TV in garage/ no cable needed

[albaran]

My son-in-law gave me a flat screen TV for Father's day for the garage but I didn't want to run a cable wire or rent another cable box so I bought a Roku box which streams from the internet. I can get custom music stations from Pandora, movie and TV shows through Netflix and Amazon, as well as streaming from MSNBC and Fox.
At the bottom of the TV is an Ipod that my brother-in-law converted all of my old vinyl albums to (1500 songs) and all of the sound runs through an old Techniques receiver that runs through old but great sounding ADS speakers.
The cabinet is from IKEA (around a $100).
The point is that you can still reuse a lot of older electronic equipment for you garage.

 

[1991Syclone]

A lot of companies have come out with these now making it almost unnecessary to have cable running anywhere. I've have/use both the Sony and WDTV units and my next purchase will be the Boxee. You can stream using a Windows 7 PC if you have the movies on a hard drive, or using TVersity or other media streamers. I still like having the option of watching cable TV with the built-in tuners, but in a pinch the others will do nicely.

http://www.boxee.tv/
http://www.roku.com/
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/wdtv/
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/st...8198552921666382666&langId=-1&catalogId=10551

 

[vertguy]

Yeah, the Roku box is a nice piece of technology. I stumbled onto that product when searching for the easiest way to get Pandora to my older LCD TV, as it did not have a USB. And the wireless Roku was ticket as the TV is also tied into my built-in sound system.

 

[plung]

You could also do a slingbox if you wanted to access your cable box remotely.

 

[rwhite692]

+1 on the Roku box, I picked the HD one up for $59 shipped, when they had a sale going on, around the holidays. Made good use of our now semi-retired 50" plasma.

I am an Amazon Prime member, so that gets me their streaming for (generally older) movies, but there is plenty of stuff for the kids to watch when they are out in the shop with me. And yes, Pandora is GREAT!

 

[Even Steven]

They also have these things called antennas. You hook them up to the back of the TV and you can get network television for free! It's amazing technology! LOL

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

I hate the digital "all or nothing" signal. At least with analog you could still hear and sorta see when signal got weak.
I miss the full, rich warm sound of tube amps as well. Digital music *****.

 

[collmorgen]

I have a Roku in the house and love it. Check out nowhereman.com for a great roku channel. As to the antennae, some of us live in rural areas where over the air signals are week or non-existant.

 

[rwhite692]

They also have these things called antennas. You hook them up to the back of the TV and you can get network television for free! It's amazing technology! LOL

Indeed, I have one of those too.

I can pick up a whopping three digital TV stations.

...Can't get Pandora with an antenna, LOL!

 

[rwhite692]

...Check out nowhereman.com for a great roku channel....

Went to check that out...Are you sure about that URL? That address seems to be an artist/sculptor's personal web page, or something....

 

[rwhite692]

I miss the full, rich warm sound of tube amps as well. Digital music *****.

Why not get yourself a tube amp, then?

I still have a setup with my old McIntosh amp, my reel-to-reel, and Thorens turntable, in my living room, for when I want to sit down and really "listen" to some music.

In the shop or garage, while hammering on things, and over the noise of a die grinder or a battery drill...Digital Music works just fine.

And having instantaneous access to tens of thousands of songs, certainly doesn't ****.

I don't think my old reel-to-reel or my turntable would much like the grinding dust, LOL

 

[Even Steven]

Indeed, I have one of those too.

I can pick up a whopping three digital TV stations.

...Can't get Pandora with an antenna, LOL!

Really? Here in NY, we get all the major networks in full HD digital over the air.

 

[rwhite692]

Really? Here in NY, we get all the major networks in full HD digital over the air.

We are about halfway between Sacramento and San Francisco...We don't get very good digital OTA reception, where we live.

 

[blackgold]

Just do an HTPC and have the best of all worlds....

 

[rwhite692]

Just do an HTPC and have the best of all worlds....

Sure....except that will set you back a lot more than the 59 clams that a Roku box costs.

 

[Mike_C]

I have a couple boxee box's and a logitec revue with google tv. I have a boxee in the garage right now, but plan on putting the google tv out there. Tried one of the apps on it called Redux, and it has a handful of car channels that I have enjoyed watching. Its basically a service where people create channels pulling content from Youtube and Vimeo.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

FWIW, Slickdeals.net has a deal today for a wireless 720p Roku box for $50.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/69986/shop-roku-roku-2-hd-wireless-hd-media-player

-Brian

 

[ebfabman]

Do these things ever "buffer"?

 

[1991Syclone]

Do these things ever "buffer"?

If you're streaming from a local PC to the device, it's rare, but if you're using Netflix or equivalent it will buffer if there are issues with your internet connection.

 

[Bender78]

Went to check that out...Are you sure about that URL? That address seems to be an artist/sculptor's personal web page, or something....

Try this

http://thenowhereman.com/roku/

 

[rwhite692]

Try this

http://thenowhereman.com/roku/

Thanks! Added it to my Roku channel lineup, will check it out!