Cable-less, some movie channels on Roku

First I want to give credit to the screenshot in my first blog to: http://deviceguru.com/roku-screenshots/  Check it out after understanding the basics.  I learned today that Comcast customers have a new alternative coming out that may compete with Netflix-http://news.yahoo.com/survive-post-starz-netflix-194922104. html as a little less expensive.  Netflix effective today has broken their contact with Starz, but they will have other offerings that they claim are comparable.  Netflix is month-to-month without a contract, basic membership for streaming only is $7.99/month and can be cancelled at any time.  Netflix like some of the other sources I will mention can be accessed through the web, but the point of streaming devices is to watch it on TV.  Amazon.com has an amazon student for 6 mos. free of 2 day free shipping on some books/items for students, and they had me join that on one email and get a free month trial of Amazon Instant Video (Prime) on another.  If I want to join after my free month, then I can get half price as a student ($39/year) through my amazon student membership for prime movies/TV and other movies/TV at cost.  There may be another fee for Amazon student after 6 mos, but upgrade is part of amazon instant video prime fee so if I join the instant video I get amazon student benefits with it- http: //www.amazon.com/ gp/prime?ie=UTF8&* Version*=1&*entries*=0 .  If in doubt as to what you are buying or agreeing to press the "contact us" button on the right and after answering a few questions and providing your number, they will call you.  Vanguard Cinema, Crackle, Popcornflix, Inmoo.com, Openfilm and others can be accessed for free on Roku or the web mostly with just Movies, but Crackle has TV too.  There are a succession of other free movie channels mostly at the roku channel store, mostly of old films including Moonlight movies, Drive-in classics, Retrovision, and PubDHub (Gold version at cost, careful what you click into).   This is the icon for Nowhere TV.

Here are lists of some of roku's private channels: http://www.roku-channels.com/, http://hiddenchannel.com/ & http://streamfree.tv/apps/rokuchannels.php.  Private channels get added through your roku.com account or a link. http://streamfree.tv/apps/roku-private-channels/all-private-channels/nowhere-tv-20-thread.html leads you to Nowhere TV which I will discuss more next time.

Weaning off cable and buying a Roku

I started my quest to pull the cable cord weeks ago.  I only owned a series of old analog TVs so I knew no cable initially meant no TV reception without a streaming device or a new HDTV with an indoor antenna.  I bought a Roku (available from www.roku.com or www.amazon.com) but PlayStation 3, XBox 360, Nintendo Wii, some Smart TVs, TiVo, and other devices can stream Netflix and some other channels too.  My first research was finding which device worked for me, and checking into Internet options.  I chose the roku because it had many channels and chose a wireless connection at a slow 1.6 Mbps which barely handles it and wouldn't work as well with a computer on at the same time.  I tested it before I locked in at the rate, and I know speeds of 3-10-12 Mbps would add to faster downloads, but I was trying to save money.  It sounds as though an Ethernet cable may be usable with some Roku models, but double-check on this.  For $49.99 (free shipping) I bought a Roku LT, knowing higher models come with other features and Angry Birds game.  There were no monthly fees, just the price of the Internet service and the box itself.  I connected my Roku through my computer with help from their customer service number--1-888-600-7658 available Monday to Sunday 8am-8pm.  The Roku is played on a game channel or channel below channel 2 so make sure older TVs have that.  You will also need a yellow, white, and red plug opening (or a yellow and white one) on an older analog TV or a HDMI opening (and cable) on a newer HDTV.

The Roku shows a screen like this, which after you pick some channels will be clicked into here.  To add channels you either go to the channel store on the list above or go to your roku.com account.  Many of the 300 or more channels are free, some have tiny or small yearly fees or one-time fees or larger monthly fees.  Some also offer a trial week or month to try them and there are also a significant number of private channels (some free) that can be added with an available code.  Here are 4 pages of private channel codes--
http://streamfree.tv/apps/rokuchannels.php.  After I felt I could imagine life without cable, I cut my service down to local channels first and later had the courage to give up my cable.  I will share more about some of the channel trials and specific channels when I blog next.  There are even many free movie channels!