Apple TV 4K

[JBrax]

Well I put the Roku Ultra on a shelf and brought the Apple TV 4K back out for the living room. I replaced the remote though with the newer Siri remote. We'll see if that one gets on my nerves.

I have the 5th generation Apple TV 4K and the remote is exponentially better.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I use the AppleTV for everything on all my displays except for in the theater (which is in boxes for the near future) when I’m watching content from my PLEX server, which I’ll run through a Shied for complete file compatibility with everything you throw at it.

I wonder if the ATV is trying to send a format/frame rate combo not completely supported by your display, causing the buffering/pausing?

 

[Todd Anderson]

My bro kindly gave me an Apple TV 4K! It’s integrated into my theater rack. Great device!

I have an older A TV in my gym, I mainly use it to mirror my iPhone. I think I’m going to have some fun playing around with the new version.

 

[JBrax]

My bro kindly gave me an Apple TV 4K! It’s integrated into my theater rack. Great device!

I have an older A TV in my gym, I mainly use it to mirror my iPhone. I think I’m going to have some fun playing around with the new version.

That’s awesome Todd! The new remote is infinitely improved.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Agree on that… tho my other Apple TV is so old, it’s remote is doubly ancient!

The one thing ATV doesn’t have is the Xfinity stream app to stream cable TV, which is why I went with roku sticks through my home. First world problems! :-)

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Agree on that… tho my other Apple TV is so old, it’s remote is doubly ancient!

The one thing ATV doesn’t have is the Xfinity stream app to stream cable TV, which is why I went with roku sticks through my home. First world problems! :-)

Use your Xfinity credentials to login to all the provider apps on the AppleTV, then you the TV app as your DVR. It’ll tell you when a new episode is on, you can set it to give you an onscreen alert when one of your favorite teams has a game coming up.
Better than just opening up an app and looking through the guide.

 

[JBrax]

Use your Xfinity credentials to login to all the provider apps on the AppleTV, then you the TV app as your DVR. It’ll tell you when a new episode is on, you can set it to give you an onscreen alert when one of your favorite teams has a game coming up.
Better than just opening up an app and looking through the guide.

Yes, this! I was a little confused why you mentioned having to stream through your cable service. Like Thrillcat says just download all of the desired apps and link them to your cable provider.

 

[mechman]

The new remote is a godsend! Took a bit to get used to it but it’s a thousand times better than the old style. Well worth the cost!

With regards to the Roku Ultra 2020, I gave it another whirl with new HDMI cables on both of my main viewing areas - 5050ub in the theater and the LG C7 in the living room - and it is still non stop HDCP issues. When I follow the Roku directions I can usually get an extended period of time without the nag screen coming up, but it soon resorts to nag screens. Funny thing is that I unplug it, plug in the ATV and everything works just fine. I love the Roku remote, but the hardware has it’s problems.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Yes, this! I was a little confused why you mentioned having to stream through your cable service. Like Thrillcat says just download all of the desired apps and link them to your cable provider.

I should have explained this a bit better... with Xfinity, you can use a Roku Stick and the Xfinity Stream App in place of a cable box. The functionality provided by the app and stick aren't as good as what the cable box offers, so we have cable boxes for the TVs used most often... and roku sticks for the TVs that aren't used often. It saves us about $12 or $13 a month per box.

I was just doing a quick search and looks like Apple and Xfinity struck a deal in October for Apple to carry the Xfinity Stream app "soon." So, this will be a non-issue any day (or month) now!

 

[Todd Anderson]

The new remote is a godsend! Took a bit to get used to it but it’s a thousand times better than the old style. Well worth the cost!

With regards to the Roku Ultra 2020, I gave it another whirl with new HDMI cables on both of my main viewing areas - 5050ub in the theater and the LG C7 in the living room - and it is still non stop HDCP issues. When I follow the Roku directions I can usually get an extended period of time without the nag screen coming up, but it soon resorts to nag screens. Funny thing is that I unplug it, plug in the ATV and everything works just fine. I love the Roku remote, but the hardware has its problems.

Weird. We have four Roku 4K devices... never had a single issue with them streaming any content. No HDCP issues...

Is the firmware up to date on your TV and Roku?

 

[mechman]

Weird. We have four Roku 4K devices... never had a single issue with them streaming any content. No HDCP issues...

Is the firmware up to date on your TV and Roku?

Oh I have working Roku devices - my sticks work fine and so does my TCL Roku TV. The problem is with the ‘Ultra’ devices that I have bought. I have 3 and every one has HDCP issues. I don’t even remember what the original 2 boxes offered that I bought them. Maybe HDR? I’d have to look how long ago it was, but now they collect dust. One’s in the garage on a 32” 720p display and whenever I do use it it still does have the HDCP screen occasionally.

The newest, Ultra 2020, is no different. I have tried multitudes of cables and as I said, different setups. The only constant other than the Roku Ultra is two different Pioneer receivers. But as stated before, everything works fine with ATV 4k and with the Shield.

Yeah the firmware is up to date. The one thing I will say is that when it does work, the image seems a bit softer on the Roku Ultra than it does on the ATV 4K.

 

[phillihp23]

So for those of you with the Apple TV, do you have it connected via HDMI to your TV or HDMI to your receiver?
I’m asking because my wife is getting tired of having to turn on the AVR and set it to cable in order to watch regular tv. So now I’ve got to run another hdmi through the wall so I can connect the directv box to tv via hdmi and digital cable to AVR.

A smart remote may solve this wife factor, negating the need to run new connections.