Has anyone signed up for sling tv or roku?

[babylonsister]

It seems like every month lately the cable bill (Spectrum) goes up, so we're about fed up.

Sling v. roku? Then we need to find a wifi provider, or wifi first? Seems our only option there might be AT&T; that pains me, but the concept of fixed incomes doesn't seem to matter to so many companies.

Any pearls of wisdom will be appreciated, thank you!

[hlthe2b]

1. I had Sling for awhile. Unfortunately I don't get great local antenna coverage so I still needed

something to be able to view network channels. So, I went with Youtube TV...at least for now. I access it through ROKU so, yeah, I have both.

And if you research it, Sling now has some high-powered antenna service that connects to their app which will help get local channels in some markets. The last I checked I am not one of them. I'd be interested if they ever do.

[Vinca]

2. We just told Directv where to put their satellite dish and bought a Roku device. Then

we got Hulu for our primary service and added Acorn and Britbox because we like British shows. We couldn't be happier with the way it's worked out. Overall, we're paying a little less and we don't have to deal with the Directv BS. The only channel I would watch once in a blue moon that isn't on Hulu is CSPAN. Apparently, it's only available if you stream Directv and I want nothing to do with that outfit. Guess I could watch something on the Internet if I was so inclined.

[drray23]

3. we use sling.

It has most of the channels we like.
We also have subscriptions to other streaming services ( peacock, britbox and maybe a couple more) . That's the advantage of streaming. You can pick what you want. Sling is around 40 dollars a month I think.

For streaming you want reliable wifi. The cost of this plus the streaming services may run you close to the cost of your cable TV but you will have more flexibility since you can chose your streaming services for what you want.

[CrispyQ]

4. I don't know much about Roku,

but to stream Sling you'll need 1) internet service, 2) a streaming service like Amazon Prime, & 3) a subscription to Sling.

I think Roku might be an alternative to the Amazon Prime piece in the above steps. You can't get Sling with just internet service it has to go through a streaming service.

If I'm wrong, I hope someone more knowledgeable corrects me.

on edit: I can watch Sling on my computer, but to watch on my "smart TV" I still need Prime.

[MontanaMama]

5. Yes.

I stream all tv through Roku. I started with Slingtv via Roku and had that for a few years. Now I stream Hulu instead. Almost everything can be streamed through the Roku including Netflix, FreeSpeechTV, MLBTV, MasterClass, Discovery+ and Apple TV among others. Overall, the Roku works pretty well. Each tv needs its own Roku stick and once it is set up, it all runs smoothly. The key to make it all go is reliable fast internet. I use Spectrum for our internet service because they’re fast and pretty reliable…although not the cheapest at $79 per month. When I add up all the streaming services plus the internet, I’m not saving a bunch of money but I am able to get exactly what I want. I won’t go back to cable. Ever.

[NJCher]

6. I have that setup in Northern NJ

and I pay around $104 a month, I think. Youtube TV. Hulu. Prime. Netflix.

The Prime and Netflix are extra, but I lowered the price by accepting ads. Youtube included in the $104.

Yours is a good summary. I was going to write it but you did it so I don't have to!

[MontanaMama]

18. YouTube tv is something I keep meaning to investigate.

I see more and more DUers that subscribe to it. What kinds of things do you watch on that service?

We have a few too many streaming services imo and once my kiddo leaves for school this summer I plan to cut back.

[Diraven]

7. We have Sling

Pretty much just for watching sports. Works great and way cheaper than cable.

[EYESORE 9001]

8. I cut the cable years ago

I’ve had sling tv, but I have YouTube TV in order to get local stations. Transmitters are too far for good reception. If you can get local stations over the air, sling should be fine. My TV has built-in Roku, so there’s one less box cluttering up the TV area.

[highplainsdem]

9. I dropped cable a few years ago, replaced it with Roku plus an indoor HD antenna plus

subscriptions to a few streaming platforms, all temporary when they have something I particularly want to see except for Prime Video which comes with my Amazon Prime subscription.

The antenna I have pulls in dozens of regional channels, some more than 60 miles away. The major networks and lots of subchannels that are mostly older series.

Yes, you will need wifi to stream.TV. Check to see if you can get any discounts.

Unlimited data is useful, too - I have that with Spectrum, and I think it's standard with Spectrum internet - since streaming can be several GB an hour, and that can happen if your Roku device is plugged in even if you aren't watching Roku.

Editing to add that you might not need wifi if you can get enough regional stations with an antenna and can get ABC/CBS/NBC/Fox/CW for new programs, which will give you local and national news as well, and you're okay with just that and subchannels like H&I, StarTV, MeTV, Laff, etc. Lots of people here love those old shows.

You can get cable news for free online with certain websites.

But with wifi, Roku will give you lots of different channels for free TV of all types - check their website - as well as streaming channels you can subscribe to.

Btw, Spectrum will offer you fairly inexpensive limited TV-streaming packages that typically include local channels for major networks plus a few other popular cable channels, but you will need Spectrum wifi then. I never got those limited TV offers since I can pull in so many channels completely free with that antenna, but sometimes people can't get enough local channels over the air (OTA channels will be HD, btw). The antenna I use cost less than $30, and I got a Roku device for under $30 at the same time.

Editing again to add that the major streaming platforms like Disney+ usually offer discount subscriptions around Black Friday, for periods from a few months to a full year, for only a few dollars a month, but those are only for new subscribers and people who haven't subscribed for a while.

[Meadowoak]

10. I dumped DirecTV at $138 per month for sling, which costs

$42.50 including tax. It has everything directv had except local channels. I do have an outdoor antenna connected to one of the TV's and Netflix and prime.

[mzmolly]

11. Yep. Hulu here.

So far so good!

[dlilafae]

12. I cut the cord.

I have Sling for MSNBC & HGTV. I quit my cable subscription, but kept the same company for an ISP. Recently, I cut the internet cord, and went w/T-Mobile. It has some hiccups, as does the Roku stick, but the issues have been manageable. The volume buttons on the Roku remote (which is 25 bucks but rather sub-par, stinks). Each app runs anywhere from 6 bucks on up. For me, this new option is way better than cable, not savings wise, but in terms of variety.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

13. Where we live, WiFi is a small part of our rent.

We live in a Senior Living facility where WiFi is readily accessible. We use the Fire Stick with You-Tube TV.

Being that I have had a Netflix account for 10 years plus, we are happy. We also get local stations, which comes in handy during Football season.

[Beausoleil]

14. For local channels, you can use an antenna

or Hulu plus or Youtube TV. Those two services or Sling or Philo and a few others bring you cable tv channels.
Roku is just a platform that runs the various digital apps like Hulu, Youtube, Netflix, similar to FireTV or smart TVs. These also run a ton of free content through providers like Pluto, Tubi, Freevee, Xumo, Roku Tv, etc.

[mockmonkey]

15. I don't know anything about Sling

I have a Roku. When you sign up you will need to give them a credit card number just in case you decide to rent a movie or whatever other services they offer. I don't rent movies online and so other than updating the credit card expiration date it's not a problem. I think I did HBO NOW thru Roku but I really don't remember how that was paid anymore. If you have kids you might want to add the Parental Restrictions with the pin number that keeps kids from buying something without your consent.

Some other things. I have had 4 Roku's. The original lasted about quite a while and was connected the old way with the Yellow, White, Red RCA style cables. I replaced that one with The Streaming Stick style and some TV's are designed so tightly that you can't fit The Streaming Stick into the HDMI with all the other things plugged in back there. I had that happen so I had to buy a narrower HDMI extension on Amazon. The OLDER Streaming Stick version that I had could not receive "Prime" so I had to replace it with two of the cheapest Roku versions (Roku Express $30 each) which is not a stick type so they fit into the HDMI spot with no problems. The wifi works ok on my Kitchen Roku in another room with some words dropped out once in a while. The one in the room that has the router works fine. The more expensive Roku's have stronger Wifi so they say. The power adaptor is extra and is found on the accessories page ($9.99)

I think only the Roku Ultra ($99) has the ability to be wifi or ethernet.

https://www.roku.com/products/players

[gibraltar72]

16. Have Roku and a couple add ons far

Less than Direct tv pretty happy. With it. Lots of. Free stuff out there.

[csziggy]

17. We use Roku devices to get Sling

I like the Roku devices - they are easy to install and pretty transparent. Plus, with them, can subscribe to just about any streaming services out there.

Sling covers most of the channels usually provided by cable TV. We picked it since at the time we converted it was pretty much the only legal way to get MSNBC. There were other streaming services offering it, but it turned out they did not have contracts with MSNBC and have since been cut off from streaming it.

We also get several other streaming "channels" BritBox and AcornTV for British programs (mysteries and classic Doctor Who), Netflix, PrimeTV (as part of my Prime membership), MAX (carries recent Doctor Who, Torchwood, and The Sarah Jane Adventures), YouTube (I don't pay for it), and a whole bunch of free services. Roku has their own, plus there are Tubi, Crackle, FreeVee, FreeSpeechTV, Vudu, Comet, PlutoTV, NASA, PBS (with their contributor Passport), FilmRise (which has several channels with different themes).

The one thing I sort of miss are the local channels - I just haven't gotten around to putting up an over the air antenna - plus I'd have to have two. The local network channels are all to my NNE while PBS is much farther away to the WSW. It'd be complicated running the cables from two different antenna to our TVs scattered across the house! Our local PBS has an all crafts channel that is over the air only (licensing requirement) - otherwise, their Passport would be just fine for everything else.