Is your Amazon Fire TV stick...garbage?

[notposting]

The latest Roku update however, is awful on our 2XS - updated to version 7 which brings nothing new except laaaaag, a freeze requiring power cycling the other day, Youtube being basically unusable, and constant network disconnects. Why they updated older/lower level hardware to a version when they get *no* features from it is beyond me.

(If there are security issues, I would think keeping the older stuff on a separate track with patches would work, along with a known support cut-off date.)

 

[Ichinisan]

Stop showing off your Famicom collection.

:sneaky:

 

[Compddd]

My Firestick is 1 foot from my access point and it buffers on Netflix and Plex. It's garbage and getting replaced with a 2nd gen Chromecast.

 

[lopri]

I have no issue controlling the remote but I am not a fan of its interface.

 

[CZroe]

Guys: spinning around as if it's buffering but never starting is not technically "buffering." It's just plain stuck, whether it's from bad net code or bad UI or bad handling of changing streams, etc. I get this a lot when skipping around or starting a program or rewinding/fast forwarding.

 

[JoeMcJoe]

Have all the same issues you have described. It's not my internet connection. I have an R8000 router paired with a 16 channel modem. My chromecast and other streaming devices don't have this issue, only my Fire Stick(s).

Same exact issues for me.

I stopped using both fire tv sticks, just junk devices. The usb power supplies will get used for something else.

No issues at all with my chromecasts (2.4Ghz), Nexus player (5Ghz) or the Rokus.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Not sure I'd call mine garbage. But it's sitting in a drawer going untouched now because it's performance was pretty poor. I got mine for $20 and pretty much got what I paid for. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone at it's normal $40 price. People are much better off spending a bit more for a Roku 3 or Fire TV.

 

[zerogear]

Amazon TV devices are meh. If you want an Android device, get a Nexus Player (I think they're going for $50 or so nowadays). Or if you just want content, Roku 3/4 is much better

 

[cronos]

Amazon TV devices are meh. If you want an Android device, get a Nexus Player (I think they're going for $50 or so nowadays). Or if you just want content, Roku 3/4 is much better

This is the first time I've seen anyone recommend the Nexus Player vs. the Fire TV (not the stick). I was looking at it and remember that there's something really funky about it. Isn't it wi-fi only or something crazy like that? D:

Roku definitely wins for content and no hassle anything. Plug it in and forget. For those who like to tweak or want to install Kodi, etc. there are other options.

 

[Midwayman]

No performance related issues with mine. The UI is garbage and its missing a lot of streaming apps I'd like though.

 

[JoeMcJoe]

The Nexus Player works really well, I use it for HBO Now, Netflix, PBS, Google music, Google movies and VLC (NAS streamed video files).

It also acts as a Chromecast, so you can cast anything from your phone to it like normal.

It is Wifi only, dual band, mine connects on 802.11ac.

 

[cronos]

The Nexus Player works really well, I use it for HBO Now, Netflix, PBS, Google music, Google movies and VLC (NAS streamed video files).

It also acts as a Chromecast, so you can cast anything from your phone to it like normal.

It is Wifi only, dual band, mine connects on 802.11ac.

Yeah that was it then. It's a shame that it doesn't have an ethernet port. Wifi only is a deal breaker for me (part of the reason why my Fire TV Stick and Chromecast are rarely used).

 

[zerogear]

Yeah that was it then. It's a shame that it doesn't have an ethernet port. Wifi only is a deal breaker for me (part of the reason why my Fire TV Stick and Chromecast are rarely used).

I have it connected to a Powered USB Hub with USB-OTG, and I have attached a mounted 64GB Drive (formatted internally to add to Nexus Player as native storage) as well as a USB-Ethernet for Ethernet connectivity.

 

[cronos]

I have it connected to a Powered USB Hub with USB-OTG, and I have attached a mounted 64GB Drive (formatted internally to add to Nexus Player as native storage) as well as a USB-Ethernet for Ethernet connectivity.

Nice. I didn't think of that. Was compatibility a problem or will any generic usb-ethernet work?

 

[CZroe]

Nice. I didn't think of that. Was compatibility a problem or will any generic usb-ethernet work?

Amazon and the FireTV Stick instructions advise not using anything other then the original power adapter, so it's odd that it would support a USB network adapter.

 

[cronos]

Amazon and the FireTV Stick instructions advise not using anything other then the original power adapter, so it's odd that it would support a USB network adapter.

Sorry about the tangent, we were talking about the Nexus Player.

 

[Ryun]

Mine also gets stuck while playing Netflix (video stops but audio keeps playing; fast forwards to catch up). Never saw it on any other video streaming app. Problem seemed to get better as the weather cooled so I suspected overheating. I also have the stick <2' away from the router so that probably isn't helping matters.

I've been wanting to open it up to see if I can replace the TIM or something. But it's a great little device, especially with Miracast support. Totally worth the $20. I think I've owned it for just over a year.

 

[notposting]

As a related tangent, poo. The Roku version 7 update definitely seems to have some problems with the older 2XS. Been keeping an eye on the Roku forum and plenty of complaints, and the usual silence.

No improvements either. Slower, freezes requiring power cycling, and wifi/ethernet constantly just not being connected. WAF plummeting. The Fire Stick is looking great at this point.

 

[podspi]

We have the same issues with ours. Not bad enough that it isn't usable, but it's definitely getting less use nowadays now that we have more capable streaming machines...

 

[razel]

Of all the sticks I tried, (Chromecast 1 & 2, Fire TV, Roku), my choices would be either Chromecast or Fire TV. Fire TV's hardware is the most powerful of the three and the other two don't come even close.

I have not had any of the issues the OP has encountered. These things don't cost too much when they are on sale (mid $20 pricing) Roku is over $30 unless you get it used at a college student off craigslist/ebay. I recommend the Fire TV stick for most people, Chromecast for those who utilize their cell phones. It doesn't have a remote, while the other two do.

In the end though it all depends on the streaming services you use and how much you value Google Play or Amazon Prime. If you have issues with wireless signals, the back of your TV is VERY noisy. Use the HDMI extender to move it away or use alumimum foil to block/direct a better signal. The best news is the cost... these things don't cost much so I don't bother to let it bother my life to start a post about it. Return it if you can or just outright sell it.

 

[basslover1]

I have two Fire TV Sticks, one from when it first came out and the 2nd from Shitty Amazon Prime Sales Day. Both work fine. I used to have issues only on Hulu, it wouldn't play ads correctly then the stream would get screwed up. Since I don't use Hulu anymore, only Netflix and Prime Video, I never have issues with either one.

 

[Ichinisan]

So I can't use a 5GHz network anymore.

I connected it for the first time in a very long time and had another horrible experience. I didn't even bother to see if it still had those same old problems.

First, it made me dismiss a couple screens describing new features. One tells me to use the microphone on my remote to search, but it should know I don't have the mic remote.

Then, it says there's no network connection. It shows my 2.4GHz network and dozens of neighboring 2.4GHz/5GHz networks. Scrolling waaay down, it showed my 5GHz SSID as if it represented only stored settings and the network was out of range (it's only a few feet from the router). The only option was to forget the network. I tried that and now there's no trace of my own 5GHz SSID...only neighbors. All of my other devices can still see and use the 5GHz network just fine. I carefully entered my SSID and WPA2-PSK, with correct case. It simply behaves as if that network isn't in range and doesn't even try to connect. The 2.4GHz network works, but I refuse to use 2.4GHz in my RF-congested apartment.

I did a factory reset. It took waaaay too long on a "Fire TV" logo with no indication that it wasn't hung forever. When it finally continued, it refused to pair with the RF remote until I removed and reinstalled the batteries.

Surprise! Still can't find my 5GHz network. I had to log-in to Amazon again (of course). It forced me to dismiss the same 2 feature screens -- including the one that I can't possibly use with my remote ("Just hold the [mic] button..."). Then it plays a "welcome to your new Fire TV" video with no option to skip. Firstly, Amazon should know this device ID was previously activated with the same Amazon account. Secondly, the video shows the wrong remote. As I try to skip through it, it stops skipping and makes me wait for it to buffer something k don't even want to watch.

I finally get to the main screen and there was no update or anything to fix these problems. I marveled at how terrible the UI is and disconnected the damn thing once again.

 

[podspi]

We have the same issues with ours. Not bad enough that it isn't usable, but it's definitely getting less use nowadays now that we have more capable streaming machines...

I have since replaced my router... and it works perfectly now.

Goes to show you, Wifi doesn't work as (well) universally as you might expect...

 

[dainthomas]

Weird. I got one because I was finding myself watching a lot of Amazon video which my first gen chromecast sucks at. Originally had some wifi issues, but once I moved the AP closer it's largely worked without a hitch. Maybe there's been some kind of software update that's fixed the issues.

 

[Excelsior]

Mine works well, honestly. It's in the same room as the access point, on AC power, and never has issues with buffering.