QUESTION TV: DISH vs INTERNET ROKU

Mar 19, 2013 | Yosemiotest

[Yosemitest]

Suggestions please?

[DouglasKC]

Roku is basically an easy way to stream internet content to your tv. There are several internet based services that are free but there are also services that you pay for.

For movies, Netflix, Amazon and Vudu are good ones. Amazon requires a prime membership which is I think around 80 bucks a year but also gets you free 2 day shipping from amazon.com. Netflix is around 10 to 20 bucks a month (I think)depending on whether you want streaming and/or dvds. Vudu you only pay for what you watch. These services all usually offer various TV programs as well.

There are literally hundreds (maybe now thousands) of internet services that have sprung up and been ported to the roku platform.

[muawiyah]

lot of foreign TV series on ROKU ~

[barmag25]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2932028/posts

An old thread on this topic

[Errant]

Roku doesn't charge a monthly fee. Your costs are for the initial cost of the device. Beck charges about $10 per month for access to his premium service.

I really like the Roku device. It has limitations as far as browsing the Internet that other devices like the Raspberry Pi doesn't have (but these are harder to setup using XBMC and etc).

You really need at least 6 - 10mb download speeds to properly view HD streaming. You can lower the video quality however.

[SoothingDave]

On Dish, you can easily select the channels you want on your personal list ( or lists). Ive had it for 13 years. Not sure what you found difficult.

[PeevedPatriot]

Roku makes it easy to add/remove channels. Some channels are free, some not. Go to Roku.com/channels if you want to see what's available. Be aware that many channels (such as Fox News) will NOT be live streaming Fox. They'll be short on-demand clips of various shows. Picture quality and sound are good for me. Some of the games are pretty lame but their version of Angry Birds is pretty good. Overall I'm very satisfied with mine.

[Yosemitest]

Thanks.
I have two fairly old TVs, neither is HD.
The Sony has great sound and picture.
I'm not sure about my Internet, but I'm 30 miles away from a city of any size, so I doubt it's over 5G.

I hate to change from Directv, but I really want the BlazeTV, and my parents like FDR, and I lik,e HBO and Starz.
But I'm tired of paying for liberal channels that I don't like.

[Yosemitest]

Thanks for the link.

[Yosemitest]

"You really need at least 6 - 10mb download speeds to properly view HD streaming."

I live way out in the country, so how do I find out what my download speed is?

[Yosemitest]

It was a long time ago, but my brother had it and he could weed out the channels he didn't like, like all those shopping networks.

[bolobaby]

All we have in the house is internet and streaming services across the Roku.

We have Netflix and Hulu. Total cost is less than $20/month for both services. There is more content on there than we can possibly watch, but you have to be satisfied with giving up current programming.

You can also pull local network television off the airwaves with a digital antenna for free.

Netflix has enough series to keep me satisfied. Hulu has more current content and a wider variety of TV content. Netflix has movies and TV - a nice balance.

You will discover new shows to enjoy. You will discover the joy of “binge watching” television series (that is, watching a series from episode to episode without waiting a week between episodes, usually without watching other series in between). You will discover the joy of on-demand viewing without having to program the DVR.

Do it. I’m never going back to cable or dish.

My father-in-law - who is obsessed with TV - moved in with us a few months ago. He couldn’t believe we didn’t have cable. All he does is watch TV. He’s been as happy as a bug in a rug with the content on Netflix and Hulu.

[Yosemitest]

I'm not really into gaming, but I do watch a lot of the old AMC movies and like westerns for my dad.
History and science are an interest.
How much on average do you spend.

[bolobaby]

www.speedtest.net

[Yosemitest]

Sounds good. Thanks.

[Yosemitest]

I have one more question.

Do I need a ROKU device for each TV,
or will one ROKU serve two TVs watching different channels?

[Yosemitest]

1.26 mbps down, 0.31 mbps up, Thats not what I was promised by AT&T.
Disgusting, I think. Thanks.

[bolobaby]

You need a Roku for each device unless you have a newer model Tv that is already internet enabled.

And your speeds won’t cut it. :-( Negotiate for something better!

[PeevedPatriot]

I've spent NOTHING since my original purchase :) I tried a free hulu trial but didn't use it so cancelled. If you like classics you'll find a lot of old movies on free movie channels. I just looked and they have a classic western channel for $1.99 a month. When I bought mine it had a 30 day money back guarantee for any reason. I wasn't too confident when I bought it and was actually surprised how well it worked.

[prisoner6]

My panties are all wet about devices like Equiso, Infinitec Pocket TV and others.

I just ordered an infinitec kickstart version from Ebay for $85. The production versions are the same but run twice as much. EQUISO is around $80 new and shipping now. There are several manufactures with similar devices with prices below $50 to over $200.

Basically I am talking Android on a stick. Plugs into an HDMI port and away you go.

Since we already use Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and more the monthly cost is nil.

One thing to note is our situation is unique. We live in an area where over the air broadcast is degraded by the landscape so for almost anything we need our Comcastic “ service.”

Also I enjoy live harness racing from the local track as well as QVC and a few other channels. Because of that we keep our cable but really we could blow it away and go with Roku -which we like- or just the sservices I mentioned.