TV stream boxes (box, cable, TV's, keyboard)

[gia1990]

So I've been seeing a lot of these TV streaming boxes all over. I've been trying to do some research to see which one I should get but there are so many. If there's any advice from current TV stream box owners that would be very great.

[tmozer]

One of the recent models of Roku is the best choice IMHO.

[Katie1]

You will have to pay fees for the streaming to work! Netflex is $10.99 per month each month. Amazon is $99 for the Year. I no clue what the others charge.

I purchased a Spark at Walmart.. I adding my own DVDs to it $2 each plus the cost of the DVD. Slowly adding to my Vudu collection by adding the DVDs I currently own

[John7777]

Originally Posted by Katie1

You will have to pay fees for the streaming to work! Netflex is $10.99 per month each month. Amazon is $99 for the Year. I no clue what the others charge.

I purchased a Spark at Walmart.. I adding my own DVDs to it $2 each plus the cost of the DVD. Slowly adding to my Vudu collection by adding the DVDs I currently own

Not all the sites charge. It just depends.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by John7777

Not all the sites charge. It just depends.

The best streaming sites cost money. If a streaming site doesn't charge, there are one of 3 catches:

1. It forces you to sit through commercials.
2. It's a pirate site, streaming content it doesn't own.
3. It's showing content that often isn't very interesting, like the NASA channel.

The Roku has the best mix of #1 and #3. If the OP wants #2, the Roku isn't the best box for the job.

[gunslinger256]

there are some streaming boxes that I've become aware of recently and I'm completely shocked at the amount of content that is available for free.

I went through the effort of building a raspberry pi 2 mini media center streaming box running OSMC for about $60 to host this software but not going to recommend it since most of the time it doesn't work. Apparently the community is supported by hackers who index the content in their spare time.

I think Roku is essentially similiar.

[RayinAK]

You don't have to buy a streaming box these days, unless your TV is not Internet ready. The new TV's come with NetFlix, Roku, Amazon, and all the apps you will need. Al you have to do is to have a Wi-Fi network set-up, and then choose whichever app you need, and then register at NetFlix, Roku, whatever...and pay for the service.

If you don't have an Internet ready TV, then buy an Apple TV or a similar box, and connect a HDMI cable from the box to the TV (you must have at least a TV with a HDMI port, and Internet service).

[gunslinger256]

high speed Internet is certainly a requirement. Most of my streaming issues is due to have a slow connection (5mbps or less)

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by gunslinger256

high speed Internet is certainly a requirement. Most of my streaming issues is due to have a slow connection (5mbps or less)

True. Mine is around 13mbps, not the fastest, but works well and is cheap enough.

[wheelsup]

Roku 2 is the same guts as Roku 3 without the remote. You can use your cell as a remote and get the same stuff as the Roku 3 plus a keyboard function. That's what we went with. If you want to cut the cable bill down, check out Sling TV, you even get a free Rome 2 if you prepay for three months.

SlingTV + Netflix + OTA antenna is working well for us now, and ages about $500/yr.

I tried the Amazon Fire product but the Roku is a much better interface. IMO.