Depending on the age of the smart TV, brand and installed software, basic access to the free streaming services may be available without an added device. If @Jon01 has a smart TV it may have an ethernet or built in wifi network connection. Older Smart TVs (one we had from 2011) had an ethernet port plus the option of an add on USB Wifi dongle.
The TV may also support using a low cost USB memory stick or external storage drive to record content. The TV menus can be clunky or confusing depending on ones comfort with modern tech. The alternative of using some form of set top box, eg Apple TV, Fetch, etc have already been mentioned.
Our 6yo Sony works fine connected directly to the internet, iView etc. It’s also been able to connect to Netflix and Amazon paid services. Note that some of the free station services require the user to create a user login, typically used only for the first time. We connect through a very average ADSL2 connection. The picture quality compares favourably with everyday broadcast quality from the outdoor antenna.
There are a number of community topics that cover streaming to smart TV’s, set top boxes and PVR’s. Using the search tool from the Community Menu bar near the top of the screen is a useful way to locate related or topics that cover similar content. It’s also possible to search within a topic with many posts.
A sample from the searches.
The best way to assess whether your FTA viewing needs can be met by the free services, EG iView, SBS on Demand etc, is to visit each site online and search the content. This can be done from any connected device through a browser.
P.S.
We’ve used a variety of indoor antennas in big city urban and regional locations. None, absolutely none have been as effective as an outdoor aerial. The optimum position in a room and alignment can vary between channels. The models with a built in amplifier (powered) were more useful.
