TV external streaming sticks

Mistral001

Any recommendtions on TV external streaming sticks?

I have been thinking of getting a Roku streaming stick. They cost about £30, which seems reasonable.

flaneurs_lobster

PC Mag did a comparison of the various TV streaming sticks back in April

https://uk.pcmag.com/media-streaming-devices/9559/the-best-media-streaming-devices

The Roku stick(s) fair pretty well against the opposition.

oldernonethewiser

Here is another comparison

https://techreviewadvisor.com/roku-vs-fire-stick/

I'd go for the 4K version (more expensive)

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6688148/tv-external-streaming-sticks

Depends on what you use it for.

Personally use an AppleTV but their prices have just gone really silly with the new 4th gen.

I have an old Firestick 4k for when travelling, used to use it for other region stuff but AppleTV now supports VPN too. Firesticks have moved from Android though so their flexibility isnt as good as it once was.

Roku are decent, they dont have Dolby Vision but that only matters if you have a screen that support its. They cannot run any VPN so not so good if you want to see US only content or such. Roku have had a habit of getting into disputes with companies and pulling their app as a consequence but that tends to be more edge stuff and not iPlayer etc.

Mistral001

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82181556#Comment_82181556

Thanks for this. The 4K version is the Roku Plus model as far as I can see. Just £10 more than the one I was thinking of getting. Probably worth the extra money to get 4K and also I assume it is a newer model.

flaneurs_lobster

Personally use an AppleTV but their prices have just gone really silly with the new 4th gen.

You ain't kidding - 300 quid! Hope they throw in a year's-worth of TV sub for that.

Grumpy_chap

I read this thread with interest as our smart TV has been receiving a notice that it will cease to get iPlayer from the end of this month.

I have set up Chromecast initially but that is really quite cumbersome compared to the ease of just scrolling back through the EPG and selecting the programme we want to watch and it is just there.

Will these streaming sticks work in a similar fashion to the built in EPG working now? Are the streaming sticks a one-off charge?

beckstar1975

We have a Netgear Pleio which whilst it costs a bit more (£89 in Amazon sale) it's the closest to using TV/Freeview in that you get a normal tv guide which lets you scroll back and forwards and watch via catch up anything screened in the past week along with iplayer etc. It uses Freely which we wanted as we cannot get Freeview via aerial here due to location (everyone on our road and surrounding couple has to use Sky/Virgin due to the same). If you have decent signal then Fire stick/Roku are good but not sure if they have an EPG

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82181773#Comment_82181773

Think that's a Netgem (not Netgear) Pleio currently £129 @ Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FLZ7Z498

One of only 2 devices, other than TVs, that support Freely.

beckstar1975

Sorry - yes Netgem, but I'm pointing out that they reduce it a fair whack in their sale, which should be in about 4 weeks . .

This is the current bloated price to claim a bigger 'reduction' come sale time

SacredStephan

we cannot get Freeview via aerial here

Were you able to get analogue TV, back in the day? What about AM/FM radio and mobile reception?