Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Technical Corner
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-19-2018, 05:09 PM   #1
tech740
Senior Member
 
tech740's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hemlock
Posts: 816
Fire Stick or Chromecast

I am just wondering what others on here use, if either of these or something else? I am looking for something that I can use the either my amazon prime video or Dish anywhere app on. I know that both will support them but that Chromecast works based off what is on your phone screen, and fire stick uses wi-fi or must be tethered to your phone via hot-spot. I do have unlimited data and usually good cell service just curious if others have used these and what made them lean one way or another
__________________
R.J. and Ginger

2019 Ram 3500 6.7 HO, Aisin Trans 3:73
Reese Goosebox
2019 Sandpiper 379FLOK
tech740 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2018, 05:42 PM   #2
captcolour
Senior Member
 
captcolour's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Verona, KY
Posts: 320
I've tried the ChromeCast at campgrounds, but it needs to be on the same WiFi as the phone. The ChromeCast can find the network, but I can't figure out how to enter the password to actually connect it. So it has never worked.


I've used the ChromeCast out in my shop paired to the phone no problem.
__________________
New: 2021 Solitude 380FL
Old: 2016 Alpine 3600RS
Tow: 2017 F-350 DRW diesel
captcolour is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2018, 05:47 PM   #3
Fishsizzle
Senior Member
 
Fishsizzle's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,138
Quote:
Originally Posted by tech740 View Post
I am just wondering what others on here use, if either of these or something else? I am looking for something that I can use the either my amazon prime video or Dish anywhere app on. I know that both will support them but that Chromecast works based off what is on your phone screen, and fire stick uses wi-fi or must be tethered to your phone via hot-spot. I do have unlimited data and usually good cell service just curious if others have used these and what made them lean one way or another
I never liked chrome cast, was just a funky way to work.

I have 2 roku sticks and an Apple TV and both work great with Prime. We watch Psych all the time, and a little Monk
__________________
2017 Alpine 3661FL: For Sale
2021 Vilano
2020 F350 Crew DRW 6.7, 4x4, 10 sod auto, 4:10 gears
Fishsizzle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2018, 08:09 PM   #4
tech740
Senior Member
 
tech740's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hemlock
Posts: 816
Does it buffer frequently when hooked to your phone? I am wondering if the cell internet is a fast enough connection. I am also thinking that maybe we just upgrade to a smart tv and dont have to worry about the which dongle is better scenarios.
__________________
R.J. and Ginger

2019 Ram 3500 6.7 HO, Aisin Trans 3:73
Reese Goosebox
2019 Sandpiper 379FLOK
tech740 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2018, 08:32 PM   #5
DMK
Senior Member
 
DMK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: On the road - FT
Posts: 129
I do use a chromecast dongle and it works great for certain things. I have a wi-fi ranger go AC router that handles my internet connections, so I can use my computer or phone to operate it.
__________________

2013 Raptor 300 MP, MORryde 8K IS, Kodiak disc brakes, 940 watt solar system, 630 ah battery bank, Magnum 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter/charger, ME-ARC, ME-AGS, ME-BMK.

2005 Freightliner Century Class S/T, 14L 60 Series Detroit, 10 spd Ultrashift, w/3.73, Trailer Saver TSLB 3 bag hitch.
DMK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 04:34 AM   #6
Fishsizzle
Senior Member
 
Fishsizzle's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,138
Quote:
Originally Posted by tech740 View Post
Does it buffer frequently when hooked t
o your phone? I am wondering if the cell internet is a fast enough connection. I am also thinking that maybe we just upgrade to a smart tv and dont have to worry about the which dongle is better scenarios.
Works great with the Apple TV since I have an iPhone. Works good with roku as well. Your cell signal strength is always a factor. More bars the better.

Make sure your “unlimited data” really is unlimited. You can chew through GB quick streaming movies and many plans reduce your speed after so much use. Your still getting data, just much much slower.
__________________
2017 Alpine 3661FL: For Sale
2021 Vilano
2020 F350 Crew DRW 6.7, 4x4, 10 sod auto, 4:10 gears
Fishsizzle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 05:19 AM   #7
bfisher003
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Palm Coast, FL
Posts: 64
We’ve used the Fire Stick both at home and in our trailer when traveling. When traveling we pair it with our Mobley AT&T device or our Verizon Jet Pack, depending on signal quality. This has worked quite well for us for the past year or so.
bfisher003 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 06:31 AM   #8
Barbell
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Arizona
Posts: 375
We have used a Roku with our ATT Unlimited plan and it works well in some places and not at all other places. Don't know if it is a problem with the Roku or the phone. It works at home just fine but not in the RV even when it is parked nearby. Also have a Firestick that will try next in the rv.
Barbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 11:06 AM   #9
bill-e
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 438
I'd vote for the Fire Stick and if you can, a Dish Tailgater. The first gen Tailgater's can be had for under $320 including the receiver and the monthly cost is $7 if you already have a Dish account. Turn it on and off as much as you want and it will be a prorated charge and no fees.

Where I live and camp the cell coverage is very poor so often the Dish is the only thing we can get.
__________________
Bill


2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel
2015 Cougar 26RBI
bill-e is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 11:11 AM   #10
bill-e
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 438
Another inexpensive way to get music (other than having it already on your phone or USB stick) is to puck up a used portable Sirius/XM receiver and speaker or Line-out bluetooth adapter and call XM and get 5 months for $30.
__________________
Bill


2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel
2015 Cougar 26RBI
bill-e is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 01:29 PM   #11
tech740
Senior Member
 
tech740's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hemlock
Posts: 816
Thanks guys. I am leaning towards a fire TV 3rd gen. I want to be able to access my dish anywhere app, Amazon prime video, and Netflix. I just have to make sure I won't get my data throttled when I use it by Verizon.
__________________
R.J. and Ginger

2019 Ram 3500 6.7 HO, Aisin Trans 3:73
Reese Goosebox
2019 Sandpiper 379FLOK
tech740 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 02:05 PM   #12
Frank G
Senior Member
 
Frank G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Dade City
Posts: 1,039
Firestick & Roku paired up with the Spectrum $21.00 plan. Many options out there, we all have different needs and wants. Most campgrounds have crappy WIFI and some have more trees than Dish or DirecTV can deal with.
__________________
2021 Surveyor Legend 19rble
2017 Laredo 325RL
Travelers Rest Resort
www.travelersrestresort.com
Frank G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 03:02 PM   #13
bill-e
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 438
The $39 FireTV stick will load the Dishanywhere app. I have both the Fire Stick and the 3rd Gen FireTV (which I bought for $49). I would not and did not buy it for full price, I waited for it to go on sale, right now on Amazon FireTV is $69...not worth it unless your camper is streaming 4K to a 4K TV.
__________________
Bill


2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel
2015 Cougar 26RBI
bill-e is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 05:27 PM   #14
tech740
Senior Member
 
tech740's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hemlock
Posts: 816
Bill-e,
Does the Fire TV buffer less with the extra Ram built into it? That is the only reason I was looking at that instead of the Fire Stick. I truly will only use it for the three apps I listed before.
__________________
R.J. and Ginger

2019 Ram 3500 6.7 HO, Aisin Trans 3:73
Reese Goosebox
2019 Sandpiper 379FLOK
tech740 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 06:15 PM   #15
bill-e
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 438
Neither have ever buffered, at home on in a hotel. I've never had slow enough internet for them to buffer but then again I don't use them camping because I can say I've never had good internet at a campground and I don't have unlimited data on my phone....not that that matters much because cell coverage sucks here. I usually use a Tailgater for my camping TV.

Google says this about the Fire Stick but if you don't load a bunch of apps on it you'll probably be OK...its issues seem to be similar to our phone's. https://www.comparitech.com/kodi/fir...w-to-speed-up/
__________________
Bill


2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel
2015 Cougar 26RBI
bill-e is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2018, 07:51 AM   #16
bbells
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 196
I have used both, but neither is as good as having a TV that accepts USB flash drives loaded with movies. I use a 64gb and can add or delete movies with my laptop as needed. Plus, no computer or tablet or wires while you are watching tv.
bbells is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2018, 08:39 AM   #17
Sunfishin
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Liberty Hill
Posts: 9
I found a Belkin "Miracast" video adapter, $29 on Amazon. Receives the wifi signal from my phone and it's plugged into the HDMI port on TV.
I have a Samsung Tv, HTC M8 Android and Samsung S7 phones. It will work with dumb tvs, and most smart phones with "mirror" type functions.
I can project anything on my phone, to the TV. If I have a cell signal I can stream videos, using Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. The better the cell signal, the better the picture. Very little buffering, usually no buffering.
Dennis
Sunfishin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2018, 08:53 AM   #18
larryflew
Senior Member
 
larryflew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Young America MN
Posts: 372
Since our smart TVs at home are Roku we got a Roku for the one in the camper. Unfortunately seems none of the parks we went to could handle it without MAJOR buffering. Same with using our unlimited data when in weak signal areas. We do have Direct TV auto antenna so we either watch what it has recorded to go for redbox.
larryflew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2018, 03:37 PM   #19
Lambadger
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: San Juan Bautista
Posts: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by tech740 View Post
Does it buffer frequently when hooked to your phone? I am wondering if the cell internet is a fast enough connection. I am also thinking that maybe we just upgrade to a smart tv and dont have to worry about the which dongle is better scenarios.
A smart TV is ok to try as a solution but, remember, some tv's depending on the brand will have a limited amount of tv apps you can use or download. If you only need Netflix, or Hulu, YouTube, etc. then that's ok.
I use Apple products, so for me a favorite is my Apple TV which now accepts amazon prime video app. I used to use both Roku and Apple because I couldn't get Amazon Prime Video on my Apple TV. Now it doesn't matter and I use my AT because it syncs better and faster connecting to all my devices.
Roku makes a good stick, and also Firestick is pretty too.
Lambadger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2018, 04:31 PM   #20
Frank G
Senior Member
 
Frank G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Dade City
Posts: 1,039
Will a external High Gain wifi antenna combined with a Alfa R-36 help in a poor wifi park?
__________________
2021 Surveyor Legend 19rble
2017 Laredo 325RL
Travelers Rest Resort
www.travelersrestresort.com
Frank G is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:55 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.