# AV geeks! HELLLP!! (need answer fast!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004 "2013-06-27T01:54:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/21 "2013-06-27T04:03:57Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Oi! Tell him to return the Xbox pronto and get a [Roku 3](http://www.amazon.com/Roku-4200R-3-Streaming-Player/dp/B00BGGDVOO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1372300546&sr=8-3&keywords=Roku) instead. MUCH easier to use and your client won’t have to pay a monthly fee for the XBox Live Gold subscription. > > And yes, use a HDMI cable instead of component and it’ll take care of audio and video both for ya automagically. Best advice in thread. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/22 "2013-06-27T04:40:28Z")
Okay, I have a feeling that buying an HDTV cable will be the simplest way to restore order. (If it were up to me, I would so have returned the Xbox and bought a Roku … but I know him very well, he would just give up on the whole idea if I suggested sending it back.) FWIW, I hooked up the Xbox just fine. It was the Comcast remote that was the PITA. The “menu” button produced nothing where I could select “input.” Aw, jeez, I just realized … he doesn’t use the new remote that came with the monster TV because he can’t figure it out. (he’s 81, and can barely see. Doesn’t hear too well either.) He just uses the old Comcast remote… BUT I should have dug up the new remote to hook up the Xbox; that is no doubt why I could not find “input.” Duh. Excellent, helpful advice everyone!! Thanks so much! I will have hell to pay for ignoring the 2nd, 3rd, etc. phone calls; but I figured why go over there until I knew what to do? If I need more help next time I work for him – friday – then I’ll see you back here. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/23 "2013-06-27T05:07:59Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > Okay, I have a feeling that buying an HDTV cable will be the simplest way to restore order. > (If it were up to me, I would so have returned the Xbox and bought a Roku … but I know him very well, he would just give up on the whole idea if I suggested sending it back.) > > FWIW, I hooked up the Xbox just fine. It was the Comcast remote that was the PITA. The “menu” button produced nothing where I could select “input.” > > Aw, jeez, I just realized … he doesn’t use the new remote that came with the monster TV because he can’t figure it out. (he’s 81, and can barely see. Doesn’t hear too well either.) He just uses the old Comcast remote… BUT I should have dug up the new remote to hook up the Xbox; that is no doubt why I could not find “input.” Duh. > > Excellent, helpful advice everyone!! Thanks so much! I will have hell to pay for ignoring the 2nd, 3rd, etc. phone calls; but I figured why go over there until I knew what to do? > > If I need more help next time I work for him – friday – then I’ll see you back here. Make sure you specifically look for an “HDMI cable” because “HDTV cable” is ambiguous. And, err, well, unless you’re willing to handle tech support for him… maybe giving up is a better idea? If he can’t see very well, how is he going to navigate the rather convoluted Xbox interface to get to Netflix every time? Even seeing the screen to figure out which buttons on the controller to push for which playback functions could be difficult. As an example, check out this [YouTube video of Netflix setup on the Xbox](http://youtu.be/Q2e1CfG15mA?t=1m17s). You can set it up for him the first time but he’s still going to have to deal with regular updates, etc. It’s nothing at all like using a regular TV. If you at all love yourself and value your time on this planet, I’d back the hell away from this idea before you get suckered into dealing with his Xbox issues the rest of his life… use the “Sorry, I guess the cables and your remote won’t work with it” excuse while you still can! ---
**Author:** ![LMarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@LMarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LMarie)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/24 "2013-06-27T16:06:49Z")
Another vote for Roku. We cut the cord a while ago and used to use Xbox 360 for Netflix. Bought a Roku and another and another and with one on every tv in the house now, we couldn’t be more pleased. Well, I guess technically we \*could \*be more pleased if we could add XBMC to Roku, lol. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/25 "2013-06-27T19:46:58Z")
Yes, Roku, or since he has a 3D TV maybe a 3D capable Bluray player with Netflix app. Though maybe it’s not needed if he can barely see, but maybe he has friends or family that would enjoy that. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/26 "2013-06-27T20:47:27Z")
A console is probably the worst platform for someone looking to do video streaming - specially the 360. He’s gotta pay a yearly fee on top of the Netflix fee just to use it, and the thing is $300, and it boots into the dashboard first, doesn’t go straight into netflix, it’s loud. Bad decision. Another vote for a Roku, or really, just abotu any other NEtflix compatible streaming box like a modern blu-ray player. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/27 "2013-06-27T22:26:49Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Oi! Tell him to return the Xbox pronto and get a [Roku 3](http://www.amazon.com/Roku-4200R-3-Streaming-Player/dp/B00BGGDVOO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1372300546&sr=8-3&keywords=Roku) instead. MUCH easier to use and your client won’t have to pay a monthly fee for the XBox Live Gold subscription. Let me be the umpteenth person to agree. With a Roku, you plug the internet into the Roku with a Cat5 cable (or connect wirelessly), plug an HDMI from the Roku to the TV, and you’re done. No more fees (except Netflix membership), you always leave the Roku on and it has a simple remote control. With an Xbox, I’d assume you’d turn it off after use and use a game controller to pick your movies. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/28 "2013-06-28T01:10:40Z")
Also Roku has some free channels - I’ve been watching the Film Noir one. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/29 "2013-06-28T14:18:25Z")
I may be able to help with the Comcast remote issue. To choose between different input options, make sure it’s set up to control the TV, and then use the “TV/VCR” button to scroll through the different hookups (video 1, video 2, component 1, etc.). That’s the way mine works, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/30 "2013-06-28T14:26:06Z")
I’m with the other posters and shame on that netflix rep. Are they getting Microsoft kickbacks or what? AppleTV, Roku, or a cheap laptop would all have been better choices for streaming to a TV. Seriously, any solution that starts off with “buy an xbox 360” and the problem isn’t, “I want an xbox 360” is bogus. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/31 "2013-06-28T20:44:00Z")
Just got to work, guess what the problem was? Get ready for a facepalm moment: He had turned the volume all the way down instead of muting. ---
**Author:** ![Jesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Jesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesta)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/32 "2013-06-29T13:25:26Z")
No, Because either way, turning up the volume would have resolved the problem. Which would of course be the first thing you try when you have no volume. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/33 "2013-06-30T21:04:54Z")
**Jesta:** Nawp. He thought he had pressed the mute button to silence the TV; so he pressed the mute button to unmute it, and nothing happened. Actually, he may have tried to turn the volume up at that point, but it wouldn’t have worked, because now the TV WAS muted. Anybody know if the Wii makes you pay a monthly fee to stream Netflix? Because he says he doesn’t want a Roku because he’s never heard of it. \ ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/34 "2013-06-30T21:30:25Z")
Has he heard of AppleTV? Same prIce/ease of use. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/35 "2013-06-30T22:11:01Z")
i like remotes that unmute when you do volume. it keeps you from upping the volume to 11 trying to hear something then unmuting. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/36 "2013-06-30T23:15:26Z")
If he won’t go for a Roku than how about a blu-ray player, as suggested above? Most of them stream Netflix, with no additional fees. A little more complicated than a Roku but less complicated than an Xbox. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/37 "2013-07-01T00:35:11Z")
A first generation Wii doesn’t support HD and will look like crap on his huge TV. Not sure about the Wii U. Your client is old and out of touch with technology. Try to nicely convince him to try something new… He can always return it if he doesn’t like it. Or, you know, whatever. It’s just a TV. Even a suboptimal choice is hardly the end of the world. Taking him for a walk or talking about his grandkids is probably better for him than any movie anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004/38 "2013-07-01T00:39:41Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > If he won’t go for a Roku than how about a blu-ray player, as suggested above? Most of them stream Netflix, with no additional fees. A little more complicated than a Roku but less complicated than an Xbox. Jeez, I edited my post and I _still_ didn’t catch the typo! “Then”, not “than”. Aaarrgh :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/av-geeks-helllp-need-answer-fast/662004.md?page=1)