Tell me about using Roku

Gary7704 · Oct 27, 2021

head_unit said: ↑

I'm looking at Roku TVs, since I think that will be a more flexible platform to get various providers like Philo, Spectrum, YouTube, etc.

I noticed the remotes don't have numbers or alphanumeric-isn't that a drawback? How do you search? How do you go direct to a bunch of different channels by number? (The remotes on like TCL and Hisense that I see are NOT voice enabled, nor is that how I like to search thing. And my wife not for sure!). I see four colored buttons, presumably I could program as "antenna" and "Amazon" and "Netflix" and "Spectrum" or whatever. It's certainly not enough buttons to store the maybe dozen favorite channels we watch between us.

I used to have a Roku box but it was long ago, and supplemented by the TV remote, which had a numeric+alpha keypad on the front and a full alpha keypad on the back.

Appreciate your input, I'm pretty close to getting a TV before they sell out, but don't want to get into something that will be daily annoyance.
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I am a big Apple person, but comparing the remote controls for Roku with Apple TV, Roku wins on design and functionality.
The Apple TV remote is not a very fluid design with the track pad. Roku’s remote is much better when it comes to actually using it. And when you have someone over you don't have to explain how to use the remote like you would for the Apple TV.

badfinger54 · Oct 27, 2021

My son got me Roku and Disney+ for my birthday!

adm62 · Oct 27, 2021

head_unit said: ↑

From someone's post in some thread here, I signed up for Philo TV. AXS, Cooking, Food, Travel, History, plus HALLELUJAH old Perry Mason reruns on the Sundance Channel
And cool stuff on NHK TV, oh I so love Japan, dying to go back. A bazillion free channels grafted onto the antenna channels.
I'd never get another TV without Roku, got 4 of these TCLs now. The only odd part is you cannot input channels by number, you must scroll. But I blanked out shopping and Asian and religious and then it's not so bad, I'm used to it by now.
Best of all ONE repeat ONE remote, no more stupid remote to run the stupid cable box with it's stupid always-spinning always-noisy hard drive. No wonder those boxes use as much energy when they are off.
Oh as for Spectrum-their plans and channels and pricing was so complicated I could not figure out what the hell was going on. And kept trying to get me to bundle. And chat was down to ask about it. I gave up. Meh. I do have them for internet and their tech support has been good for years.
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A correctly configured universal remote will allow channel selection using a numbered keyboard.

In general for me:

Apple TV > Amazon Fire stick > Roku

head_unit · Oct 27, 2021

adm62 said: ↑

A correctly configured universal remote
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Yeah...but my personal experience is remotes would de-sync (cheapies). Even expensive ones I read that in reviews though it has been a long time. Yeah I'd think Apple TV has more. My brother-in-law runs everything off Fire Sticks.

adm62 · Oct 27, 2021

head_unit said: ↑

Yeah...but my personal experience is remotes would de-sync (cheapies). Even expensive ones I read that in reviews though it has been a long time. Yeah I'd think Apple TV has more. My brother-in-law runs everything off Fire Sticks.
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Try a Logitech Harmony,.works great for me

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Tell me about using Roku

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