DishTV SmartVu V11 4K Android 10 TV Streaming Dongle with NZ Freeview Live Stream

Android TV is great, but the remote design is disappointing and doesn't respond well when typing fast (username/passwords/search). It should prompt users to logon a web browser to link TVNZ/Freeview NZ and other apps directly from user phone or computer... The Freeview app works but there are still glitches in the interface. It's not very fast and you will need very good WiFi coverage where you use it to make this dongle work properly.

Using Roku and other US streaming sticks, I wanted to give it a chance to convince me to buy local, but this is a downgrade at this price.

Netflix preinstalled and other New Zealand apps available in the ...view more Android TV is great, but the remote design is disappointing and doesn't respond well when typing fast (username/passwords/search). It should prompt users to logon a web browser to link TVNZ/Freeview NZ and other apps directly from user phone or computer... The Freeview app works but there are still glitches in the interface. It's not very fast and you will need very good WiFi coverage where you use it to make this dongle work properly.

Using Roku and other US streaming sticks, I wanted to give it a chance to convince me to buy local, but this is a downgrade at this price.

Netflix preinstalled and other New Zealand apps available in the Play Store. But slower and average interface compared to current Roku Ultra (with Ethernet cable) for 4K HDR Netflix/PrimeVideo & YouTube/AppleTV and other apps working in New Zealand.

Pros
+Chromecast Built-in
+Some Freeview channels via internet (IPTV, no tuner required)
+New Zealand Play Store (AndroidTV) with NEON, Sky Sport Now, Spark Sport apps
+4K support with compatible displays and 4K capable apps

Cons:
- Power Adapter DC cable (not USB powered)
- Cheap plastic remote (cannot customise launching buttons)
- Interface can be glitchy (delay in command/respond)
- Loading times (no CPU or "brain" integrated)
- Takes time to refresh to proper resolution (no Ethernet input option)

This is a very good device that will give you Freeview, Youtube, Google Video, Netflix and access to numerous other streaming apps like TUBI. Easy to set up and works flawlessly. Very quick response time and never skips a beat. Replaced my Vodafone TV, which Vodafone is shortly withdrawing support for and it works much better with sharper picture quality. Thankfully, the little remote supplied will also switch your TV on and off and all makes and models seem to be supported. I really can't think of any negatives for anyone who wants a good solid TV streaming service at a reasonable one-off price. This is a very good device that will give you Freeview, Youtube, Google Video, Netflix and access to numerous other streaming apps like TUBI. Easy to set up and works flawlessly. Very quick response time and never skips a beat. Replaced my Vodafone TV, which Vodafone is shortly withdrawing support for and it works much better with sharper picture quality. Thankfully, the little remote supplied will also switch your TV on and off and all makes and models seem to be supported. I really can't think of any negatives for anyone who wants a good solid TV streaming service at a reasonable one-off price.

Its ok gives you Freeview but casting from other devices it lags badly which is a disappointment for me because it is the main reasons I brought this device Its ok gives you Freeview but casting from other devices it lags badly which is a disappointment for me because it is the main reasons I brought this device

Bought this for a TV in the back part of the house where there's no TV aerial cabling. Easy to setup and works perfectly well streaming over an ADSL connection which gives no more then 8Mbps on a good day (joys of rural living).
The only slight negative I have is the Freeview stream chews the bandwidth, seemingly about 7Mbps, Spark Sport is no better. If Netflix can do it consuming less bandwidth, why can't these guys? We won't all be reduced to gibbering wrecks if it isn't 4k super hi-def etc etc. But that's not the SmartVU's fault. It works and works well. Recommended. Bought this for a TV in the back part of the house where there's no TV aerial cabling. Easy to setup and works perfectly well streaming over an ADSL connection which gives no more then 8Mbps on a good day (joys of rural living).
The only slight negative I have is the Freeview stream chews the bandwidth, seemingly about 7Mbps, Spark Sport is no better. If Netflix can do it consuming less bandwidth, why can't these guys? We won't all be reduced to gibbering wrecks if it isn't 4k super hi-def etc etc. But that's not the SmartVU's fault. It works and works well. Recommended.

If you don't have a smart TV and want one but don't want to fork out the price. This dongle thing is awesome! We have 2 of theses. We have had both for a year and a half. Still working amazing! Setting it up sucks (adding details, internet connection etc), but once it's done you are all good to go! Has Netflix, YouTube, Neon, Prime Videos, TVNZ Demand and so many more apps! I love the remote with the quick access to YouTube etc and the fact you can just talk what you want into the remote and let it do the job for you. You can also ask it question and it will answer them or ask "whats a funny joke". Usually pretty lame jokes but it's funny how...view more If you don't have a smart TV and want one but don't want to fork out the price. This dongle thing is awesome! We have 2 of theses. We have had both for a year and a half. Still working amazing! Setting it up sucks (adding details, internet connection etc), but once it's done you are all good to go! Has Netflix, YouTube, Neon, Prime Videos, TVNZ Demand and so many more apps! I love the remote with the quick access to YouTube etc and the fact you can just talk what you want into the remote and let it do the job for you. You can also ask it question and it will answer them or ask "whats a funny joke". Usually pretty lame jokes but it's funny how it tells you a joke. I think the only con I really have about this. Is it does lag when typing but if you're slow it won't matter. Just have to have some patience when typing. Hence why we just use the voice thingy instead. 100% recommend!

This is an amazing little device! It started to become a pain to connect my laptop to my old 2009 Sony Bravia TV through an HDMI cable, and being on a budget I thought to have a look around for other solutions instead of immediately investing in a smart TV. After a bit of searching I found the SmartVu products, and the V11 dongle has everything I wanted. It has Freeview, Netflix, Neon, Disney+, Prime Video, Spotify and so much more, I'm so impressed! It's easy to set up, but it does take a bit of time to link all your streaming accounts and typing out your email addresses and passwords with the remote. So do count about 45min-1 hour for setup...view more This is an amazing little device! It started to become a pain to connect my laptop to my old 2009 Sony Bravia TV through an HDMI cable, and being on a budget I thought to have a look around for other solutions instead of immediately investing in a smart TV. After a bit of searching I found the SmartVu products, and the V11 dongle has everything I wanted. It has Freeview, Netflix, Neon, Disney+, Prime Video, Spotify and so much more, I'm so impressed! It's easy to set up, but it does take a bit of time to link all your streaming accounts and typing out your email addresses and passwords with the remote. So do count about 45min-1 hour for setup. I also put my modem a wee bit closer to the device to reduce lagging (but in saying that, I had trouble with my wifi connection before as it was positioned too far from where it was actually needed, so it's not the device) Don't hesitate if you have doubts buying it, it's definitely worth it. PBTech's service was also really fast and I got the dongle for a very competitive price.

Super easy to set up and work. Have even bought one for my 75 year old tech averse FIL, who finds it super easy to use. The user interface is pleasing and quick to scroll through. A great replacement for Vodafone TV. Only thing that is missing is live TV pause and recording, but most of our programmes are found on TVNZ on demand now anyway, so have just had to slightly adapt how we do that. Absolutely recommend. Super easy to set up and work. Have even bought one for my 75 year old tech averse FIL, who finds it super easy to use. The user interface is pleasing and quick to scroll through. A great replacement for Vodafone TV. Only thing that is missing is live TV pause and recording, but most of our programmes are found on TVNZ on demand now anyway, so have just had to slightly adapt how we do that. Absolutely recommend.

We have been using this device for about one month. It does exactly what we needed it to do, and turned our older TV into a useful smart TV. We have been using this device for about one month. It does exactly what we needed it to do, and turned our older TV into a useful smart TV.

I own two of these devices, they are so awesome, they make any older TV into a smart TV. You can access pretty much any streaming app from the Google Play store. I think they are so Fab that I bought them for my Mum and for my Brother. I have recommended them to anyone that is having issues with how to stream on a budget, so much cheaper than a Smart TV or even a games console. Plus you can Cast from them as well as an extra bonus. Love love love. I own two of these devices, they are so awesome, they make any older TV into a smart TV. You can access pretty much any streaming app from the Google Play store. I think they are so Fab that I bought them for my Mum and for my Brother. I have recommended them to anyone that is having issues with how to stream on a budget, so much cheaper than a Smart TV or even a games console. Plus you can Cast from them as well as an extra bonus. Love love love.

Youtube opens very quickly and allows 15sec previews without opening very convienent. Fairly easy to set up need to create an account with TVNZ and TV3 allow 2 hours for set up fully. Youtube opens very quickly and allows 15sec previews without opening very convienent. Fairly easy to set up need to create an account with TVNZ and TV3 allow 2 hours for set up fully.

Very happy with this simple to operate and well priced product Very happy with this simple to operate and well priced product

This device is slow and cannot handle 4k media. Purchase the Google TV Streamer 4K instead, night and day difference. This device is slow and cannot handle 4k media. Purchase the Google TV Streamer 4K instead, night and day difference.