Most full sized TV box comes with both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, but if you live in remote area internet may not be easily available, except possibly via 3G or LTE. There are several ways to handle that. You could connect a 3G USB dongle to your box, but this assume the firmware on your box supports it, or you could gt one cheap of these cheap routers with a USB port, plug the 3G dongle into it, and connect your media player to the router via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. If you’d rather have a single device with an easier setup, MediaBox MBX-3G could be an interesting option.
MediaBox MBX-3G specifications:
- SoC – Quad core ARM Cortex A9 @ 1.6Ghz with quad core GPU (This looks like Rockchip RK3188)
- System Memory – 2GB DDR3
- Storage – 8 eMMC flash + microSD slot (up to 32GB)
- Video & Audio Output – HDMI 1.4, and AV
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and built-in 3G model (HSPA+ up to 21 Mbps download) + antenna
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x micro USB OTG port
- Misc – IR sensor, power LED,
- Power Supply – 5V/2A (TBC)
- Dimensions – N/A
- Weight –N/A
The box comes with HDMI and AV cables, a USB cable, a power adapter, and a touchpad remote (which looks very much like Rii mini i8 remote). There’s also a more traditional model without 3G called MediaBox MBX.
The device runs Android 4.4.2 with OTA firmware update support, and online videos services such as Netflix, Hulu+, HBO, YouTube, Vimeo, BBC iPlayer, TuneIn, Spotify & VIDI., are said to be working on the device. Since the device slogan is “Play Anything. From everything. Anywhere”, the South African start-up (MediaBox) behind the project is also developing iOS. Android, and Microsoft Phone apps to interface with the device.
A flexible funding Indiegogo campaign has been launched to raise funds ($65,000 or more) to complete software development and start mass production. A $120 “early bird” pledge would be you a MBX-3G, while $90 is asked for MBX without 3G. Shipping i $10 to the US and South Africa, and $20 to the rest of the world, with delivery scheduled for June 2015. More information may also be found on MediaBox website, including support forums.
Thanks to Jvan for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I think I’ve seen a Chinese TV box modem/router combo, but can’t remember where…
@onebir
That one? http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/11/10/zome-zmt-330a-is-both-an-android-tv-box-and-a-wi-fi-router/
But no 3G.
@Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)
Exactly!:p I guess this suits for the 3G only scenario better.
(Generally doesn’t suitability of a non-3G TV box modem/router depend on the TV being near the internet socket – or long cables?)
@onebir
If you are too far for Ethernet, you’d normally use Wi-Fi.
@Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)
Exactly – so for a non-3G TV box modem/router combo you need a separate modem-router unless your tv and incoming internet network socket happen to be close together… (Maybe this is common in apartments built after cable TV became popular?)