topic Re: Samsung TV in Electronics

Samsung TV

matty liz — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 22:39:36 GMT

Does anyone know anything about the Samsung TV instead of cable? My cable is 200$ , husband died and I get very little SS. Looking for an alternative, thanks

Re: Samsung TV

deeva — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 22:52:12 GMT

What do you want to know?
We have Samsung tv's, they come with Samsung tv plus which includes hundreds of free channels.

And many apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu. But if you don't subscribe to those streaming services, they won't work.

Why don't you buy an over the air antenna, mine was less than $20 about five years ago.

Re: Samsung TV

Kachina624 — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:02:42 GMT

Samsung TV Plus is not a substitute for cable. It's a collection of channels of news programs, pop music videos, and old obsolete sitcoms and series. How about Bob Ross 24/7?

Not only that, it interferes with the operation of the TV in that you can't go up or down to check channels. It always defaults to TV Plus.

Frankly, I hate my Samsung TV and would never buy another. Periodically, I brush a key on the remote accidently and it messes up the TV. I then spend a week trying to straighten it out.

What you need to do is get a Roku device (simple to install) and subscribe to a streaming service. You can hook up a simple interior antenna and get all your local channels.

I did all these things myself and I'm a senior with 0 tech skills. Just follow the instructions.

Re: Samsung TV

matty liz — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:03:57 GMT

Thank you. Of the services you mentioned due you have an approximate cost. I live in an appt. and the only cable that comes to us is xfinity. If what I ask doesnt have easy answers, I want you to know I appreciate you trying. My SIL asked if I would be interested and offered to buy me the needed TV. Thank you

Re: Samsung TV

matty liz — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:07:15 GMT

Kachina624, thank you. That is what I was afraid of. It was hard to answer my dear SILs offer to help but you gave me insight, thank you

Re: Samsung TV

Tori3569 — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:31:21 GMT

You may want to get a smart tv in general, not specifically a Samsung. We have had an LG from QVC for years and like it.

Any smart tv will allow you to view streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc. Roku and YouTube tv seem to be the ones with the most to offer in terms of basic network channels like CBS, etc.

I've used both recently due to sports games my husband wanted to watch while Directv was negotiating with Disney / ESPN.

Here's a blurb from Roku's website--after paying for the Roku device, it's free unless you want things like Netflix. YouTube tv has a per month charge that's approx $60/month that I saw. There may be a lower tier.

Re: Samsung TV

deeva — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:34:49 GMT

You can go to the smart features in general settings and change which apps run when you turn on the tv. Samsung plus is only one of the options.

I have my tv set to go to the last channel watched when I turn it on.

Re: Samsung TV

AuntG — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:53:07 GMT

Cable costs are high, but that's all I understand. We get about 40 channels for $75 a month.

@matty liz last year I bought a 32 inch RokuTV for our rec room in the basement. We pull up a lot of movies and old TV shows. My husband uses his phone to control the volume and channels - I don't understand how it works. If someone could help you set it up, a RokuTV would be a cheap alternative to cable.

Re: Samsung TV

matty liz — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 02:28:55 GMT

Thanks to all of you. It gives me thoughts to work with

Re: Samsung TV

Nightowlz — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 04:19:45 GMT

@matty liz

You can buy any brand Smart TV.

You can also buy a Roku or a Firestick to stream TV. There are channels you pay for. They also have free TV. It is a lot of older shows & movies.

You can download Apps for Tubi, Freevee, Pluto, Plex to watch free TV. I use Tubi & Freevee the most.

If you want your local channels free you need an antenna. The antenna may work inside or you may need one outside. Depends on your location. My SIL in Fl uses an indoor antenna to watch TV free. It works in her Apt.

We had to install our antenna outside.

You can also get your local channels streaming with Youtube or Hulu+ but those are $70 or more per month now.

I got deals on Peacock, Paramount+ & Hulu. I also have Amazon Prime. Without Prime you can get Prime TV for $8.99 per month. I have these 4 pay streaming packages that I pay about $22 per month.

Online it says to stream TV, you'll need an internet connection with a minimum speed of 12 Mbps, but you'll want at least 25 Mbps for live TV or high-definition video. Fiber-optic and cable internet connections are generally the best options for streaming.

Re: Samsung TV

In-x-s — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 04:14:45 GMT

I have tried a Samsung TV and didn't find it to be very user friendly and I am tech savvy. We have several Roku TVs (TCL and Onn, specifically) and find them to be very user friendly even for my husband who has ZERO tech capability!!

Re: Samsung TV

gadgetgal613 — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 10:09:51 GMT

@In-x-s wrote:
I have tried a Samsung TV and didn't find it to be very user friendly and I am tech savvy. We have several Roku TVs (TCL and Onn, specifically) and find them to be very user friendly even for my husband who has ZERO tech capability!!

If you or anyone has basic tech skills, like how to get into the menu, you can figure out any device. They all work the same. You have a menu, source, channel up or down, and volumne control. I don't understand what is so difficult about operating a TV or streaming service.

Re: Samsung TV

Ainhisg — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 11:30:45 GMT

@matty liz you have to be so confused reading all these responses. The first thing I would need to know is if you have wi-fi or can get it. Also, is your current TV newish? old? a smart TV?

Re: Samsung TV

gardenman — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:15:03 GMT

@gadgetgal613 wrote:
@In-x-s wrote:
I have tried a Samsung TV and didn't find it to be very user friendly and I am tech savvy. We have several Roku TVs (TCL and Onn, specifically) and find them to be very user friendly even for my husband who has ZERO tech capability!!
If you or anyone has basic tech skills, like how to get into the menu, you can figure out any device. They all work the same. You have a menu, source, channel up or down, and volumne control. I don't understand what is so difficult about operating a TV or streaming service.

My new HDTV (a TCL 65Q650G) uses Google TV as its OS and it's not especially intuitive to use. The Fire and Roku OSs are pretty easy to use and I've used both for years, but the Google OS is a bit of a challenge for me. So much so that I added a 4K Fire Stick to it and use that instead of the Google TV interface. I'm a pretty tech-savvy consumer and I assumed the Google interface wouldn't be a big issue. It annoys me enough that I'm opting to work around it.

The concept of the Google OS is pretty neat. It watches what I watch and then suggests new things for me to watch. But the problem is when I see something I want to watch and go to click on it, just as I'm clicking it tends to replace that item with something else and then I'm clicking on something I don't want to watch and have to backtrack to get back to what I want to watch. It's a clever idea and good in concept, but a pain in the real world.

Simple things like pausing a video aren't as easy. There's no pause button on the remote. To pause, you have to click the OK button twice in a row. And they don't tell you that anywhere. I had to Google it to find out how to pause a video. The interface with YouTube TV is clunky. Which is weird since YouTube and Google are part of the same parent company. You'd think they'd have that interface as easy as can be. Nope. It's better and easier on the Fire and Roku interfaces.

This Google TV interface is just annoying and messy. It makes my life much more difficult than it needs to be, so I bypass it with a Fire Stick instead. While I agree most TV interfaces are easy to use and understand, the Google TV one isn't. At least for me. I love the TV, but the interface with Google TV is not ideal. Fire TVs and Roku, no problem. Google TV, eh, not as easy. More annoying than helpful. They need to get some better software engineers working on that.

Re: Samsung TV

CalminHeart — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:33:46 GMT

@matty liz wrote:
Does anyone know anything about the Samsung TV instead of cable? My cable is 200$ , husband died and I get very little SS. Looking for an alternative, thanks

Is your tv a smart tv? If yes, you can do all kinds of things.

When I had cable (Mediacom), I called and asked for ongoing monthly discounts. There were times they'd give them and times they didn't. Their customer service was horrible. Cable went out very often!

You can subscribe to all kinds of free (and for $) streaming channels with a smart tv if you have internet. While I liked a lot of the free options, it was difficult to get to local channels without paying through the nose.

I had DirecTV-Satellite for 12 years after getting fed up with cable. DTV-Satellite always gave me a $45 monthly discount - all I had to do was call every year on the exact date it expired to ask them to reinstate it. Thus, my bill was about $100.

I got fed up with the satellite going out all the time and switched to DirecTV-Internet this summer. No boxes or cables to worry about. Internet wires are underground so it doesn't go out as often as satellite.

DirecTV-Internet costs about $30 more a month but offers a lot of things I didn't have before. It doesn't have all the mini options of satellite but I'm able to work around those easy enough.

Always be on the lookout for deals. For example, if you have a Walmart membership for free delivery, etc, you can get Paramount Plus for free.

The Walmart membership is 1/2 price if you are on Social Security.

Re: Samsung TV

gadgetgal613 — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 13:42:20 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
@gadgetgal613 wrote:
@In-x-s wrote:
I have tried a Samsung TV and didn't find it to be very user friendly and I am tech savvy. We have several Roku TVs (TCL and Onn, specifically) and find them to be very user friendly even for my husband who has ZERO tech capability!!
If you or anyone has basic tech skills, like how to get into the menu, you can figure out any device. They all work the same. You have a menu, source, channel up or down, and volumne control. I don't understand what is so difficult about operating a TV or streaming service.
My new HDTV (a TCL 65Q650G) uses Google TV as its OS and it's not especially intuitive to use. The Fire and Roku OSs are pretty easy to use and I've used both for years, but the Google OS is a bit of a challenge for me. So much so that I added a 4K Fire Stick to it and use that instead of the Google TV interface. I'm a pretty tech-savvy consumer and I assumed the Google interface wouldn't be a big issue. It annoys me enough that I'm opting to work around it.

The concept of the Google OS is pretty neat. It watches what I watch and then suggests new things for me to watch. But the problem is when I see something I want to watch and go to click on it, just as I'm clicking it tends to replace that item with something else and then I'm clicking on something I don't want to watch and have to backtrack to get back to what I want to watch. It's a clever idea and good in concept, but a pain in the real world.

Simple things like pausing a video aren't as easy. There's no pause button on the remote. To pause, you have to click the OK button twice in a row. And they don't tell you that anywhere. I had to Google it to find out how to pause a video. The interface with YouTube TV is clunky. Which is weird since YouTube and Google are part of the same parent company. You'd think they'd have that interface as easy as can be. Nope. It's better and easier on the Fire and Roku interfaces.

This Google TV interface is just annoying and messy. It makes my life much more difficult than it needs to be, so I bypass it with a Fire Stick instead. While I agree most TV interfaces are easy to use and understand, the Google TV one isn't. At least for me. I love the TV, but the interface with Google TV is not ideal. Fire TVs and Roku, no problem. Google TV, eh, not as easy. More annoying than helpful. They need to get some better software engineers working on that.

That doesn't sound like a device I want to own.

Re: Samsung TV

kare29 — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:55:16 GMT

I just wanted to share what I did. We have two older TV's; a Vizio and an LG. I bought two Roku Ultras which are nifty little streaming devices that you attach to the back of your TV. If your current set is still going strong I don't see why you would need to replace it. This comes with everything you will need; the voice remote charges like your smart phone (no batteries needed) Per Roku box what you wil need: Broadband internet, wireless or wired router and TV with HDMI port (HDCP 2.2 for 4K)

You would need to talk to Xfinity about dropping your cable service and just keeping the internet. You did not mention if you have a plan that includes your phone line, something else to consider.

I cut the cord over a year ago. I left Xfinity for TMobile WiFi. At that time my bill was closing in on $230/month with no additional channels. By the time you pay for modem and remote rentals, TV broadcast fees, sports broadcasting fees and all the other misc

taxes and fees that $150 package you have is not such a good deal.

To help me adapt I did sign up for YouTube TV which was about $73.00 a month.. I did end up dropping that just because my TV habits have changed. The Roku Ultra is a one time only cost of about $120.00. Watch a demo on QVC or HSN for more info on the Roku.

Hope this helps--Karen

Re: Samsung TV

gardenman — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:04:09 GMT

@gadgetgal613 wrote:
@gardenman wrote:
@gadgetgal613 wrote:
@In-x-s wrote:
I have tried a Samsung TV and didn't find it to be very user friendly and I am tech savvy. We have several Roku TVs (TCL and Onn, specifically) and find them to be very user friendly even for my husband who has ZERO tech capability!!
If you or anyone has basic tech skills, like how to get into the menu, you can figure out any device. They all work the same. You have a menu, source, channel up or down, and volumne control. I don't understand what is so difficult about operating a TV or streaming service.
My new HDTV (a TCL 65Q650G) uses Google TV as its OS and it's not especially intuitive to use. The Fire and Roku OSs are pretty easy to use and I've used both for years, but the Google OS is a bit of a challenge for me. So much so that I added a 4K Fire Stick to it and use that instead of the Google TV interface. I'm a pretty tech-savvy consumer and I assumed the Google interface wouldn't be a big issue. It annoys me enough that I'm opting to work around it.

The concept of the Google OS is pretty neat. It watches what I watch and then suggests new things for me to watch. But the problem is when I see something I want to watch and go to click on it, just as I'm clicking it tends to replace that item with something else and then I'm clicking on something I don't want to watch and have to backtrack to get back to what I want to watch. It's a clever idea and good in concept, but a pain in the real world.

Simple things like pausing a video aren't as easy. There's no pause button on the remote. To pause, you have to click the OK button twice in a row. And they don't tell you that anywhere. I had to Google it to find out how to pause a video. The interface with YouTube TV is clunky. Which is weird since YouTube and Google are part of the same parent company. You'd think they'd have that interface as easy as can be. Nope. It's better and easier on the Fire and Roku interfaces.

This Google TV interface is just annoying and messy. It makes my life much more difficult than it needs to be, so I bypass it with a Fire Stick instead. While I agree most TV interfaces are easy to use and understand, the Google TV one isn't. At least for me. I love the TV, but the interface with Google TV is not ideal. Fire TVs and Roku, no problem. Google TV, eh, not as easy. More annoying than helpful. They need to get some better software engineers working on that.
That doesn't sound like a device I want to own.

The TV is great. An absolutely amazing picture. The Google TV interface isn't great. I got the TV at a very good price ($348 for the 65".) So adding a $30 4K Fire Stick isn't a big deal. It's a 4K QLED set with every version of Dolby and HDR you can name. It's feature-laden but just burdened with somewhat inept software.

If you aren't familiar with any other TV interface, you might love the Google TV interface. It's just clunky compared to Roku and Fire interfaces that I'm more familiar with. The TV is a 2023 model, and originally listed for $600-$700. More recently it's been $500. I'd be very unhappy if I paid the original full price for it, but at the price I paid, it's fine.

In your post you said you couldn't understand what is so difficult about operating a TV or streaming service, the Google TV interface is what's so difficult for me. It's just a clunky mess. But adding a Fire Stick lets me bypass it. If all I knew was the Google TV interface, then yeah, I'd say it can be difficult. Even the easy things like pausing are a challenge that I had to look up. The Fire and Roku interfaces are easy. Google TV, not so much.

Re: Samsung TV

mrshckynut — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:01:05 GMT

all our tv sets in the last 12 years have been and presently are samsung we have no reason to change

mrshckynut

Re: Samsung TV

meem120 — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 20:29:08 GMT

@Kachina624 I hate when the remote does that. It never fails that my little yorkie does something to the remote and it takes me awhile to figure it out. Its that strange little voice that speaks 100mph that comes on. Zoom zoom, havent a clue what shes saying!!!