Roku media player

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jl449

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Has anybody installed a Roku 2 media player? The Roku has composite outputs and was thinking on purchasing one and connecting it to the wireless Onstar hotspot.
Took the the kids on a little road trip and found the kids placed the tablet on the floor so they can all watch Regular show on Netflix. I was thinking about mirroring option but for around 49 bucks for a refurbish Roku 2 I can get Netflix on the big screen. LOL.
I do have a thumb drive with some movies on it and works pretty good but the kids seems to be interested in Netflix and Hulu.
 

Cmicasa the Great XvX

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Using BLUETOOTH and your existing DATA connection on your cell phone (Tested with ANDROID Samsung Galaxy III and IV and LG Viper) will allow you car to connect to (tested with my 2014 Impala LTZ, 2014 Corvette Stingray Z51, 2015 GMC Yukon SLT, ex's 2014 Buick Verano Turbo, and my assistant's 2014 Chevy Cruze LTZ) Apps:

iHeartRadio
Tune-in
Milk
Pandora
and from what I speculate any other like those.

I use iHeart, Pandora, and Milk all the time due to them allowing the "Create Your Own Station" features. I love listening to Prince, Doug Stanhope, Greg Gilrado, Robert Schimmel, Jim Gaffigan, Hendrix, Led Zep, Motown etc stations that I've created.

When listening to them you:

1) turn on Bluetooth connection and connect to your paired car.
2) press app that you wish to use and select any of the stations in said app (eg. Press iHeart app, then Prince Station , yours or otherwise.
3) Wait for station to load for like 2 secs.
4) It will display on both your phone and the car's headset. The info will essentially be exactly what U see on the phone screen

5) BTW I have never used the PANDORA app on the actual headset in the car because the Bluetooth is sending the audio and info right to the Headset anyway. The Pandora App on the car's haedset, if used would allow U to rate music (thumbs up and thumbs down) but cold care less about that.

This does obviously use your phone's data plan. Hotspot isn't necessary. As long as you have a data signal strong enough it will work. The broadcast by app default have a forward delay, which means that if you are listening to something and your data were to conk out... the app has about 15- 20 seconds of the broadcast stored and will continue to broadcast until hopefully your data connection buffers and reloads.

I have unlimited Data thru a grandfather contract with Sprint that I will probably never change. The amount of Data is still minimal. Although 128 Kbps is the default rate of Wi-Fi, Pandora's iPhone and Android app allows you to choose between 64 Kbps and 128 Kbps when using a cellular connection. The default setting is 64 Kbps. If U listen 1 hour per day for 20 days per month example, data use would be just over 500MB.


Since I have an unlimited amount of data and a Hotspot on that phone, I have also been able to hook my Roku into Yukon's rear entertainment and stream Netflix for kids while on the road., I have also been able to hook my Roku into Yukon's rear entertainment and stream Netflix for kids while on the road.


Grandfather clauses save some of us don't they? :thumbs:

With my Sprint one we have 4 phones on one plan and we literally share unlimited data. Every one of these phones have a hotspot programed into them :D which allows for, on trips, my passengers to use their Laptops, or tablets willy nilly. It also allows for Netflix streaming to our Roku (or Apple TV, NeoTV and Chromecast).

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jl449

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Thanks for the information!!! I just ordered a Roku 2 for $49 bucks - refurbish unit on Roku website after reading your post.

I have a business phone with pretty much unlimited data on an S4. Unfortunately I don't have hotspot. I was planing on getting the 10g for 150 bucks. Or adding the onstar on my wife's phone ATT plan for 10 bucks a month. It is a cool feature and even though just about everybody has hotspot on their phone it still pretty cool!
 
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Cmicasa the Great XvX

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I'm sure your provider will turn on the feature if U pay for it. I am also assuming that U don't have the 2015i Yukon/Tahoe.. as they have the GM 4GLTE.

Anyway its pretty cool when we are on the road for a while except for the fact of when I hear from the driver's seat It's Always Sunny in Philly playing on the Roku.. I wanna get back there and watch too. :jester:
 
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jl449

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Yes I have a 2015i and it does have the 4GLTE. It's operated by Onstar. If you have wireless ATT it can be added to the account. Or you can buy data from Onstar - 10g for 150 dollars. It's a cool feature and will pair up great with Roku. Thanks again Casa...
 

Cmicasa the Great XvX

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Yes I have a 2015i and it does have the 4GLTE. It's operated by Onstar. If you have wireless ATT it can be added to the account. Or you can buy data from Onstar - 10g for 150 dollars. It's a cool feature and will pair up great with Roku. Thanks again Casa...




No problem. It really is an awesome streamer paired to a super-awesome SUV. Only thing I wish GM would have done is make it HDMI capable, but the RCA connection still looks HD imo. Just less cables with the HDMI cable and true HD
 

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