With the advent of Smart TVs, the age-old question of whether to buy a Fire Stick or not has been resurrected.
\Many people are wondering if they need a FireStick with a Smart TV. The answer to this question depends on a few factors that are needed to be discussed.
In this article, we will explore fire sticks, reasons to have them, their benefits, features, and many more. So, this article seeks to cover all the questions and information regarding fire sticks.
Summary
What is a fire stick?
The Firestick is a small device that plugs into your TV and gives you access to thousands of movies and TV shows. You can either download the apps directly onto your Firestick or you can use your smartphone to control them. The Firestick works with all of the major TV providers like Comcast, Time Warner, and DirecTV.
Do you Actually Need a Firestick for Your Smart TV?
If you own a smart TV then undeniably, the answer to this question is yes, because the Firestick is a convenient way to access your TV and the apps you need to watch your favorite shows and movies.
It’s an Amazon device, so it’s compatible with the most popular apps, it’s not only for streaming purposes, it can also play games as well.
You can even download movies and shows from Amazon’s own app store, which is an advantage over Netflix. It acts as a smart home hub and many more.
So, if you want to expand your viewing options with a wireless connection and without spending a ton of money, then a firestick is the best option.
How to Use a Firestick With a Smart TV?
Because the Firestick is a small device, it doesn’t have any ports to plug it into the TV. So, you have to follow these simple steps:
1. The first thing you need to do is to connect it to the HDMI port of your TV. Then, you need to turn on the TV and the Firestick, which is now connected to it. The Firestick is now ready to use.
2. When you first turn on the Firestick, it will automatically connect to your home Wi-Fi network and it will also give you the option to connect to a 4G or LTE network.
3. It will then ask you to sign in to your Amazon account. Once you have successfully logged in, you will be given the option to download the apps and content you want to stream on your TV.
Benefits of Using Firestick with Smart TV
One of the most important reasons to buy a Firestick with a smart TV is because it provides you with a great streaming experience. But there are some more benefits that we are going to discuss below.
1. Access to thousands of apps
With a Firestick, you will get access to the most popular apps, which are not available on other devices as it is compatible with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO, and more.
2. Control your smart home
With the Firestick, you will be able to control your smart home. This means that you will be able to control your thermostat, lights, and other smart home devices.
3. Compatibility with Alexa
You will be able to use your voice to control your smart home and also to watch the shows and movies you want to. For example, if you are watching a movie on your smart TV and you want to pause it, you can just pause it using the voice command, Alexa.
4. No monthly fees
There is no need to pay a monthly fee to use a Firestick. You only pay when you want to use the content that you have downloaded or streamed.
5. No extra cost
If you have a Firestick, you don’t have to pay extra to access the content that you want to stream on your smart TV.
6. Easy to install
If you want to install a Firestick on your smart TV, you can do it easily. The device is small and easy to carry around. You can also install it on any TV without any problems.
What are the Risks of Using a Firestick on Your Smart TV?
On the whole, there are no major risks of using a fire stick on your smart TV. But you may face the following problems:
1. Wifi issues
The Firestick is connected to your home network and this means that it will be vulnerable to hacking. If you have weak network security, hackers can easily gain access to your device.
So, you should improve the security of your network by creating strong passwords and not sharing them with everyone.
2. Slow network speed
You may experience slow network speed when you are streaming a lot of content on your Firestick. This is because the Firestick uses the same WiFi network as your TV and other smart devices.
So, it will slow down your network speed and it will make streaming slower. You can overcome this by turning off some of the devices, which will reduce load and speed up the network.
3. Sudden Disconnection
Your Firestick may be overloaded with content if you stream a lot, it may disconnect from the network. This may happen because the Firestick is getting too much traffic.
Conclusion!
If you own a smart TV, using a Firestick with it is a great way to increase its functionality as it is a small device that is easy to carry around and it is also compatible with the most popular streaming apps.
In this article, we’ve shown you how to do it and listed some of the benefits of smart TVs. Also, we have discussed some of the risks related to firesticks but these risks can be overcome.
We hope that you found this article useful and you learned everything you need to know about Firestick and how to use it with your smart TV. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. We will be happy to answer your questions.
I am Jeff Bortnick, the founder of SMART WISE HOME. I am also a husband, father of two, and a long-time technology lover. I have been obsessed with home automation since I was at University doing my MSc in Automation and Control Engineering