do you still have a returns available for this? I strongly recommend you to return this device, for a couple of reasons.
where are you going to source the UART cable? From AliExpress It’s €2.36 but you need to have orders of 10 euros to get free shipping, or from amazon Belgium it’s over 7 euros
assuming you get the cheapest 2.36 euros. I’m not sure if you get batteries included for the Homatics R 4k Plus, assuming not, then your total cost is now €78.36
are you aware in 9 hours aliexpress is running a sale? with coupons
I’ve seen it as low as €103.08 in one store which is perfect since you get €12 of for €99+
and so that’s 91.08 +18.21 (tax) = 109.30 euros BUT I always use a credit card with none sterling transaction fees and pay in dollars, if you have one (you should really get one if you shop from aliexpress and make sure it’s a credit card, much easier to get money back)
You could get this for 104.71 Euro (shipped) (with that credit card)
Assuming you don’t have that card and it’s 109.30 euros then you are paying an extra 30.94 euros but that is if you can source the UART for the price I listed, if you bought of amazon you are looking at extra 5 euros. (so now saving a measly 25 euros)
Then factor in your time to set this up, I collected a few main snippets of information about the process here
check the links under the guides to see if any new update has been done, their has been a few I think, all the information is in this thread
for 25 to 30 euros more you are guaranteed to get a perfect working box with most if not all bugs ironed out, you get ATV14 with adaptive framerate switching. You get unlocked bootloader, better build quality and better remote , 1 Gigabit Ethernet with zero issues, plenty have had issues even with the gigabit ethernet on here (for the G1). Most importantly you get latest CoreELEC support for that Box for at least abit longer.
I started of with Pi a long time ago when it was XBMC, tinkering with hardware and trying to get it working isn’t so fun, buying the (Expensive at the time) Odroid N2+ was an amazing choice. I just loaded CoreELEC and never looked back, it just works (thanks to the hard work of Team CoreELEC) After 5 years it’s going for around £60, I paid around £90 - £100, so it cost me £8/year for cost of ownership LOL
I think your resell value on that box would be higher than the G1, no support, hacked hardware, no gig ethernet.
I’ve been a “shill” for this box (ask anyone) BUT after reading everything I rather not gamble and go through the stress ESPECIALLY because the discount is $3 for G1 and $12 for the Homatics, so you get an extra $9 of and no need for UART.
Seems all boxes will now come with locked bootloader and only 100m ethernet, for not much more you get way better device.