saberworks wrote:I've purchased 4 rokus, two for my family and two for extended family/friends. It used to be you just hooked it up, clicked netflix, copied a code to their web site on your computer, and you were up and running. With the newer ones, you are required to sign up for a roku account and that roku account requires you to give roku your credit card number. This happens with the older ones too, now, for example, if you give it away and your sister tries to add it to her netflix account.

Apparently you can contact roku customer service and set up an account over the phone without providing a credit card number, but you've already read about roku customer service in this thread.

All that said, I've had mine for years and they work great. The oldest one (original) has a hard time keeping up with HD over wireless but the newer one has no such issue. I've had a power cord go bad and a remote go bad. Other than that, no problems at all with the hardware. We use it for netflix, amazon instant videos, and vimeo.

I have read somewhere that if you go down to the bottom of the registration, there is an opt out for the credit card.

I got the Roku HD here last summer for the same price and have been very pleased with it, except for the lack of subtitle capability in the Netflix app. Like some other vendors who bundle Netflix streaming in their devices, Roku does not seem to intend to update their older devices with this capability even though 1. they have added subtitles to Netflix on their newer series 2 devices and 2. they have automatic updates in place, making it easy to distribute the fix.

I'm just b****ing about it here (and wherever I can) because it's an accessibility issue and these manufacturers should be ashamed of leaving their still-supported equipment behind like that, requiring people who NEED subtitles to eat the cost of existing equipment and buy new hardware--they're hoping, I guess, from the same company. We have a Samsung blu-ray player that's in the same boat. Considering that my freakin entry-level Virgin Mobile Android phone can display Netflix subtitles when available, it's truly galling.

That said, I generally approve of the Roku device I bought last year and can confirm that these refurbished devices work well and are easy to set up. This is a good price if you don't require Netflix subtitles.

RaptorFan wrote:Can anyone tell me how to delete channels on a Roku box to free up space? Thanks...

I don't know if the interface is the same on all models, but on mine I go to the Channel Store, scroll up to My Channels, wait for it to populate, then select the channel I want to delete and select "Remove channel".

wyreless wrote:Here is a fix, although will require a few bucks,
Get PLAYON.The PLAYON Premium Lifetime License is on sale for a few more days, Sunday I think, for $59.99 and then use that to watch Netflix.

Sounds good, but this requires a little more than just "a few bucks" since it requires a Wii, xBox 360 or PS3. So in addition being a much more expensive service, you need a $250-400 device to stream.

D:

zombeezy wrote:Whoever wrote the little blurb on the roku box is an absolute buffoon with no idea what they are talking about. They say they are a quote "recovered World of Warcraft addict". If this was the case they would be aware of the fact that WoW is a PC game. You can not run it on a game console. The writer says "And I’m just not strong enough to look under my television, see a game console with a CD-rom slot, and not be able to insert a WoW disc.". This made me want to hit myself in the face with a brick. You can not simply pop a WoW disc into a game console, I assume they are referring to the xbox 360 and ps3, and start playing. They also say "...medication to numb the muscles in my thumbs, making the game impossible if I even try to play". WoW is played with a keyboard not with an analog stick controller, again does the writer have any clue what they are talking about? The first two paragraphs of the blurb in my opinion gave the reviewer no credibility as these were clearly fabricated. So why should I believe anything else they would write. Perhaps I'm just a bit to hardcore but I don't think I'm going to be getting this product today. Come on woot! you're better than this. You guys are usually very up to date with tech. This is just ridiculous. Replace World of Warcrcaft with The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim or some other console game that would fit the description and at least give this review some credibility.

you know that whole write up is a joke right? You know that's the whole point of woot right? You know you're an rebel scum right?

silvarios wrote:I agree, currently using four Roku boxes with Plex. Great setup.

Previous to Plex on the Roku, I tried Apple TVs (both an original model and the Apple TV 2) and a variety of small computers connected as media boxes. None of my prior attempts proved particularly satisfactory when it came to getting my media (ripped DVDs, DRM free internet videos, home movies, pictures, etc) easily accessible. The requirement to use iTunes to manage my mass of mostly untagged media was annoying. Regardless of frontend, a media computer proved too cumbersome for the regular people (not nerds like me in other words) in my household.

Plex and the Roku hit the sweetspot. Feature rich, but easy to use interface. All the jiggery pokery on the backend is hidden by the slick Plex on Roku frontend. My Plex server even wakes on demand with any Plex request from the Roku, which helps lesson the power consumption a bit for all the times the server would otherwise be powered on, but idle. Quite happy with the results, and most importantly, the setup passed the not me, but regular people test.

Then you seriously missed the mark. Plex is indeed the answer, but the Roku doesn't make Plex better. In fact, there is far less support and development effort for these Roku clients that there are for other clients. I have Plex clients running on OS-X, iOS (iPhone 4), iOS (iPad), ATV2, Samsung TV, Android, etc., and mt set-up is glorious. I've been all digital for ten years and this is the best complete solution yet.

I wouldn't buy these Roku units at this price, whether I was going to use them as Plex clients or otherwise. If you couldn't figure out how to get your Apple TV to play your variety of media without iTunes, then you couldn't have actually installed the Plex client.

Anyway, if you want the Roku, go spend $5 more and get a brand new one directly from Roku's website instead of this outdated model.

ReginaFilangee wrote:Can someone please help me make sure I'm understanding this correctly?

1. Streaming depends upon signal (wifi) strength---if it's weak, it'll constantly stop for buffering just like when playing youtube or TV shows on my computer, yes? So if that happens a lot on my computer (it does), it will drive me insane trying to watch programming on my TV thru this?
2. Since it's wifi, and I have a "mifi" personal wifi hotspot as my main Internet connection, and that has a limit of 10gb/month (overage costs per mb or gb, I'm not sure b/c I never go over)----this wouldn't make financial sense as I would probably start going over my limit regularly? (Verizon does not offer an "unlimited" option where I live.)
3. Unrelated to the above concerns, is there any way to record programming with this? (I can currently only receive free OTA programming where I live, and would LOVE to be able to record shows from the Discovery Channel, HBO, etc.) If I'm reading this right, it doesn't sound like this device would do that.....unless maybe I went thru a complex hookup between my TV and laptop (could probably figure it out, but just really don't wanna) and used a large external hard drive to hold the shows? Have I got that right?

So, as cool as this sounds, I shouldn't spend the $ on it....or should I?

I would say this is not the device you're looking for.

RaptorFan wrote:Can anyone tell me how to delete channels on a Roku box to free up space? Thanks...

Pretty sure you click the star button and that pulls up a menu. you do this on the main menu bar, just scroll over to the channel.

Also, for those so inclined, there's a bunch of private channels, including deconstructionist propaganda film channels you can add.

outoftune wrote:What's a Plex?

From someone Else's post:
Download the Plex Media Server on your computer and set it up to source your movie and tv show files. Then add the private channel "plex" on your roku account. Your LAN will then retrieve and stream directly from your computer, in many formats including avi.

Helpful links:
http://www.plexapp.com/
http://www.tested.com/videos/quicklook/videos/5762-quick-look-at-plex-for-roku/
http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/forum/84-roku-streaming-players/

add the Plex Grid channel

This model doesn't support dual band. The XD/S first gen model does.

The 2nd gen models abandoned dual band completely.

If the XD/S was available on woot, I'd be a buyer.

My neighborhood and my usage pretty much requires a separate band. Plus my Netgear WNDR3800 is optimized for video on the 5GHz band.

misterchips wrote:If you buy this Roku Player, do you also have to purchase some kind of subscription to get it to work ?

There is not a subscription, however....

There are LOTS of free channels and would be enough for some...kid channels, old movies, etc.

But most will want to add some combination of:

Netflix ($8/month)
HuluPlus ($8/month)
Amazon Prime-VOD-VideoOnDemand) ($80/year)
{this includes the free shipping stuff)

So for less that $25/month, many people would have all the content they need and discontinue cable or just keep basic cable.

ReginaFilangee wrote:Can someone please help me make sure I'm understanding this correctly?

1. Streaming depends upon signal (wifi) strength---if it's weak, it'll constantly stop for buffering just like when playing youtube or TV shows on my computer, yes? So if that happens a lot on my computer (it does), it will drive me insane trying to watch programming on my TV thru this?
2. Since it's wifi, and I have a "mifi" personal wifi hotspot as my main Internet connection, and that has a limit of 10gb/month (overage costs per mb or gb, I'm not sure b/c I never go over)----this wouldn't make financial sense as I would probably start going over my limit regularly? (Verizon does not offer an "unlimited" option where I live.)
3. Unrelated to the above concerns, is there any way to record programming with this? (I can currently only receive free OTA programming where I live, and would LOVE to be able to record shows from the Discovery Channel, HBO, etc.) If I'm reading this right, it doesn't sound like this device would do that.....unless maybe I went thru a complex hookup between my TV and laptop (could probably figure it out, but just really don't wanna) and used a large external hard drive to hold the shows? Have I got that right?

So, as cool as this sounds, I shouldn't spend the $ on it....or should I?

You would quickly deplete your allotted bandwidth. Not recommended.

IGetUp wrote:Enter code B8VVK for the YouTube channel.

I just purchased a Roku 2 XD to go with my Roku XD. I love them both and my satellite is toast when the contract expires.

That code is dead...no YouTube on Roku currently.

RaptorFan wrote:Can anyone tell me how to delete channels on a Roku box to free up space? Thanks...

The internet can tell you...search for 'delete roku channels'

http://support.roku.com/entries/221073-how-do-i-remove-a-channel-from-my-roku-player

I got one of these a few weeks ago from Woot! and it wouldn't connect to my wifi router... I discovered through much online digging that if this happens you MUST connect it the first time with the ethernet cable, and after set up once (wired) it connects to the same access point wirelessly with no issues......This is not an issue with the newer 2 XD (whch I have), but it is a known common problem with this first gen. model. Hope that helps some people...

nnssandman wrote:Why not spend $5 more and get the brand-new model with a full warranty? This unit is already outdated. You can get them directly from Roku's website with free shipping.

Come on Woot, you disappoint. This is not a deal. You'd be lucky to get $20 for these on eBay.

Full warranty on a new Roku is 90 days.

I ran into that problem at a Marriott a few weeks ago. In order to access either the wired or wi-fi in my room (at least on a computer)you have open your browser and it goes to a splash screen where you 'accept' the conditions to use their wifi (in lieu of entering a code). My previously wooted Roku didn't like this splash screen 'accept' and wouldn't connect.

To get around this, I called the front desk, who sent up a maintenance guy, and I gave him the MAC address on the bottom of the Roku. Then he called their IT guy, and he entered it straight into their router, and it worked great!

bakntime wrote:Problem is that with everyone bringing their wi-fi devices, you're lucky to get the bandwidth you need to watch streaming services. At least that's my experience with public/hotel wi-fi.

Just plug into the hotel's ethernet cable into the Roku's port!!!

Until they figure out a way to get college football and the NFL, it is nothing but junk to me.

Wow, this really beats jerry rigging an old laptop to stream stuff. It is easily installed, easy to operate, good quality picture, neat affirmation tones. I stream netflix and pandora.

re: Playon's lifetime license sale:

sindex23 wrote:Sounds good, but this requires a little more than just "a few bucks" since it requires a Wii, xBox 360 or PS3. So in addition being a much more expensive service, you need a $250-400 device to stream.

D:

I just checked Playon's site, and it looks like they stream directly to a Roku box. Am I missing something?

And they're also offering this deal: http://www.playon.tv/bundle/buy/ A lifetime license for Playon and Play Later (ie: record and watch whenever) bundle for $129.99, and you get a free current-gen Roku XDS.

The description states it comes with an enhanced remote. What is this and is it different from the IR remote that the new model comes with on the Roku website?

There is a Roku Remote Control app for smartphones.

With one of these babies and Netflix you can pretty much ditch cable (unless you're a news junkie). Be sure, however, to check first with your ISP and see if they have a limit on downloads as this will definitely up your usage.

Get it, my Sams Club ran out.

Hi this is a old version and i have seen the latest Roku2 with USB and Agry bird sameprice+$10 at Sams club

FYI: Free Droid ap that lets you use your phone as a remote. Handy when the main one is lost in the couch.

Rokus are great, but the devices you already own may be able to stream some of the same shows. This site can help you sort it all out: www.CableCutterGuys.com

I've now bought 6 of these things from Woot: House, office, gifts for my elderly parents and my young-adult kids.

Easy to set up, reliable, etc. but mostly used used to watch Netflix on big TV via HDMI cable. This Woot unit is great as it has both WiFi and Wired.

Took an hour to talk my very elderly parents through hooking up the 3 wires but everyone else had no problem.

It could replace cable except for cable news and sports.

cdeviney wrote:Full warranty on a new Roku is 90 days.

That's all? That sucks.

I wonder if it is because they don't have faith in their hardware, it becomes outdated in three months, or if customers simply change their minds around that time.

You will be able to pick these exact same models up on eBay for $10 in about a month. They're already available for $20.

IGetUp wrote:Enter code B8VVK for the YouTube channel.

That code does not work for a long time..

SugarNinja wrote:I ran into that problem at a Marriott a few weeks ago. In order to access either the wired or wi-fi in my room (at least on a computer)you have open your browser and it goes to a splash screen where you 'accept' the conditions to use their wifi (in lieu of entering a code). My previously wooted Roku didn't like this splash screen 'accept' and wouldn't connect.

To get around this, I called the front desk, who sent up a maintenance guy, and I gave him the MAC address on the bottom of the Roku. Then he called their IT guy, and he entered it straight into their router, and it worked great!

Expect hotels to get wise to this. Many already have. They make ridiculous margins on in-room entertainment and are not going to continue to facilitate guests plugging their own widgets in to create a bridge to content they don't get a piece of.

ljw143 wrote:I just checked Playon's site, and it looks like they stream directly to a Roku box. Am I missing something?

You need to have a Windows PC hosting PlayOn's server software. That's a deal-breaker for me.

A one point, someone listed a URL that had a bunch of little-know channels that these boxes could access, or am I dreaming? Can you repost if it is true. I have netflix, but I also find some good films on popcorn movies and crackle. Very brief ads, but the films are uncut.

I own 5 of these things, two of them are this model and I have had zero problems. My father was injured and stuck in his bed for a couple of months and I loaned him one and never got it back! And besides the netflix, hulu, amazon and other stuff for online you can watch your stored content from a pc if you get the Plex channel and install a plex client on the pc. It works much better than I thought it would.

http://www.plexapp.com/

nnssandman wrote:You need to have a Windows PC hosting PlayOn's server software. That's a deal-breaker for me.

Already got a couple of PCs, so that's no biggie for me. Question (in case you know): I assume you have to have the computer running at the same time Playon's streaming, but does that keep you from using the computer for other things at the same time? I like to do e-mail, etc. while I watch TV.

My husband travels a lot and cannot lug around a gaming system. Will this work with hotel wifi? Does anyone know?

So I'm having a hard time finding info, is it possible to set this up with Plex or another piece of software to just turn it on and have it stream multiple videos from your PC from now until the end of time?
(Kid loves to watch lots of small videos I have, but having to hit buttons every 5 minutes gets to be aggravating when you're trying to get a few things done in the hour or so you can get them to sit...)

craigthom wrote:I don't know if the interface is the same on all models, but on mine I go to the Channel Store, scroll up to My Channels, wait for it to populate, then select the channel I want to delete and select "Remove channel".

Thanks,this worked for me.

radi0j0hn wrote:A one point, someone listed a URL that had a bunch of little-know channels that these boxes could access, or am I dreaming? Can you repost if it is true. I have netflix, but I also find some good films on popcorn movies and crackle. Very brief ads, but the films are uncut.

The internet is your friend...

Search for 'roku private channels'.