What Is The Difference Between A Non
Smart TVs have been out for quite a few years now, so its no surprise that almost every home has at least one smart TV.
Because smart TVs have become so common, it can be easy to forget what sets them apart from traditional TVs.
The main difference between smart TVs and traditional TVs is that smart TVs come with a host of pre-installed apps and can access the Internet.
Traditional TVs only let you view regular cable channels and any devices that may be connected to them, like DVD players.
In contrast, smart TVs let you do all that and access different streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and apps like YouTube.
How To Add Roku To Samsung Smart TV
William StantonRead moreAugust 22, 2021
As one of the most popular streaming devices out there, Roku players and TVs are a common choice of many streamers. The television game is in the process of changing into something more fitting for the smart home lifestyle. The average modern human wants to have access to whatever video content they want, whenever they want.
Similarly, as one of the most popular smart TV brands, Samsung is used by millions, globally. As a Samsung smart TV owner, you should know how to add Roku to it.
Connect Your Roku To Your TV
Plug your Roku into your TV’s HDMI port.
There are a few things you’ll have to connect whether you have a box or streaming stick. With the Streaming Stick Plus we’re using as an example, you’ll need to plug the included USB power cable into the Roku and plug the Roku into your TV’s HDMI slot.
For power, the Streaming Stick can use a USB input on your TV if it has at least 5 volts of power so your Stick will get maximum performance. But if you can, we recommend using the included wall adapter instead to ensure that the Roku stays powered up and ready to go. Roku includes a USB extension cord with the Streaming Stick Plus.
If your TV is wall-mounted and the HDMI port is hard to reach so the Streaming Stick is difficult to plug in, you can get a free HDMI extender from Roku.
After everything is plugged in, turn on your TV and select the input into which you plugged your new Roku.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best TV Brand To Buy
What Kind Of Hdmi Cable Do I Need For Roku
You may be wondering: What kind of HDMI cable do I need for my Roku? The answer is not simple. In order to connect your Roku to your television, you will need an HDMI cable. While many retailers overprice these cables, Amazon is a great place to find them for a very reasonable price. Before purchasing, make sure that it is compatible with your Rokus ports.
An HDMI cable should be at least three feet in length and have a male to female connector. Some HDMI cables have a male to female connector. Monoprice HDMI cables are the least expensive Premium Certified cables and come in 3-foot, six-foot, ten-foot, and fifteen-foot lengths. They are available in a variety of colors and are available with a lifetime warranty.
HDMI cables are available in a variety of colors, and you should always choose a cable with the same color as your television. They are also generally less expensive than other cables, but make sure to select the right one for your TV and streaming device. Make sure to note the port number of your television when ordering. If you are unsure, you can also purchase a HDMI cable without a cord to connect the two.
Learn More Here:
Connect Your Roku To Your TV’s Hdmi Port

Step 1: Unpack your Roku device. You can plug all Rokus directly into an HDMI port on a compatible TV. All current Roku devices, including the set-top box Roku Ultra, come with an HDMI cable.
Step 2: Find an open HDMI port on your TV to plug in your Roku. All modern Rokus need an HDMI port to work. Older Rokus may have a composite connection you can use with older TVs, but its not a common setup these days. If you are seriously short on HDMI ports, you can use something like an HDMI splitter, but this can affect streaming quality. The good news is that Roku actually offers to ship one of these extender cables for free if youre willing to fill out their form.
Don’t Miss: Which TV Channel Shows Uefa Champions League
Perfect Quality Multiple Devices
As you can see, anyone can easily connect their Roku TV to a cable box using one of the available cable ports. The process doesnt differ from connecting any other TV to a cable or a satellite receiver, and at the same time, it provides a clear image and much better audio when using HDMI. Of course, HDMI-CEC delivers the ability to have connected devices communicate with each other or adjust the TVs volume using the devices remote to do cool things like turning both devices on simultaneously.
Thanks to the variety of available ports, you can connect multiple devices to your Roku TV. For example, you can connect a cable box with a coaxial cable while connecting a Chromecast or another streaming platform in a USB porteach one providing you with countless high-definition content.
What Is The Difference Between Roku TV And A Smart TV
Smart TVs are any TV that can be connected to the Internet and come with a built-in operating system , while Roku TVs use technology that Roku exclusively manufactures.
Also, since the Roku functionality is directly built into the TV, Roku TV users dont have to plug in a Roku device into the TV to use Rokus features, unlike regular smart TV users.
Don’t Miss: How To Project Galaxy S10 To TV
Do I Need Roku With Samsung Smart TV
If youre thinking about getting a Roku player for your Samsung Smart TV, youve probably heard of the streaming service. But what exactly is Roku? A streaming device similar to a TV box, Roku connects to your television via an HDMI port. Samsung televisions from 2014 and earlier dont come with Roku compatibility. Samsung TVs from the last few years, however, have built-in protection software that prevents unauthorized use of their HDMI ports.
If you have a Roku-compatible TV, you may only need one. You can use Roku sticks or standalone Roku players. This will allow you to watch content in a variety of settings on your TV. In addition to using the Roku stick or player with your Samsung TV, you can also use your Samsung TV with other devices. Its up to you. Depending on your preferences, you may find that Roku doesnt work on your Samsung Smart TV.
Streaming apps have become an integral part of smart TVs. Many companies have even created their own private apps for employee training. Roku has a wide selection of apps, including movies and television shows. The number of streaming apps is growing rapidly. Some companies even have their own Roku channels. However, you might not be able to get every streaming app if you own a stand-alone Samsung Smart TV.
Can You Use Roku On A Non
RobotPoweredHome is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my blog, I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Roku streaming devices can be a great addition to your home viewing experience, thanks to the vast library of movies and TV shows that they give you access to.
Roku earns its popularity among users not just because of the different options it provides but also because of how easy it is to set up.
A few days ago, out of curiosity, I decided to try and connect my Roku streaming device to an old TV I had at home to see if I could get Roku working on a non-smart TV.
Because I was unsure how to do this, I decided to look for solutions online.
After spending a few hours going through different articles and forum threads on the subject, I was able to figure out how.
To connect your Roku streaming device to your non-smart TV, connect it using an HDMI cable. If theres no HDMI port, connect it using composite video cables or a composite-to-HDMI converter.
This article will serve as a step by step guide that provides you with detailed instructions on how you can connect your Roku streaming device to your non-smart TV with ease.
Recommended Reading: What Size TV To Get
Roku Streaming Stick Setup Instructions
Set Up the Roku
- Plug the usb extension cable into the USB AC adapter if your display does not already have a readily available USB port
- Plug the USB to Mini-USB cable into the adapter
- Plug the Mini-USB end into the Roku stick
- Plug the Roku stick into your display
- Plug the AC adapter into an outlet or USB port
- Put the batteries in the controller
On-Screen Setup
- Select your language
- After its done scanning for WiFi networks, select SCU-Student and enter password gosantaclara
- It is now connected to the student WiFi network, and if this is your first time using it the Roku, it will update and restart
- Follow the on-screen instructions through the display and remote setup
- Sign-in on the website or create a Roku account to link with your Roku stick
Setting Up Xfinity On-Campus
- Navigate to the Search tab on the left and search for Xfinity Stream Beta, then add the channel
- Open the app and select Get Started
- Follow the on-screen instructions to the xfinity website on a computer or phone and enter the given code
- At the Xfinity sign-in screen, click Xfinity On-Campus Students Sign In Here
- Search for Santa Clara University on the next screen and select it
- This will redirect you to the SCU Single Sign-on Portal where you will sign in as you normally would
- After you sign-in your Roku will automatically link the app with you Xfinity On-Campus account
Accessing Cable With A Roku TV Using Coaxial Cable
If your cable box requires a coax cable to connect to the Roku TV, the method is slightly different than using an HDMI connection. Follow these steps:
After the scanning is finished, the TV will notify you of how many channels it found, alerting you that the cable box is successfully set up. As long as your cable box is connected to your Roku TV, youll be able to access it via the Antenna card/block.
Take note that cable boxes with a coaxial Out to TV connection still handle the tuning of channels. No matter what gets selected on the box, the signal gets transmitted to the TV via analog channel 3 or 4 and is NOT high definition. These cable boxes are ancient versions, but some semi-old models still offer the coax out.
You can always upgrade your cable box via your service provider to get rid of the old analog channel 3/4 output to tv and use an HDMI cable instead!
Don’t Miss: How Long Is The Hulu Live TV Free Trial
Accessing Cable With A Roku TV Using Audio/video Rca Inputs
Today, most receivers and cable boxes dont use RCA AV-IN inputs to transfer media from the device to the TV screen. However, if you own an older cable box, youll probably need to use these cables instead of HDMI or coaxial. Luckily, all Roku TVs have at least one set of RCA AV-IN ports on the back of the device.
To connect the devices via AV inputs, youll need composite AV cables , which are the old-fashioned red, white, and yellow cables. These cables contain three different colored male-end plugs on each end. Each connector is colored differently to represent each specific input:
Follow these steps to connect the devices:
Parental Controls For The Roku Channel

If you want to watch shows on The Roku Channel, your PIN must be entered when someone tries watching content with certain ratings. There are four ratings levels, shown in the table below:
- = Content with this rating on The Roku Channel can be watched without a PIN
- = A PIN is required to watch content with this rating on The Roku Channel
Two additional notes about Roku Channel parental controls:
- Movies and TV show titles restricted by your PIN preferences are not hidden or filtered when browsing or searching content on The Roku Channel, even if you cant watch them .
- The Roku Channel parental controls apply only to video viewing within The Roku Channel, and does not affect video playback in any other streaming app!
Recommended Reading: How To Add Apps To Philips Smart TV
Use The Roku App As A Temporary Remote
If you lose your remote and dont want to resort to using the hard-to-find buttons on your Roku TV to change the input, the Roku app is the way to go!
Simply type Roku into the Apple App Store or the and download the Roku app to your smartphone or tablet.
Once its downloaded youll immediately be prompted to search for nearby Roku devices. Your Roku TV will automatically appear in the list. Go ahead and select it to connect.
Once your Roku TV is connected within the Roku app, you can use your phone as a remote!
Just follow the exact steps I detailed above to change the input on your Roku TV .
Installing The Roku Device
You May Like: How To Add Showtime To Sling TV
How To Set Up Your Roku TV
Roku TV brings all the features that you enjoy from Rokus streaming devices and inserts them directly into a smart TV. In fact, there are hundreds of Roku TV models from top brands like Hisense, JVC, TCL, Westinghouse, and more. Stream your shows and movies, listen to music, and play video games from the 20,000+ available apps in the Roku Channel Store.
Are you here to find out how to set up Roku TV? Well, youre in the right place. Below we dissect the Roku TV setup process step-by-step to make sure youre on the right track.
But, first are you searching for the perfect Roku device for your standard TV? Check out our complete breakdown of Rokus devices and pricing structure with our top-down Roku review. See how the Roku Express stacks up compared to other streaming devices with our analysis of its features. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is Rokus most popular streaming device. Find out why with our Roku Streaming Stick Plus review. But if you want the best, then you might want to know more about the wireless Roku Ultra in our product breakdown.
Hidden Roku Tricks For Streaming Success
Whether you’ve had the same Roku for years or just nabbed a new model, there’s more to know about these media streaming devices than meets the eye.
My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology . Ive been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe youve just seen my Bernie meme.
Also Check: How To Stream From iPhone To Lg TV