Netflix and Roku combo. What is the best way to go? (vanity)

feb 25 2015 | moi

[dennisw]

Hi all

*****3mbs and 6mbs are my local DSL speeds.

I have never considered this before. I see many different roku devices. Which Roku are you using and recommending for it to stream Netflix to a TV set that has a few HDMI ports? Netflix is my only interest for getting a Roku. I know Roku can pull in other internet broadcasts such as as sports.

--Does the Ruku HDMI stick work well? I distrust such miniaturized devices as maybe failing sooner.

-- What is the total monthly cost for roku + netflix. Probably would be an unlimited netflix plan.

--- how will Netflix streaming work at 3mbs and 6mbs which are my local DSL speeds?

-- 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?

---will such slow speeds make for jerky motion and dropouts?

---- Do such slow speeds ruin action movies with special effects?

Thanks!

[Rum Tum Tugger]

If you have Amazon Prime, your clear choice is the new Amazon Fire TV.

I have 4 Roku’s, an Apple TV, a WD Live and a Chromecast. For Christmas, I was given an Amazon Fire TV.

After 2 days with the AFTV, I unhooked the Roku, WD Live and ATV from my main TV and now only use the AFTV. AFTV comes with apps installed for Netflix, Hulu Plus and, of course, the Amazon Prime services.

But AFTV also has lots of other very useful apps. For example, there’s an app called Plex that makes it very easy to play music and videos stored on a computer on your network. There’s another app that supports Apple airplay so that you can play videos stored on your iPhone.

The AFTV supports gaming.

The AFTV makes the Roku seem very dated.

Can’t say enough good things about the Amazon Fire TV.

[Made In The USA]

We’re using a Roku LT for our big screen and love it. The device gives you access to subscription channels such as Netflix, etc. - but also includes numerous free channels. Good mobile app also for Roku (select and manage channels, and remote control).

We also use Netflix at $9/month streaming. Have it on our TV’s, laptops, cell phones, tablets... Recommend it.

We also subscribe to Amazon Prime, and use Amazon to fill in the gaps when we can’t find something we really want on Netflix.

We have a FiOS connection, but your DSL connection would likely be fine. Good luck!

[roamer_1]

I paid twenty five bucks for an Acer computer from the Vista era. It can be either mini-tower or pancake. It has a blue-ray DVD. It has HDMI out. It is 64bit capable.
spent another 10 bucks for a wireless NIC, and 30 bucks at WallyWorld for a wireless KB with glidepad built in. Meant to jack up the RAM, put in a big vid card, and install Win7/64, but I hooked it up to the TV and found it handles everything perfectly as is.

Subscribed to Netflixs and Amazon Prime, and I expect to give CableTV the axe around summertime, saving me some 70 bucks a month. And NO MORE stupid Smart TV apps. No more DVD player. No more Roku. Just a TV and a computer, and I have never been happier. Cheap, effective, upgradeable, and I can fix it. Sweeet.

[GeronL]

exactly, there are a lot of classic old movies on Youtube and if you like K-dramas like me, KBS World subtitles everything on their site.

[GeronL]

Time Warner Cable subscribers can watch it on their computers, but local stations and a few other channels might not be available

[GeronL]

sounds like a good plan

[drjimmy]

I got a Roku 1 on sale for $30 right before Christmas, after having the earlier version for a couple of years, so I wouldn’t have to cart it back and forth from my bedroom TV to the one in the living room.

I’m watching the fourth season of Mad Men and the first season of House of Cards on Netflix, which the Roku is great for. I’d suggest getting an Amazon Prime account if you order lots of products through Amazon, because in addition to the free two-day shipping there are lots of movies and TV shows you can watch for free on Prime Instant Video.

I have heard some bad things about the reliability of the Roku stick version. It is certainly handier to put it in your HDMI port than to have to find a surface to place the tabletop version, but perhaps until they get the bugs worked out that would be the best way to go.

[mmichaels1970]

How do you do that? I have a PS3 and I would like to do the same. Thanks.

I have a WD MyCloud NAS drive that is cabled directly into my wireless router. My PS3 happens to be right next to my router, so I have that cabled via ethernet as well (to ensure max bandwidth). Then in the PS3, there is a feature you can select that says something like "scan for media servers". When the scan is complete, it should pick up your NAS. Then you connect to it via the PS3 and it will do a scan of the drive and catalog your media by folder, artist, album, etc.

It's been a while since I hooked it up. But I think when you set up the NAS, you may have to enable an option that tells it to act as a media server. I can't remember, but that option may have come enabled by default.

Here are some instructions from the PS3 site that might help.

[mmichaels1970]

But it can't be as hard as it was for me to remove the muffler bearings from my Samsung Galaxy tablet.

Smarty pants.... :)

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

FWIW - we have a Roku device - not the stick but the one that’s about 4” x 4”. We stream Netflix and Amazon prime - but there are some free channels and YouTube, and Acorn, etc. Not a lot of live anything. Right now going through episodes of Blue Bloods.

[mmichaels1970]

The Roku 2 has analog outputs for the audio and video as well as HDMI. The Roku 3 has only HDMI output.

That's a very good point. Especially if the home is equipped with non-HDMI TVs. The analog option allows the Roku to be more portable if you're intending (like my daughter) to move it to different TVs.

I suppose if you went with the Roku 3, you could possibly get an HDMI to component adapter cable. Not sure about that though.

[mmichaels1970]

How do you do that? I have a PS3 and I would like to do the same. Thanks.

It's one of my favorite features with the PS3 by the way. I don't play video games that often any more. But the media server connection is fun when you have a few friends over for adult beverages. You can load up some tunes with the PS3 and play them over your surround sound or TV audio.

If you have a computer connected to your network with Windows Media Center, I think you can even find that with your PS3 and stream from it without a dedicated NAS. Never tried it that way though.

[roamer_1]

sounds like a good plan

D00d. It rocks. I should have done this years ago.

It has been pretty normal for me to have the TV on and muted, while I am listening to something on the laptop or the tablet... but not anymore. And best of all, once the cable box goes, I will be down to ONE clicker and a keyboard. Do you have any idea how long it's been since I had but ONE clicker? It's heaven, I'm tellin' ya'

[adaven]

I would go with the 6 meg DSL. You will be able to stream HD no problem with little delay. You will be pushing it though if you decided to have two or more streams at the same time.

I have an older Roku XD that I’ve used for years and just purchased the Roku 3 ($59 at Costco after instant rebate!) Spend the extra $$ and go with the Roku 3. I didn’t realize it when I bought it, but you can connect earphones right into the remote! Perfect for those late night movie binges!

So my advice is go with 6 meg internet, and get a Roku 3. You will be happy!

[southland]

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[TomGuy]

Antenna. Where I live, I can only pick up a couple of over-air stations; thus, cable/satellite TV is almost essential.

TV Tuner Card. What is you computer type? Older computers have full connectors. Newer machines have Express cards. I bought the wrong one when I got my new Win7 computer a couple of years ago.

I did buy another TV card that works pretty good — Hauppage WinTV 1255 with 1 coaxial cable connection. I did have a problem with the original software, so I had to upgrade. The latest didn’t work, so I ended up with a middle upgrade. It was a hassle, but I finally got it to work.

==

[Eaker]

Why don’t you just mind your n00bie business and stay off of the TV threads?

There has got to be a thread better suited to you than coming here and posting your stupid graphic.

[sheana]

Actually it’s not ‘on the edge’. There is no law against streaming. There is a law against downloading and distributing.

[dennisw]

Once again, all comments are appreciated. Hopefully I am not the only freeper who can learn something here.

[southland]

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