Can a Roku streaming stick be used to get free TV stations?

On 3/26/2018 7:58 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:
On 3/26/2018 5:56 PM, Amethyst wrote:
Can a Roku streaming stick be used to get free TV stations?
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=8433834roku.jpg

We are very low tech where I'm asking if I can get free TV with the
low tech equipment that I have already at home.

I picked up two unopened Roku streaming sticks at a garage sale
where the husband who worked for Roku had left the ex wife where he
had a few cases of these things that the ex wife was selling for a
buck each but she didn't know what they're good for - and neither
do I.

The gray box is a Roku 3810R and the green one is a Roku 3800R.

Googling, everyone seems to already know what they do, where I can
tell from the hits that they connect your TV to the Internet over
your router so that you can use Netflix and stuff.

But we are really low tech so my question is how much free stuff
can this Roku thing give me? All the articles assume you have
Netflix, and they even assume you have cable, and they assume you
have a TV, none of which I have.

I don't have a TV antenna to get over the air broadcast TV, and
even if I did, I'm remote so I'd likely get one station or two at
best.

THere is no cable service. Just electricity. Nothing else by way
of services.

I'm on WISP. About 5 Mbps down and up. The router is an old WNDR
Netgear N with the USB port unused.

The kids have a PS3 connected to an old Sony TV.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6286595sony_model.jpg

The Sony TV is too old for HDMI.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=7549633sony_cables.jpg

I know the Sony TV can do Netflix over the net through the PS3
which is wired to the router because we had a friend stay for a few
days and her account worked where the kids set that up, but we
don't have Netflix account.

We have Windows 10, one of which has an HDTV monitor.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=4561584hdmi_1.jpg

So that one kid's desktop is the only HDMI connection in the
house. http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1354901hdmi_2.jpg

In our low-tech situation, with only my kid having an HDMI monitor,
which nobody shows on the net, can the Roku streaming stick be used
to get free TV stations?

The short answer is yes . That stick is meant to plug into the USB
port on a TV set , but it MIGHT work in the USB port of your son's
computer . You'll find the free stuff on roku is riddled with some
very annoying commercials , if you can tolerate them thren go for it
. Otherwise , netflix can be as cheap as around 10 bucks , CBS all
access is around the same . Prime is OK , but a bit more expensive at
14 a month - but you get free shipping and a ton of commercial-free
programming .


Terry-

Perhaps your Roku stick is made to plug into a USB port or fits a USB
port, but my Roku stick fits into and requires a HDMI port on a TV. The
two plug/socket configurations may look very similar, but they have
different dimensions and wiring. The OP will require an HDMI port to
use the Roku stick.

On 27/03/2018 14:44, Wolf K wrote:
On 2018-03-27 08:16, Bod wrote:
[...]
I watched some TV whilst I was in the States and I found the amount of
adverts intolerable, especially as I mostly watch the BBC channels in
the UK which are all ad free here.
I found it so annoying that I stopped watching.
Are all US tv channels like that?

Yes, even Public Broadcasting, but they place their ads between
programs. OTOH, three or four times a year they put on specials
interrupted by begging spiels. They need the extra money from viewers.

I don't know about pay per view, never watch 'em.

Righto.

--
Bod

On 3/26/2018 9:40 PM, Amethyst wrote:

We don't really need TV, so we don't want to go the "broadcast" TV method
which will require an antenna from the roof to the bottom floor which is
just too much work, really, for crummy channels.

Get one of the indoor type that is very small, usually a box
about 10" square, and 1 inch thick. They are usually under 30 bucks
at a Walmart (type) store. If it doesn't acquire you any channels,
return it.

On 3/27/2018 8:19 AM, Peter wrote:
On 3/26/2018 7:58 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:
On 3/26/2018 5:56 PM, Amethyst wrote:
Can a Roku streaming stick be used to get free TV stations?
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=8433834roku.jpg

We are very low tech where I'm asking if I can get free TV with the
low tech equipment that I have already at home.

I picked up two unopened Roku streaming sticks at a garage sale
where the husband who worked for Roku had left the ex wife where he
had a few cases of these things that the ex wife was selling for a
buck each but she didn't know what they're good for - and neither
do I.

The gray box is a Roku 3810R and the green one is a Roku 3800R.

Googling, everyone seems to already know what they do, where I can
tell from the hits that they connect your TV to the Internet over
your router so that you can use Netflix and stuff.

But we are really low tech so my question is how much free stuff
can this Roku thing give me? All the articles assume you have
Netflix, and they even assume you have cable, and they assume you
have a TV, none of which I have.

I don't have a TV antenna to get over the air broadcast TV, and
even if I did, I'm remote so I'd likely get one station or two at
best.

THere is no cable service. Just electricity. Nothing else by way
of services.

I'm on WISP. About 5 Mbps down and up. The router is an old WNDR
Netgear N with the USB port unused.

The kids have a PS3 connected to an old Sony TV.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6286595sony_model.jpg

The Sony TV is too old for HDMI.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=7549633sony_cables.jpg

I know the Sony TV can do Netflix over the net through the PS3
which is wired to the router because we had a friend stay for a few
days and her account worked where the kids set that up, but we
don't have Netflix account.

We have Windows 10, one of which has an HDTV monitor.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=4561584hdmi_1.jpg

So that one kid's desktop is the only HDMI connection in the
house. http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1354901hdmi_2.jpg

In our low-tech situation, with only my kid having an HDMI monitor,
which nobody shows on the net, can the Roku streaming stick be used
to get free TV stations?

The short answer is yes . That stick is meant to plug into the USB
port on a TV set , but it MIGHT work in the USB port of your son's
computer . You'll find the free stuff on roku is riddled with some
very annoying commercials , if you can tolerate them thren go for it
. Otherwise , netflix can be as cheap as around 10 bucks , CBS all
access is around the same . Prime is OK , but a bit more expensive at
14 a month - but you get free shipping and a ton of commercial-free
programming .


Terry-

Perhaps your Roku stick is made to plug into a USB port or fits a USB
port, but my Roku stick fits into and requires a HDMI port on a TV.*
The two plug/socket configurations may look very similar, but they
have different dimensions and wiring.* The OP will require an HDMI
port to use the Roku stick.

* I don't have a Roku stick ... the picture looked like a USB plug and
you're right , they do look a lot alike . We have 2 Roku's , both plug
in with an HDMI cable . Sounds like the OP needs to buy a new TV ...

--
Snag
Ain't no dollar sign on
peace of mind - Zac Brown

On 3/27/2018 11:41 AM, Terry Coombs wrote:
On 3/27/2018 8:19 AM, Peter wrote:
On 3/26/2018 7:58 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:
On 3/26/2018 5:56 PM, Amethyst wrote:
Can a Roku streaming stick be used to get free TV stations?
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=8433834roku.jpg

We are very low tech where I'm asking if I can get free TV with the
low tech equipment that I have already at home.

I picked up two unopened Roku streaming sticks at a garage sale
where the husband who worked for Roku had left the ex wife where he
had a few cases of these things that the ex wife was selling for a
buck each but she didn't know what they're good for - and neither
do I.

The gray box is a Roku 3810R and the green one is a Roku 3800R.

Googling, everyone seems to already know what they do, where I can
tell from the hits that they connect your TV to the Internet over
your router so that you can use Netflix and stuff.

But we are really low tech so my question is how much free stuff
can this Roku thing give me? All the articles assume you have
Netflix, and they even assume you have cable, and they assume you
have a TV, none of which I have.

I don't have a TV antenna to get over the air broadcast TV, and
even if I did, I'm remote so I'd likely get one station or two at
best.

THere is no cable service. Just electricity. Nothing else by way
of services.

I'm on WISP. About 5 Mbps down and up. The router is an old WNDR
Netgear N with the USB port unused.

The kids have a PS3 connected to an old Sony TV.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6286595sony_model.jpg

The Sony TV is too old for HDMI.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=7549633sony_cables.jpg

I know the Sony TV can do Netflix over the net through the PS3
which is wired to the router because we had a friend stay for a few
days and her account worked where the kids set that up, but we
don't have Netflix account.

We have Windows 10, one of which has an HDTV monitor.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=4561584hdmi_1.jpg

So that one kid's desktop is the only HDMI connection in the
house. http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1354901hdmi_2.jpg

In our low-tech situation, with only my kid having an HDMI monitor,
which nobody shows on the net, can the Roku streaming stick be used
to get free TV stations?

The short answer is yes . That stick is meant to plug into the USB
port on a TV set , but it MIGHT work in the USB port of your son's
computer . You'll find the free stuff on roku is riddled with some
very annoying commercials , if you can tolerate them thren go for it
. Otherwise , netflix can be as cheap as around 10 bucks , CBS all
access is around the same . Prime is OK , but a bit more expensive at
14 a month - but you get free shipping and a ton of commercial-free
programming .


Terry-

Perhaps your Roku stick is made to plug into a USB port or fits a USB
port, but my Roku stick fits into and requires a HDMI port on a TV.
The two plug/socket configurations may look very similar, but they
have different dimensions and wiring.* The OP will require an HDMI
port to use the Roku stick.

* I don't have a Roku stick ... the picture looked like a USB plug and
you're right , they do look a lot alike . We have 2 Roku's , both plug
in with an HDMI cable . Sounds like the OP needs to buy a new TV ...

That's my opinion. Its been about 2 years since I bought a 30 inch
Samsung smart TV for only $239. I've got bigger none smart sets but
this one considered small was for a spot in my den.

Also think I would opt for higher download speed which may be needed for
streaming.

Also wanted to mention when it comes to Netflix you can put it on all of
your devices which means that the devices do not even need to be in your
house. Restriction is that you can not have more than two or three
viewers at once. One of my friends here had a son living out of state
that offered him access to his account at no cost to him. I like a lot
of the Netflix series and they might put on 10-12 one hour shows per
season but when the next season comes out they put out the whole series
so you can binge.

Frank wrote:


Also think I would opt for higher download speed which may be needed for
streaming.

Nothing prevents an ISP from throttling Netflix,
even if you buy Gigabit service. That's the beauty of
net neutrality or the lack thereof.

This is one reason that people cannot see Netflix in HD,
because the connection to Netflix is throttled, no matter
what grade of service you thought that you'd bought.

The ISP could have been cut out of the picture, by the
usage of a VPN to "hide" the traffic, except Netflix has
anti-VPN provisions to prevent people from other
countries from subscribing to US Netflix service
(by using a US billing address).

Netflix has a lot of nuances. One size bandaid doesn't fit all.

Paul

On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 15:41:24 -0400, Paul said:

Netflix has a lot of nuances. One size bandaid doesn't fit all.

I just want to say that all the articles assume you'll pay for Netflix,
which isn't the question here.

I don't want to pay for anything since I think it's foolish to pay for what
you can get for free, if you can get it for free.

That's why I asked what comes with the Roku sticks. It seems, from the
answers, "stuff" comes for free, so that's good.

Now all I need is to figure out if the Roku can plug into the HDMI "IN" of
the monitor (with a Y adapter) or if the Roku can plug into the HDMI "OUT"
of the Sony Playstation 3.

If the Roku can plug into the HDMO "OUT" of the Sony PS3, that would be
perfect because the Sony PS3 already has cables that go into the old but
rather large (48 inch?) Sony TV (maybe through the DVD player?).

Come to think of it, I didn't look at the back of the DVD player yet.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=3232054dvd_player.jpg

The DVD player also has an HDMI "OUT" that I ask if I can plug the Roku
stick into?

On Mon, 26 Mar 2018 23:23:12 -0400, "Jonathan N. Little"
said:

Not a USB, it connect into an HDMI port. I have one.

Short answer to OP is yes, there are some free channels of varying
degrees of value. Better channels need subscription or some cable tv
package, but like me no cable access here. Works on my slow DLS 3mbs.

Thank you for confirming there are "some" free channels, which is all that
I care about since the goal is free TV, where all this talk of commercials
isn't the point at all since you all have a completely different setup (eg
cable, which we don't have) and most of you likely have Netflix (which we
don't have and don't want to pay for).

It seems from the other discussions that the kids and I need HDMI "IN"
where the monitor to the desktop computer is the only device with HDMI
"IN".
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=4561584hdmi_1.jpg

The Sony Playstation 3 only has an unused HDMI "OUT".
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6417873ps3.jpg

And the DVD player also has an unused HDMI "OUT".
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=3232054dvd_player.jpg

The desktop is connected to the router by WiFi and the playstation is
connected to the router by Ethernet.

The playstation then goes directly to the back of the TV, as does the DVD
player.

Given the monitor has multiple different connections, I can free up the
HDMI "IN" of the monitor by using a different cable out of the back of the
desktop tower.

That would free up the only HDMI "IN" that I have.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1354901hdmi_2.jpg

So the only question remaining is whether the Roku streaming stick would
work connected to that HDMI "IN" of the desktop computer monitor.

On 3/27/2018 4:00 PM, Amethyst wrote:
On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 15:41:24 -0400, Paul said:

Netflix has a lot of nuances. One size bandaid doesn't fit all.
I just want to say that all the articles assume you'll pay for Netflix,
which isn't the question here.

I don't want to pay for anything since I think it's foolish to pay for what
you can get for free, if you can get it for free.

Â* If I could get OTA TV for free ... but i live over a hundred miles
from the nearest "big" city , and down in The Hollr . No reception at all .

That's why I asked what comes with the Roku sticks. It seems, from the
answers, "stuff" comes for free, so that's good.

Now all I need is to figure out if the Roku can plug into the HDMI "IN" of
the monitor (with a Y adapter) or if the Roku can plug into the HDMI "OUT"
of the Sony Playstation 3.

If the Roku can plug into the HDMO "OUT" of the Sony PS3, that would be
perfect because the Sony PS3 already has cables that go into the old but
rather large (48 inch?) Sony TV (maybe through the DVD player?).

Come to think of it, I didn't look at the back of the DVD player yet.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=3232054dvd_player.jpg

The DVD player also has an HDMI "OUT" that I ask if I can plug the Roku
stick into?

Â* You'll find that those outputs are just that - outputs only . The
input on the monitor should work though .

--
Snag
Ain't no dollar sign on
peace of mind - Zac Brown

On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 16:31:25 -0500, Terry Coombs said:

* If I could get OTA TV for free ... but i live over a hundred miles
from the nearest "big" city , and down in The Hollr . No reception at all .

I am in a situation much like yours where it should be obvious that if we
don't even have cable service, we won't have over-the-air TV service
either, which is because we are remote and that's how we like things to be.

We are WISP for Internet and telephone and that's all we have other than
electricity from the power company. The water, and septic are not services
which are provided to us. Only garbage pickup happens once every two weeks
by truck and that's it for services pretty much.

The goal here is just to see if these Roku sticks can be made to work,
where the only HDMI "INPUT" we have is the computer monitor, which we can
free up if we use a different cable out the back of the desktop tower to
the computer monitor.

* You'll find that those outputs are just that - outputs only . The
input on the monitor should work though .

Thank you for confirming that the Playstation 3 and DVD player HDMI ports
are not going to be useful since they're both outputs.

That leaves the only HDMI input being the computer monitor.

For those who have a Roku streaming stick, do you concur that the sticks
should work in the computer monitor HDMI input? The computer is a modern
Windows computer desktop.

Amethyst wrote:
That leaves the only HDMI input being the computer monitor.
For those who have a Roku streaming stick, do you concur that the sticks
should work in the computer monitor HDMI input? The computer is a modern
Windows computer desktop.


Yes it will work the HDMI port is a INPUT. Just as you can use a TV's
HDMI port for a computer monitor.

To confirm I dug out the ol' Roku 2 DX and connected to and old monitor
that only has DVI but I used a DVI-HTMI adapter. Works just fine.



--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

Jonathan N. Little wrote:
Amethyst wrote:
That leaves the only HDMI input being the computer monitor.
For those who have a Roku streaming stick, do you concur that the sticks
should work in the computer monitor HDMI input? The computer is a modern
Windows computer desktop.


Yes it will work the HDMI port is a INPUT. Just as you can use a TV's
HDMI port for a computer monitor.

To confirm I dug out the ol' Roku 2 DX and connected to and old monitor
that only has DVI but I used a DVI-HTMI adapter. Works just fine.


NOTE: The monitor would have to have builtin speakers else you will have
no sound!!!

Much easier just to pickup a Wallymart special TV. You can easily pick
up a small one for $100

--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 21:37:11 +0000 (UTC), Amethyst
wrote:

For those who have a Roku streaming stick, do you concur that the sticks
should work in the computer monitor HDMI input?

Yes.

Per Bod:
I watched some TV whilst I was in the States and I found the amount of
adverts intolerable, especially as I mostly watch the BBC channels in
the UK which are all ad free here.
I found it so annoying that I stopped watching.
Are all US tv channels like that?

Probably - if you watch in real time.

Personally, I always watch recorded shows and jump-forward the commercials.

I do not think I have seen more than 15 seconds of any commercial in over 10
years.

I run a Tivo-on-Steroids app on my 24-7 PC and record to drives on same.

There's a little black box under each TV that gives me a UI into the
Tivo-on-Steroids app.

"SageTV"... used to be a commercial product - discontinued when Google bought
it out to harvest the brainpower behind it.

But the public domain version, which everybody uses now, is still kickin' it:
https://forums.sagetv.com
--
Pete Cresswell

On 3/27/2018 2:30 PM, Amethyst wrote:
On Mon, 26 Mar 2018 23:23:12 -0400, "Jonathan N. Little"
said:

Not a USB, it connect into an HDMI port. I have one.

Short answer to OP is yes, there are some free channels of varying
degrees of value. Better channels need subscription or some cable tv
package, but like me no cable access here. Works on my slow DLS 3mbs.

Thank you for confirming there are "some" free channels, which is all that
I care about since the goal is free TV, where all this talk of commercials
isn't the point at all since you all have a completely different setup (eg
cable, which we don't have) and most of you likely have Netflix (which we
don't have and don't want to pay for).

It seems from the other discussions that the kids and I need HDMI "IN"
where the monitor to the desktop computer is the only device with HDMI
"IN".
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=4561584hdmi_1.jpg

The Sony Playstation 3 only has an unused HDMI "OUT".
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6417873ps3.jpg

And the DVD player also has an unused HDMI "OUT".
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=3232054dvd_player.jpg

The desktop is connected to the router by WiFi and the playstation is
connected to the router by Ethernet.

The playstation then goes directly to the back of the TV, as does the DVD
player.

Given the monitor has multiple different connections, I can free up the
HDMI "IN" of the monitor by using a different cable out of the back of the
desktop tower.

That would free up the only HDMI "IN" that I have.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1354901hdmi_2.jpg

So the only question remaining is whether the Roku streaming stick would
work connected to that HDMI "IN" of the desktop computer monitor.

Just read the manual and plug the thing into the
HDMI of the monitor and see what it does.
As I recall, you wifi into it to set it up. Should be clearly
described in the manual. Worry about other devices after you
determine that the content is usable. Depending on your model,
the only audio output is thru HDMI, which can severely limit your options.

I played with mine for about ten minutes
before I gave up on the useless free content.

I think you'll find that the stuff available for free is absolute CRAP.
Anything you want to watch is NOT FREE.
And you can get most of the same stuff with an app on the computer.

roku is for people who have a dumb tv and want to get content without
dedicating a whole computer to the process...and are willing to pay for
content.

You can get free movies you'd actually want to watch using your internet
browser on your desktop or smartphone.
Google tubiTV and Crackle to get started.
Go the the national TV network websites and see what they have for
streaming. Used to be a lot of free network TV, but I think they
are now charging for access. Check it out.
You should be able to get anything network accessible in a standard
format to go thru
your roku. I haven't looked in a while, but networks like to force
you to use their viewer app so they can control the advertising content.
My neighbor swears that buying netflix is the best bang for the buck.
YMMV