getting internet through tv???

[pixxi]

I am in my 30's but there is so much change in technology! I have no idea how to get netflixs through our wii, I have no idea how people get hula and other services to work. I am interested in cutting the cable but I have no idea how to get other options for the tv. I assume I'll need wireless internet I assume by getting a router. Are all routers equal, what about wireless security. I heard someone saying they don't want anyone borrowing their paid wireless.

We have 1 HD tv and 1 old tv. I guess I'll have to get a converter box and rabbit ears for the old tv?? I love my DVR through the cable company. If I drop cable is my only option tivo? If I get hula, are all the chanels available on that service? So, maybe I don't need tivo? How much is it to get tivo, is it just a box or do you pay for their service?

Sometimes it just seems easier to pay an arm and a leg for cable!

 

[Dashzap]

Here's what we do. I've no idea if there is a better way.

We get DSL internet through AT&T. We don't subscribe to cable at all. I set up a wireless network with security, WPA or some such, with a password. It's a good idea to set up your router to not broadcast its ID as well.

Your wii can be on this wireless network. Then once you've gotten your wii on your wireless network, the wii can update itself and you can get the internet channel and netflix. I've been too cheap to subscribe to Netflix, although I downloaded Netflix to the wii. We do watch youtube videos on the wii.

We don't watch a lot of TV. I bought a converter box (because my TV is a bit old) and rabbit ears antenna. We get 4-5 channels. Reception changes depending on the weather. This works for us because we don't follow any shows regularly, so we aren't disappointed if a channel won't work on a particular day.

I've been thinking about getting the connector to hook our mac laptop to the TV to watch hulu.

 

[JCMHutch]

We stream Netflix to our tv through our Roku box. We have one Roku in the living room and one in the bedroom (both hooked up to older tvs). We already had wireless in the house so setting up the Roku was a snap. It was very easy to set-up and you can do wireless or hardwire to connect to the internet. Roku also has the Newscaster channel so you can access stuff from CNN, Fox, CNBC, etc.

While we love streaming, we did keep Comcast basic service ($11 a month) so that we can get the local channels, otherwise we have no tv signals where we are.

 

[usnuzuloose]

We have At&t their box is like a router so you dont need an extra router and the wii and our roku box is connected. I pay 70 a month for internet and home phone. I dont miss paying cable. Thats money toward my whatever. I pay 20 a month for netflix and hulu plus.

 

[cglaura]

I am in my 30's but there is so much change in technology! I have no idea how to get netflixs through our wii, I have no idea how people get hula and other services to work. I am interested in cutting the cable but I have no idea how to get other options for the tv. I assume I'll need wireless internet I assume by getting a router. Are all routers equal, what about wireless security. I heard someone saying they don't want anyone borrowing their paid wireless.

When you set up the router, you can set up a user/pass. Just make it something difficult your neighbors won't be able to figure out.

We have 1 HD tv and 1 old tv. I guess I'll have to get a converter box and rabbit ears for the old tv?? I love my DVR through the cable company. If I drop cable is my only option tivo? If I get hula, are all the chanels available on that service?

Not all channels are available on Hulu, but there are alot. I think you have to subscribe to HuluPlus to get it on the Wii. That is $7.50/month. It is that way for Roku. I don't get free Hulu there. I could be wrong about that, I don't have a Wii

So, maybe I don't need tivo? How much is it to get tivo, is it just a box or do you pay for their service?

I don't think you can tivo anything but cable...so you wouldn't be able to dvr anything. (I think...) You can use the Wii/Netflix/HuluPlus on old tve though. I think you need some sort of disk to put in the Wii? Not sure. I have a Roku box hooked up to an old 32" from the 80s/90s...works great.

Sometimes it just seems easier to pay an arm and a leg for cable!

I tried to bold/italic my replies above, my colors are not working.

 

[Nayan]

To get wireless for your Wii, you'll need a wireless router. Mine is a Belkin "N" and it works with everything I have. Plus it is easy to go in and set up a password and I cannot stress how important it is to do this! Make it something you'll remember but no one else knows, or make it two or three words strung together that make no sense. Write it down and put it in a safe place.

The Wii will stream Netflix, but it is not set up to stream Hulu Plus. For that, you would need something like Roku and it would cost you $7.99/month for Hulu. For Tivo you can use rabbit ears but you also must use a converter box. You can access Netflix, Amazon On-Demand, YouTube and Hulu Plus. You will have to buy the unit itself and there's a monthly fee of $20 to use it.

 

[usnuzuloose]

You can take an HDMI cable and hook it up to you computer and then up to your tv as long as your tv has an HDMI plug area and you can watch reg hulu on your tv. The wii no longer needs a disc. It is a channel on the wii now. I have the roku box in my living room and my wii connected in my bedroom.

 

[living20057]

This is the exact information I was looking for. I need a roku box and an antenna. I already the wii and netflix. I am going to see how much basic cable, phone, and internet cost.

 

[ssawka]

This is the exact information I was looking for. I need a roku box and an antenna. I already the wii and netflix. I am going to see how much basic cable, phone, and internet cost.

No, you do not need the Roku box. Rocku is just another device to play Netflix (and other services), which the Wii can already do. Sorry, I can't help you much more than that since I don't have a Wii. I built a computer for our main TV and DD has a Blu-ray player with Internet services (Netflix, etc.) I got that on sale at Costco for $95.

 

[cglaura]

This is the exact information I was looking for. I need a roku box and an antenna. I already the wii and netflix. I am going to see how much basic cable, phone, and internet cost.

As pp said you don't need Roku if you have the Wii. Unless you meant you need a router?

If you are getting basic cable, then you also don't need the antenna.

Do you have Comcast there? I have basic cable and performance internet for $57/month. I think the basic cable/basic internet is $40/month (not 100% on that info...).

My phone is separate at Verizon. Although I'm not at all happy with it. Basic phone, no LD, no regional, just call waiting b/c I need it for work...just local phone and call waiting is $37/month. Crazy, but I can't seem to find any less expensive options. Cell phone only is not an option.

Anyhooo, that is not at all on topic to this thread, sorry OP!

 

[living20057]

Have you looked at Ooma for the landline phone.

I want to get the Roku box to watch Hulu Plus on the tv. I looked into how basic cable is, and I still think it is too much. I am just going to keep the Internet. The cheapest I found with good speed is Verizon. They have a special for 49.99 and it includes the phone.





[QUOTE=cglaura;40114741]As pp said you don't need Roku if you have the Wii. Unless you meant you need a router?

If you are getting basic cable, then you also don't need the antenna.

Do you have Comcast there? I have basic cable and performance internet for $57/month. I think the basic cable/basic internet is $40/month (not 100% on that info...).

My phone is separate at Verizon. Although I'm not at all happy with it. Basic phone, no LD, no regional, just call waiting b/c I need it for work...just local phone and call waiting is $37/month. Crazy, but I can't seem to find any less expensive options. Cell phone only is not an option.

Anyhooo, that is not at all on topic to this thread, sorry OP![/QUOTE]

 

[KikiFan]

also to anyone that has Amazon on demand and has an Amazon Prime Membership. You can know stream a huge amount of their catalog at no extra fee. Not everything is free, but there is a lot of stuff that is.

I've got the roku and totally love it. Between Hulu plus, netflix,amazon on demand and the Newscaster channel - I see pretty much everything I want to see for about $20 a month.