[Discussion] Now that Samsung is about to remove the Steam Link app: what would be the "best" alternatives for 4k remote play?

[wet socks]

Hey people,

so the title mostly sums up what I am looking for. I've been looking for an alternative to Samsung's Steam Link app that will be removed in November that has similiar, if not better features. Here's what I am looking for:

• 4k support (most important)
  
• an ethernet port (and maybe wifi 6)
  
• multiple USB ports for gamepads
  
• Bluetooth
  
• Steam Link app or moonlight support (or similiar)

I know that there are several Android TV boxes out there, but it's difficult to find something decent + some of them are supposedly very questionable with their malware. Apple TV is way too expensive for what it is and I have no idea about Nvidia Shield and which one even works well enough. A raspberry pi is something I've also been considering, but I have no idea what it can and can't do and which one will work flawlessly.

Is there anything you can recommend that is on a relative budget that performs better than the Hardware Steam Link?

[Моника]

Get a raspberry pi and install a lightweight linux distro on it. An older one should be cheapish and fit the bill for what you can do with it. I've got basically the same thing set up and use it for that and other streaming (netflix and such). Essentially has replaced any need for a smart tv for me.

[wet socks]

Originally posted by Quade:

Get a raspberry pi and install a lightweight linux distro on it. An older one should be cheapish and fit the bill for what you can do with it. I've got basically the same thing set up and use it for that and other streaming (netflix and such). Essentially has replaced any need for a smart tv for me.

I bit the bullet because I was impatient and ordered a Nvidia Shield TV lol.

[_I_]

there is an entire forum for steam link samsung app
https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/2/
enjoy

edit: fixed link

[Моника]

Originally posted by _I_:

there is an entire forum for steam link samsung app
https://pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#K=10,13&sort=price&page=1
enjoy

Who asked

[_I_]

Originally posted by Quade:

Originally posted by _I_:

there is an entire forum for steam link samsung app
https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/2/
enjoy

Who asked

just sharing information
there are many topics that are all covered in the correct forum

[Моника]

Originally posted by _I_:

Originally posted by Quade:

Who asked

just sharing information
there are many topics that are all covered in the correct forum

Ok well you didn't link the correct forum, never mind that this guy is asking for ALTERNATIVES to the samsung app for steam link - in the forum for steam link itself.

[_I_]

oops link fixed

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/2/

as for alts, there are many
some smart tvs, apple/android, but they dont have gigabit or faster lan ports, wifi can work but may lag with other devices that interfere
htpc/laptop, windows/mac/linux
pi, nvidia shield, android box

[ShadowShifterMarlith]

Mobile Phones are no different then Steam Link APP,
& Steam Link APP is no different from Steam Link Box...

Take your pick, Steam just doesn't do well with Remote Play...

If Samsung is removing the APP, it has a good reason to do so...
--- It's not a very good reliable product...

Valve does not seem to handle Hardware with anything, but poor Quality put in...
-- Steam Machine
-- Steam Link Box
-- Steam Link APP
-- Mobile Phone Remote Play
-- VR Gaming
-- The Now Steam Deck

All Have Met With Poor Reception from People Using them,
& in every single case, People have looked for better Options
from 3rd Parties that handles the Job much better then Valve...

Even the Steam Client is being neglected & poorly handled Today,
bugs & glitches everywhere, & People dislike the design choices of it...

I don't know what to say... But one thing is for sure,
Hardware isn't Valve's strong suit...

[_I_]

the apps are different
windows, is for windows os, linux is for linux os, android is for android os
even the linux os version is different from the steam link hardware which runs a custom linux wrapper
and samsung tv is even more different as thats its own os

dropping samsung because of their own os, is not a bad thing, but killing it to devices that it once supported is a pretty crap move on both steam and samsung
tvs advertised with that feature should be offered a suitable replacement option (refund/other tv capable of remote play/pi or android box or htpc or something that can use remote play)

[wet socks]

Originally posted by ShadowShifterMarlith:

Mobile Phones are no different then Steam Link APP,
& Steam Link APP is no different from Steam Link Box...

Take your pick, Steam just doesn't do well with Remote Play...

If Samsung is removing the APP, it has a good reason to do so...
--- It's not a very good reliable product...

Valve does not seem to handle Hardware with anything, but poor Quality put in...
-- Steam Machine
-- Steam Link Box
-- Steam Link APP
-- Mobile Phone Remote Play
-- VR Gaming
-- The Now Steam Deck

All Have Met With Poor Reception from People Using them,
& in every single case, People have looked for better Options
from 3rd Parties that handles the Job much better then Valve...

Even the Steam Client is being neglected & poorly handled Today,
bugs & glitches everywhere, & People dislike the design choices of it...

I don't know what to say... But one thing is for sure,
Hardware isn't Valve's strong suit...

The Samsung app works surprisingly well and is able to handle streams smoothly, even with a semi optimal connection. Even my Shield TV pro 2019 can not do that. There I need a direct ethernet connection to make it work. The Samsung Steam Link app worked better via wifi and also supported my wonky powerlink setup (which lead to tons of dataloss).

Guess why I will be drilling a deep hole through my wall soon for an ethernet connection.

[_I_]

powerline has always been kinda crap, never at advertised throughput and adding large delays

but it really depends on where they are plugged in, other side of the 110/220v power rail or different breakers will be much worse than on the same breaker

they work by creating interference in the 110/220v house/building power and using that to communicate
power supplies and bricks easily filter it out, but also make other interference since their switching power supply also creates similar interference at loads

and tvs only having the 10/100mb/s lan port is limiting factor for 4k

[wet socks]

Originally posted by _I_:

powerline has always been kinda crap, never at advertised throughput and adding large delays

but it really depends on where they are plugged in, other side of the 110/220v power rail or different breakers will be much worse than on the same breaker

they work by creating interference in the 110/220v house/building power and using that to communicate
power supplies and bricks easily filter it out, but also make other interference since their switching power supply also creates similar interference at loads

and tvs only having the 10/100mb/s lan port is limiting factor for 4k

Yeah I've noticed lol. It worked quite well for a while. But now that I have ethernet + moonlight streaming I notice how far ahead it actually is in comparison. I have almost no delay, it's as if I hooked up my PC to my TV via hdmi.

[Gattiger]

I can’t find Moonlight in the apps for my samsung tv

[wet socks]

Originally posted by Gattiger:

I can’t find Moonlight in the apps for my samsung tv

that's because it's not available. You can use some weird workaround that works with some Samsung TV's, but it's anything but straight forward to get moonlight to run on a samsung tv.

[hectormanuel27]

Originally posted by wet socks:

Originally posted by Gattiger:

I can’t find Moonlight in the apps for my samsung tv

that's because it's not available. You can use some weird workaround that works with some Samsung TV's, but it's anything but straight forward to get moonlight to run on a samsung tv.

did someone backup the Steam Link for Samsung TV files?