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

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?

On 3/26/2018 6:56 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?

Best I know is that a Roku device only makes a dumb TV into a smart TV
and only free TV available is what is on the internet like this stuff:

ttps://www.killthecablebill.com/tv-channels/

But you say you do not even have a TV.

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?

Â* 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 .

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

On 3/26/2018 6:56 PM, Amethyst wrote:
TV

Does your TV have a USB port?



I'm on WISP. About 5 Mbps down and up.
The router is an old WNDR Netgear N with the USB port unused.
I am a novice to smart TV, but from what I have read 5 Mbps is about the
minimum for low resolution moves, but that would probably be acceptable
for TV shows.



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.

If you can get Netflix through the play station, you may be able to
access the net and get to the several free, or nominal cost sites.


I don't know about your area but I have found there are quite a lot of
material available on the local Public TV website.

As for Broadcast TV, you may wish to check this site:

https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

This will give you an idea of the station available in your area. Many
broadcast TV station have one primary and several secondary channels. I
consider them point channels as the are 5.0, 5.2; 17.1, 17.2, 17.3,
17.4; etc. In my area there are five primary channel, and with the
secondary channel there are a total of about 16 channels to choose from.

You may also consider and amplified antenna. Use the information from
the above site to determine the amplification you need for your area.







--
2018: The year we learn to play the great game of Euchre

On Mon, 26 Mar 2018 21:17:39 -0400, Keith Nuttle
said:

Does your TV have a USB port?

No. The router has a USB port.
The Playstation 3 has USB ports.
The Windows 10 desktop computer has USB ports.

The TV is just these ports which are not USB or HDMI.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=7549633sony_cables.jpg

The TV is just connected to the PlayStation 3 and DVD player.

The only device with HDMI is the one desktop computer and monitor.

I'm on WISP. About 5 Mbps down and up.
The router is an old WNDR Netgear N with the USB port unused.
I am a novice to smart TV, but from what I have read 5 Mbps is about the
minimum for low resolution moves, but that would probably be acceptable
for TV shows.

We had a friend over who used her Netflix account somehow on the
PlayStation 3 to play to the Sony TV where the Playstation 3 is connected
to the router by wire, so the TV has Internet only that way (through the
PS3).

The TV is a very old model.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6286595sony_model.jpg

The Internet comes in to the WISP modem and then goes to the router and
then goes to the PS3 and then to the TV.

If you can get Netflix through the play station, you may be able to
access the net and get to the several free, or nominal cost sites.

That is the kind of advice I was hoping to get!
It didn't even occur to me that the PS3 had HDMI!

I just looked, and the PS3 does have an unused HDMI port!
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6417873ps3.jpg

I don't know about your area but I have found there are quite a lot of
material available on the local Public TV website.

I was hoping that the Roku "came with" some free channels.
We don't have any right now, so anything is better than nothing.

As for Broadcast TV, you may wish to check this site:
https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps
This will give you an idea of the station available in your area. Many
broadcast TV station have one primary and several secondary channels. I
consider them point channels as the are 5.0, 5.2; 17.1, 17.2, 17.3,
17.4; etc. In my area there are five primary channel, and with the
secondary channel there are a total of about 16 channels to choose from.

You may also consider and amplified antenna. Use the information from
the above site to determine the amplification you need for your area.

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.

What you told me that I didn't know is that the PS3 has that unused HDMI
port!

Can the Roku be connected to that PS3?

On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 01:40:20 +0000 (UTC), Amethyst
said:

What you told me that I didn't know is that the PS3 has that unused HDMI
port!

I just noticed that the monitor is HDMI *IN*
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1354901hdmi_2.jpg

While the PS3 is HDMI *OUT*.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6417873ps3.jpg

Does the direction matter for my purpose if I want to put the Roku
streaming stick into the PS3 to get the TV to be on the Roku Internet?

On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 01:40:20 +0000 (UTC), Amethyst
wrote:

On Mon, 26 Mar 2018 21:17:39 -0400, Keith Nuttle
said:

If you can get Netflix through the play station, you may be able to
access the net and get to the several free, or nominal cost sites.

Several? :-) See below.


I was hoping that the Roku "came with" some free channels.
We don't have any right now, so anything is better than nothing.

As of a year go, there were reportedly 4500+ Roku channels, including
both free and non-free channels. Those are only the Roku-approved
channels available through the Roku Channel Store, however. If you
include the private channels, there's about 2000 more. All of the
thousands of free channels "come with" any Roku purchase.

I'd recommend that you start by visiting the Roku site:
https://www.roku.com/how-it-works

I have 3 Roku devices in the house and love them. At least half a dozen
folks that I know of have purchased their own after playing with mine.

On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 01:55:29 +0000 (UTC), Amethyst
wrote:

On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 01:40:20 +0000 (UTC), Amethyst
said:

What you told me that I didn't know is that the PS3 has that unused HDMI
port!

I just noticed that the monitor is HDMI *IN*
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1354901hdmi_2.jpg

While the PS3 is HDMI *OUT*.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6417873ps3.jpg

Does the direction matter for my purpose if I want to put the Roku
streaming stick into the PS3 to get the TV to be on the Roku Internet?

Yes, the direction matters. Perhaps the monitor has an additional HDMI
input? You could connect the Roku there.

Alternatively, you can use a device that has 2 or more HDMI inputs and a
single HDMI output. It's sort of like a KVM, but for HDMI video/audio
instead of keyboard & mouse. I use this one, available online for about
$10 or at Walmart for just under $15.

https://www.rakuten.com/shop/sf-plan...duct/HD1831-03
Fosmon 3 Port HDMI Switch/Switcher 3 x 1 Auto Switch 3-In 1-Out with
Pigtail Cable

You'd connect the PS3 and the Roku to inputs, and the single output goes
to your monitor.

Terry Coombs wrote:
Â* The short answer is yes . That stick is meant to plug into the USB
port on a TV set

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.

--
Take care,

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

On 3/26/2018 11:23 PM, Jonathan N. Little wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
Â*Â* The short answer is yes . That stick is meant to plug into the USB
port on a TV set

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.


We have a Roku and there are several offerings that really aren't too
bad for being free, Pluto TV being one. There are news offerings,
weather, limited sports and movies, music stations, gamers channels and
wacky things like cat and gorilla videos.

Roku channel itself is free as well as Crackle and a bunch of others.

D.

Amethyst wrote:
On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 01:40:20 +0000 (UTC), Amethyst
said:

What you told me that I didn't know is that the PS3 has that unused HDMI
port!

I just noticed that the monitor is HDMI *IN*
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1354901hdmi_2.jpg

While the PS3 is HDMI *OUT*.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6417873ps3.jpg

Does the direction matter for my purpose if I want to put the Roku
streaming stick into the PS3 to get the TV to be on the Roku Internet?

To convert HDMI to YPrPb for the back of the TV, should
have been easy.

However, one of the reasons that the digital standards
exist for monitor cabling, is so DRM can be applied to them.

The Roku claims HDMI 2.0a and likely comes with some
2 series HDCP content protection as well. Generally
content protection is applied to 1920x1080 @ 60p.
(I can't provide a cite as to what regulation might
or might not define "pirate ready" interface limits.)
A resolution below 1920x1080, like 1280x720, might not
need protection. The Roku may be programmable,
or perhaps an HDMI adapter can "reflect back" the user
choice of resolution back to the Roku stick so
it does the right thing.

Now, the description of this seems unbelievable. It actually
claims to work with HDMI, and produces Component out.
It claims to support HDCP. I thought this was an "illegal"
combination, but what do I know.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9SIABMK5CW5947

Support HDCP1.2, support analogue video output up to UXGA and 1080P with 10-bit DAC.

HDMI video input format: 480i/576i/480p/576p/720p/1080i/1080P
YPbPr video output format: 480i/576i/480p/576p/720p/1080i/1080P

So the first statement "UXGA (1600×1200)", means
it doesn't actually output pixel for pixel. It's
probably down-sizing a bit, to stay below the 1920
analog limit. Which is perfectly fine. For example,
if it reduced the resolution of the output to 1280x720
(which is 720p), you'd probably still be pleased with
the picture on the TV set.

You *might* be able to use it with the TV set, like this.
But because these products live in the "crap zone" of
DRM, we have no control over what happens at all... So
be warned, the money may not be well spent. This is how
you get to the TV set with the Roku HDMI version. (An
older Roku had YPbPr, but that version would also have
old firmware and not stream smoothly.)

Router
Wifi
\ HDMI YPbPr
+ ROKU ---------- Converter --------- TV (YPrPb+Laudio+Raudio)
| | 5 coax cables w. connectors
| 5V @ 1A | 5V
| |
USB power Barrel power
wall adapter wall adapter

The converter is not likely to come with the five coax cables
needed to connect to the TV set.

YPbPr cable with RCA/Cinch on the ends.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9SIA6U636U8127

You'd also need an LAudio/RAudio with RCA/Cinch
on the ends for the audio connection, for a total
of five coax.

The cables seem to come in thin and thick coax types,
and since you really only need a minimal length of
cable, the thin stuff is probably fine.

HTH,
Paul

"Amethyst" wrote in message
news
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 roku sticks you have can ONLY be connected to a viewing device that has
an HDMI in port. For your TV with the RCA ports, you need Roku Express
3910RW or an older version of same.
https://www.roku.com/products/compare

No Roku will let you view off the air TV stations via your TV in a normal
manner..

No Roku "comes with" channels. One must access their channel store - either
via the Roku device or internet - and create an account. You can then
select whatever channels you want to add to the device; that will install
the bit of code necessary on the device for that particular channel.
Channels can be added or deleted at any time, the limit being only the
capacity of the Roku device. I have no idea what that capacity is, most we
have ever had is 30-40 of which we actually watch 6-8.

There are many free channels, most all will pump out a deluge of ads; one
needs a high threshold of pain to watch them.. The better channels such as
Netfliix, Amazon, et al all require a small monthy fee.

You can browse the channel store here...
https://channelstore.roku.com/browse

On 27/03/2018 13:08, dadiOH wrote:
"Amethyst" wrote in message
news
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 roku sticks you have can ONLY be connected to a viewing device that has
an HDMI in port. For your TV with the RCA ports, you need Roku Express
3910RW or an older version of same.
https://www.roku.com/products/compare

No Roku will let you view off the air TV stations via your TV in a normal
manner..

No Roku "comes with" channels. One must access their channel store - either
via the Roku device or internet - and create an account. You can then
select whatever channels you want to add to the device; that will install
the bit of code necessary on the device for that particular channel.
Channels can be added or deleted at any time, the limit being only the
capacity of the Roku device. I have no idea what that capacity is, most we
have ever had is 30-40 of which we actually watch 6-8.

There are many free channels, most all will pump out a deluge of ads; one
needs a high threshold of pain to watch them.. The better channels such as
Netfliix, Amazon, et al all require a small monthy fee.

You can browse the channel store here...
https://channelstore.roku.com/browse


(Butting in, apologies)

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?


--
Bod

"Bod" wrote in message
...

There are many free channels, most all will pump out a deluge of ads; one
needs a high threshold of pain to watch them.. The better channels such
as
Netfliix, Amazon, et al all require a small monthy fee.

You can browse the channel store here...
https://channelstore.roku.com/browse


(Butting in, apologies)

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?

All the networks, over the air TV, are fueled by ads but a more tolerable
quantity. When one receives them via a cable type service, those services
add even more. IOW, all suck.

On 27/03/2018 13:58, dadiOH wrote:
"Bod" wrote in message
...

There are many free channels, most all will pump out a deluge of ads; one
needs a high threshold of pain to watch them.. The better channels such
as
Netfliix, Amazon, et al all require a small monthy fee.

You can browse the channel store here...
https://channelstore.roku.com/browse


(Butting in, apologies)

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?

All the networks, over the air TV, are fueled by ads but a more tolerable
quantity. When one receives them via a cable type service, those services
add even more. IOW, all suck.



I see....and thanks.

--
Bod