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Making your dumb TV smart: The best devices for streaming

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Making your dumb TV smart: The best devices for streaming

Weekends are made for Netflix binging and watching the big game, but your viewing pleasure can be easily ruined by technical difficulties or a clunky in-home set up. 

To avoid these issues and enjoy a seamless streaming experience, there are three things you can do:

  • plug an ethernet cable directly into your modem for a rock solid connection with no interferences
  • talk to your broadband provider about getting on to the best broadband connection available and sign up for an unlimited data plan
  • purchase a dedicated streaming device

Chorus can help you with the broadband side of things, but over and above these, you'll need a streaming device. Below are three of the best streaming device options available to you right now.

Tip: Did you know you can check your connection options using our Broadband Checker?

1. Casting sticks - portable and affordable

The first and simplest device is the casting stick. These essentially operate as a portable receiver, connecting your TV directly to your broadband via your WiFi or a USB port. Most are controlled by an app on your phone or computer and are readily available to purchase online or at your local electronics store. 

Each different type of casting stick is compatible with different content platforms (like Netflix or YouTube), so decide on what you want to watch before purchasing your stick. 

Casting sticks are a great option for any smaller, lesser-used TVs where you don't need a dedicated streaming box, but you may want to watch something online every now and then. The most popular are the Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire Stick. 

2. Streaming boxes - packed with modern features

The next step up is streaming boxes. These also connect to a TV via USB, and offer far more functionality through the use of a remote. Think of them like your SKY Box, just smaller and with an incredible array of movies and shows that you can watch whenever you want.

Some of the most common examples of streaming boxes are gaming consoles, like Xbox and PlayStation, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, many of which offer 4K playback. 

Streaming boxes pack a punch with additional features like live mirroring of a computer screen - perfect for showing off holiday slideshows or watching something you've previously downloaded. If you're looking for a better streaming experience from your existing TV, streaming boxes will give you greater range than a streaming stick.

3. Smart TVs - your one-stop shop

If you have a bigger budget, a smart TV should be top of your list. 

As you'd expect from the name, this is a TV with all of the smarts built in. It acts like a computer and TV in one, and connects directly to your home broadband, giving you instant access to your online streaming services.

The all-in-one approach means you'll only need to keep track of a single remote and won't have to worry about switching between input sources or connecting up external devices.

Don't forget...

No matter which streaming device you end up investing in, you'll need a broadband connection fast enough to keep up with all the endless options and help you get through your “to watch list” with ease. For the best experience, we recommend an unlimited data fibre broadband with speeds of 300 Mbps or more. 

Head over to our Broadband Checker to see what your connection options are.  And, if you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to get in touch with us on Facebook. Happy streaming!

 

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