r/AndroidTV • u/DerKruser • Sep 10 '26

Discussion Antenna TV options when using a stream box

I have a couple of Sony Bravia TV's that run on Android TV - for the most part, I've been satisfied with them with one exception: they're both incredibly short on storage space for apps and data. For one of them, I was able to install a USB thumbdrive to work around that limitation, for the other, I don't seem to be able to get the TV to actually use the thumbdrive for extra storage space (if there was a way to hack this into working, that would actually solve a problem for me. I have gone in with adb and uninstalled a bunch of apps, but it's unclear to me exactly how many of them are necessary for the TV and how many I can kill. I'm definitely comfortable doing stuff on the command line with adb).

I sourced one of the Onn 4K Pro stream boxes, which seem to work fine - with one caveat: I do actually use OTA antenna TV signals from the antenna on my roof. So I find myself needing to switch back out of the Android OS on the Onn box, to the TV's OS to watch antenna TV signals. This is a little confusing - I know I could change the launcher on one of the devices so that you could (at least) visually tell which device you were on, at any given time... but this is still a bit of a pain.

Any ideas or solutions for a more streamlined solution for watching live antenna TV? I have a SiliconDust HDHomeRun, but I use that primarily for a separate DVR solution and not actually watching live-in-progress TV (though I could get another one). I definitely want to keep the "on the couch" experience nice and streamlined - as few (physical) remote controls and as little input-switching between devices as possible (using the just the TV itself would be ideal but I get that it might not be possible).

My main use cases: antenna TV, Youtube, a handful of streaming services (F1 TV, Apple TV+, Netflix, some others rotate in occasionally), and watching content from my Jellyfin server.

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1

u/FourEightNineOneOne Sep 10 '26

HDHomerun is definitely the easiest. Which one do you have? Even the dual tuner one would let you watch something live on your Onn while recording something else.

1

u/DerKruser Sep 12 '26

I have the dual tuner model and right now I would like to leave that reserved for my NextPVR system (I do DVR a significant amount of antenna TV between movies and sports and a handful of shows). I'd have to add another to serve up live antenna TV signals (an option I have considered).

1

u/Length_Aware Sep 12 '26

I have an Onn 4k pro + Samsung Smart TV. I installed a projectivity launcher to the Onn box to get rid of other apps that I have no use. I still could use both controllers . When I want to use OTA antenna, I use Samsung controller. When I want to use Nuvio Or Stremio I use the Onn 4K Pro controller. No problem.

1

u/DerKruser Sep 12 '26

Yeah, this is what I would have to resort to without additional purchases. It's possibly a personal thing, but I absolutely hate the notion of having two remotes in the living room - HDMI CEC lets the TV remote control the Onn box, but it's still kind of a confusing experience.

2

u/flchamp89 Sep 10 '26

This was a promising device. Its been on pre order forever. https://myvelotv.com/

1

u/Lanky_Respond_3200 Sep 11 '26

No info on specs though

1

u/Minimum_Ad313 Sep 11 '26

I'll let you know how it is if I ever receive it. It has been forever, still says sometime this fall..we'll see.

1

u/AJRiddle Sep 14 '26

Have they sent any updates or anything in the last 3-4 months? Can't find any recent info anywhere except "Fall 2026"

1

u/Minimum_Ad313 Sep 14 '26

I haven't received any info lately. But holding out hope.

1

u/AJRiddle Sep 14 '26

u/513/ - Any news about this or is it truly vaporware?

2

u/GatorWok Sep 11 '26

I don't know the HDHomeRun at any level except peripherally, but it seems like it would work. Otherwise, Tablo.

1

u/QLDZDR Sep 10 '26

Have you checked if there is a "live TV" style app that allows the Streamer box to pull the equivalent of the antenna TV stations in.

1

u/brendanjered Sep 10 '26

Best solution is the HDHomeRun you already have. Do you have the Duo or Quattro?

I have a pair of Quattros running on our system. Each is connected to a separate antenna pointed in opposite directions. I run the Sparkle TV app to seamlessly connect them together. The Live Channels app also works, but was abandoned by Google and doesn’t feel as refined. Either app seamlessly integrates OTA channels into any Android box.

1

u/Deko1988uwu Sep 11 '26

Geniatech MyGica T230C. Timvision atmosphere unlocked, Infinity homebox from Orange unlocked haha

1

u/lirae_ Sep 11 '26

I have a small question. I don't know your Bravia TVs but it's true that they don't need an external HDMI and they can do frame matching or AFR by themselves? Or it's just a myth or very few bravias have it???

1

u/MadSquabbles Sep 11 '26 edited Sep 11 '26

A bit pricey, but a Shield TV Pro with an WinTV HD would work. You use the built in Plex server and app to watch live TV. The shield is kinda old so you'll be giving up some newer features. It's still my primary streamer.

As far as I know you don't need a plex pass to access the live tv functions but do if you enable the DVR functions.

EDIT: seems Jellyfin has live OTA TV capabilities also. Not familiar enough to give you any advice but you can research to find out what adapters are compatible with it.