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Hello Charles, This question really piqued my curiosity about this and about how other public library systems are managing this type of service for their patrons. A lot of them are renting out Roku devices to their users (an example: https://hplibrary.org/roku-devices). I know budgets are very tight across all academic, public, and state libraries right now, but if this is something you could advocate for your patrons, I think it would be a very worthwhile pursuit. From your question, it seems you are on the right track. I found two sources that seem to be in agreement on how to best deal with a Roku without steady internet connection (my apologies if you have already seen these): https://robotpoweredhome.com/roku-without-wifi/ https://nerdschalk.com/how-to-use-roku-without-wifi/ (this article addresses particular Roku models but is about 2 years old) I hope this helps in some way! Best, Keondra -----Original Message----- From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Kayla Abner Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2022 11:49 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Roku - TV - Over the Air I'll chime in too as someone who lives in a state with NO air TV (Delaware). We have a Roku with Hulu Live. It is expensive, but still cheaper than cable. This is the only way I've found to watch local news / weather. Pluto, freevee, Roku TV, all have free national news / weather / movies etc. This of course requires a strong wifi connection though. ---- Kayla Abner (she/her) *Digital Scholarship Librarian* Digital Initiatives and Preservation Library, Museums and Press University of Delaware [log in to unmask] Visit https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://library.udel.edu/continuity/__;!!OToaGQ!pHGyVbrYqdsaHirmXx4UAh0SnLqWXg4ByvEtYHPb7FAmycwlNObgEXXW7RIZNHy_mwkdtaV97AvS29p64l8eyw$ for information on library services during the COVID-19 pandemic. [image: University of Delaware] On Thu, Sep 22, 2022 at 11:35 AM Cindy Bowen <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > As an over-the-air antenna and Roku user, I'll chime in. > > Yes, over-the-air TV channel reception is highly variable based on > location. There are a number of sites that can help locate what > transmitters might be in your area, e.g. > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.antennasdirect.com/transmitter-locator.html__;!!OToaGQ!pHGyVbrYqdsaHirmXx4UAh0SnLqWXg4ByvEtYHPb7FAmycwlNObgEXXW7RIZNHy_mwkdtaV97AvS29orlZDe0A$ I always have to > put my indoor antenna up against a window to get any reasonable > reception, and even then the channel selection and quality depends on > where the transmitters are and any intervening obstacles (e.g. buses > passing by, ha!). > > My Roku is a streaming device only, so an internet connection is > required for it to work. I do not believe any of the Roku devices are > intended to "download", as you mention. For folks without regular wifi > access, a Roku isn't going to do what you want. But yes, as Mark > mentioned, there are free Roku apps like Pluto TV that provide access > to various shows; whether that's sufficient depends on the person. > > If that helps, > ~Cindy > > On Thu, Sep 22, 2022 at 11:13 AM Mark Pernotto > <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > > > Hello Charles, > > > > This question is also valid in our community. Thank you for sharing > > your experiences. > > > > Is the purpose to enable patrons to stream local & PBS channels? > > I've had little luck with using a digital antenna for my television > > as well. I've not used a Roku device (Amazon makes a similar Fire > > stick) but the free > app > > Pluto TV provides a very healthy selection of free television > > programming on numerous topics, including movies, classic > > television, reality series, animation, even *regionally* local news. > > > > Would love to hear more about how the library is utilizing these > > technologies to benefit their communities. > > > > Mark > > > > On Thu, Sep 22, 2022 at 7:56 AM Tim McGeary <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > > > > > Hi Charles, > > > > > > This is a really important issue for our communities, especially > > > public libraries that have higher populations of underserved and > > > low-income residents. I experimented myself with a hi-def antenna > > > when I "cut the cord" from cable, and even with my own technical > > > experience and > financial > > > privilege, I found it confusing and difficult. And, yes, the > > > changes in signals from local stations even makes the effort I > > > made obsolete or > less > > > functional. > > > > > > I think you are on the right track with considering how to use > > > devices, such as the Roku stick, for your patrons, as streaming > > > access from > local > > > stations increases. I am encouraged to see various state > > > governments > > using > > > federal and state funding to increase broadband access in rural > > > areas, > > yet > > > I know the monthly cost remains out of reach for many. > > > > > > I wish I could offer you more substantive feedback, but at least I > > > can cheer you on and say that I believe you are on the right > > > track. I hope > > that > > > as you work through potential solutions, you consider giving a > lightning > > > talk or submit an article to the Code4Lib journal to report on > > > your > work. > > > It is vitally important that we do all we can to make information > > > as > > fully > > > accessible as possible, especially in this era of misinformation > > > and disinformation. > > > > > > Cheers, > > > Tim > > > > > > > > > Tim McGeary > > > > > > Associate University Librarian for Digital Strategies and > > > Technology > > > > > > Duke University Libraries > > > > > > [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> > > > > > > > > > Request a meeting: > > > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://outlook.office365.com/owa/cale > > > [log in to unmask];!!OToaGQ!pHGyVbrYqdsaHirmXx4UAh0S > > > nLqWXg4ByvEtYHPb7FAmycwlNObgEXXW7RIZNHy_mwkdtaV97AvS29qPnCM1nQ$ > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of > > > ander kierig <[log in to unmask]> > > > Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2022 10:22 AM > > > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> > > > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Roku - TV - Over the Air > > > > > > Dear Charles: > > > > > > IMHO, this is not an appropriate use of this list. Roku support is > > > online at > > > > > > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://support.roku.com__;!!OToaGQ!sCxKt9 > jtSQd49-LU545H7H6Rv-3PCticYppiH7za9auqkE8GBaz9ur_OtBxexbC7zbXGE_sjOWy7 > tv_0h20NbL1a0Zb6SmeZEw$ > > > . Please don't send questions like this to a list with 4000 people > > > on it. > > > > > > respectfully yours, > > > > > > ander kierig > > > > > > -- > > > ander kierig > > > Application Development > > > University of Minnesota Libraries > > > [lib.umn.edu]( > > > > > > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.lib.umn.edu__;!!OToaGQ!sCxKt9j > tSQd49-LU545H7H6Rv-3PCticYppiH7za9auqkE8GBaz9ur_OtBxexbC7zbXGE_sjOWy7t > v_0h20NbL1a0ZbRM7us1w$ > > > ) > > > they/them > > > > > > On 2022-09-22 at 09:13 (-0500) charles meyer wrote: > > > > > > > Hi my esteemed listmates, > > > > > > > > We seem to generally broach more advanced tech questions than > > > > this > but > > > > we > > > > have some patrons visiting with simpler needs. > > > > > > > > I was trying to help patrons locate any outdoor TV antenna or > > > > tower climbers who could help with their outdoor antennas but it > > > > seems they have all retired aso trying to receive over the air > > > > TV (as programs assert can be done with a TV antenna) is not > > > > available for a lot of areas. > > > > > > > > Just to experiment, I bought the best indoor antenna for my > > > > house and placed it on almost every square inch of evereye all > > > > in every room > ang > > > > received about 4-5 TV stations, no local PBS just mostly 1960 TV > > > > shows. > > > > > > > > My thought was tey could buy a Roku ($50 Amazon, Walmart) and > > > > with a library hotspot connect that Roku to their digital TV > > > > (not analog > even > > > > with > > > > a digital converter box) and then use the Roku device to > > > > downloads > PBS > > > > and > > > > local TV stations via their hotspot. > > > > > > > > Some patrons need hand holding so once you plugin the Roku will > > > > it search for the hotspot and then you type in the hotspot name > > > > and password and the Roku connects to the net to download those > > > > TV stations? > > > > > > > > I hear the over the air signal are all going 4K soon so does > > > > that > mean > > > > you > > > > need a particular Roku, not just any Roku. > > > > > > > > Thanks so much, > > > > > > > > Charles. > > > > > > > > > > > > Charles Meyer > > > > Charlotte County Public Library > > > > Port Charlotte, FL > > > > > > > > -- > Cindy Bowen > Systems Librarian > Georgetown University > [log in to unmask] > she/her/hers >