Cutting The Cord - Streaming Device Information (WANTED)

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I pulled the plug on DirectTV about a year ago as I saw no point in paying around $100.00 a month to watch about 4-5 hours a month of programming.  Now I get my news on the computer and cellphone as well as some programming.  The thing is, I'd really like to have some sort of device on the bedroom TV to watch a little NON-SUBSCRIPTION stuff now and then.  I'd like something SIMPLE to use (with it's own remote control) that I could use to browse for and watch some stuff now and then, any suggestions?  I don't care about 4K, Amazon Prime or Netflix because if I wanted that stuff, I'd use the computer.

I figure since a lot of techies hang out here, some of you guys lready have one and tell me some pros and cons, but specifically what kind of FREE programming you can get with it.  

THANKS!

 

[RickR]

Simple answer:  Roku.  Get the cheapest device, which should be about $30. 

Once you have a Roku hooked up, you can add a bunch of services to it.  There are a lot that are free (like Roku Channel, Peacock and Pluto) that have a ton of great content. 

You can also add the paid services too, like Netflix, AppleTV, etc.  But they are completely optional.  Essentially, you can load up whatever apps you want.  It comes with a remove that is simple.  It's easy.  My wife and I have used a Roku for years and love it. 

There are music channels, movie channels (free or $4 per movie)...just a ton of stuff to explore. 

 

[DegasElite]

Agreed. Roku is great! :O)

[RickR]

And PS - I envy you in cancelling directTV completely.  I've wanted to cut the cord forever, but we have issues.  First, internet service is through the cable company, and we don't have many other options where I live.  Internet all by itself is $80.  It's a total rip off, but no competition.  Adding TV service is just a little bit more, and we love our live local sports. 

 

[DegasElite]

Also, usually Roku is cheap, depending on the device. I would think the Streaming Stick would be one of the cheaper options to buy.

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3 hours ago, RickR said:

Simple answer:  Roku. 

2 hours ago, DegasElite said:

Agreed. Roku is great! :O)

Okay, Roku it is.  Thanks guys!

2 hours ago, RickR said:

And PS - I envy you in cancelling directTV completely.  I've wanted to cut the cord forever, but we have issues.  First, internet service is through the cable company, and we don't have many other options where I live.  Internet all by itself is $80.  It's a total rip off, but no competition.  Adding TV service is just a little bit more, and we love our live local sports. 

 

Yeah, I had the whole package Internet, satellite and phone.  Didn't need the landline since I have a cellphone and the only calls I ever got were from telemarketers, scammers and politicians.  The satellite I only used a few hours a month.  Now where I live the Internet is a flat $50.00 bucks a month (so far), but I use a LOT of bandwidth, so it's worth it to me.

34 minutes ago, DegasElite said:

Also, usually Roku is cheap, depending on the device. I would think the Streaming Stick would be one of the cheaper options to buy.

I have a couple of the original Chromecast sticks, but they don't have remote controls, so I either have to use the computer or the cellphone to control them, and that's too much of a drag.  I run KODI with an RPi4, but most of the ADD IN features don't work. So I'll go with the Roku, hopefully they will not obsolete it in a year or two so they can sell new ones.

[RickR]

$50 a month for internet would be ideal and I'd definitely cut the cable if I could get that. 

Regarding the Chromecast, Roku has the same feature of being able to cast to the TV.  So if you have a youtube video on your phone...BOOM, you just cast it to the Roku. 

And as mentioned...there's about a dozen different models of Roku.  Choose the cheapest one.  It is HDMI and works perfectly.  I got mine at Target. 

 

[RickR]

And we replaced our landline as well.  With "Ooma", which is an IP based phone system.  That allowed us to keep our landline phone #, but also save a ton of money.  The cool thing is that Ooma has really good tools available to screen out those annoying junk calls.

Oh, and on the topic of Roku going obsolete...that hasn't happened to ours yet and I would guess it's about 4 years old. 

 

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On 1/12/2023 at 3:36 PM, RickR said:

...there's about a dozen different models of Roku.  Choose the cheapest one.  It is HDMI and works perfectly.

I ended up ordering the one shown below as I don't need or want 4K, mostly because the file sizes are insane.

[RickR]

You'll want this next.  "Comet" is down on your list, but that's a really good one with cool old sci-fi stuff. 

https://www.cloudwards.net/roku-free-channels/

 

[Justin]

I LOVE Pluto TV, most of what I watch ends up being Pluto. I've especially enjoyed rewatching Halt and Catch Fire on the AMC Stories channel on Pluto especially after I learned that some people involved with the production of the show had spent time at Atari I/O 

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9 hours ago, RickR said:

You'll want this next.  "Comet" is down on your list, but that's a really good one with cool old sci-fi stuff. 

https://www.cloudwards.net/roku-free-channels/

 

Hey thanks!  That's some good information!  I'll be sure to add.  That link was awesome BTW.

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The Roku arrived yesterday... there is way too much stuff to watch with that thing.  I did notice, when watching Stargate SG-1, that they shortened the episode I watched by removing some scenes that appear on the CD version.  It's also been a long time since I've watched a commercial.

[RickR]

2 hours ago, - Ω - said:

The Roku arrived yesterday... there is way too much stuff to watch with that thing.  I did notice, when watching Stargate SG-1, that they shortened the episode I watched by removing some scenes that appear on the CD version.  It's also been a long time since I've watched a commercial.

Keep looking.  Some channels have commercials, some don't.  Some have both "on-demand" choices AND a live simulcast of their normal programming.  Once you've found your favorites, you can move them right to the top of your home screen. 

 

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I found something "interesting" with the FoxNOW application.  Once you install it and go to "Live TV" and select the regular Fox programming, it gives you an hour "preview" (to subscribe is outrageous).  Anyway when you get down to a few minutes, close the application and remove it from the Roku, then re-install it and you get another free hour... and you can do this over and over and over again. 😁  The whole process takes about 30 seconds, less time than a commercial break!