Cable television is an old way to entertain yourself. There are so many channels and titles you can watch, with cable being the ultimate tailoring service.
With the emergence of streaming services like Roku, you do not have to rely on just one source for your entertainment. With over 100 apps available, you can find one that works for you!
This article will go more in depth and tell you how to set up your Roku in Cable TV Mode. This article will also tell you how to use your Roku TV in Cable TV Mode.
Contents:
How Roku works
Once you’ve set up your new Roku, you’ll want to know how to access your content. There are a few ways to go about this. You can:
Use a Roku-certified device in the Roku application on your TV;
Use a PC or laptop connected via USB; or
Use an iOS or Android device via the Roku app.
All of these methods work the same way: You select one of the devices, navigate to its app and start watching!
Using a PC or laptop connected via USB is the most traditional way to access content on a Roku. Users have been using this for years to access content on their TVs and computers. It is still the most common way to use Roku!
Device-specific apps may only be used on one device per account.
Roku remote
Most people think of a remote as a button, or device, that controls a TV or streaming device. However, a Roku remote is more than just a button.
The remote has apps, which are apps you install on your device to control devices. Apps like Roku add another level of complexity to the remote.
Apples TV app limits your television to broadcasting Apple’s television shows and episodes. The same app limits the Apple Inc.® iPad and iPhone® devices to displaying Apple’s content.
The Google Android TV app has similar limitations. You cannot use the Android TV app on multiple devices at the same time, because each device is limited to broadcasting only its own content.
Using the menu
Once your TV has a Roku app, you can now use the menu. You can now navigate and control your TV, turn off Netflix and other streaming services, and even change the channel!
Using the Roku app is very similar to using a smartphone or tablet app. You can still go into the settings screen via the menu, however!
The only difference is that you cannot change the resolution of your TV via the app. You must do this via television settings.
Using the Roku app is great for people who want to watch content on their TV but do not want to sit on their couch or in front of their television.
Choosing a channel
Once your device is connected to your TV, you can start choosing a channel to watch. You can do this directly on your device, or via the Roku app.
When you choose a channel, you’re actually telling the Roku hardware and software that you want to watch a specific show or series. Then, when someone clicks on that show or series link, the Roku software takes it step of connecting your device to the TV and displaying it.
This is how you choose which channels are in front of you, and how much control you have over them. They can be political, entertainment, or any other type of content. You can pick whether you want them educational or commercial free, if they are kid friendly, and if they are premium quality material.
Since these channels are premium quality material, they cost money to advertise on! That is why there are no ads on these channels.
Adding channels
Starting in the new year, you can add channels via Roku by linking your Amazon, Hulu, and/or YouTube account. You will still need a cable or satellite TV subscription to watch them, though!
Once you do this, you can add any number of channels to your Roku via the following link: https://account.roku.com/addchannel/. There are a variety of ways to enter your Roku Channel ID, so make sure to include that when linking your accounts.
You can also add as many channels as you want, as long as they are on the same Roku device!
These devices work in the same way as cable boxes do, only with TV shows and movies instead of games.
Making profile pictures
Once your Roku is connected to your account, you can now make a new profile picture! Just go to your account settings and create a new profile.
Then, select that picture and you’re good to go! Your first episode of every show will be displayed as the picture that you created when you set up your Roku.
Making changes to your profile picture is free, so do it! Creating a new picture takes about a day or two, and then you can delete it if you change your mind.
This is a nice way to quickly create a separate persona for yourself on the device, or to easily recognize yourself in photos.
Understanding the screen
When you plug in a cable TV or internet system, it sends power and data signals to the device. These systems typically have large screens that display television programs, internet content, and notifications.
Roku devices do not require a TV or internet connection! This is an important detail to take into account when shopping for a new device. Most current models do not have a TV nor an online experience!
The screen on a Roku is what you call the “skin” of the device. It is the part of the Roku that you can navigate with your fingers, or with software services like Netflix. The screen actually contains electronics (refer to article below for details) that transmit data and power to your TV or computer.
Zooming in and out
When you want to watch a show or movie that is lots of episodes or years long, you can! There’s no disc or box to buy and set up. You just go to www.roku.com and select the show or movie you want to watch.
You can even watch a show or movie that is only minutes long! It does take a little practice, but you can do it!
The best part is, it doesn’t matter if you have cable TV or not.