# What's the easiest and cheapest way to get an older HDTV to stream TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 5, 2022, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441 "2022-07-05T07:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/1 "2022-07-05T07:32:21Z")
I have an ancient 20 inch HDTV I found in the back of a closet. It still works but lacks the remote and when I tried to get it to work on an antenna the HDTV claims it needs “authorization” or whatever. I want to mount it on my bathroom wall (no shower just a toilet and sink) so I can watch TV when I do my business. However because it’s a bathroom TV I want to do as little as possible to get it set up. Was thinking of a box I could attach to the back that could get me Pluto TV or some other free 24/7 internet channel and just have that run in the background since I lack a remote and only way to actually watch would be using the boxes remote. What’s the easiest/cheapest way of doing this? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/2 "2022-07-05T07:44:27Z")
Does it have an HDMI input? If not, what sort of inputs does it have? Something like a fire stick, chromecast, or roku are probably going to be your best bet, but you might need an adapter if it doesn’t have HDMI inputs. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/3 "2022-07-05T07:49:53Z")
The last time I lived in the US, I had great luck with this outfit, [RemoteControls.com](https://www.remotecontrols.com/), to get a replacement remote control at a reasonable price. And, yes, I despise the fact that so many machines now have controls on the remote but not on the machine. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/4 "2022-07-05T14:19:15Z")
It’s got a single HDMIA output, and a single composite/component (?) output. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/5 "2022-07-05T14:27:37Z")
I have three Rokus and a TiVo in my house (the TiVo was free, so …). Rokus work great, really easy to set up and use, and Pluto TV is one of the available apps to give you what you’re looking for. As long as you’ve got an HDMI input, and access to another power outlet to plug in the Roku, you’ll be in great shape. (You can actually plug the Roku into the TV’s USB port to power it, but I’m assuming this TV doesn’t have a USB port. I think they recommend _not_ doing that for some reason, but 2 of my 3 Rokus are powered by the TV and I’ve had zero issues.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/6 "2022-07-05T14:35:11Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Rokus work great, really easy to set up and use A Roku box can be had for as little as $25 from Amazon. [https://smile.amazon.com/Roku-Express-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B07WVFCVJN/](https://smile.amazon.com/Roku-Express-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B07WVFCVJN/) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/7 "2022-07-05T14:35:58Z")
An Amazon Fire Stick comes with a remote, and you may be able to power it from a USB port. Anyway, it is small. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/8 "2022-07-05T14:43:40Z")
I’m confused why it won’t work with an antenna. Assuming you have an external antenna plugged in, you should be able to bring up the menu, scan for channels, and select channels using the menu and up/down (sometimes left/right) controls on the TV itself. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/9 "2022-07-05T14:46:14Z")
Do you have a universal remote that you can program for the TV and get the menu to come up that way? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/10 "2022-07-05T14:48:22Z")
You can get a separate streaming device that plugs into your HDMI port. The main three are: Roku: One of the first streaming devices. Has wide support. Has AirPlay support which allows you to cast the screen from your Apple devices. Interface is somewhat basic. Apps are tiles on your main screen similar to how apps are laid out on your phone. Fire TV: Streaming device from Amazon. Has integration with Amazon devices. Top screen seems more promotional for Amazon content. A little more friendly interface than Roku with regards to your streaming content. Chromecast TV: Streaming device from Google. Has Chromecast streaming for Android devices. Top screen has more in-depth integration with streaming content. Top screen allows you to jump right into a show you were previously watching. With other streaming devices, you may need to go into the app and find the show within the app. Any of these will work for something like Pluto TV and have options under $50. If the TV supports HDMI-CEC, then the streaming remote should be able to turn on and off the TV and change volume. HDMI-CEC allows the device on the HDMI port to give commands to the TV. Activating the streaming remote should turn on the TV and switch the input to that HDMI port. These streaming sticks have a USB cord for power. Modern HDMI TVs have an USB port you can use to power the stick. If your TV doesn’t have a USB port, then you will probably need to have a USB charger plugged into an actual outlet. One nice thing about having a streaming stick is you can take it with you on vacation. Plug it into any TV and you can have all your streaming channels no matter where you are. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/11 "2022-07-05T15:14:26Z")
I looked it up actually, older HDTVs requires you to “sign-in” online to get an access code to unlock your HDTV for local antenna programming, as part of a scheme to track the number of TVs who view antenna programming for royalty reasons. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/12 "2022-07-05T16:51:20Z")
I have a TV for which I lost the remote. I bought a Roku to hook up to it with a [Roku Voice Remote](https://www.roku.com/products/accessories/roku-voice-remote) that works as a universal remote for turning the TV on/off and controlling the volume. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/13 "2022-07-05T20:51:32Z")
A lot of those old TV codes were something like 0000, 1234, or something similar. They were primarily used for parental control lockouts. When you get your universal remote, look in the TV menu for Settings, and see if there’s a login. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/14 "2022-07-05T22:12:09Z")
Nope, they do need to be plugged in. Still, I like mine. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/15 "2022-07-05T22:40:44Z")
If, in order to use this older 19" TV to work as you want, you need to sign in online to get the access code for local antenna programming, purchase a Roku and a universal remote, are you better off just buying a new cheap TV? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2022, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/16 "2022-07-06T00:40:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > are you better off just buying a new cheap TV? Where’s the challenge in that? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-an-older-hdtv-to-stream-tv/967441/17 "2022-07-06T14:12:44Z")
I power my Firestick from the TV USB port and it works OK. It gave me a warning that it may have problems with WiFi range, but there’s an extender in the same room so it’s not an issue.