Slowman wrote:
jhammond wrote:
I'd like to get started with Zwift, but I'd rather not buy an Apple TV since I won't use it for anything else. What's the best way to get Zwift to my TV?maybe you're way ahead of me here, but just to make sure, do you know what an appletv is? it's just a small box, maybe 4"x4"x2". it's a computer. what you'd need is an appletv 4k. it's $179. i think it's kind of badly named. you'd need to hook it up to a monitor of some sort. TV set (which is what it's designed for) or a computer monitor. i've got, i think, 3 of these in current use with zwift loaded on them, and i'm getting one more today. it's by far the cheapest, easiest way to run zwift on a decent sized screen.
zwift, like any app or game, will run on whatever operating systems the designers choose. zwift runs in iOS, OSX, windows and android. so, it'll work on almost any handheld device, tablet, or computer, except a kindle. plus, zwift will run on "appletv OS", which is great, because you really don't want to ride with zwift using a laptop or tablet if you don't have to. what you want is the biggest TV screen you can get.
now, the appletv 4k is also badly named because it's not really ultra 4k. i've got a pretty good gaming rig, a windows, and THAT is ultra 4k. you don't get quite the depth perception and the colors on an appletv that you get with a gaming computer. but that appletv 4k runs zwift pretty nicely.
what you need to get a pretty nice pain cave set up going is an appletv 4k, a repurposed tv or monitor, an hdmi cable and if you buy one i'd err on the side of a couple of feet longer than you think you'd need, and you're going to have to prop up that TV on something. rule of thumb is, if it's for running you'll want it high, so you can see over your treadmill. if it's for cycling you'll want it lower, with the bottom of the TV not more than about 20" off the ground, and you'll need to tilt that TV so that it's angled up, so that you're looking square at it when you're riding. if you buy a TV stand for this, make sure it's got that tilt capacity.
then, you have to have a smart trainer if you want to get the full benefit. that's by far the largest expense, because if you buy it new these will start at about $750 or $800. and a bike.
This ^
Cheapest way is to just download the Zwift app to your phone and get a cable to mirror your phone to a TV.
iphone cable is a lightning to hdmi (which is ~$50 adapter).
This works fine (I did this for 2 years), but ran into some battery issues where my phone could last at max 90 minutes if I started with battery at 100%. I switched to using Apple TV and glad I did.