Your Amazon Fire Television set Stick is a bully device, isn't it? Ideal for watching Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, or installing Kodi! Then there'southward apps like Plex for streaming video from a PC to your TV.

But this HDMI TV stick isn't and then good for other things. For instance, yous're express only to wireless networking. Also, there is no way to connect a USB drive and view your own video files. Contrast this with the more expensive Amazon Fire TV, and y'all'll encounter you lot're missing more than just the 4K video streaming.

Fortunately, there'due south an answer. With a few cables yous might have laying around, and a suitable instance, you can easily plow your Amazon Fire Goggle box Stick into a Fire Tv set box. Here's how!

What You'll Need

To turn your Amazon Burn TV Stick into a Burn Goggle box, you'll need to find (or buy) a few cables and adaptors. This is what y'all need:

  • OTG cablevision One thousand/F: $7 (make sure it is capable of supplying ability and data)
  • Not-powered 4-port USB hub: $13 (powered is fine, but they tend to exist bulkier, and need an actress cable)
  • USB SD menu reader: $7
  • USB-to-Ethernet adapter: $xiv (optional, if you lot need Ethernet)
  • M-to-F HDMI cable: $seven

You lot'll also need a case: several unlike, suitable cases in the Idiot box box form factor are bachelor. Our own option was a Western Digital case from wdlabs.wd.com, which is designed to house a Raspberry Pi and a 3.5 inch HDD. When available (stocks are depression), this costs nether $10. It merely then happens to be ideal for housing a USB hub and Amazon Fire Stick!

how to turn amazon fire tv stick into fire tv box

That's a total of $48, and you lot might even exist able to get it all for under $40. Compare that to the price of an Amazon Burn TV and you're on to a real winner.

Even if yous don't already own an Amazon Fire TV Stick, you'll be able to get 1 for under $40. Become your timing right, and information technology might even be less! This build is therefore cheaper than the Amazon Fire Tv. All you're missing out on is 4K. Plain if that'south a deal breaker for you, you'll already exist prepared to spend the extra.

Your First Generation Amazon Fire Stick Won't Piece of work

It'southward worth noting at this phase that not all Amazon Fire TV Sticks are suitable for this. Specifically, if you lot have a first generation stick, you lot'll be unable to enjoy the benefits of the USB hub.

First-gen Amazon Fire TV Sticks don't have USB OTG. The USB connector is purely for powering the device. I accept taken the fourth dimension to confirm this, using my OTG cable, a known-to-work USB memory stick, and the Amazon Fire version of VLC Player.

Fortunately, this shortcoming has been dealt with in the subsequent models. As such, I'1000 building this Burn down TV box using the latest Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Become Started: Hook It Up and Examination

We're assuming you lot've already ready up your Amazon Burn Idiot box Stick and have information technology continued to your network. Yous'll need to unplug information technology from your TV and the mains to begin this project, and hook it upwardly to the cables and adaptors you've bought.

Begin with the OTG cable, connecting it to the power input on your Burn Stick. Next, attach the USB hub to the OTG cable, and then a USB storage device or the card reader, with a card inserted. You should and then connect the HDMI cablevision between the Fire Stick and the back of your TV. Finally, connect the ability cable to the female connector on the OTG cable.

how to turn amazon fire tv stick into fire tv box

Your Amazon Fire Stick should kicking up equally normal, simply now y'all'll exist able to scan the additional storage! With everything correctly continued, your device has essentially been upgraded to a Fire TV box.

Now it'due south time to fit it all together.

Clasp Information technology Into Your Case

Leaving everything behind your TV like this will look really untidy, not to mention confusing. It is for this reason that we propose some sort of case for the projection. It only needs to be big enough to store a Burn Stick and your called USB hub, plus a couple of cables. Everything else you've bought will be plugged in equally needed.

how to turn amazon fire tv stick into fire tv box

Various cases could be employed, from an unwanted Apple Telly to a standard project box. As noted, I've selected a Raspberry Pi case from Western Digital'south WDLabs, which is big plenty to too store a 3.5-inch HDD. This gives me the option to add a HDD later on. Your own project box might be much smaller.

Need Some Gaps? Apply a File or Dremel

It's unlikely that you'll find a box that is designed for the purpose, unless you manufactured one with your own 3D printer model. As such, y'all'll probably need some holes.

Employing some bones tools will come in handy hither. A drill and a file can aid if you need to make a hole for a cable, for instance. On the other manus, you might need to remove a department of the case to access the USB ports. I ran into this problem, and solved it past employing my Dremel. After a portion from the forepart of the instance was removed, I glued the USB hub into place.

how to turn amazon fire tv stick into fire tv box

Property Information technology All in Place

How you arrange the components in your case is your ain option. If in that location are no useful compartments to hold the Fire Stick and USB hub in identify, I would recommend a hot glue gun. If you don't want to mucilage your Fire Stick, detect some suitable textile to hold it in place (perhaps Sugru), and glue that instead if information technology isn't already adhesive.

how to turn amazon fire tv stick into fire tv box

For my own project, I opted to dab glue effectually the Amazon Fire Television set Stick. This was mainly to proceed it in place while I organized the cabling, rather than to secure it long term. Demand to remove hot mucilage? Utilize a sharp pocketknife! It'due south tricky to remove past hand, just a small blade volition make low-cal piece of work of it.

Keep Your DIY Amazon Fire TV Box Where You lot Can See It

My own Amazon Burn down Boob tube Stick is now secured in a box, sitting below my living room TV. I've installed Kodi, a few useful apps, and a couple of games.

Meanwhile, I have set up a VPN and Kodi is also installed (with legal add-ons), along with Plex, and VLC. Capable of playing back videos from locations on our home network. With access to YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix and all of the other packaged services, along with the various legal add-ons in Kodi -- not to mention audio content -- this Amazon Fire Tv Stick is now a superb media box!

Although I've nonetheless to connect a HDD, I have a high capacity USB stick connected, and utilize a wired data connection via the USB to Ethernet adaptor. Everything is fast, and if I need to enter text, rather than utilize the Fire Stick's remote command, I can either use the dedicated mobile app or a Bluetooth keyboard. Or just plug in a USB keyboard.

how to turn amazon fire tv stick into fire tv box

The finish result is a Fire TV box, made by my own hand! Seriously, this was ridiculously simple, with the toughest phase being cutting the department from the case. Thank you to USB OTG, everything else works effortlessly!

If you have yet to make a purchase and find the DIY aspect a fiddling as well overwhelming, cheque out this comparing of Android TV and Amazon Fire Stick to figure out which one is right for you.

Do you accept a Burn down Television set Stick? Want the benefits of a prepare-elevation box, or would you rather buy one? Tell the states what yous recall beneath.

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