Streaming device

azgreg · 2017-12-10T19:19:50+00:00

Anybody here use a streaming device other than a game consul?

Ringoblack

We have both Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku. Got the Roku for my wife. Had the Fire for 2 yrs and Roku for one. I use the fire most and wife doesn't use the Roku much. But both are good. I would give a slight edge to the Roku, but the fire works well with Amazon Prime. If you don't have a Prime membership, go with the Roku, IMO.

ZWExton

I am in the process of dumping cable and going to Roku + Sling/DirecTV now/YouTube TV (not sure which yet). I'll still have most cable channels and reduce my monthly expenses by around $50.

I did a lot of research and reading about the various options. Happy to share what I found. Did you have a specific question about anything?

Roku is a stand-alone content source that comes with a remote and dedicated apps for most things you'd want (Netflix, Hulu, streaming TV) and its own free "Roku Channel" with many free movies. It's user friendly and intelligent - you can search for a show/movie and it'll search all your connected apps for the content.

Chromecast is a "hub" for your TV that you control with your phone. You cannot use a Chromecast without a smartphone. You find what you want in your phone and, if the feature is available, "cast" it to your TV from your phone. Once the content is playing you can do whatever you want from your phone again - your phone is the remote here, and not everything is cast-able.

I went with Roku myself - I liked having a dedicated remote and a ton of support for so many various media sources. Plenty of other neat features depending on which model you get and what you need.

Weirfan

Netflix is used via laptop, PS3 and WiiU

amazon fire tv stick and laptop connected to the tv's have Kodi Krypton installed and run various addons for movies, tv shows , live tv /sports music etc

azgreg

We've decided on the Roku Streaming Stick.

ZWExton

azgreg Nice. I think the major difference between the SS and the SS+ is the 4k output, right? On Black Friday the SS+ was $50 in a couple places, so I got two of them. Need to pick up a third unit at some point, may get a regular SS or even the Express.

azgreg

ZWExton
4k/HDR and more WIFI range are the pluses for the +. I don't have a 4k tv now. If we decide to cut the cord later I can always upgrade my streaming device then.

backinit

Roku devices.

BobA

2 Amazon Fire boxes and 2 AF sticks. No more cable. Subscribe to Playstation Vue, Nexflix and Amazon Prime. Very satisfied.

DC300

I have the Roku 2 ( upgraded faster version of it). Had the original stick and it was pretty choppy, dog are the remote, realized I could replace the unit cheaper than the remote, so I did. Went wired this time and have no regrets, but I wish this had IR sensors so I didn’t have to position it where the remote sees it. I believe the 3 has that. I also have a ROKU TV, 4K, etc in the bedroom which was a $279 special at Best Buy, it works flawlessly and I prefer it to my bigger 5x the cost Samsung.

wishbone

I have been happy with my Firestick's, but am a Prime member.

Chromecast is cool for casting on the TV from my phone or computer, but I use my firesticks much more

Tinker

Does any of this stuff allow you to watch golf channel, local baseball team games, any local sports, Fox News, turner movie classics. That’s about all I watch

DC300

Tinker I went to Sling TV, have to check the packages, but most of that is available if you pair it with an over the air antenna, which is the best price of all, Free! So we pay for internet and $20 for sling, the rest is free and I don’t feel I’ve missed a thing.

ZWExton

DC300 Exactly my plan, but I think I will pay the $5/mo for DVR on Sling as well.

DC300

ZWExton there are so many on demand channels that I don’t even bother, but if you want to see the very latest and greatest the DVR feature is a good move. I like it over all, I think most people would be pleased, especially considering the cost.

Typhoon

We have all the cable channels and watch that most of the time. Also use an Amazon Firestick...watch prime movies etc...

Anyone here using Kodi or Exodus with their Firestick?

Weirfan

Typhoon Anyone here using Kodi or Exodus with their Firestick?

Kodi is the application , Exodus is one of many video Addons within the application.
We've been usin Kodi for several years now and have it on our Firestick downstairs. We just installed the latest version last weekend.
There is nothing better to get access to movies ( some that are still in theatres) tv shows, live tv etc. And of course its all free.
One thing that has happenec over the past 6 months is greater pressure on some of the site repisitories whic has resulted in them closing or moving or changing name. The result has been a bit more required user maintenance to keep addons up to date , remove obsolete ones , add new ones. Its pretty simple and doesnt take long but more than we used to have to do. If you domt like it you simply delete it from your Fire tv.

Larryd3

I just noticed that Apple TV now has Amazon Prime Video on it. We've had one for several years and it works fine, especially if you have other apple products for airplay, etc.....

Typhoon

Weirfan

Right...I meant the 2 add ons for kodi, Exodus and I forget the name of the other one. Great for watching some movies as long as you're patient with the quality or lack of streams.

Toulon

If you're using Kodi, install: Cellar Door...it's like getting Kodi for the very first time.

Use a laptop to stream via HDMI.

Look into IPTV variants, and if that's not for you, there's...

YouTube TV
Sling TV
Fubo TV
DirecTV Now
Hulu with Live TV

All the above offer free trials, or did. You can use different emails and keep the free trials going, if that's your thing.

I tried them all...found YouTubeTV to be the best quality and user interface.

For the hockey fans, NHLtv is the greatest creation. It works beautifully via the NHLtv addon on Kodi. Oh, how I wish this tech was available back when I was a kid and North Stars fan.