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Multiple Smart TVs - need multiple devices and remotes?
We are trying to switch our DTV satellite service to DTV Stream. After signing up for Stream, we received one device with a remote. To use Stream on all three Smart TVs (all on same WiFi), do we need a separate Stream device and Stream remote for each?
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Jrandomuser
ACE - Expert
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1.2K Messages
4 years ago
It also depends on the type of "smart" TV. TVs with Roku or FireTV built-in don't need a separate device - they can run the app directly. Samsung TVs from 2017 model year or later also don't, but the general consensus is that the app for Sumsung is buggy (though apparently a recent update is better).
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.7K Messages
4 years ago
Note that each doesn't have to have DirecTV's Stream box. You can use a cheap $30 Roku or Firestick and it'll work just fine.
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bcbsncjlj
Expert
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6.5K Messages
4 years ago
A streaming device is needed for each TV.
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Ludwick577
ACE - New Member
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3.6K Messages
4 years ago
What makes you think one device will stream to all 3 tv's?
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Jrandomuser
ACE - Expert
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1.2K Messages
4 years ago
For DTV Stream, the individual streaming devices (whatever they happen to be) have nothing to do with each other. All are completely independent and talk (directly) to the Internet (and back to DTV’s servers - or the servers of the CDN) separately. There is no “video bridge”, there is no “master device”, there is no analog to how DTV satellite works within a home.
You need a separate (supported) streaming device (of whatever sort - none need be DTV’s bespoke device) because they are the way that a video stream gets from those servers to your TV. A “smart TV” is just a TV with a streaming device (or the moral equivalent) built in. There are a lot of streaming device “platforms” - the software systems the streaming devices use. Examples are Roku OS, Amazon's FireOS for FireTV, Apple's TVos for AppleTV, Android TV, Samsung's Tizen, LG's WebOS, and many more. Some are only used in the creating company's own products - some are licensed (and actually used) in other company's products. Some are used only in TVs, some in standalone devices, some in both. Right now, of the ones used only in TVs, only Samsung’s Tizen is currently supported by DTV Stream. The 2 that are currently supported that are used in both standalone devices and smart TVs are Roku and FireTV. That means that all the other smart TV platforms (and the TVs that run them) - including Android TV used in Sony and some others, WebOS used in LG, Vizio's SmartCast, and all of the more minor platforms used in lots of additional TV brands - aren't supported with native apps (currently, and my guess is that with the possible exception of the ones I explicitly name checked there, never will be). So for all those other TVs, one of the external streaming devices is needed. Some people (including DTV reps) will recommend only the DTV branded device, but if you are happy without the extra features that device provides (basically direct channel access by channel number and some shortcuts on the remote), some of the other devices provide much cheaper solutions (and in some cases, other advantages).
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Jrandomuser
ACE - Expert
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1.2K Messages
4 years ago
They don’t rent the DTV Stream devices, just sell them. You can buy them at $5/month over 24 months (so no interest) but if you drop the service before the device(s) are paid off, they will require you to pay the balance at that time.
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ferdberferd
New Member
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79 Messages
4 years ago
@teetertotter I would highly recommend that you buy the DTV Stream "Certified Restored" boxes from DirecTV. They're $49.99, so half of the price of the new ones and they come with the full 1 yr warranty. We just switched and got these and they look brand new and work perfectly.
Now, I do not know exactly how you would do this after the fact, we ordered them when we placed the initial order for the service.
I am sure one of the regulars here can point you in the right direction.
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ferdberferd
New Member
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79 Messages
4 years ago
Actually I just found where to order additional Stream boxes afterwards....
https://www.directv.com/accounts/stream/addEquipment
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