There is no monthly cost for the Roku device. The only cost is for the Netflix service which is somewhere around $9/month.
I bought a ROKU box for my daughter a couple years ago. Can’t remember the make and model. But it works like a champ. She uses it in her room, but can unhook it and carry it down to the basement if she wants to share a movie night with her sisters.
I think most of the ROKU devices are under $100, so I really don’t think you can go wrong. I’d head out to Best Buy and pick one up. If you don’t like it, take it back and exchange it.
Your DSL speed should be fine. I’d go with 6Mb/s if possible. It should still be fine at 3Mb/s as Netflix does a pretty good job of buffering enough movie before it starts to ensure that there are minimal if any freezes.
The issue you should consider with bandwidth, is if you are going to have MULTIPLE streaming devices competing for it. The only issues we sometimes have is if three people are watching netflix simultaneously.
We use blu-ray players to download/run Netflix content. That works well and “kills two birds with one stone”.
bttt
I have a 6mb, 4g lte link via Sprint. I first tried the Chrome stick. Terrible product. Was not able yo watch a movie with it. Movie kept starting and stopping. I then purchased the Roku 3 small table top unit. Works great. I would recommend the Roku small table top unit. I have subscribed to both Netflix and Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime has more selection. Hope that helps.
I'm not sure what comes with the Stick Version but with the Roku 3 you get a simple but powerful remote. The Netflix interface is essentially the same as you get built in with the newer HDTVs. But even though I have a new TV I use the Roku instead. The ease of use with the Roku Remote is the reason. Also the Roku 3 is wireless or wired, your choice.
Netflix is great of course but don't ignore Youtube. Build your playlists on your PC and then use the YoutTube App on the Roku. Watch Youtube on your HDTV. Great music. Great tutorials. The good stuff these days is HD. In my house we are Netflix + YouTube 90%, Fox News 9% and everything else 1%.
Also, we had 5 mbps service with Netflix and it would do okay (even over Wi-Fi in the house), but you couldn't have anything else downloading/uploading or it would cut out. Also, at lower speeds, sometimes the video quality just isn't there. It's especially noticeable on older movies and TV shows, newer shows tend to have better production qualities and that lends itself to better viewing. It's much better with higher speeds. We have 12 mbps now, and it's not given us any problems.
I had 5mb, Roku 1, and Netflix. At most it only buffered for about a minute before playing.
Either Netflix or the Roku degrades picture quality based on internet speed. 420 is old tv quality, and that’s the lowest I ever saw. At 5mb typically I was about 720, which is cheapo digital quality.
Only reason I boosted up to 20mb is CableOne forced me to because we used so much bandwidth. Our house gets 100% of it’s television and movies over Netflix, Amazon.com, and a personal media server.
We run Netflix through Wii U on main TV, Xbox 360 in basement ‘theater’ and Roku in our bedroom.
Roku is cheapest and gets HBOGo for Game of Thrones.
You don’t need to pay for Netflix, amazon prime or a roku. Free streaming content is on the net. Just hook a computer to the tv with an hdmi av adapter or a tablet with an digital av adapter and you are set.
I have one for my laptop and another one for my ipad and watch whatever I want and don’t pay for anything.
My Roku 3 was $99 at Wal Mart. One time cost. All I pay for is internet, Netflix ($8.99), Amazon Prime ($99 year, one time charge) and Hulu Plus ($8.99). I also have a Blu-ray/DVD player and frequently rent from Redbox. I highly reccomend a Roku.
You can look up the pricing online, based upon what you want.
I have 3 Roku Sticks, an over the air antenna, a Tablo Box, Amazon Prime, and Sling TV.
Roku Stick - works great
OTA - I get about 22 channels with my un-amplified antenna
Tablo Box - this is a pretty cool system. My OTA plugs into it, along with an external hard drive. The Tablo box plugs into my network. I can then “stream” all of the OTA content through any of my Roku players. It includes a guide and the ability to DVR shows.
Amazon Prime - pretty good content
Sling TV - the future of TV. All of the ESPN channels, food network, disney and others for $20/month
If you prepay for 3 months of Sling TV, you get a Roku stick for free. Great deal.
I hope that helps.
The best thing about this plan is that it will cost you one time for the hardware and you are done.
Upgrade to 6mbs DSL if you can, and make sure you have a wireless router.
The minimum speed you want is 3mbs, but you really should upgrade to 6mbs. It should work fine. Netflix streaming runs just like youtube. So go to youtube to test it out.
You certainlly want a Roku 3, and not the stick. Although if you have an older TV with no HDMI port coax with the RCA (red, yellow and white ports) then get the Roku 2.
I have Netflix streaming only and it’s $7.99 a month. I also have an Amazon Prime account. It has free streaming with some different movies.
Here is the Roku link for you.
Finally, you may want a digital Antenna too for the local channels (ABC, FOX, CBS, etc...), watching sports, news, etc....
These are very small indoor antenna’s with no ears, easy to hook up, etc... You either will have a very good picture or you do not. These are a lot better than the old rabbit ears you many have had a long time ago. There is no outdoor antenna. As long as you are within 30 to 50 miles, depending what you get, then should be good.
http://www.frys.com/category/Outpost/Video/Antennas+&+HD+Converters/
and
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=antenna
We have had a Roku box since it first came out and it worked without problems. My wife recently bought Apple TV so she could stream videos from her Apple devices. It works great, but Apple TV does not allow access to rival Amazon prime. We recently added an Amazon Firestick so we could get Amazon prime videos. The Firestick works great and was easy to set up. If I were to have just one streaming device, I would stick with Roku. Given your relatively slow connection speed I’d opt for the basic model Roku as I don’t think you would be able to stream HD content. Roku allows access to Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon as well other mostly free channels. We got my mother in law a Roku box for Christmas and she loves the free streaming music from Pandora as well as Netflix. The Amazon Firestick is new and hard to find in stores. At $40 it is a good deal. Ours works with no problems so far, but given my long experience with Roku that would still be my choice
I am reading all comments and greatly appreciate all
— What is the total monthly cost for roku + netflix. Probably would be an unlimited netflix plan...
...no cost for Roku but you must register a credit card to start the service. Netflix is less than 10 a month.
-— how will Netflix streaming work at 3mbs and 6mbs which are my local DSL speeds?
....that’s lower that we have so I dunno. Go on the ROKU forums to better find out, maybe?
— my understanding is that with such slower connection speeds I will have to wait 10 or 20 minutes for the Netfix stream to build up before I can watch it? ...I believe that is true.
-—will such slow speeds make for jerky motion and dropouts?... If you get the optional roku extra dish cache chip it will help eliminate that lot.
—— Do such slow speeds ruin action movies with special effects ...yes, but there are work-arounds.
We have a roku 2 and a 3 hooked up and imo Roku is a good deal compared to the exploitative and propaganda-like organ cable/dish has become...
...but have yet to cut the cord. Waiting on service contract to expire.
I just upgraded to the high-end ROKU 3 from the old ROKU 1.
It loads fast. I don’t care for the shiny plastic remote keys. I discovered my old ROKU 1 remote works with the ROKU 3, so I use it, except when I need the special new features the ROKU 3 remote has.
My Netfix programs load in about 3 seconds. I have 50 Mbps cable internet.
The ROKU box ranges from around $50 to $100, depending on whch one you select. Compare them at this link:
https://www.roku.com/products/compare
Netflix costs about $11 per month for new signees. Amazon Prime streaming is $99/year. Both have ROKU apps. You might check the FAQs at their respective websites.
Slightly OT, any recommendations for a TV tuner card and antenna? The spouse keeps the DVD tied up and Time Warner Cable boxes refuse to drop power saving mode despite what the menus say. Sometimes ME-TV runs some mystery movie overnight that isn’t on DVD and I would like to capture it without a signal drop.