I often try to buy refurbished and have rarely been disappointed. This item was no exception. Out of the box, everything appears new and the item's performance was exactly what it should have been. I love the Roku app on my phone that serves as a remote control. This gives you, in certain circumstances, the ability to type while searching rather than relying on the arrow-driven hunt and peck method. Also, if you plug in headphones to your phone it mutes the TV and broadcasts the sound through your phone, a nice touch that can be useful for late-night viewers or those preferring a true surround sound.
This is the first external streaming device I've ever purchased. I bit the bullet because of Spectrum's switch to all digital signals, which renders old fashioned coaxial cable obsolete -- unless you give Spectrum an additional $11 per month, per TV set, for a converter box. The more affordable option is to buy this item and watch TV via the Spectrum app. My impressions:
PROS:
1) Cost savings. This item will pay for itself in little over two months given Spectrum's rental fee for a converter box. The rest of the Pros on my list would also be the case if you were renting the box, but the cost savings make them even more satisfying.
2) Possible increased channel selection. If, like me, you're adding this to a secondary TV that never had a converter box, you will now be able to receive all of the channels you're paying for, instead of just the basic 60-70 channels that co-ax was giving me. Looking back, I should have done this a couple years ago.
3) Increased HD availability.
4) Program information and schedules on your TV.
CONS
1) Navigability can be an issue. Specifically I'm referring to the fact that you have to open a channel guide and scroll to whatever channel you'd like to watch. If I'm using the Spectrum app on my tablet to watch TV it's not a big deal because with a swipe of the screen, it rockets up and down the channel guide. On your TV, you've got to use the arrow buttons to scroll and it can take time to move from, say, channel 44 to channel 401. I'd like to see Spectrum somehow incorporate a means of entering digits on screen to speed up this process.
2) Not really a con, per se, but you may need to purchase a new router or even pay for faster internet. I was told at the Spectrum outlet that my existing router would be too slow. They wanted to give me a newer router, which would of course cost me an additional $5 a month, but I went online and bought one myself. Nonetheless, before that item could arrive I used my existing $15 router and experienced no buffering issues at all. Even with three devices streaming at the same time. Still, when the new router came, I hooked it up to make sure I had the speed to handle multiple TVs.
If you're looking to avoid Spectrum's price gouging, this is just about the only way to go. Fortunately, it does a great job. I have the sneaking feeling that within a year or two, as I find more and more Roku apps to fit my tastes, this device may be what leads me to finally cut the cord.
I wish I got this sooner! I was hanging on to a 12+ year old Wii just to access Netflix, it took up space and hardly worked, but then the Roku came along and now I can access even more - HBO Go, Hulu, Netflix, so easily! Much cheaper than trading in my perfectly good TV for a Smart TV!
I bought the refurbished one. For how small this device is I am amazed at how fast the processor internally runs the software. I can move through the menus and program to program seamlessly. it is powered by a 5 volt DC connection I have that plugging into the free USB port in the back of the TV so that when your TV is off it is not using any power thus you don't use uneeded electricity. of course the HDMI was easy to connect as well the software on this is both faster than my Samsung and LG Smart TVs I will use this Roku device over using the smart function on each of those manufactured TVs. NOTE: when going through the initial setup there is a point where it asks for a credit card by Roku, I suppose this is for ease of purchasing of movies but I personally don't like that, I only like to use my card on a as-needed basis, besides I already have subscriptions with other services (ie Amazon prime). The screen makes it like you have to enter card to move forward, though you can exit setup and come back then it won't ask. There is other ways to bypass this via searching internet.
This is better and faster than a Firestick, and you can still watch Amazon Prime Video. I own several Firesticks and used them mainly for the Spectrum TV App so that I could watch TV in my home in places where there was no cable connection and without having to Pay $10-20 per month for a cable box for each individual TV. The App was not officially supported on the Firestick, but once you got it installed, it worked ok. The App was disabled for some reason, and it seems no one on the web can figure out how to make it work again, so I tried a Roku. I have to say it is a pleasure to operate vs a Firestick. It is simple clean and way more responsive. Even the Amazon Prime videos stream way better on the Roku than a Firestick. Also the Spectrum App on the Roku is nearly as good as the reception from the cable box - though maybe not quite for fast moving sports. The Roku is a pure streaming device (as I think I understand it), so unlike the Firestick you are watching channels rather than operating true apps. The Firestick can do a lot of things that a Roku cannot - like browse the web, search the Amazon libraries, or run most of the same apps you can run on an android phone. But where the Roku is able to do what the Firestick can, I think it does it better, and really a lot better. My recommendation is get both if you have enough HDMI ports.
I really like the format and how well it works. The con would be that there is no power button. It is continually using data so if you don't have an unlimited plan with your ISP watch out. The first full month we had it I got a warning that I had used 90% of my data. Usually I use less than half. So we are now unplugging it when we aren't using it.
Feature Product
- New 2017 Model!
- Easy HD streaming, incredible price.
- NOW 5x more powerful!
- 500, 000 Plus movies and TV episodes
Description
1080p Resolution Stream Over 500,000 Movies And TV Episodes Private Listening Voice Search Cast To TV 802.11 (b/g/n compatible) With WEP, WPA, and WPA2 Support Digital Stereo Over HDMI, DTS Digital Surround Pass Through Over HDMI Black Finish
I have three of these units in the house and use them on TVs that do NOT have a cable box attached to then but can still watch my favorite shows thanks to the XfinityStream APP you can download. I also use it with the NHL and Amazon Prime APP for up to 1080p picture quality and ZERO lag. I have also setup my own Media Cloud Drive with the 2TB WD Server and watch shows I've recorded or converted and the quality is simply amazing! Get one today, you won't be sorry. Just being a Amazon Prime member is reason enough with all of the great series, movies and TV shows they have available to you for FREE!! There are literally 1,000+ streaming sights available, Free and Pay to choose from.
This model is quite useful where space is limited; it can mount on the tv, saving counter space. It can draw power from the set's usb port, saving one outlet for another use, and one less dangling wire. A plus and minus at the same time is that the Roku powers down when the tv is turned off.
The screen presentations are different for some channels eg Netflix and Amazon, so a new routine for navigating them has to be learned, and IMHO the older Roku models are easier. It is an unknown as to whether it's a Roku thing, or the channels in question.
Initial programming was easy following the on screen prompts.
Settings are easy to access and change, such as screen savers.
All things considered, I feel it was a good buy.
New update: I took it along on a road trip, and found that it can be used in hotels, subject to the room's tv and remote types.
This is for the Roku Express. I have been a long time user of Roku's owning two Roku sticks (classic and new), qty 2 Roku 3's, qty 1 Roku 2, and a Roku TV powered by TCL, so I am used to the speed, interface and quality. I will say that the new Roku express is just as responsive and quick as my Roku 3. I was plesently suprised, it works very well. I bought it because my firestick kept on buffering on MLB.TVs app and looked into it and I wasn't the only one having the problem. This roku express plays MLB.tv flawlessly and runs great. Same with the spectrum app, loads just as quick as my TCL tv and runs great.
The only thing to know is that this is an infrared remote (line of sight) system, not bluetooth, but will accept the iphone app (which is wifi).
I bought this certified refurbished through amazon for a few dollars less than a new one and it works amazing faster than any other Romy device I’ve used before. Quality of the anime I’ve been watching on Netflix looks great on my low definition magnavox tv which was a really big deal from me since I don’t own any of the new brands of tvs available with the nicer definition. I think this little device is perfect for the price, and came in a pretty much new condition although it’s refurbished
We are not real big on watching movies and this largely what this is about so it's use by us is somewhat limited. However, there is a lot here and I'm still exploring. As far as I can tell, there is no way to watch local channels to get local news etc. unless you use an outside antenna and then provide another program that allows selecting either a local chanel or a Roku/Vudu one. I also think that most of the movies etc. are sold or rented not provided free, although there is a lot that is provided free, but even the free stuff comes with annoying advertisements which I consider to be a cost. If you want to purchase a DVR for this stuff, one of the major providers (VioX) charges a substantial fee (like around $250) to sell you the DVR for one year. However, at the end of the first year and every year thereafter, you have to pay a "Software users fee" of about $250 AGAIN. In effect your renting the DVR, not buying it. And any year that you do not pay the "Software users fee" the DVR quits working and can then only function as a boat anchor. I think there are other DVRs available that you can pay for once and it's yours. However, be sure you know exactly what your getting and if there are hidden costs.
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