People, I need help with cheapest long term tv entertainment.

[LizBeth]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the General Discussion forum).

Here is the issue. I got rid of cable over a decade ago. Maybe 15 yrs. I got Netflix when it was $7 a month. That is all I had. My son set it up on my tv and if I watched tv, that is what I used. I had no channels, news, anything, just Netflix and dvds. About 3 yrs ago my son put a fire stick on my tv and I got other options for freetv. Again, he explained nothing so I had no idea what it was about.

A couple weeks ago I started getting text from Amazon saying something was wrong with account and if I did not address I would be canceled. Zillions of text over a period but thought it a scam. I have not been paying for anything. I do not know that I have ever bought anything from Amazon, not big on shopping so was clueless. Then the other day everything was shut off and told I had to call them to fix. Totally clueless. But son said when he moved to Ecuador 7 months ago he closed the account, so I am assuming that is what happened and just took a while to catch up with me.

Now... All my stuff is about two decades old. Way expired on what is happening today. As you can tell from this post, I have no idea or information on what is out there and the best cheapest way to set stuff up. I have a fire. I am paying monthly for Netflix at about $15 a month but do not know how to get Netflix on tv now. I have no one that can help me. I go long periods, like 6 months, without watching tv then will watched continuously then stop again for long periods. I do not want to put much monthly money into watching tv but I want something simple, that will give me some channels that I set up so I understand it this time and not dependent on another to fix any problems. I am even good with getting a new tv if need be and they are not too expensive. I mean clueless what tv is going for too.

Can you give me some ideas please? I tried googling for info, but this is a vague question and when there is no knowledge at all makes it hard to put in search.

Thanks.

[Auggie]

1. If you want just local TV the cheapest solution is a digital antenna.

One-time charge, plus the installation if you can't do it yourself.

[LizBeth]

4. I tried an antennia thing in another house I lived in about 8 yrs ago.

Never could make it do anything. Thanks.

[Auggie]

35. You have to live relatively close to broadcast towers

About 25-35 miles, I think, and without interference from high mountains.

[LizBeth]

36. I figured that was the problem. And have no idea what I actually bought

or how good it was. AND clueless in the set up so might not have done it correctly. It is hard being in this tech world when I do not know anything. GPS stopped working. Toyota doesn't have GPS in car go figure so had to hook up phone. worked great for years then stopped. Do I need a new car? Need a new phone. Was getting lost all over the twin cities. It was the friggin cord, lol. So hard.

[CrispyQ]

2. Sounds like your son's Amazon Prime account expired.

They charge annually. IDK what it's up to now, I think about $150 a year. As soon as you set up a new account or reestablish the old one, you'll be back online in a matter of minutes. You have to have a streaming provider like Prime or Roku to access services like Netflix, Sling, Hulu.

[LizBeth]

3. 50/50.

I understood about 50% of that. so you are suggesting just get a prime account and pay about 150 which is about 12.5 a month. Along with Netflix that would be another 17 a month or around, cant remember what I am paying now. Keeps going up. not bad, about 30 a month. But I do not understand the rest of your statement. I have a fire stick. Is that what you are talking about?

The info you pay a annual fee was great though. I understand why I had it so long after he left the country. Thanks.

[CrispyQ]

9. The Firestick is the hardware that connects your smart TV with the internet so you can get to Prime.

Once you get your Amazon Prime account, turn on your TV & logon to your Prime account. From there you can search for the Netflix app, install it, logon to that account, & watch. Anytime you add a streaming service, you search for the app, install it, logon, & you're good to watch their shows. Most of the streaming services can be subscribed to on a monthly basis. I often add a service for one or two months only, to watch certain shows, & then cancel. I keep a calendar so I don't miss the cancel date & get charged for another month. Lot's of them have a free trial period, so you can sometimes watch what you want with a trial.

Prime will also get you free two-day shipping on Amazon.

[LizBeth]

20. I did a HBO trial and ended up getting it for a couple years before they took it off

Never did give my credit card so they weren't charging me. One of the issue is I have never set things up so I do not know how to log into anything if son did not use my password (same one for two decades, lol) but never know the username. I hope I can get into the Netflix acct he set up and I am paying for.

Thanks for info

[CrispyQ]

34. You should logon to your Amazon & Netflix accounts, now, while you're on the computer.

Get your username/passwords resolved & set now, with a keyboard. The user keyboard on Prime is not user friendly!

[CrispyQ]

11. Also, if your firestick is over a few years old, it's worth getting a new one.

Ours was over three years old & response was soooooooo sloooowwww. So we bought a new one & Wow! Everything loads much faster!

[LizBeth]

21. Mine is like 5,6 yrs old and was initially having issue with that.

Had to do research and saw that they have to be replaced. Mine lasted a while but connection was pretty bad toward the end.

[Kaleva]

13. You don't need to pay for Prime or Roku

The only cost is the initial purchase price. As long as you have wifi in the home, you'll be able to watch Netflix as long as you subscribe to it. You wont be paying extra to Amazon.

I suggest Peacock which is $4.99 a month



https://www.peacocktv.com/

[LizBeth]

24. I dont understand what you are saying to me Kaleva. I am really smart in some areas,

this is not one of them. So I pay for Netflix. Are you saying I do not have to pay amazon and I should be getting Netflix on tv? Or that I pay the initial annual amazon and then that is it. Confused, sorry. And Peacock would just be another bill?

[Kaleva]

30. I'm just suggesting Peacock because it's much cheaper then Netflix

To get Netflix and several other streaming services on TV, you just need to get the Fire stick or Roku stick. You don't need to sign up for Amazon Prime nor do you need to pay a monthly or annual fee to Roku

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XVYZ1Y5?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=317788181700&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12897517551520327307&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017752&hvtargid=kwd-314410367427&ref=pd_sl_8bypaoxkym_e

https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streaming-Device-Controls-Renewed/dp/B09X5DL9S5/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3OBR0ZYUKJPAA&keywords=roku+streaming+stick+4k&qid=1677514892&sprefix=roku%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-3

[LizBeth]

31. Then it sounds to me like my fire stick just went kapoot.

Maybe it was a scam with text. I get a lot of text scams. Deliveries all the time and I never buy anything getting deliveries. Gonna check out your links.

[Kaleva]

33. Here is a link for a Roku tv

https://www.amazon.com/RCA-2160P-Roku-Smart-RTRU5527-W/dp/B079Y4QC6T/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=NJ017SIOE2A1&keywords=amazon+fire+tv&qid=1677515158&sprefix=amazon%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzN0VCVkQ2TEM1Vjg4JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDA0NzgwMjUwQU5XSU4yVUU1QiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDM5OTMyMkszSFA3SjNWRkFBTyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

Comes with one remote. I get scam texts about my Amazon account all the the time and I think that's what you've been getting

[LizBeth]

32. Ok, gotcha. Thank you

[LizBeth]

6. That would really be the easiest. I didn't know how much that cost

and I really did not want payment upon payment.

[Lochloosa]

5. I would suggest buying a Roku TV. There's tons of free stuff on there.

Also, it will link your Netflix quickly. If you don't have an Amazon account and can live without Amazon TV then do nothing about it.

The only investment you will need to make is the new Roku TV and that will be based on the size you desire. You can get a 32" Roku TV from Walmart for as low as $118.00 right now. There really not very expensive anymore. Just remember, Flat screens are measured differently than old CRT TV's. Best to measure the area you want the TV and then take your tape measure and visit a display to figure out the best one for you.

Good luck

[LizBeth]

7. Good info thanks. I have had this tv for two decades

and moving into a new condo sometime, when I find it and was already considering buying one that could possibly go on the wall. Good idea. Thanks and price not bad at all. I need nothing spectacular. lol

[Lochloosa]

10. I would suggest getting a trying out an HD attenna again. They've come a long way with those.

If you get a Roku TV, you'll be able to push one button for local broadcasting. And there's a lot on there.

I use this one:

Mohu Leaf Ultimate V3 Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna with Signal Indicator and 10ft. Coaxial Cable

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mohu-Leaf-Ultimate-V3-Amplified-Indoor-HDTV-Antenna-with-Signal-Indicator-and-10ft-Coaxial-Cable/849029613?adsRedirect=true

[LizBeth]

16. Thank you for this information. I have had 5 days of dvds only and last move some how

the remote for dvd player did not come with me so can only hit controls on box and there is not back or forward. Has been challenging. Least I have tons of dvds, lol.

I really did not know how I was going to educate myself on this. The son that lives by me has never owned a tv and watches almost no tv so he is useless.

[LizBeth]

15. So, I googled Roku and reading.

Looking at the screen of one of those tvs it has it all on there. Hulu, Netflix ect... But for clarity, you are saying I need to purchase the Netflix and others. If I buy the Roku tv, I would then pay my monthly Netflix (son still uses that account in Ecuador so dont want to get rid of it) but I will not be getting prime and Hulu, right?

[Unwind Your Mind]

22. That's right

Hulu and prime are pay for channels just like Netflix

But no one has mentioned YouTube, you’ll be able to use that for free with the Roku and you could do that now if your fire stick worked. My dad has one without prime and his works so I don’t know what’s going on there.

[LizBeth]

25. Interesting. So your dad has a fire without amazon and it works? Cause as I said above

Initially I was having trouble with stick I believe and I had to keep resetting to make it worked. Googled and said they wear out. But then I was also getting text from Amazon. I was going to buy a new fire when it all went down and told me to call amazon. Sooooo hard, lol

[Unwind Your Mind]

27. It sounds like your stick is worn out

That does happen, do you know if your internet signal is good and strong?

[LizBeth]

29. I do have good internet. I work remote and it did just fine.

My computer is way slow, son was really bothered with it but I think it is cause computer 3, 4 yrs old and I dont do anything with it and stuff builds up. But working remote is is pretty fast.

[Lochloosa]

23. Correct, all the apps are on the screen, but unless you sign up for them, they won't work.

I have Netflix, Hulu and Acorn TV (for British shows). Around 40 a month for those 3. I also have an Amazon account that I pay yearly.

It sounds like you already have Netflix so that will link easy enough. You'll just need to sign back in. If your interested in any others, just click on the app on the TV and it will walk you through signing in.

You will need to set up a Roku account when you get the TV. That's free.

[LizBeth]

26. Ok, got it. Thank you. 101 tv for sure.

[duhneece]

8. Free news: https://www.newslive.com/american/msnbc.html

One can watch CNN, MSNBC or Faux.
Free.
We get DVD’s for movies and series from Netflix/no streaming.

[LizBeth]

18. Streaming and stuff sounds hard, lol. And I am paying Netflix, but not on my tv. Went poof.

[Ferrets are Cool]

12. Personally, were I in your shoes, I would get a cheap Roku device.

Get the best one you can afford.

The advice on getting a Roku tv is good also. They are so cheap nowadays.

[newdayneeded]

14. Roku,

Then get a bunch of free channels, Pluto, peacock, stir, and the best of all of them TUBI.

[vsrazdem]

17. There are loads of free channels you can add to our roku or roku tv, such as

Pluto TV, popcorn flix, crackle, tubi, filmrise, fawesome, Plex, Freevee (Amazon's free shows). This are a few of the channels that have free TV and movies. You can just go to your search channels on you roku menu and search and add them. These should give you plenty of free viewing pleasure.

[ananda]

19. OK, I use a ROKU box with a Samsung TV.

I subscribe to Prime and several other streaming channels.

It works great.

[LizBeth]

28. Ha... Because I have been googling, I am getting ads on this site for free tv

with a Mohu? antenna. That is funny.

[Mariana]

37. Have you looked in your public library?

Mine has a huge number of movies and series on DVD - and what they don't have, they can usually get for me. If you want current programs and news it's no good, but if you like to binge watch older movies or series, go see what they have.

[LizBeth]

43. I use to do that and totally forgot. BIG reader so I only go for

binge watching every so often. But you are right. As a matter of fact I am going to library today to pick up a hold book. Absolutely going to look. I recently made a move and in so doing, lot dvd remote. Now a pain in butt cause I have to get up to pause and cannot go back or forward, lol. But, that will work for next couple days until I decide what I want to do. Roads may be icy so dont want to drive too much but want that book.

[peacefreak2.0]

38. Another vote for Roku.

I’m not very techno savvy, but if you’ve got wireless, you’re good to go. See if you can find a kid in your neighborhood to walk you through it.
Check at your local library and see if they sponsor Kanopy. It will allow you 8 free viewings a month.
The worst part for me is remembering all the passwords. Good luck!

[LizBeth]

45. That 8 free viewings a month is fun. Good to know. I tried researching but doing this post

is so much more informative and easier.

[gibraltar72]

39. Just added ROKU to my equipment.

Easy to set up and understand. Have been amazed all the stuff that is out there and free. Getting local news isn't free, but as far as stuff to watch I was amazed.

[brer cat]

40. Ha! You sound so much like me.

I wish I had some words of wisdom, but it is all Greek to me. Good luck!

[LizBeth]

46. Roku device seems to be easiest and cheapest for what I am looking for.

And a Roku tv is not a bad idea.

[boston bean]

41. Is your tv newer?

If so, you can get some free tv apps and watch them. Click the home button on you television remote.

If u go back to Amazon you can get the app frndly tv for 6.99 bucks a month. Has lifetime, decades, Metv, history and lots of others.

[LizBeth]

47. Interesting. I use to watch History channel all the time then over a decade ago

it changed.

[samnsara]

42. I have satellite but i still head over to the free stuff I find with my Roku..

....I can get all the news and weather (local and national) free on there as well. Theres only about a 1-2 minute delay.

My go to free channel is PLUTO. I beta tested it about 8 years ago when the two guys owned it and I've watched it go from a teeny beta site to being owned by....Viacom i think? 100s of free channels on pluto....


tvs are cheap now. I paid $1200 for my first 32 inch flat screen and they are about 200$ now..

[LizBeth]

48. Wow. That is what I am pondering now. New tv or device, lol

I knew there was a easy cheap way, just didn't know what it was.

[Midnight Writer]

44. A Roku device. Plug it into your tv, thousands of channels, many of them free.

You will still have to pay for Netflix if you want to keep it.

I have a Netflix account, but I find that I watch mostly free channels (they show advertisements). Tubi, Freevee, Pluto, Filmrise, and many other free channels offer a ton of programs.

[LizBeth]

49. I think this is the way to go for now.

I do want to keep Netflix. Son is Peace Corp and went to Ecuador and says he really uses that so I do not want to get rid of it. But ya... All those channels, I rarely find things I want to watch. with firestick I was using freetv series like Bones. Commercials, but not a big deal.

[Omaha Steve]

50. After a review by forum hosts, locking........

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