White nowtv box to nowtv stick

[Anonymous User]

Hi,

ive just received an email informing me that the white boxes are becoming extinct and replaced by the new nowtv stick.

Although youve kindly offered me a free replacement im still slightly uhappy as currently i have 3 white boxes where at least two of them my children use everynight to watch kids boxsets (2 boys in one room, one girl in another) at the same time. I just dont see why i should have to fork out nearly £50 for two more nowtv sticks. I have been a customer for few years. 

i look forward to a response. 

[Anonymous User]

It was quite obviously an autocorrect. Why does everyone online have to be
so damn picky and rude.

[ukbobboy]

@Anonymous User 

THW

First, I meant no rudeness to you when I pointed out that small spelling mistake, my main thought was that a lot of white box owners are users with very little technical knowledge and so may have been confused.

Besides I have made silly spelling mistakes myself and so not one to start throwing stones.

UK Bob

[Anonymous User]

I have received the email today also (free unit) but it wont let me process, keeps saying payment pin is incorrect??

I also have 2 white boxes and can't contact them by 'chat' facility or email.  

[Mark_Weinreb]

@Anonymous User @Anonymous User @AndyH2 @Anonymous User @Anonymous User 

The offical line on white box replacement sticks is this: If a user’s primary device is a white box, they’ll be offered a stick via email. If, however, their primary device isn’t a white box, then they’ll be informed about the stick, and probably (Almost certainly) offered one at a reduced price.

However, if you don’t have any hdmi ports on your tv, then I don’t know what can be done. Maybe you can find a cheap hdmi to composite adapter. Certainly hdmi to vga adapters exist.

[AndyH2]

@Mark_Weinreb 

My white box is currently connected to the (separate) tuner for my plasma screen, via VGA, so hopefully an HDMI to VGA adaptor should solve the problem. Thanks.

[Mark_Weinreb]

@AndyH2 Don’t forget that as both the hdmi to vga adapter and the Now TV stick have male hdmi connectors, you’ll also need an F-to-F hdmi connector.

[AndyH2]

@Mark_Weinreb 

Yes, that had occurred to me, too. I think I should be able to get a female HDMI to male VGA, but if not then yes, a F-toF adaptor. Thanks again.

[schnapps]

@AndyH2 

Also don't forget that a HDMI to VGA converter needs to have some sort of Audio out to your television, plus the converter box needs to be HDCP 1.4 compatible.

Personally if it was me and money is tight i would look at places like Gumtree, Shpock, FreeAds where there are some cracking second hand deals around for high end 1080p TV's where people are virtually given them away cheaply because they want the latest and greatest 4K HDR TV's.

I have two old Panasonic Plasmas (one 720p and the other 1080p) and they both show a better picture on SD & HD content compared to my two mid range 4K Televisions in the house.

[AndyH2]

@schnapps 

Many thanks for your response. 

My plasma is also an old Panasonic (1080p, I think), great picture, so I'd rather not replace it, if possible. 

Currently, I have AV-out (from white box) connected to AV-in, on the front of the tuner, the Video Camera input / red, yellow, white (RCA?) ... picture & sound works fine. 

I'll have to research "HDCP 1.4 compatible", before I buy an adaptor. 

(also, my plasma is very old, pre-HD, is that going to be a problem with the NowTV stick?) 

[schnapps]

Hi @AndyH2 

No need to replace your Panasonic 1080p Full HD or even if you owned a Panasonic 720p HD Ready Spec plasma television where they would both work perfectly fine with the NowTV Stick (assuming you have a decent WiFi reception where the television would be located in the Home).

With regards to HDMI to VGA or Composite or SCART converter boxes, just be aware some are a little flaky in operation and may cause HDMI HDCP error messages or audio lip sync problems.

If you can find a reliable HDMI converter box that can pass the NowTV Stick  HDMI digital signal cleanly through it then there is no reason it will not work with your 480p SD Plasma TV.

[AndyH2]

Hi again @schnapps 

Unfortunately, my Panasonic plasma is neither Full HD nor HD Ready ... it's PRE- HD! 

The wi-fi reception is very good. 

I've tried switching between an HD and non-HD program (on BBC), they both play okay and look exactly the same (but, obviously, it's not in HD).

The possible error messages & lip sync problems sound less promising! 

[schnapps]

Hi @AndyH2 

Sorry i missed read your post and thought you owned two Panasonic Plasmas TV's (one 1080p and the second 480p SD).

Where the second 480p SD TV was using the White NowTV box.

If you can find a correct spec HDMI converter box and it's reliable, then it should work OK with the pre HD  plasma television, though you are only getting 480p signal out of the converter box, where the Stick can max out at 1080p (720p on NowTV streaming service or 1080p with the NowTV HD Boost Pass) if connected to a higher resolution television.

Anyway will leave it to you to do your research and find the best solution on using the NowTV Stick.

[AndyH2]

Hi @schnapps 

Well, I've got about a month to sort something out, before they shut the white boxes down. 

Thanks again for all your helpful advice, very much appreciated.

Cheers, Andy

[Anonymous User]

So if mines a black now tv box will that work. And also if you don’t do updates will white box not woRk still?. Am I being thick?..

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

The Black NowTV Boxes will run fine has normal.

Where the NowTV White Boxes will stop working totally after the 8th of October 2020.

[Anonymous User]

So I won’t have anything on white box.... no radio .. nothing... it’s just it’s grandkids one .... they watch you tube on it ... never mind ... thank you

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

From what i have been told NowTV will be switching off the White version of their boxes completely on the 6th of October 2020.

So you won't have access to any of the third party Apps off the White Boxes after the above date.

[schnapps]

---

@schnapps wrote:

Hi @Anonymous User 

The Black NowTV Boxes will run fine has normal.

Where the NowTV White Boxes will stop working totally after the 8th of October 2020.

---

Sorry got the above date wrong, where it's the 6th of October these white boxes will cease to work 😠.

[AndyH2]

UPDATE: So, received my new Now TV Smart Stick, bought myself an HDMI to RCA converter from Amazon (£16), connected everything up, registered new device on my account ... and was watching tv as usual last night! 

The Homepage / menus look a little different, but I'll soon get used to that. 

... my only (slight) concern is that both the Smart Stick and the Converter got quite hot (apparently this is normal (?), as they both need to be connected to the mains while in use), but so long as they don't over-heat, everything seems good! 

So, to anyone out there with an old white box, and a tv that doesn't have HDMI, don't worry, it is possible to get the replacement stick to work with your existing equipment. 

[Mark_Weinreb]

@AndyH2 Glad it works, and thanks for letting everyone know you found a solution that works.

[schnapps]

Hi @AndyH2

If the HDMI to RCA converter box remains stable after a couple of weeks use, then maybe post a link on here on the device that you purchased from Amazon.

Where it my help others in the same boat that haven't updated their television with a HDMI port on it. 

The Stick does run pretty warm, if you are concerned with the heat then when not in use disconnect the power to the Stick and HDMI converter box.