Replacement televisions?

[oneknight]

Our 2017 had the old Samsung "almost smart" TVs. The ones that have like 2 apps and only talk to other Samsung devices?
I have Smartcast's plugged into 2 of them, but hate having the televisions tethered to my phone.

At home we have Vizio's. I like them kinda. They don't have a Newsmax app, and do not have a way to install apps.

I'm looking at upgrading the coach TVs, and wondering what your experience has been?

Note we have recently ditched the dish and gone streaming, with YouTube tv, Hulu, and Paramount+

[brobox]

I have all new Samsung smart TVs in the S&B and they are great. The Insigna Fire TV I have in my office has turned out to be a great little TV, it really surprised. me. I purchased it just to play with jail breaking and not mess up one of the Samsungs. It has taken everything I have thrown at it and not locked up. The picture is also fantastic.
The new Samsungs, you can download all the apps. I also have YouTube TV, Netflix, Paramount+ etc. all loaded.

[SouthTX]

Our Aspire came with the Samsung NotVerySmart TV's and the Matrix system didn't do much to help our learning curve. After much swearing and profanity, I finally put a Roku on the living room and bedroom TV and a Google Cast on the front overhead TV. Simple enough for a caveman (or his wife) and we can cast from our phones to the overhead TV while on the road. I do see an Android Auto unit in our future, though.

[Ambetter]

I replaced our main tv with an LG, it works well for us.

[oneknight]

Originally Posted by SouthTX

Our Aspire came with the Samsung NotVerySmart TV's and the Matrix system didn't do much to help our learning curve. After much swearing and profanity, I finally put a Roku on the living room and bedroom TV and a Google Cast on the front overhead TV. Simple enough for a caveman (or his wife) and we can cast from our phones to the overhead TV while on the road. I do see an Android Auto unit in our future, though.

Tell more about this Roku?

Is this something you can plug into the existing televisions?

Does it do YouTube tv, Hulu, and Paramount+?

I'm looking to do it all with the tv remote, no phone, easy enough so the DW can deal with it?

[SouthTX]

Originally Posted by oneknight

Tell more about this Roku?

Is this something you can plug into the existing televisions?

Does it do YouTube tv, Hulu, and Paramount+?

I'm looking to do it all with the tv remote, no phone, easy enough so the DW can deal with it?

I *think* there are other devices that work like Roku - Apple TV, Firestick, etc. Roku just happens to be the one I originally picked up and have stayed with. There are several versions of Roku, but basically, they plug into an HDMI port on the TV and also a wired or wireless internet connection. Once you have selected the input with the Roku, it works just about the same as the Samsung smart TV in the S&B. Select what you want to watch - YouTubeTV and Prime Video are what we subscribe to. You can add whatever other free or subscription sources you might want to watch.

Roku comes in a number of flavors - HD, 4K, infrared, wireless. Some have volume and on/off controls. The NotSoSmart TV's in my Aspire have 2 HDMI ports and one antenna connection so you retain the option of selecting the Matrix or local TV using the TV remote.

You will need the stock TV remote to change source connections and you MAY need a soundbar remote to control the volume.

[Rob_M]

The Samsungs took some getting used to to figure out how to connect to various wifi’s, but we like them enough that we have 2 in the rv and 2 in the house. The newest one has the best easiest to use remote ever and charges via solar.

The LG we had in the house before would not support some aps (hulu being one) even though it was fairly new. So stay away from LG.

[oneknight]

ROKU?

Can I just plug a Roku device into my TVs to add some smart to the "not so smart" Samsung's to create my own Smart TV?

I have previously put smartcast devices in them, but all they seem to do is let me share my phone, I don't like that.
Would a Roku device give me a true Smart TV interface?

Our 2017 has the "Front Sat" cable wired to an HDMI splitter, which feeds all the TV's in the coach.
If I connect a Roku stick to that connection, it will feed every TV?

I may be on to something here?

[LETMGROW]

Originally Posted by Ambetter

I replaced our main tv with an LG, it works well for us.

I did the same thing. When TV's started getting smarter than I am I downgraded so I could keep up with the simple ones. I'm still falling behind.

[brobox]

Originally Posted by Rob_M

The Samsungs took some getting used to to figure out how to connect to various wifi’s, but we like them enough that we have 2 in the rv and 2 in the house. The newest one has the best easiest to use remote ever and charges via solar.

The LG we had in the house before would not support some aps (hulu being one) even though it was fairly new. So stay away from LG.

Totally agree on the remotes. I liked them so much I purchased extras on eBay for the 75 inch that was one model before the new solar remotes and one for each side of the bed for the bedroom TV. No having to remember different remotes and what each button does.

I thought the wifi was easy to set up. We lost all wifi after Hurricane Ian, the TV's had to be reconnected, I had forgotten how easy it was to connect, just answer the questions. Samsung calls it "Network" instead of wifi in the menu

[2Nailz]

Originally Posted by oneknight

ROKU?

Can I just plug a Roku device into my TVs to add some smart to the "not so smart" Samsung's to create my own Smart TV?

I have previously put smartcast devices in them, but all they seem to do is let me share my phone, I don't like that.
Would a Roku device give me a true Smart TV interface?

Our 2017 has the "Front Sat" cable wired to an HDMI splitter, which feeds all the TV's in the coach.
If I connect a Roku stick to that connection, it will feed every TV?

I may be on to something here?

I have used Roku devices for several years now and I am very happy with them. I am not sure that you can use the Roku stick through the HDMI matrix.

You can plug a Roku into your HDMI switch and distribute it to all of your TV's. This is what I do. I have the Roku Ultra.

I would suggest the Roku Express or the Roku Ultra. The user interface and apps (YouTube, Amazon, Hulu, etc.) are the same. Your TV's are likely 1080p / HD. Both can do 1080, the Ultra can do higher. What I like most about the Ultra is that it has the best WiFi and a network jack. I don't use the WiFi. I have the Roku connected to my router with a network cable. What is nice is that you have either option.

The other advantage of Roku is that it supports all the popular streaming apps, paid and free. There have been times when Google (YouTube) and Amazon have prevented their apps from working on the competitors devices.

The remote on the Ultra, not sure about the Express, is RF for controlling the Roku. This means you do not have to point it at the Roku to control it Also the Roku can be in a cabinet. I can use the Roku remote for the outside TV and still control the Roku which is inside the coach. The Ultra remote does have power and volume controls which can be used to control the TV. This is infra-red and you have to point the remote at the TV, just like the TV factory remote. You will still need the TV factory remote for changing TV inputs, HDMI 1/2, Antenna, Cable, etc.

Bottom line is I think you would be happy with Roku. It has a very clean and simple user interface and broad compatability with TV's and streaming services.

Safe Travels,

Curtis

[oneknight]

Thanks Curtis. I'm gonna pick one up at Walmart today and give it a try.
Sounds way easier and cheaper than replacing 3 televisions

[SouthTX]

Originally Posted by oneknight

ROKU?

Can I just plug a Roku device into my TVs to add some smart to the "not so smart" Samsung's to create my own Smart TV?

I have previously put smartcast devices in them, but all they seem to do is let me share my phone, I don't like that.
Would a Roku device give me a true Smart TV interface?

Our 2017 has the "Front Sat" cable wired to an HDMI splitter, which feeds all the TV's in the coach.
If I connect a Roku stick to that connection, it will feed every TV?

I may be on to something here?

We started with a chromecast device when we started streaming TV, too. Roku (or similar devices) are a step up from that. The Roku interface is very similar to that of the relatively new smart TV in our living room - not the same but similar.


It may be possible to plug a Roku into the Matrix system and use just one for the entire coach, but I found the Matrix to be such a PITA that I put a Roku on both the LR and BR TV's which is all we ever watch. For about fifty bucks a pop for the Roku it wasn't worth the hassle of dealing with the Matrix. I could remove the Matrix system, DVD players, Wineguard system and satellite junk and never miss any of it.



FWIW, I have a Tmobile home internet box with a Verizon hotspot for backup and those feed a Google router that covers the entire coach. I've seen nearly 500 meg from the Tmo system and there was only one time that I had to fall back on the VZN system and even that barely had a signal in that location. Using the Google router makes it easy to switch between systems without reconnecting every device in the coach.

[creativepart]

We put a Roku on the Satellite #1 HDMI input on our HDMI Matrix and it worked great to put streaming TV at all TVs. We didn’t use the Roku Stick because it’s remote was IR based. We used the $120 Roku Ultra because it’s remote is RF and will work behind a closed cabinet.

We did install a whole RV Internet router (WiFi Ranger Spruce”) and then AtT&T and Verizon Hotspot devices. This works great and we’ve yet to camp anywhere with zero streaming service.

Recently we tired of the HDMI Matrix and retired that device. We have now put a Roku behind each TV.

This is preferred over a smartTV because you can install just about any App you want on a Roku and when new channel options come out they usually come out for Roku first.