Watch TV over WiFi - how it works
If you want to enjoy TV not only on your couch at home, but also on the go, you can watch TV content via WiFi on your laptop. We show what you have to consider.
1. TV streaming services
The easiest way to bring a TV picture to the notebook is probably the numerous TV streaming services.
- One of the most popular TV streaming services is "Zattoo", with which you can watch a total of 89 public channels free of charge. For private channels, you have to book a paid package. Sat.1, Pro7, RTL and Co. are available in the "Zattoo Premium" package for 1.59 euros per day, 9.99 euros per month or for 99.99 euros in a 12-month subscription.
- If you sign up for one of the pay offers at "Zattoo", you will also receive more than 70 HD channels. There is also a recording function with which you can record 30 programs online. Other functions are live pause, restart, replay. In addition, two parallel streams can be played on two devices simultaneously. The streaming offer works on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, PC / MacXBox One, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV.
2. Live streams of the TV stations
The various media libraries and live streams of the TV stations offer a mostly free alternative to the TV streaming services.
- The live streams and access to the public channels is always free, regardless of the quality of the display. Almost the entire program is available on demand, but also for streaming laptops or mobile devices.
- The livestreams of the private stations are somewhat different. There you usually always have to pay for access to media library content, all stations offer different payment models for the transmission of the live stream. RTL enables the reception of live streams and unrestricted access to the media library through the subscription model "TV NOW" for € 4.99 a month. At the same time, it also enables the use of the media library from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
3. SAT-IP
If the subscription models described above are permanently too expensive, you still have the option of using the so-called SAT-IP standard.
- TV reception via a satellite connection is a prerequisite for using this technology.
- You then need a SAT-IP server with which you can distribute the TV signal via WLAN, LAN or the socket and a Powerline adapter. This is one such SAT-IP server.
- Almost any FritzBox can be used as a converter for the TV signal.
- After successful setup, you can receive the TV signal via smartphones, laptops and tablets.
- Even encrypted programs such as the Sky channels or private programs such as RTL or Sat.1 can be transmitted using the CI + module.
- The livetv.sx page is popular to watch the games of the German Bundesliga. But beware: In April 2017, the European Court of Justice ruled that users are punishable if they “voluntarily and knowingly understand the facts of a free and unauthorized offer of protected works” access.
This practical tip shows you how you can also receive US channels in Germany.