there must be SOME way because we had them in the apartment on the Costa Del Sol last March.

I suspect that the huge satellite dish on the roof of the complex might have had something to do with that though.

Andy
 
#16 ·
Yes. I paid extra to have the internet put into this apartment but assume they just put a basic package in.



Ray.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Yes Barry, I thought the 9 or 10 mbps should be enough after all it works to stream the Portuguese channels via the MEO tuner and most of the UK channels via 'easyview.eu' but MOBDRO just buffers all the time.
I have just checked out MOBDRO in the local cafe and it worked fine. But can't sit down there annoying the locals all night.


We seem to like the odd program on 4 & 5 when mostly there is bugger all on the other channels. BBC and ITV are all repeats. Just about all films I have seen and now can't understand the American diction. They should start to learn English.


Thanks for that link but I see you have to register. Will give it a try shortly.
Looks good so far but seems after 8 days it's downgraded or chargeable. I guess it's small beer for a good service.:laugh:



Ray.
 
#20 ·
Yes Barry, I thought the 9 or 10 mbps should be enough after all it works to stream the Portuguese channels via the MEO tuner and most of the UK channels via 'easyview.eu' but MOBDRO just buffers all the time.
I have just checked out MOBDRO in the local cafe and it worked fine. But can't sit down there annoying the locals all night.

We seem to like the odd program on 4 & 5 when mostly there is bugger all on the other channels. BBC and ITV are all repeats. Just about all films I have seen and now can't understand the American diction. They should start to learn English.

Thanks for that link but I see you have to register. Will give it a try shortly.
Looks good so far but seems after 8 days it's downgraded or chargeable. I guess it's small beer for a good service.:laugh:

Ray.
Ive never had to register on tvcatchup Ray. Just goes straight in and works. There are a fair few others though but not sure which ones work overseas.

Have you actually done a speed test on your connection as I suspect its not actually giving you 10mbps or its restricted or congested.
 
#19 ·
It gets worse Barry.

My wife is now glued to Jane Ayre AGAIN for the 47th. time.



Ray.
 
#22 ·
#24 ·
OH Barry. It seems it's the same site as BarryD suggested TV Catchup and I now have six days free and then it's chargeable.


Ray.
 
#25 ·
Sorry to resurrect this same old thread but I'm still pondering.

Just a thought as I was about to consider a larger 27" all in one to watch TV in Portugal.
As the flat comes with a modern 32" TV with HDMI sockets. Is it simple and practical to just buy a Comcast, Roku or FireStick for around £25 to get UK TV.?

The flat has modest internet at about 8 to 10mbps. Can I just bung one of these units in the HDMI and not have to mess with any smartphone or subscribe?
Do I need anything else to find and bring in UK TV.?

Ray.
 
#26 ·
Ray

I am pretty certain that in order to watch UK tv in Portugal etc you will need a VPN as “they” can detect the fact you are outside of the U.K. and don’t allow you to stream U.K. content.

Andy
 
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#27 ·
Ah, I was wondering what might stop me Andy.
Getting a VPN is not that difficult and probably only €6 to €8 per month but might only be limited to their access channels?

Ray
 
#28 ·
Barryd is probably the man to ask, but he is all tied up with that mammoth “Brexit Facts” thread these days. Umpteen thousand replies and............

Nothing’s changed!

The other limiting factor of course is the available download speed you can get on your internet connection.

Andy
 
#29 ·
Yes Andy. But up to now I have always dragged the large all in one Win 7 PC and watched on that. Usually not much buffering But if I could leave the all in one behind and just plug a Comcast or Roku into the existing TV it would save lots of boot space and a better picture.

Ray.
 
#31 ·
OK, so it seems the Comcast, Roku and Fire sticks will all work although might need a paid for VPN.
Now the question is which one should I invest in? All are about £20 ish and have varying facilities.

Any users out there with pros and cons? Don't want paid for content like Netflix or Amazon Prime, just the regular freeview channels.

Ray.
 
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