Posted on 04/12/2015 11:10:39 AM PDT by ducttape45
Hello all. I was wondering if I could fellow Freepers about a streaming video product called "Roku."
I've heard it talked about on radio programs, and I've seen it advertised on the Internet of course. I just wondered if anyone has Roku or could possibly cue me in on how well it performs and your overall assessment of it.
I turned off my Comcast TV because they keep driving the prices up and taking channels away and I got sick and tired of not being able watch TV stations that were once part of a standard cable package.
Thanks.
Post #92 has everything you need and it’s free.
Kodi is an app that is a bit difficult to configure, but it does everything GC, Roku, Apple TV does and more.
The two links in the post have hundreds of TV shows and movies, although not in real time.
Kodi has real time streaming.
For later.
Actually I have been keeping an eye on Apple TV. It was $99. Now the price has dropped to $69. This is comparable to the middle tier Roku device (Roku II). Roku in addition to having the stick has three tiers of devices. My neice enjoys the top tier as she plays Angry Birds on it with the Roku remote. And speaking of the remotes, I hate the remotes but they did keep it simple.
Apple TV is just another device like Roku. Chromecast hasn’t come with a set top box, they have always been a stick which Roku has since copied.
If you do go with Roku, make sure you check out their channels on their website as there are many more channels on the website than on the device. There are even hidden channels on the Roku that is only found on the website. Some of these are adult in nature and are hidden from the youngsters. However if you do subscribe to a hidden channel, it is not hidden on your Roku if you subscribe to it. All channels/apps whether they are paid for are free are considered to be subscription based and can be canceled (removed) at anytime.
A subscription does not always mean you pay for the channel/app.It just means you want to have that channel/app on the list of your channels.
I have a very early Roku that I still use. It is the one where the channels scroll horizontally. I have been looking to upgrade after about 6 or seven years of using the current one I have.
Interesting.
I do know it kept cycling me back to the demand for the CC. I searched through the instruction booklet and there was one line in a section unrelated to signing up that said, "you must have a credit card".
It also said you could use PAYPAL /Bank Account, so I set up an account on PAYPAL. Waited several days. Still, when I tried to do the setup, it would take me to PAYPAL and Demand a CC.
Maybe you have used a CC to pay for a subscription/movie on one of these websites, or something else so that they HAVE your CC info already (isn't that scary?).
Just wondering, did you use a CC when you set up your Roku ?
Are you still having the problem now ?
some free channels on the Roku:
for free bad movies/b-movies/drive-in movies:
Bizarre TV-streaming
B-Movie TV-streaming
Drive-in Classics on demand
Grindhouse Channel on demand
Cryptic TV both on demand and streaming
ZOM-BEE tv on demand
non-movie free stuff:
TuneIn just like the smartphone app for listening to radio stations.
RadioReference-police scanner for 100s of cities
if you subscribe to MLB.tv it can be found on Roku.
Yes Roku does have youtube but it is clunky as hell. I think it is better to run an HDMI cable from your computer to your HDMI capable tv and watch youtube that way.
Also I prefer the wired Roku over wireless Roku.
I don’t understand why people pay for Netflix, Hulu, etc or buy a Roku, etc. free streaming is everywhere. I have a digital adapter for my iPad that hooks it to the tv. I also have one for a laptop that hooks it to the tv. I watch whatever I want whenever I want....free.
add this to your tv:
http://store.gomohu.com/the-leaf-indoor-hdtv-antenna.html
We dirched cable two years ago. Roku & Hulu for what we want to watch for movies and tv (not much) when we want to watch it and the indoor “mud flap” antenna for local channels (news) and PBS. ~$90 one time cost and $8/ month for Hulu. Direct TV can kiss my ....
That's what it looks like. Just like cable went from relatively inexpensive to ridiculous. Look for Netflix/Amazon/Hulu/etc. to do the same once they get people hooked.
The tv set should have hdmi and usb ports. The more the better. My LG has 3 each. Using a Roku box means using the tv remote you have to switch to another HDMI input. You see this on the tv screen and use the left or right button to select HDMI1 or HDMI2 etc. This is as easy as a few clicks. Then using the Roku remote you press the Home button and see the Roku listings. Then use the arrow buttons on the Roku remote to manuver around. It is very easy. The hard part is deciding what to watch.
I also have the Amazon Fire Stick and ChromeCast. Each plugs into a HDMI port. The Chromecast also uses a usb port.
I use an external hard drive and plug it into the usb port on the tv and watch the shows and photos I have on it as well.
The Roku 3 comes with a easy tv remote. http://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streaming-Media-Player-available/dp/B00BGGDVOO
Roku itself is the size of a hockey puck. It plugs into a hdmi port on the tv and a ac outlet and setups in a few minutes. It can also connect using wifi. I do not use the earphones as they run down the battery on the remote.
You can sign up for the various services using your computer and it then talks to the Roku box. https://www.roku.com
See what’s on. Click on the headings near the top.
https://www.roku.com/channels#!browse/movies-and-tv/by-popular
Netflix and Amazon Prime for more tv and movies. I buy alot thru Amazon so I have their Prime shipping which also gets you access to the tv and movies and music they offer. Many for free.
Netflix is about $9 a month. HULU and Pandora and Crackle are others to look at. Warner shows from 1920 onwards http://instant.warnerarchive.com
Use your over the air tv antenna to pick up the normal stations plus several others that you thought were on cable but are actually broadcast. Your local stations may be broadcasting additional stations with old movie and tv shows. See below.
TV Listings
http://www.tvguide.com/listings
Find FREE TV - type in your zip code
https://www.tablotv.com/tools
They may be broadcasting in your area. Old movies and tv shows.
Antenna TV
COZI tv
METV
GETTV
TV antennas - I use the Mohu Leaf - $40
http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/watch-free-1080p-tv-with-these-indoor-antennas/
Weird.
I plan on running an ethernet cable to the Roku box. I have wireless but I prefer not to use it if given the choice.
Thank you all!
Fire TV box has voice remote. I've never used any of the boxes I just built a Computer with lots of hard drives and hook it to my tv via HDMI and dolby digital audio to my dolby receiver with surround speakers. I watch stuff off the net and can record it all like a DVR.
I have several friends who have the Fire TV box and they love it.
How does this Roku work with a DVR? Can you DVR shows on it, or does it eliminate the need for a DVR? For instance, say I want to DVR The Voice. Can I do that, or does Roku allow me to watch The Voice anytime I want to, anyway, eliminating the need to DVR it?
Some are pay (subscription), but the vast majority are free.
To watch current content, you’d probably subscribe to Hulu plus and what they stream depends on their agreement with the show. Some shows are available to watch the next day and remain available for a few weeks. Others may not be available that soon.
You can visit Hulu on your computer to check it out and see if they stream the shows you like.
The reason I tried the ROKU was for my son. The local TV channels suck. He was going to get a device to hook up his laptop to the big screen TV so he could stream movies.
After we took the ROKU back to the store, he got an XBOX ONE.
Now he can browse the internet, use the same sites that a ROKU does, and any other site of his choosing. Just like I do with my PC.
As you say, I can watch (ALMOST) anything I want, when I want. I also can watch the newest movies the day after they are in the theater, sometimes even before they are released. The website that has these is a STREAMING website, meaning you watch what is on, where it is at. (Much like TV, but no commercials)
i have been using streaming sites for years.
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