I am looking for a device to stream movies, etc. I have Amazon Prime, and I could get an Amazon Firestick or Amazon Fire. I had an Amazon Fire a couple years ago which was never satisfactory and then died. I liked the offerings and I am a Amazon Prime member so movies are free.

What other devices are available that may be just as good (or better) than the Fire, and tell me if the placement of the router has a direct affect on the results.

(I'm thinking the router in my office has to go through too many walls and this is the problem with the streaming I had). I'm thinking if the modem & router was relocated where it has line of sight to the TV it would work much better.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Roku is what I like, it just works.

You can get WiFi extenders for about $50

You can always just run a hard line from your router to the device and solve all wi-fi issues.

I've used to use a Chromecast, but they have since annoyed me:

Bought my first one this last summer. I used Google Home on my iPad to set it up. It was fairly painless.

Bought another one just recently. Tried to set it up with Google Home again.

* Nope - a new version was available and refused to run. (A huge irritation with iOS apps in general).

* Tried to get the new version. Nope - iOS 10 is required, my iPad stopped at iOS 9.

* Tried to configure it using the computer. This ability has been removed and replaced with a message "We no longer support Chromecast setup on a computer. To set up your Chromecast, please use a mobile device."

So I have no way of setting up a Chromecast any longer. I'm not going to buy a new phone or iPad just to set it up, so it is now a piece of junk.

It was a nice idea though - it lets you stream any web based content to your TV.

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Common sense isn't so common.

I was told that the extender was not a good idea. Though I don't remember the reason (long time back plus I don't really care), I did accept it.
I bought a better router. Netgear C6300. Though it sits next to my smart TV in the SW corner of the basement, I get wifi outside at the NW corner of the house.
I use the Roku for the non-smart TV.

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"from my cold dead hands" C.H.

If you have a “smart” TV — smart means the ability to connect to the internet, which I think all TVs have nowadays — the streaming apps, like Amazon Prime, are built in to the TV. You don’t need an additional streaming device.

The strength of the signal, the quality of the signal, makes a great deal of difference, so a new wireless router, or a wired connection as Absalom notes, or an upgrade to whatever your current internet speed is, or proximity of router to TV, will all make a difference.

I son't have a smart TV, I have a 8 or 9 yr old Sony HD which I plan to continue to use until it crash's, (with it's reputation may be many more years). I did some research on extenders, and have ruled them out, ( I'm not a tech savvy person, and have no plans to change).

From what I see, I'm going to go for the Amazon HD4 Fire Stick, and relocate my modem/router. (It would be easier than trying to run a direct line from the router). New location would be high up, close to geographic center of the house, signal would flow down and fairly clear path through open doors to my computer, and almost directly to the Fire stick/TV, clear path to seating area where use tablet and cell phones.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I use a Roku, and have been satisfied with it for NetFlix, Amazon Prime, etc., but then I haven't used anything else so no basis for comparison.

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John

I have a Blu-Ray player I use for Netflix with my older TV which is not "Smart." Also has many other services I do not use like Amazon Prime and Roku.

My Vizio TV has Netflix, Amazon, and Youtube built in, as well as I-heart- radio, and 23 other streaming apps. I placed the modem and router with the TV, central to the home, so I could hardwire the TV. My desktop computers now have to go wireless but do not do 5 gig wifi, so I bought USB adapters to address that and I get over 100 MBPS over the wifi, 40 feet from router..

EDIT, I have stock Comcast modem/router.

MY GF had a firestick in a corner of her house with low WIFI signal , it worked most of the time. I think you can get a Voice remote and 4K options now for Firestick, well worthwhile it would seem.

Do you have a blueray player? If not, may be worth it to upgrade and access Amazon through the player apps.

Bigwheelzip posted this info on her new, much more effective, wireless router a while back:

New WiFi Router Strength Spoils Me

Don't know the model, but it's about 4" square and 1" tall. Get an HDMI cord and have a ball.

I like to watch a lot of youtube and you can set it up to get it free. We mainly use Netflix and Amazon and my son has a coupleof channels for anime shows.

We've had a couple of years and it's just dandy.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

We just use a smart Blu Ray player - an older Samsung. It works well. As long as the Wifi signal is strong you're good to go. If your house is huge you may need additional access points. Mine is good with just the router for the whole house and most of the yard.

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Or something like that . . .

The WiFi router is on one side of the house, so I use a WiFi extender on the other side...seems to be working fine....
The den tv has smart capabilities, but the Roku software is far more friendly to operate... Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, etc.... plus lots of free channels offered on the Roku...
Plus, Roku Express is only $29 at Walmart... and works ,,,

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Travel light..stay aware..

Do a wifi speed test (free) and find out what's what. We hard lined the Ethernet cable to a kodi box & even with 100 speed it was slow with much buffering & NOT USER FREINDLY for the NON techies. A smart tv works much easier even w/o direct Ethernet connection. YMMV.

I have a Roku. Pretty easy to connect and lots of free channels. One of my favorites is Pluto TV. It's like another cable system within your cable system. A lot of free channels there too. One replays MST3K if you like that. Another is 3 Stooges 24/7. My wife bought a Chromecast for another set but I haven't connected it yet.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy