Please, just a yes or no answer.

January 19, 2022 12:00 PM

We want to get rid of cable television, and retain only internet access from our hellish cable “company” (Comcast or Xfinity; whatever the hell they’re calling themselves now.) We’re in West Michigan, if that matters.

My question: since we still want to watch Netflix and Prime on our television, will we need a firestick to enable that? We can tell our tv remote “Prime” or whatever, and it’ll bring it right up. So do we need this mysterious thing called a fire stick?
I want to contact the cable co. today yet, so timely answers are appreciated.

posted by BostonTerrier to Computers & Internet (34 answers total)

If your TV is smart enough that it has apps natively, there's very little that a Fire stick is going to add on top of that. Rokus and Chromecasts and Fire sticks and Apple TVs etc etc are all largely there to add specific functionality to the TV as a screen. If you can already get what you want on your TV, you should be good. so no you don't need a fire stick
posted by adekllny at 12:01 PM on January 19, 2022 [5 favorites]

aaaaand if it turns out not to be the case, there's Rokus and Chromecasts and Fire sticks (oh my!) at... like every retailer under the sun, so it's less than one cable bill's worth of savings if you decide you HAVE to have some specific functionality that one of them offers. My kid's VR headset will mirror itself on the TV, but I had to get a Chromecast for that... but I can watch Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Plex, etc etc etc natively on the TV itself with no extra hardware.
posted by adekllny at 12:04 PM on January 19, 2022 [4 favorites]

You might even be able to access Netflix and Prime through any gaming consoles you may own.
posted by Constance Mirabella at 12:04 PM on January 19, 2022 [6 favorites]

Only thing is sometimes Smart TVs don't get proper app and system updates and can stop working properly. But you can give it a go unless/until it stops working.
posted by Crystalinne at 12:13 PM on January 19, 2022 [3 favorites]

So - we have been "streaming only" for a very long time.

The good news is - you are in the US, and therefore have pretty much ALL the options.

Myself - while we have one "Smart TV" (Samsung), I don't like connecting it to the internet directly - and even purposely block it on my network. Typically in my experience, "Smart TV" apps are slow and buggy to use. My Roku's are always slick and fast from a "usage" perspective. (Although... lately the remotes have been eating batteries far too quickly...)

We have been a "Roku" family for many years and if in the US, it would be the only device necessary - all of the major apps are there (Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, AppleTV+, Disney+, Crackle (Sony), HBO, etc.) - and Roku even has it's own "free" channel which isn't half-bad.

Ironically - because of my Hulu setup... the Roku channel does not work. (We pay for Hulu using gift cards and a special service that tells Hulu our internet connection is coming from the US - but our Roku login is Canadian, so is confused)

However - I have also experimented with; Amazon Firestick (in Canada this is the only way I can get CBC Gem, but... the Hulu app does not work because... Canada - it would if I was in the US), Apple TV (latest gen - again, Hulu cannot be loaded from a Canadian account - you would be fine)

The Firestick actually integrates well with any apps loaded onto it - and dynamically displays new/available content from those in the home menu.

Ultimately - we will never go back to cable/satellite TV again - the interuption of ads every few minutes is insane and mind-numbing.

But... we don't care about cable News or Sports, so... (But there are apps for MLB, NHL, etc - and some services - Amazon Prime Video and Hulu are begining to carry those - free YouTube suffices for news for us)
posted by rozcakj at 12:16 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]

We can tell our tv remote “Prime” or whatever, and it’ll bring it right up.

Does your remote look like one of these?
That would be a hint that your Prime or Netflix access might be working via your Xfinity X1 box or Xfinity Flex box. If you cancel the service through Xfinity, those boxes will stop working, so you'd need a new device to play those services - this could be on your Smart TV, a Firestick, or a game console.
posted by zamboni at 12:17 PM on January 19, 2022 [5 favorites]

Yeah, the thing with the Smart TV apps and systems not always getting timely updates is the main reason to get something like a Fire stick or Chromecast. It's not a big deal if you're just a few versions behind the latest version of the Netflix app, say, but it's definitely annoying if you can't even get a newer streaming service app like Disney+ or HBOMax because your Smart TV's app store is so out of date. In general, I find the Fire stick apps to be a lot less clunky and buggy than the ones that come with the TV.
posted by yasaman at 12:18 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: We don’t have a gaming console, and we don’t want one more “box” that has to be plugged in. This is a 1916 house, and outlets are at a premium.
Yes, we have a smart tv. We have “told” the remote to bring up Prime, Netflix, and YouTube before, and it does those things. We may want to access Apple Plus tv (the thing that Schmigadoon played on a few months ago) so let us know if we need a damn box or firestick for that.
I HATE electronics, but I love Mrs. Maisel and Babylon Berlin, so what can y’a do.
posted by BostonTerrier at 12:21 PM on January 19, 2022

Ugh... sorry - missed the "please just Yes/No" answer.

Yes

(On a modern TV, it will have a USB outlet and the Firestick/Roku stick can be powered from that - but your TV/device should be on a power-bar anyway to prevent power surges, so that should have multiple outlets)

(And on either stick, all of the apps will be available for you to use in the US)
posted by rozcakj at 12:23 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: No, you won't need a Fire Stick.

As long as your TV already has smart capabilities and has apps for the services you use (like Prime/Netflix/Youtube/Apple) and you access those directly from your TV going through your internet connection rather than the cable box, you are A-OK.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:28 PM on January 19, 2022 [3 favorites]

Apple+ is available on current Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, as well as the AppleTV device. The Roku stick I have gets power from the USB port on my TV, but the Roku boxes and the Amazon Fire Stick require a separate power outlet for an AC adapter.
posted by briank at 12:29 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]

Signs point to "no you won't need a fire stick," but if you can share the model number of your TV, people might be able to give you more certain/confident answers.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:34 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Signs point to "no you won't need a fire stick," but if you can share the model number of your TV, people might be able to give you more certain/confident answers.

It’s a Toshiba TY-CWU700, purchased about six years ago.
posted by BostonTerrier at 12:39 PM on January 19, 2022

Best answer: Just so you're clear...You will still need to have your Comcast internet service. You should cancel the cable tv service only. If you cancel everything, you will not be able to stream Netflix, Prime, anything. Unless there's another internet provider in your neighborhood, you will still be paying a Comcast bill.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:41 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

I think you've got the wrong product ID there - the Toshiba TY-CWU700 seems to be a bluetooth speaker/audio streaming device.

If the remote you're saying "Prime" to is for your *TV* then you're fine; if it's the remote for your *Cable Box* then you might need an additional device (but you will still probably have some kind of "smart" capabilities if your TV is only six years old).
posted by mskyle at 12:46 PM on January 19, 2022 [3 favorites]

No. You will not need a Firestick/Roku/Google TV-Chromecast thing, but as Crystalline pointed out: Smart TV apps are notoriously buggy and liable not to get sufficient updates. The usability of a smart TV's built-in stuff declines precipitously each year.

So... YES: you should absolutely get a new device, one of the aforementioned sticks anyway. Here's why:

When a person cuts the cord, there is a narrow window of time during which the less tech-savvy members of the household will put in a good faith effort to learn the new ways you will watch things instead. You want a low threshold for frustration and simple usability, so that you can get everyone on board without having to change gears when a smart TV app doesn't work like it should or a common app isn't supported on your particular tv. Blow your window trying to save $29 on a Firestick and you're likely to end up backtracking to get one anyway then pleading with people to give it one more try.

A new Firestick 4K is $29.99 right now. That will support Netflix and Prime Video, as well as Apple TV, easily. It will also do HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, Showtime, Epix, Criterion, Shudder, Pluto and anything else they can think of, most likely. (By the way, even if your tv isn't 4K, you want the 4k model. It's much zippier to use and has more storage.)

Do it the easy way the first time, while everyone is more likely to get on board.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:48 PM on January 19, 2022 [14 favorites]

Best answer: YES - you can reduce all Comcast services to just internet today.

YES - a Fire Stick will work for you.

Why - for streaming video, you need some "technology that does magic with said internet". There are many different options that do slightly different things, but a Fire Stick will stream Netflix, Prime, and AppleTV+. So YES, that will work for the specific things you've asked about.

The ambiguous answers are because many other magical things (Roku devices, Apple TVs, Smart TVs, etc.) will likely also work.

To use an analogy, Internet service is a road. Each streaming service has it's own little shop on the road. The various devices are different vehicles you can buy to get videos from the shops. Most of them will work fine*.

* Like everything else, it's overly complicated because of stupid business decisions. Some companies want you to only use their shop, so they'll sell you a device that may not work well for other services.
posted by hankscorpio83 at 12:53 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]

You also may be able to share a laptop, tablet, or PC screen with your smart tv, so all you’d need to do is have that device plugged in nearby and streaming your shows, and it will display on your tv. You would need to have the device nearby to pause and play and such, but if it’s a portable thing then that’s not much of an issue. This will allow maximum flexibility since you will be able to access any kind of streaming service this way, with the tv functioning as a second monitor, basically. No fussing with poorly updated or badly maintained tv apps, or an additional box or remote thing, just whatever tablet or laptop thing you are used to, plus learning how to cast to your tv. I do this for watching operas available on weirdly specific livestreaming services, for superior sound and big screen size.

I do think that you could easily justify getting a firestick thingy for all the reasons mentioned above. But don’t worry. You will absolutely be able to eschew cable and just toss money at the xfinity hole for internet only and be able to watch your shows on your tv, no matter what method you choose.
posted by Mizu at 12:56 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

I wouldn't buy a firestick yet if your tv supports web-based apps. I have a pile of old Roku devices and the lifespan on their hardware working well is only a few years. I wouldn't think their sticks or a Firestick is that much longer. So even if you eventually need one, you probably don't need it yet.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:20 PM on January 19, 2022

You will still need to have your Comcast internet service. You should cancel the cable tv service only.

YES - you can reduce all Comcast services to just internet today.

When I was researching this a few years ago, one could not actually cancel the cable, with Comcast/Xfinity. Oh, you could -- but your bill wouldn't see any reduction (at least that was the situation, in my area; and based on the advertising which comes in the mail, still true).
posted by Rash at 1:33 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Insist on *no thanks, no channels, just internet*. Their support/sales operators I surmise get a bonus for retention of cable customers, so you'll likely have to say "no thanks" several times. We also have ATT fiber in the area so we can tell'em we'll switch if they don't keep us at a decent rate.

We've used naked internet from Xfinity via an old Mac mini on a dumb TV for years, we stream all the things. It's also nice to get to email through the computer for ease of clicking on links friends share with us.

Best of luck
posted by conscious matter at 1:40 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]

I am in West Michigan and also use Comcast/Xfinity for internet, and have a smart TV (some TCL Roku model) with no cable, and I can stream Netflix just fine. I don't subscribe to them now, but have also been able to get Prime and other stuff with a similar setup. I'd second the warning that your cable remote may be the one you're speaking into rather than your TV remote - there are Roku-enable smart TVs that have the speak function, but mine is not one of them.

Personally, I've made it my policy to deal with Comcast in person at one of their "store" locations if I have any issues, but that's also partly because for some time their Grand Rapids office couldn't receive calls from Verizon phones. I don't know if that's still an issue.
posted by LionIndex at 2:04 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]

In general, Fire stick, Roku stick, Chromecast, connect to an HDMI port on the tv, connect to our wifi, and bring you many streaming services. My Roku can't play Google Play content, annoying, and I would not be surprised to learn other sticks and services didn't play. New tvs have a lot of this built in.

Oh my, yes, Comcast/ Xfinity sucks. Monopoly sucks for consumers.
posted by theora55 at 2:07 PM on January 19, 2022

When I was researching this a few years ago, one could not actually cancel the cable, with Comcast/Xfinity. Oh, you could -- but your bill wouldn't see any reduction

I have internet only with Comcast, and it's definitely cheaper than any bundle with TV. The bundles are advertised as cheaper, but they aren't. Internet only has tax but no other hidden fees. TV taxes and fees add a significant amount to monthly bills ($19.75 broadcast TV fee, $17.30 regional sports fee, etc.)
posted by hankscorpio83 at 2:22 PM on January 19, 2022

Xfinity actually gave us an xfinity flex for free when he signed up for internet only service for our house in Dearborn, MI. It’s their own roku/fire stick-style device and they make money when people use that service for a roku/fire stick. I describe this as a finder’s fee.

It’s okay but sometimes frustrating if you are used to a device already. But if you’re starting fresh without a device, give it a try!
posted by icaicaer at 2:25 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

Same as the above, comcast sent me a flex box for free when I cancelled cable and dropped down to just internet. But I also have a smart tv so I don't even need the flex box.

You're getting ambiguous answers because people can't tell what you're currently using to get streaming services. What remote are you talking to? Does it say Toshiba or comcast/xfinity on it?
posted by Nickel at 2:34 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]

Careful with Flex - I also got that (hey it's free, how can Comcast screw that up?). When I later changed internet speeds, it automatically cancelled Flex and I didn't notice until I got the next bill... which included a $8.95 "unreturned equipment fee". And I couldn't re-add Flex online and needed to go through support to get it fixed. 🙄
posted by hankscorpio83 at 2:40 PM on January 19, 2022

Late to the thread here, but just note that when you cancel all but internet you'll need to return all the TV cable boxes & remotes back to commcast.

You'll still have the modem / router box that the cable wire from the wall is plugged into. If you are renting that from COMCAST? you can return it too and save the $10/month rental fee.

YOU will have to buy a replacement $50-$100 router to also plug into your 1916 outlets, and managing that may not be your thing. But you can then setup your own home wifi & PW that is not called 'xfinity123' or something.
posted by TDIpod at 3:49 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]

You can use a fire stick, but if you like Comcast's interface you can get an Xfinity Flex box for free once you're Internet-only.

They didn't ask for it back or charge me anything when I cancelled my service last year, but YMMV. (Mine is still sitting in it's shipping box in the closet in case it turns out they do want it back at some point)
posted by wierdo at 4:01 PM on January 19, 2022

I will just add that even though you don't need a Firestick for Netflix or Amazon, there are constant battles when new streaming services arrive — for example, for a while, HBO Max wasn't available on smart TVs that use Roku software (which is a lot), and Apple TV Plus and Acorn TV aren't available on older (but not old! like, five years old!) Samsung models. So you might be happier with a Firestick in the long run anyway, OR, just remember no matter what you do, the big piles of money that control everything will still find some way to screw you over, so don't put too much pressure on yourself.
posted by Charity Garfein at 4:36 PM on January 19, 2022

I would never use the built-in TV streaming features. They rarely updated frequently enough, are often insecure vectors into your home network, will go obsolete before you know it, and might be doing surreptitious things like reporting your viewing habits for various reasons. This is key: Do not connect your TV (directly) to the internet!

Instead, choose any of the fine options mentioned here: Roku, Firestick, Chromecast. Use the other replies to decide which one is for you, but definitely chose one of them and forget that your TV has "smart" services at all.
posted by sjswitzer at 6:25 PM on January 19, 2022 [4 favorites]

As an aside, the Roku also has a smartphone app that can be used as a remote. In our house that's a pretty important benefit because the remote gets lost several times a week.
posted by crunchy potato at 7:54 PM on January 19, 2022 [3 favorites]

No, you don't need a box, and that includes the flex if you want to save an outlet.

Also, I had one programme which, for unclear reasons, refused to play from a streaming service on the free flex box they gave me (can't remember which, but I was deeply unimpressed). It wasn't a technical issue, the message gave the impression it was some Comcast/service relationship issue. Never had this with a smart tv or other device, of which I've had several over the years.

My bill from Comcast was nigh on halved by using internet only, though I'm not sure I was keeping tight control of their TV package options. All the same, would recommend.

If at any point the TV doesn't have a good quality version of a streaming service app, you can wire in any laptop with an HDMI connection to your tv to tide you over until you can find another device, which serves as an emergency backup if you ever have a GBBO crisis.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 10:58 PM on January 19, 2022

We cut out cable from Comcast, just leaving internet. It cut our bill in half (We did no have any premium services). We use the Infinity Fles service, free. It includes Peacock for free which I use occasionally, as it has exclusive content. The box also can be used to access Netflix and Amazon.
posted by coldhotel at 9:15 AM on January 21, 2022