Question Streaming 101? Roku, Fire sticks, etc., please explain.

[Muse]

We had cable here 25 years ago, but my TV ever since has been off rooftop antenna. I get HDTV via that, a computer, projector, my HDTV card's software, which supports DVR capabilities (Pause, FF, REW, in progress viewing). I'm looking at flat screen TVs now, the TCL 43S425 has my attention and comes with Roku built in.

What is Roku streaming? Is it just a facility for accessing a variety of streaming services? Do you have to pay monthly fees for any/all of those services you access?

I've seen references to Fire Sticks, which I guess are similar to Roku.

How much do you have to pay for actual streaming services?

DVR capabilities (skipping commercials, Pause, FF/REW) are viewing features of importance to me.

Please indulge a newbie here in this realm, I am exactly that. Thank you.

 

[mnewsham]

So Roku is essentially just an operating system or graphical interface that allows you to access common streaming services, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon video, ESPN, HBO, Showtime, etc.
Most of these services are paid services, you are subscribing to the service, Roku makes no money from this. You can purchase standalone roku devices, but as you're looking at a TV with Roku built in, you pay nothing for the Roku since it's baked into the cost of the TV itself.

Netflix as an example requires a monthly payment, but to get UHD 4k streaming requires a specific plan that is more expensive than the base plan.

Amazon video as another example is included for free with an Amazon prime subscription, but they also offer further paid content like newly released movies you might want to rent.


There are also some free services you can use with Roku as well. Youtube videos are obviously for the most part free, there is no service fee required to watch normal youtube through Roku. Plex is a media server software that one can run on their PC or server and stream movies from their computer to a Roku device. Though Plex has a paid subscription, the base program is free to use.

Fire sticks are essentially Amazon's own in-house streaming stick, it's highly oriented towards Amazon Video. Though it works with other services such as netflix as well.


So to tldr this, Roku itself is essentially free, however the services you access through Roku may require a subscription to use.

 

[Muse]

Ah, thanks for the rundown.

 

[paperfist]

Smart TVs basically replace Roku, at least the newer ones do.

Roku, Firestick and Chromecast are all streaming devices with some free content.

If you’re looking for cable TV line content there was a pretty good thread about that. I’ll see if I can find it.

 

[Muse]

Smart TVs basically replace Roku, at least the newer ones do.

Roku, Firestick and Chromecast are all streaming devices with some free content.

If you’re looking for cable TV line content there was a pretty good thread about that. I’ll see if I can find it.

After posting this thread yesterday, in the evening I bought a TCL 43S405 online, saw a new Slickdeals thread on it and pounced (after doing some research). Maybe OOS now. It's last year's model of the TCL 43S425, and evidently practically the same. It has Roku built in and everyone says it's great and they don't need an external device for streaming. Guess I'll be getting my feet wet!

 

[aigomorla]

you need ISP BANDWITH!

lol... steaming in 4k is no joke, and its very difficult to do on wifi without a good wifi infrastructure.

Next thing you will want to do some research in is, ripping your own personal library on a server, and then setting up a plex or kodi server, so you can take your content with you anywhere, and even watch them on your smart phone while sitting on the royal throne in the morning to kill time doing your .. well, you know what you do on that throne.

 

[Muse]

you need ISP BANDWITH!

lol... steaming in 4k is no joke, and its very difficult to do on wifi without a good wifi infrastructure.

Next thing you will want to do some research in is, ripping your own personal library on a server, and then setting up a plex or kodi server, so you can take your content with you anywhere, and even watch them on your smart phone while sitting on the royal throne in the morning to kill time doing your .. well, you know what you do on that throne.

I think I'll be pretty set for 4K streaming as soon as my ISP finally comes through with the gigabit fiber they promised would be available to me in October.

Also, I have a Synology DS214play NAS, and I suppose I can set up a Plex server with it. I saw a lot of discussion online about how Plex Server would/might work with it because of its feature set. I have never used Plex or done any streaming from my server to my projector. I have a pretty extensive collection of DVDs and Blurays. Gets to be a PITA managing the physical library, maybe I should get into ripping, but time is always a premium. I'm lucky to live about a 1-2 minute bike ride from my local library which stocks thousands of movies, TV stuff too, and I can manage everything online... except picking up and dropping off disks.

My new TCL 43S405 has wifi (I think) and maybe I can stream using that from my server or even off Netflix or Hulu, or whatever. Or else I can do it through the rig that drives the display.

 

[mnewsham]

you need ISP BANDWITH!

lol... steaming in 4k is no joke, and its very difficult to do on wifi without a good wifi infrastructure.

Next thing you will want to do some research in is, ripping your own personal library on a server, and then setting up a plex or kodi server, so you can take your content with you anywhere, and even watch them on your smart phone while sitting on the royal throne in the morning to kill time doing your .. well, you know what you do on that throne.

Honestly, 4k streaming bandwidth is the real joke.

UHD 4k blurays are 50-100mbps, 4k netflix is 15-25mbps. I had 25mbps internet in 2007.

 

[aigomorla]

My new TCL 43S405 has wifi (I think) and maybe I can stream using that from my server or even off Netflix or Hulu, or whatever. Or else I can do it through the rig that drives the display.

it also has the ability to download the plex app from roku download manager.
So you could also stream plex to it without any additional hardware.

 

[Muse]

it also has the ability to download the plex app from roku download manager.
So you could also stream plex to it without any additional hardware.

That plex app, it's free or I have to pay? TIA.

 

[mnewsham]

That plex app, it's free or I have to pay? TIA.

Plex is free, though Plex has a premium subscription with more features.

Plex is really just a media library tool that streams the content you already own to your TV, or other plex device.

Plex requires you to have the media in a streamable format already though, so you'd need to rip all of your DVDs and blurays to MKV or similar to stream over plex.
I've already got all of my media library in MKV format, so for me it's pretty simple.

 

[Muse]

I've got my feet wet now in streaming. Did an Amazon Prime subscription (30 day trial) a few years ago, on the last day or so I streamed Louis C.K. on stage. Even with my 4-5mbps it was as though I were playing a disk.

However, as of about a month ago I have a TCL 43" 4K 43S405 TV with Roku integration. What thrills me TBH is just the semi-DVR support for antenna TV (and clear QAM, although I don't have that). Can pause TV for up to 90 minutes, REW/FF. It's just like my HDTV app's DVR except for certain major features:

1. I can't program the TV to make a recording at a certain time.
2. Making any of several changes to the TV's status will erase the buffer, such as changing inputs or channel.
3. You're limited to that 90 minute amount. If unattended it will stop recording, and presumably erase the buffer.

 

[Muse]

The Roku TV aspect of this TCL TV is just plain new to me. I have a few questions:

1. I started watching a movie couple days ago. It was on the Roku Channel. Great UNTIL it came to a commercial break. There were 3 commercials. I'd already goosed the brightness from Darker (the darkest) up a notch or two. The commercials were way too bright and I find commercials obnoxious most of the time anyway. I watched more and when the next commercial break occurred I shut off the TV.

So, is there any way to determine ahead of time if a movie/video/whatever has commercials? And...

2. I have been watching some "4K" nature videos. They are off the 4K Roku channel, forget it's exact name. No way they can be 4K because my DSL coming to that TV is ~4.2mbps max (People tell me to stream 4K I need ~18-25mbps). That's using Wifi and even if ethernet connected it would be about that. So, these videos served up as if 4K are not 4K. Is there a way to determine what they're serving up in terms of resolution? ... before or during execution?

And lastly...

3. Those nature videos are ALMOST all starting with an ad. While it's playing there's a gismo at the bottom right that says Skip >. Now, if I were using my computer I could mouse-click that and skip the ad and be on with watching the video. But I see no way to do that with this TV. I've tried a few of the remte's buttons but the ad continues. And I can't see how long the ad is. On my PCs I usually install an ad blocker that eliminates Youtube ads, I wouldn't even know they were there. Is there any remedy using this TV for ads and/or commercials?

Edit: I have a mini-tower system connected to this TCL TV, with an EVGA 1050 3GB card. I suppose I could watch Youtube videos using it, outputting to the TCL and skip commercials that way. Is that what I'll need to do for that? Obviously, finding videos I want to watch will be a ton easier using Windows anyway...

 

[Muse]

So to tldr this, Roku itself is essentially free, however the services you access through Roku may require a subscription to use.

That's got me too... Using the Roku interface, there's lots of choices to investigate... I've only tried accessing a handful so far.

How do I find out which of the offerings are by subscription only? And is some of the content within each of these (say Hulu or Netflix...) free and some not free? And how do I find out without pain?

 

[Muse]

you need ISP BANDWITH!

lol... steaming in 4k is no joke, and its very difficult to do on wifi without a good wifi infrastructure.

I'm working on this. My 4.2 (max) mbps DSL will be upgraded to gigabit fiber when Sonic gets their build-out working in my neighborhood. They promised October 2018, so my personal upgrades have exceeded theirs ... I figure in a matter of a few months, I should have those speeds. "Infrastructure"... well, a couple days ago I swapped out my old gigabit router for a (virtually) new one [Asus RT-N66R --> Asus RT-AC170... I don't know that the new router is going to make any difference at all], and I have a PremierTek Wifi dongle on the rig attached to my new TCL Roku TV, I'm told it should give me ~18gbps if my ISP's throughput is capable. That, I hope, is enough for 4K streaming, along with the rig's EVGA 1050 3GB video card.

 

[Muse]

Honestly, 4k streaming bandwidth is the real joke.

UHD 4k blurays are 50-100mbps, 4k netflix is 15-25mbps. I had 25mbps internet in 2007.

I suppose I might need to connect the TV and/or rig via ethernet to my router to get those speeds (once I'm on fiber internet). That would take some doing, running that cable. I'm thinking probably well over 100', snaking around rooms, going through the attic, etc.

 

[Muse]

it also has the ability to download the plex app from roku download manager.
So you could also stream plex to it without any additional hardware.

So, you're saying the TCL 43" 4K 43S405 itself (!) can download and install the Plex app and I can use it to stream? I've seen a lot of talk for years about Plex but never done anything with it. My impression (I may be wrong!) is that I might be able to install it on my Synology DS214play NAS. Or maybe on a PC. Now you're saying it can be installed right on the TV? I have a lot to learn...

 

[aigomorla]

So, you're saying the TCL 43" 4K 43S405 itself (!) can download and install the Plex app and I can use it to stream?

yes.

You go on the roku download manager, and then install it there.
You may need to purchase the app tho on roku, while its free on PC.
I think for roku its like $4.99, unless you have a plexpass.

 

[Harry_Wild]

If you want to continue having most of your cable channels and local prime channels,you can use the theses streaming apps:

SlingTV
Directv Now
YouTube TV.

You need only one of the above.

I only watch sport channels mostly and use over the air HDTV flat antenna for my local channels in 1080i and their corresponding sub channels that show TV shows and movies from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s for free. Usually there are around 15-20 sub channels like MeTV, H&I, Comet, Antenna TV, Buzz, etc... You need to retune your channel list for over the air channels if you get the antenna! No cable channel list for most of theses since they appeal to older people. I going to get rid of the streaming channel app come Spring too and sign back on in November.