Cable Tv Box Best Buy UPDATED
We purchases a new 32" LG television from best buy and brought it home to hook it up to the motorola dvr cable box provided to us by the cable company. We're pretty low tech so it seems simple, the cable into the dvr, the hd cable from the dvr into the back of the new tv and both the tv and the cable box plugged into a surge protector (in other words, the tv is NOT plugged into the dvr box). Things work well enough once you have everything on, but when the tv gets turned off, the dvr automatically powers down....all the way down....to a black screen. Then, when you turn the tv on and wait a half minute or so, the cable box powers up, then goes black again, the the time comes on but there is no power. At this point, you have to turn the power on the cable box. After that you have to use the tv remote to switch the input from hd port 1 ( where the cable is plugged in) to hd port 2 (where there is no connection) then back to hd port 1 to get the tv to recognize the signal from the dvr.
cable tv box best buy
I trouble shot some with the cable company this am and have an appointment for them to come check it out because they are stumped but I thought I would put it out there and see if anyone had any additional trouble shooting measures to try before the "cable guy" comes.
It is not due to a "low quality" hdmi cable. That is a myth that just refuses to die. HDMI transmit digital signals...either the signal reaches the destionation or it does not. On consumer grade equipment, which is everyehting that BB sells, there is no dofference between a $5 hdmi cable and a $90 HDMI cable, as far as signal quality is concerned. It really makes me wince every time I hear some "expert" suggest buying those expensive cables that serve no purpose other than to empty your bank account.
The technician at the cable company provided a code for us that would allow us to turn the tv on and off with the dvr remote, however, the remote is an older model and we've found that it will not provide all of the options we need to get into the tv menus. Having said that the issue was present prior to obtaining the code from the cable company (i don't know if that is telling of anything).
If your cable internet provider charges you an expensive modem rental fee every month, consider buying your own modem instead. A modem generally pays for itself in the first year of ownership, and most will give you speedy internet for years to come. After researching nearly 100 cable modems over the past six years, we recommend the Motorola MB7621 as the best cable modem for use with most internet service providers (ISPs) and internet plans.
If you have a gigabit or multi-gig internet plan and your ISP allows you to use your own modem, the Motorola MB8611 is the best of the DOCSIS 3.1 modems that are widely available right now, thanks to its relatively low price and two-year warranty. You need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem to guarantee gigabit speeds from most cable ISPs, and some ISPs like Sparklight recommend DOCSIS 3.1 modems for new cable modem activations.
The MB8611 supports gigabit internet plans (up to 1000 Mbps or 1 Gbps) as well as multi-gig plans (between 1.2 and 2.5 Gbps). It supports those faster speeds using a 2.5 GbE (2.5 gigabit Ethernet) port on its back panel, just above the usual coaxial (round Cable TV-style) cable. The modem's port will connect to older routers with 1 gigabit Ethernet ports up to single gigabit speeds, and newer routers and mesh networks with 2.5 GbE ports at 1.2 to 2.5 gigabit speeds.
Looking for an audio upgrade as well as a new Roku? Check out the Streambar. This compact soundbar plugs into your TV's HDMI ARC port, improving the sound for all of your sources from cable boxes to game consoles. The best part of this Roku player is that it's also a 4K HDR-capable Roku streamer itself. We've found the Streambar easy to set up, and it sounds good for the size, particularly with dialogue. If you want stronger bass, however, consider adding Roku's wireless subwoofer ($180).
This is the one and only Roku model we don't recommend. Frankly, there are better entry-level streamers from Google and Amazon. We think that the Chromecast with Google TV HD is by far the best choice for a $30 HD streamer. It's speedy and offers a remote that doesn't need line-of-sight to work and can seamlessly control your TV's power, volume and inputs. It also comes with a built-in button to access Google Assistant. Even the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite offers a better value than the Roku Express. At least the remote on that model includes built-in voice search and control powered by Alexa.
The good thing about the HD-only Roku Express is that it can use all the apps on Roku's platform. But the included Roku TV remote is the bare-bones IR option that lacks Roku remote voice controls and requires you to point at the tiny box. It also won't control your TV's power, volume and inputs, so you'll also need your regular TV remote. And to add insult to injury, the Express doesn't come with a power brick in the box. You'll have to provide your own, or plug it into your TV's USB port in order to power the device. It's best to just avoid this model, if you can. Either spend a little more to upgrade to the Express 4K Plus or grab the Chromecast with Google TV HD for the same price as this one. We promise you'll be glad that you did.
Roku is known for having a huge selection of streaming channels and has positioned itself as a service-agnostic platform. As a result, it offers all of the most popular streaming services, including Hulu, Disney Plus, Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Showtime and Starz, among others. But it also has channels from smaller services and providers that are not available on every platform. For example, certain cable providers, such as Spectrum and Comcast Xfinity, tend to offer their apps only on select streaming platforms, and Roku is almost always one of them.
The best streaming devices serve as successors to the hardware of the past, as we cut the cord and get rid of cable. And while many TVs have some of the top streaming apps, most of the best streaming devices have all of them. Also, some might want a streaming device because not all Smart TVs have great interfaces, as Roku OS and Apple's tvOS offer definite improvements.
Our current pick for very best streaming device overall is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, currently $43 @ Amazon (opens in new tab), thanks to a 14% discount. It adds faster performance and Dolby Vision on top of its predecessor. Oh, and Roku (and any device that can get The Roku Channel, which includes Fire TV sticks), is going to be getting big HBO shows such as Westworld, for free (with ads)
Some of us at Tom's Guide own multiple entries from this list of the best streaming devices, to see how they evolve over time. Not only do we spend hours and hours watching shows and movies from the top streaming services on these devices, but we compare them against those with similar prices, to help you figure out which is best for your budget.
Using all of these devices often shows us the benefits of spending more on your streaming device, as the cheaper Fire TV devices control your whole home screen experience, while the Apple TV has no ads and more customization. Here's everything you need to know about the best streaming devices.
We wish it were a little heavier, though, as you may wind up spending a minute fiddling with its HDMI cable to make it sit flat on a surface. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus doesn't have that issue. And if you love A/V standards such as Dolby Vision or Atmos Audio. you may need to look elsewhere. Want something cheaper? Our Roku Express (2022) review dives deep on its performance gains.
On top of that, its $49.99 price makes it more affordable than the Chromecast Ultra. This is easily one of the best streaming devices available. That said, you can make it a little better on your own, with our tip for the first thing every Chromecast with Google TV owner should do. If you don't need 4K, though, and you're looking to spend a lot less, but still want the Chromecast experience, Google has a new Chromecast with Google TV HD (which is on this list below).
The 2019 Nvidia Shield TV doesn't just look unlike any other streaming device we've ever seen (it's more like a mobile power charger), it's also one of the best streaming devices, period. This tube for your tube is great at speedily spitting out UHD 4K content, and its thousands of apps means you're getting practically everything you could watch. And it's so slight in size that it fill fit discretely into the ever-crowded space around your TV.
This Shield TV also includes a remote control, rather than a game controller. We love this remote because it illuminates when you pick it up in the dark, so we're not only relying on remembering where buttons are and what shape they are. You won't miss the lack of a packed in controller, thanks to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One controller support. That all adds up to the best streaming device for those willing to spend more. And while you can game with Google Stadia on the Chromecast Ultra (not the regular Chromecast), the Shield TV supports 4K HDR streaming, making it the best streaming device for those looking to game and watch.
On top of that, HDR10+ finally arrives (if your TV supports it), and the remote finally charges over USB-C and not Lightning. Smart home enthusiasts will be excited for the inclusion of the Thread support for Matter, and some may be annoyed you need to spend $20 more for an Ethernet port. The Roku Ultra, for example, includes one by default at $99. That said, one of the best reasons to get the Apple TV 4K is tvOS, which is still the cleanest interface out there. But as much as I love the Apple TV remote, I've recently come into a weird problem where it stops being able to use my TV's volume controls. Check out our guide on how to fix an Apple TV for how I solve it.
Amazon's Fire TV Cube just got smarter, partially through a new octa-core processor that makes it one of the fastest streaming devices on the market. In our testing, that improved speed has it neck and neck with the Roku Ultra (2020) and Apple TV 4K (2021). But this streaming device is more about its voice commands, as it's also an Alexa speaker. Not only does it let you control a cable box (or a live TV service if you cut the cord), but it's also able to control your TV volume and inputs. 041b061a72