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Roku, Firestick or ??? ...........................

107.2.79.94
Posted on September 17, 2019 at 14:11:40
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 First off I am NOT a 'Video' guy. I'm an Audio Guy.... So, I need a bit of advice....

When I travel for the winter I have been using a Roku 3 and it has served me pretty well. (Probably not using it to its fullest extent).... I have decided that I also need a Roku like device for my Smart TV at home, that seems to be lacking some features that the ROKU gives me.

I see Roku has some upgraded devices as well as the 'Firestick'... I am wondering if I should upgrade?

-- I am attracted to the small size of the 'Sticks' as I am traveling, and the less the better.... Currently I plug my Roku 3 in with a Wall Wart.. I also use the Ethernet Connection. The sticks are all wireless connection (I suppose)and don't need any external power Supply?

The sticks seem to have a remote, but if they are plugged into the back of a TV and don't have a 'line of sight' with the remote - Well, how good does that work?

So, I would like a new Video Streaming Device for Travel (and I would use the Roku 3 at home) and I need some opinions on what I should get and would it work better than a Roku 3 and maybe smaller in size?





 

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RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on October 20, 2019 at 17:55:00
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15167
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 I'm wondering what to get, too. I have a family room sort of with a 'smart' TV, that is actually very dumb!

I'm thinking of getting a raspberry pi computer, but I'm not sure of all the details and I have little time.

If push came to shove, I would get a Roku with the ear buds. So far, nobody has asked me that they want to use the family room TV, so I'm safe for now.

I really want the internet browsing, especially YouTube, and the cordless earbuds would be a big plus. As it is, most of these stick devices let you use your iPhone/Android as your controller and earbuds, I think (not sure).

Seems overly complicated to me any way you look at it. I tried an Google puck, but the location was not suitable for EVERYTHING being on the same wireless unless I got an ethernet extender, which really made things more complicated in my estimation, so that immediately got returned.

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on October 8, 2019 at 05:11:10
troutbum
Audiophile

Posts: 387
Location: NW Ohio
Joined: January 14, 2001
 What's with the bonefish?

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on October 8, 2019 at 12:24:16
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 It's in my top 3 Fish to Fly Fish for.
I Like em!



 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on October 9, 2019 at 04:25:10
troutbum
Audiophile

Posts: 387
Location: NW Ohio
Joined: January 14, 2001
 How about the other two?

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on October 9, 2019 at 07:19:50
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 Redfish and Tarpon...... Permit are Assholes.



 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 24, 2019 at 02:46:04
volunteer
Audiophile

Posts: 5666
Location: Louisville, KY
Joined: January 7, 2012
 I own both. I prefer the Firestick for its' interface. Not much wrong with either.


-Wendell

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 19, 2019 at 13:07:22
Demo
Audiophile

Posts: 320
Location: Kansas
Joined: May 24, 2000
 ROKU just announced today that new/upgraded products are available for pre-order and should be shipping about the middle of October. I currently am happy using the ROKU Ultra, but will probably buy the new version and move the current one to my bedroom TV to replace an older streaming stick.

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 17, 2019 at 16:50:00
Audio Snob
Audiophile

Posts: 462
Joined: April 5, 2000
 Short answer: Get one of the Roku stick devices.

We travel a lot and use a Roku Streaming Stick+. Have good results.

Prefer Roku over Fire - Fire is too cluttered with promotions.

Also, one problem when traveling is connecting to hotel Wi-Fi that has a sign-in page. Roku (or Fire) does not always handle this well. We use a portable Wi-Fi router (TP-Link) that ties into hotel Wi-Fi with aid of tablet or computer. Roku, as well as all of our other devices (phones, tablets, computers), ties into the portable router without having to enter new sign-ns or passwords. Makes life on the road a little easier.

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 25, 2019 at 14:01:41
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 OK, got a Stick+ --- Works good.. I may buy another.. I can't see much difference from my Roku 3, except for the size.. I don't even need to bring the remote with the Roku phone App.

I also use a portable Router... A linksys that I attach to the WiFi of the place we are renting... Main advantage of this is that it has 4 Ethernet Ports and when we use our VOIP, it needs Ethernet to work. Calling from Australia is a pretty simple affair with this.



 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 18, 2019 at 07:56:32
Hornlover
Manufacturer

Posts: 2529
Joined: March 8, 2002
 We use Firestick at home, and it works very well. I'm not sure what promotions you are referring to. We have no problem.

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 18, 2019 at 17:55:25
Audio Snob
Audiophile

Posts: 462
Joined: April 5, 2000
 Yes, the Fire Stick works, and I've used it.

However, to my eye the Fire screen presentation is just too busy with a lot of "pay for" option choices (of little interest to me) that clutter the screen.

The Roku just offers a cleaner simpler user interface. Give it a try if you haven't.

 

Totally agree, I tried both, Roku is much better. Nt., posted on September 22, 2019 at 08:17:51
ABliss
Audiophile

Posts: 1482
Joined: March 16, 2001
Contributor
  Since: August 3, 2002
Nt

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 17, 2019 at 17:53:43
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 One Question... With the Stick plugged into the back of the TV, how does the remote work without a 'line of sight' to the stick?



 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 22, 2019 at 08:25:40
ABliss
Audiophile

Posts: 1482
Joined: March 16, 2001
Contributor
  Since: August 3, 2002
 Mine is pluged in to the rear of my Oppo 205, powered by the 5v USB on the Oppo. No problem with the remote, works great.

 

I use their app which just needs WiFi connectivity , posted on September 19, 2019 at 13:56:22
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37656
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 A big factor for my using Roku players (have three) is they have an app that can access your LMS server. I store over three hundred videos on the NAS that each one can access.

 

RE: Roku, Firestick or ??? ..........................., posted on September 17, 2019 at 18:09:48
Audio Snob
Audiophile

Posts: 462
Joined: April 5, 2000
 Bluetooth or similar RF. Line of sight not required.

 

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