firestick/appletv etc

[SFLcruiser]

Just curious, has anyone brought on board their firestick/apple tv, etc and plugged into the stateroom tv? We noticed last year on Oasis that the tvs had HDMI ports, but was wondering if anyone successfully used one. Hubby got tired of watching Shrek over and over again lol

 

Thanks!

[arebee]

Wouldn't those require the internet package?  Don't know if it would buffer.

[JLMoran]

Yes, those would require an internet package, and even then it wouldn't be able to connect because of the web page you have log in through before you can get anywhere. Since Firestick and AppleTV both lack a web browser, there's no way to get through the "capture" / gateway page and actually connect to the network.

I've run into this problem before when on land vacations, and the only workaround at the time was to use my phone as the wi-fi hotspot, pay for the XXL data package on my cell plan, and then have the AppleTV connected through the phone for streaming from Netflix, iTunes movies, YouTube, etc. You can't do that when the phone is connected over wi-fi, since it can only send or receive, not both.

Considering the costs of cellular roaming on a ship, I don't particularly recommend this approach for a cruise. 

[SFLcruiser]

8 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Yes, those would require an internet package, and even then it wouldn't be able to connect because of the web page you have log in through before you can get anywhere. Since Firestick and AppleTV both lack a web browser, there's no way to get through the "capture" / gateway page and actually connect to the network.

I've run into this problem before when on land vacations, and the only workaround at the time was to use my phone as the wi-fi hotspot, pay for the XXL data package on my cell plan, and then have the AppleTV connected through the phone for streaming from Netflix, iTunes movies, YouTube, etc. You can't do that when the phone is connected over wi-fi, since it can only send or receive, not both.

Considering the costs of cellular roaming on a ship, I don't particularly recommend this approach for a cruise. 

makes sense...oh well, looks like he's going to be watching Shrek on repeat!

[SFLcruiser]

1 hour ago, arebee said:

Wouldn't those require the internet package?  Don't know if it would buffer.

yea, we have the surf + stream package booked, but what JLMoran said makes sense and it probably wont work anyway

[mworkman]

2 hours ago, JLMoran said:

Yes, those would require an internet package, and even then it wouldn't be able to connect because of the web page you have log in through before you can get anywhere. Since Firestick and AppleTV both lack a web browser, there's no way to get through the "capture" / gateway page and actually connect to the network.

I've run into this problem before when on land vacations, and the only workaround at the time was to use my phone as the wi-fi hotspot, pay for the XXL data package on my cell plan, and then have the AppleTV connected through the phone for streaming from Netflix, iTunes movies, YouTube, etc. You can't do that when the phone is connected over wi-fi, since it can only send or receive, not both.

Considering the costs of cellular roaming on a ship, I don't particularly recommend this approach for a cruise. 

I use Apple TV in hotels all the time...all you have to do is call the ISP and have them lock in your IP add and your wide open to watch whatever you want too.

[JLMoran]

1 minute ago, mworkman said:

I use Apple TV in hotels all the time...all you have to do is call the ISP and have them lock in your IP add and your wide open to watch whatever you want too.

Interesting. Have you done that in overseas hotels? I'm just wondering if that would be doable on a cruise ship, where the internet service is satellite-based and the ISP may not be based in the US. While an IP address is an IP address, I know that Apple / the iTunes store has restrictions about accessing US store content from a non-US IP address. If the ISP is a foreign company you'll be issued an IP from their region while locked on their network, could end up being blocked by Apple. Might or might not also impact using Netflix, Hulu, or other apps / channels on the device (depends on each company's policy). Definitely something to keep in mind.

[tiny260]

JLMoran, I agree, wouldn't the ISP at that time be Royal? I don't think they are going to be poking holes in their firewall, on top of that I would imagine that Royal would start throttling back bandwidth during peck times, just like cell phone carriers do.

As far as being foreign or domestic on the ISP, I would imagine that Royal is using VSAT connectivity back to the satellite carriers earth station and then back hauled to Royal's Data center and then handed off to their Internet provider.

Sorry, got carried away there, my company does this for off shore rigs, only difference is the rig is moving at 20 knots...

[F1guynz]

I haven't connected an Apple TV but I have an HMDI adapter for my iPad which I used to connect to the TV and stream with no problems. It should work also work with an iPhone. If you don't have the streaming package Netflix allows you to download some content which you can then watch through the TV using the connector. I didn't need an HMDI cable either, I just unplugged the PS3 in the room and used that cable.

[monorailmedic]

If you're using a compatible Windows 10 machine (or other compatible device) you could get a miracast dongle like the one below.  I do this in hotels as it's a direct communication from your device to the dongle (or TV w/ built in miracast).

http://amzn.to/2pZG6YM

[Matt]

Forget getting online, the remotes do not have an input setting.

[whitsmom]

I just download movies and shows (Netflix) to my iPad and watch later.  I have a iPad Pro (the big one) for watching on it is not bad.  I download lots of stuff so I have stuff to watch at the airport and on the flight.  This might be an option.

[mworkman]

18 hours ago, JLMoran said:

Interesting. Have you done that in overseas hotels? I'm just wondering if that would be doable on a cruise ship, where the internet service is satellite-based and the ISP may not be based in the US. While an IP address is an IP address, I know that Apple / the iTunes store has restrictions about accessing US store content from a non-US IP address. If the ISP is a foreign company you'll be issued an IP from their region while locked on their network, could end up being blocked by Apple. Might or might not also impact using Netflix, Hulu, or other apps / channels on the device (depends on each company's policy). Definitely something to keep in mind.

I haven't tried it overseas or on a ship yet. There are always work arounds...just takes research ?

[JLMoran]

9 hours ago, Matt said:

Forget getting online, the remotes do not have an input setting.

 

[SFLcruiser]

On 5/9/2017 at 9:19 AM, Matt said:

Forget getting online, the remotes do not have an input setting.

i don't know what this means lol

 

On 5/8/2017 at 2:02 PM, JLMoran said:

Yes, those would require an internet package, and even then it wouldn't be able to connect because of the web page you have log in through before you can get anywhere. Since Firestick and AppleTV both lack a web browser, there's no way to get through the "capture" / gateway page and actually connect to the network.

 

couldn't i stream from my phone and airplay it to the apple tv? or does the apple tv need wifi for that? maybe just bluetooth?

[FManke]

I didn't even know people watched tv on a cruise? Did you run out of things to do?

[SFLcruiser]

46 minutes ago, fmanke said:

I didn't even know people watched tv on a cruise? Did you run out of things to do?

Lol me no, my husband without his PlayStation, yes ?

[JLMoran]

On 5/9/2017 at 9:19 AM, Matt said:

Forget getting online, the remotes do not have an input setting.

 

51 minutes ago, SFLcruiser said:

i don't know what this means lol

 

couldn't i stream from my phone and airplay it to the apple tv? or does the apple tv need wifi for that? maybe just bluetooth?

@SFLcruiser, Matt's talking about the TV remotes -- apparently they don't have an "Input" selection button to change around from the regular cable input I'm sure the ship uses to one of the HDMI inputs that the Apple TV would use. So even if you did bring an Apple TV, and did somehow manage to connect it to the ship wifi, you'd have no easy way to switch the TV over to actually watch the Apple TV. I say "no easy way" because usually the TV has buttons on it to bring up the navigation menus and dig through them, so you could probably still get your Apple TV up and viewable.

Using AirPlay from phone to TV requires wifi, and both the phone and Apple TV must be on the same wifi network to "see" each other. Bluetooth isn't fast enough / doesn't have the bandwidth to stream video.

[SFLcruiser]

8 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

 

@SFLcruiser, Matt's talking about the TV remotes -- apparently they don't have an "Input" selection button to change around from the regular cable input I'm sure the ship uses to one of the HDMI inputs that the Apple TV would use. So even if you did bring an Apple TV, and did somehow manage to connect it to the ship wifi, you'd have no easy way to switch the TV over to actually watch the Apple TV. I say "no easy way" because usually the TV has buttons on it to bring up the navigation menus and dig through them, so you could probably still get your Apple TV up and viewable.

Using AirPlay from phone to TV requires wifi, and both the phone and Apple TV must be on the same wifi network to "see" each other. Bluetooth isn't fast enough / doesn't have the bandwidth to stream video.

Got it! Thanks for that explanation!!

[iamjohnbamber]

The only time I'm in my room is to either hang out on my balcony, sleep, take a shower, or get changed, and the only thing I'd be watching on TV would be whatever the morning show is that morning... I'd say leave the TV at home and just enjoy the whole cruise experience! :) 

[Ocalarnd]

Interesting thread. Can anyone tell me if you plug a laptop HDMI into to room TV, and use the laptop's DVD player to play DVDs we bring along for the teens? This is my hopeful plan (on Oasis).

[monorailmedic]

On 5/9/2017 at 9:19 AM, Matt said:

Forget getting online, the remotes do not have an input setting.

I don't think I've checked on RCI, but in many hotels you can just unplug the HDMI port coming from the IPTV or other device and plug yours in the same place.  Another technique is to bring a universal remote, as some places lock the TV to prevent changing the input, other places just don't allow the remotes to do it, and the TV itself doesn't always have the hardware buttons to make the switch.

[rjac]

20 hours ago, iamjohnbamber said:

The only time I'm in my room is to either hang out on my balcony, sleep, take a shower, or get changed, and the only thing I'd be watching on TV would be whatever the morning show is that morning... I'd say leave the TV at home and just enjoy the whole cruise experience! :) 

Come on John, I think you're forgetting one very important thing you're leaving out about being in your room....has to do with the porcelain facility with the vacuum flush. 

[iamjohnbamber]

32 minutes ago, rjac said:

Come on John, I think you're forgetting one very important thing you're leaving out about being in your room....has to do with the porcelain facility with the vacuum flush. 

I'm not in there long enough to even figure out what I'd want to watch. Get in get out and go back to the pool! :-D 

[BillHoo]

What format are the VCR/Players in the rooms?  VHS or BETA?  Can I bring tapes?

[AndrewPunch]

It can be done but the effort and equipment you have to bring is a little nuts. You would need a universal remote to change the input on the remote.  A wireless travel router to login to the ships wifi and then your firestick/chromecast etc... to hook into the the tv.  You would use the Voom code on the wireless router to setup a bridge network and then connect your phone and firestick to your network in the cabin.   Change the input with the universal remote and boom you have netflix.

Easier way is just bring a universal remote, laptop and hdmi cable and you can stream from the laptop to the TV. again have to pay for the internet on the ship.

[HwyFuzz]

On 6/3/2017 at 12:17 AM, iamjohnbamber said:

The only time I'm in my room is to either hang out on my balcony, sleep, take a shower, or get changed, and the only thing I'd be watching on TV would be whatever the morning show is that morning... I'd say leave the TV at home and just enjoy the whole cruise experience! :) 

Why get a balcony? Why not just get an inside cabin or a closet? Oh wait - maybe some people relax in their own way. I cruise twice a year - my wife goes to the casino - I love the cabin that I pay for - door open and my tv on as I enjoy myself. Don’t be so judgmental.