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My TV does not do updates, so it hasn’t been able to display iPlayer for years, and is apparently about to stop working with Netflix. My kids think this is A Major Impending Disaster. As far as I’m concerned it’s a bit of a nuisance and I’d probably like to be able to sit on my behind and use the remote rather than have to plug my laptop in every time I want to watch anything.
What are the options for a cheapo technophobe? Netflix pretty much essential, iPlayer would be a bonus.
Just get another 38(?)in TV for £150ish? Or is there some other solution that lets me keep the one I have?
If it’s got a HDMI port on it, surely an Amazon Firestick is a quick and easy solution?
Firestick is normally the easiest solution, simple remote, easy to use, £25ish.
What everyone else said. Assuming they aren't old enough for games consoles yet.
Prime day is on the 10th I think, so there's a chance they might be cheaper (firesticks)
As above
Assuming you have a free HDMI socket - Chromecast with TV for £35?
Firestick, if the TV is not 4k/HDR then you can get the cheaper non 4k one.
Theres also The Roku thing which is similar: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roku-Express-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B09376CXSH/ref=psdc_199624031_t1_B07XGMNK9G
If there's a prime day coming up, as above firesticks are usually discounted a bit.
And Hannah if you don’t have the HDMI socket, I have a good condition 43” Samsung LED with remote you can have for free, although it is in London. It isn’t a smart tv but has 2 HDMI sockets.
We’ve got Roku, easily plugs in to hdmi and solved our iPlayer problems. Can cast to it from iPad/laptop and has all usual streaming services.
Google Chromecast will do it.
My 91 year old father has a Roku and uses it for iPlayer and YouTube on his dumb Sony TV with no problem.
Chromecast. The only thing we can't seem to cast is Tractor Ted via their website..... this is a big deal to a 2 year old
We've got a Roku box on our elderly TV, works well
Based on what we have, Roku or Chromecast will sort you out. (Never used a Fire stick)
On its home screen, the Chromecast does a reasonable aggregation of what's available from each service you're signed into. Plus Rotten Tomatoes ratings of films, finding films by genre or actor etc.
Roku does none of the aggregation stuff, but it can do Apple Airplay to the TV, plus it's the device we take away with us to use where we're staying (can't remember why!)
If you don't have hdmi some Freeview plus boxes have scart out and iPlayer/netflix, my parents use one in their TV. Should be £30 or so, not as fast as a fire stick, so go that way if you can
Chromecast. Assuming you have an HDMI port and a free USB on the TV?
Chromecast and a mains socket. Ours is really fussy about the power of the usb socket and the telly usb can’t run it
We use Now TV sticks... basically Roku. Don't need a now TV subscription but has all the usual apps
Ours is really fussy about the power of the usb socket
Point of order, most, if not all TV's don't have enough power on the USB socket to power an external device, it's basicaly just a data transfer port.
That's why Roku/firestick etc. have thier own power cable/supply, so you plug a very small device into the HDMI port, and then you'll also plug that device into the mains.
They are very low power devices, but they need more power than a standard 'dumb' USB port can provide.
Worth checking though? Our Sony TV (a few years old now) pumps out enough juice via USB to power the Chromecast.
Worth checking though? Our Sony TV (a few years old now) pumps out enough juice via USB to power the Chromecast.
Some do, some don't.
It's a safe assumption that it won't, and a happy supprise if it do!
Depends on the device. I've had more successes than failures personally.
Either way, it shouldn't be a great concern given that a TV isn't going going to be a million miles from a power socket.
Roku or Chromecast will sort you out. (Never used a Fire stick)
Point of note here is that a Chromecast is merely a receiving device - it will require a phone / laptop / something else to send content to it. A Firestick is self-contained, it's like the 'smart' bit of a smart TV in its own right.
Point of note here is that a Chromecast is merely a receiving device
Not really now
Most Chromecast devices these days are 'with android tv' and come with a remote and full android tv' smart services, for example:-
But as mentioned many many times, if you have an HDMI port going spare then any of Roku/fire TV/Chromecast android tv sticks will do the job great. My preference is for Roku as the interface is slick and fast.
My experience of fire sticks is that they are hit and miss when powering off a TV. Roku have always powered off a TV fine for me.
EDIT
also. If your TV has typical thin LCD TV poor speakers and has a HDMI port with ARC/CEC then one of these TV speakers is an excellent upgrade with Roku built in. Your hdmi 1 port will usually have ARC/CEC written next to it if the TV has it.
I wouldn't bother with a chromecast personally, I'd go Roku or firestick.
I have a firestick as I already have prime, which I'm thinking of canceling, and the Roku would be my next go-to.
But to be honest, I'm thinking of going back to good old fashioned piracy. ARR!
How are you getting tv? You might not need anything new if you have virgin or sky as both have Netflix app on them. I think even some freeview boxes have it too. So basically you might already have it covered.
Between tv, Xbox, firestick, iPad, virgin, laptop etc it like Netflix really want me to keep watching.
I have Roku - there was a reason why I got it instead of a firestick, but forgotten it now. Yes, it just works. However - it does not have GCN+ available for download and I think a firestick does so for those that like a bit of bike racing and nerdiness that might be a consideration.
Environmentally, smart TVs suck - building in the 'brains' into the panel in a way that means it will ultimately become obsolete whilst the panel is still functioning fine is just crass. Dumb panels and sticks make way more sense.
Ok, I have an HDMI and USB port, so looks like Roku or Firestick is the way. And since it’s got no HD/4K/whatever capacity I can go for a basic model. Chances of me organising life admin to catch an Amazon prime day are Zero! If I don’t sort this now while I’m vaguely in the mood it will be board games all winter 😂
My 91 year old father has a Roku and uses it for iPlayer and YouTube on his dumb Sony TV with no problem.
This is the kind of recommendation I needed. I can always get my kids to set it up 😂
@kryton57 thanks for the offer, but Argos in Halifax is a lot nearer than London!
Point of note here is that a Chromecast is merely a receiving device – it will require a phone / laptop / something else to send content to it. A Firestick is self-contained, it’s like the ‘smart’ bit of a smart TV in its own right.
I think that was in the 1970s. Now Chromecasts have a remote control, full interface and access to an Apps store.
I seem to remember from setting up our fire stick that it wanted a credit card number to add even the free apps.
If you logged in to your Amazon account on the laptop you could add the apps to the fire stick without a card. Illogical but I guess it is or was a ploy to get you to buy films on one click.
Argos in Halifax is a lot nearer than London!
Living the dream 😀
There's a Cex in Halifax which probably has slightly cheaper used Firesticks with a 2 year guarantee...
I haven't checked the specs in a while but unless the cost difference is massive it was worth buying a 4k firestick over the regular HD one as the remote was better and the components were higher spec so it all worked more smoothly.
If the TV doesn't have a HD tuner it might be worth looking at newer SH TVs ?
I haven’t checked the specs in a while but unless the cost difference is massive it was worth buying a 4k firestick over the regular HD one as the remote was better and the components were higher spec so it all worked more smoothly.
I'd second that - the 4k stick works so much faster than the standard one.
Ignore the 4k bit, it's just a better product. And the extra cost is worth it to avoid the laggyness of the standard stick.
You'll also be able to get Discovery+/Eurosport so can have access to all that cycling coverage for not many pennies. 🙂
I’d say fire stick but on our non smart LG 32” tv the picture is crap with both fire sticks I’ve tried. No idea why, it’s fine with a Virgin or Sky box or games console.
Depends on the device. I’ve had more successes than failures personally.
I had my first failure ever a couple of weeks ago.
I've had old TVs and cheap TVs, this was the first cheap and old TV. So the USB cable is plugged into a separate USB supply behind the TV.
Only other one i haven't plugged straight into a TV USB was a Chromecast ultra, as i wanted to try the wired network option.
The newest ones with the full system built in are pretty slick.
We deliberately bought a non smart 42" tv for our caravan and plugged in the firestick. It copes well with a poor 4g signal from our phones. One of our Smart TV's will only do freeview and Netflix, not Disney or Prime. One other no longer supports Disney and ITV X, but we get round that with a mini pc under it.
Well this is exciting. Red Bull TV just got easier. Rampage ready!
Not really now
Most Chromecast devices these days are ‘with android tv’ and come with a remote and full android tv’ smart services
I did not know that. Thanks for the update.
it will be board games all winter
You say that like it's a bad thing.
I have both a frestick and a Chromecast with Google TV...... I much prefer the Chromecast.
(And yes, cougar is wrong, Chromecast with Google TV doesnt need anything sending to it..... but it will also function as an old Chromecast that you cast stuff to)
@Cougar the latest Chromecast with Google TV is pretty good and isn't too far off making eco system providers like Sky and Virgin Media obsolete... well perhaps reducing them to little more than subscription apps similar to Netflix, Disney+ etc. E.g. Sky Movies would become just an app like Netflix
@stwhannah a word of warning about going for the basic version. It’s incredibly slow with anything other than the Amazon apps. Almost unuseable if you venture into Disney or GCN apps.
At the very least get the HD version.
At the very least get the HD version.
If you look up the thread you'd see what she's bought.
Glad to see that Argos supplied the necessary. Enjoy the peace now the kids can back to the streaming.