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Writer's pictureSteve G

A most superb hack for TV on the go

I just ran across a great travel tip. A hack as they are often referred to. It involves how we watch TV when we are traveling for business or for fun.


Today many of us use TV streaming services like Netflix. We can log onto the service through a smart tv or external devices that plug into to a TV like a Roku. I have used several TV sticks or devices for instance that round silly Google one, the fire stick from Amazon and the Roku. All are pretty good at what they do but I do like the Roku the best as it has most if not all streaming services in one place. Maybe Amazon and Google have caught up but I have not verified it. Roku has HBOMax, Netflix, Prime, Peacock and many more streaming services available. When you get one you plug the device into your tv and then you have to one by one program each streaming service you use and if you watch an array of programming you probably have two or three or even five or six different streaming apps. All with separate log ins and hopefully you use different passwords. Please do use different passwords on different accounts. Once you have your streaming services programmed into the Roku it is a great set up and one place to go with an easy interface. The Roku remote works on most TVs as well so you get to get rid of eight remotes to control everything. Easy Tv, one remote. but what is the travel hack?


My Brother in law Kev, took this idea and does the simplest of things. He brings his Roku device with him on travels. When he arrives at any destination like here in Yankton, SD he can just plug in the Roku into any open HDMI port on the television. Turn on the TV, change the input port and viola! He can quickly choose a streaming service and placate the kids while unpacking at the Lake House, hotels or other great venues.


What I really appreciate with his solution is that you don't have to sign in to your accounts on every TV you find at your destinations. Most streaming services have crappy sign in experiences that make it fun trying to type crazy passwords into 9 digit keypads. Better yet this travel hack means you do not have to remember to sign out when you leave. Just grab the Roku and go. Yes you do have to remember to grab the Roku. I am sure this would work on the other platforms if you are invested in that equipment but I am going to stick with saying Roku... it is a better system and word. Fun word. Roku. That security of knowing you didn't sign on to someone else's tv and you didn't forget to sign out is very reassuring at night just before bed. It has the added benefit of not transmitting your log in information over strange wifi, for the most part usually ok but you never know. You also do not have to follow the six pages of host written documentation to turn on their way over complicated audio visual system apparently devised to infuriate you with the to use the 8 remotes to simply turn on PBS.


I suppose this being the internet this hack is discussed somewhere but I thought I would put it out here because it is new to me. I can not wait to set one up for travel. TravelKu. Have a great day!


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