Need Some Help - How Do I Download Movies/Shows from a Firestick?

[MJMCCAND]

Hi All,

We have a Firestick that we use at home, but where we are camping soon we cannot. I've heard/read that it is possible to download shows from say Amazon Prime Video or Hulu to watch later without Wifi, but I really have no idea how to do so. Can someone explain in detail what I need to do so?

Thanks.

 

[Second Chance]

I'm almost certain you cannot download onto a Fire Stick - it doesn't have the internal memory to do it. I download Prime videos using the Prime Video app on a Windows 11 laptop - but it has 500GB of storage space.

Rob

 

[MJMCCAND]

I'm almost certain you cannot download onto a Fire Stick - it doesn't have the internal memory to do it. I download Prime videos using the Prime Video app on a Windows 11 laptop - but it has 500GB of storage space.

Rob

I see. How do you get the program onto the TV? Are you connecting your laptop to the TV via a HDMI cable or can you screen share directly from your laptop to your TV?

Thanks.

 

[Second Chance]

I see. How do you get the program onto the TV? Are you connecting your laptop to the TV via a HDMI cable or can you screen share directly from your laptop to your TV?

Thanks.

I normally watch what I've downloaded on my laptop (my wife is not interested in my documentaries). When we want to watch something together, we normally just stream on the ROKU TV (we have an unlimited hotspot plan) or I share the laptop using the "Connect to a Wireless Display" function to cast to the ROKU TV if the program material is from a source not available on ROKU. It would be better quality and less complicated, though, If I were to get up off my lazy behind and connect the HDMI output on the PC to an HDMI input on the TV (easy to get to with our setup - I'm just lazy).

Rob

 

[alias100]

My wife and I will download movies and shows from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and HBO to the corresponding apps on our iPhones and an iPad. We try to do the downloading on our home WiFi network. To watch them we use a Lightning to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable connected both to the adapter and a HDMI port on the television. You will have to tell the television to switch to the correct HDMI port. There will be a number beside the port (usually hard to see without a flashlight unless you have very young eyes). We occasionally have to reboot our iPhone and/or iPad to get them to send the video and audio to the television, but this method has worked well for us. We leave one end of the HDMI cable connected to the television, wrap it up with a Velcro strap and shove it behind the television when not in use.
Have not used a Firestick or Hulu so can't offer any suggestions for them. Our method should work fine with Android phones and tablets.
Hope this helps.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

Hi All,

We have a Firestick that we use at home, but where we are camping soon we cannot. I've heard/read that it is possible to download shows from say Amazon Prime Video or Hulu to watch later without Wifi, but I really have no idea how to do so. Can someone explain in detail what I need to do so?

Thanks.

I just saw this thread. [MENTION=870]Second Chance[/MENTION] is correct, the such didn't have enough storage space to hold one, let alone several, movies or shows.

I recommend using a tablet, or an old cell phone, get it connected to the TV (either by getting an Apple AirPlay dongle, and Apple AirPlay compatible TV if you have Apple devices, or a Google Chromecast dongle if you have Android) and downloading the movies or shows in the specific app, Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, etc.

If using Windows on a laptop, if the laptop didn't have an HDMI output, you can buy a VGA to HDMI adapter to plug it into your TV's HDMI port.

The second paragraph is Great way to reuse an old cell phone. Just plug it into a charger, and cast the movie or show to the TV.

 

[Ynot4me2]

What he ^^^ just said. We dowload vua netflix, prime... onto the laptop snd tablet. Then we either connect to the TV via hdmi or we sometimes cast to the TV via our chrome cast.

 

[ajg617]

If using Windows on a laptop, if the laptop didn't have an HDMI output, you can buy a VGA to HDMI adapter to plug it into your TV's HDMI port.

If you have a Win10 or 11 laptop and wifi in your RV, simply enable Windows integrated DLNA server - simple setting change. Our TCLs have a native app (Roku Media Player) that allows us to play any compatible video/audio from my Windows laptop directly on the TV - use it all the time. No HDMI or physical connection required.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

If you have a Win10 or 11 laptop and wifi in your RV, simply enable Windows integrated DLNA server - simple setting change. Our TCLs have a native app (Roku Media Player) that allows us to play any compatible video/audio from my Windows laptop directly on the TV - use it all the time. No HDMI or physical connection required.

I was thinking the simplest way to display a video from a computer. There are many ways to cast to Google Chromecast, Apple Air Play, Roku, etc. This was just the simplest solution.

 

[ajg617]

I was thinking the simplest way to display a video from a computer. There are many ways to cast to Google Chromecast, Apple Air Play, Roku, etc. This was just the simplest solution.

Guess what I was saying is that everything I use is native to the TV and Laptop - only need those connected to my wifi travel router.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

Guess what I was saying is that everything I use is native to the TV and Laptop - only need those connected to my wifi travel router.

Everyone's level of technogeek is different. [emoji16]

 

[ajg617]

Everyone's level of technogeek is different. [emoji16]

Well, tbh I plug in a USB HDD to the TV which is velcro'd to the back. Started recording shows with Firefox add-ins 15 years ago. The only thing I need to do now is keep DW Hallmark happy.

 

[MJMCCAND]

Thanks all! Apparently our TCL TV in the camper does not have wifi or BT, but I will check again tonight. I looked for a way to screen share from my iPhone to the TV directly, but the TV never showed on the iPhone Screen Sharing screen. We have a Sony Blu-ray player that is wifi/BT and does have screen mirroring capabilities, just NOT for Apple products, go figure!

The Lightning to HDMI adapter is intriguing. We will play around with the wife's laptop though to see if we can just run a HDMI cable from it to the TV.

I did figure out how to download Amazon Prime programs via their mobile application. I think the same can be done with the Hulu mobile application, but I haven't tested that yet. Maybe tonight.

I appreciate all the guidance!

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

Thanks all! Apparently our TCL TV in the camper does not have wifi or BT, but I will check again tonight. I looked for a way to screen share from my iPhone to the TV directly, but the TV never showed on the iPhone Screen Sharing screen. We have a Sony Blu-ray player that is wifi/BT and does have screen mirroring capabilities, just NOT for Apple products, go figure!

The Lightning to HDMI adapter is intriguing. We will play around with the wife's laptop though to see if we can just run a HDMI cable from it to the TV.

I did figure out how to download Amazon Prime programs via their mobile application. I think the same can be done with the Hulu mobile application, but I haven't tested that yet. Maybe tonight.

I appreciate all the guidance!

Okay, you have Apple products, that will make my advice more targeted.

The Mabooks should have an HDMI video out port.

For casting from your iPhone, both the phone and the Roku TV need to be on the same wireless network. When you are at home, it should work just fine, at an RV park or campground, maybe not so much.

The following is a bit advanced. Several of us have created a wireless network for the camper, whether that be with a cellular hotspot, using a phone as a hotspot, Starlink, or some other way to connect devices to the Internet.

The easiest way to show a movie, offline, on your TV is to buy the aforementioned Lightning to HDMI adapter for your iPhone, or use a laptop with an HDMI output port; both connected directly to the TV via an HDMI cable.

 

[dryfly]

Okay, you have Apple products, that will make my advice more targeted.

The Mabooks should have an HDMI video out port.

For casting from your iPhone, both the phone and the Roku TV need to be on the same wireless network. When you are at home, it should work just fine, at an RV park or campground, maybe not so much.

The following is a bit advanced. Several of us have created a wireless network for the camper, whether that be with a cellular hotspot, using a phone as a hotspot, Starlink, or some other way to connect devices to the Internet.

The easiest way to show a movie, offline, on your TV is to buy the aforementioned Lightning to HDMI adapter for your iPhone, or use a laptop with an HDMI output port; both connected directly to the TV via an HDMI cable.

As I mentioned in another thread, the Apple Lightning to HDMI adapter is an easy plug and play solution. Stay away from third part adapters. They are cheaper and will work, but many report issues with different streaming services.

 

[dryfly]

I normally watch what I've downloaded on my laptop (my wife is not interested in my documentaries). When we want to watch something together, we normally just stream on the ROKU TV (we have an unlimited hotspot plan) or I share the laptop using the "Connect to a Wireless Display" function to cast to the ROKU TV if the program material is from a source not available on ROKU. It would be better quality and less complicated, though, If I were to get up off my lazy behind and connect the HDMI output on the PC to an HDMI input on the TV (easy to get to with our setup - I'm just lazy).

Rob

What is the average size of the downloaded file if in high def? Can you just DL in standard def to save space on hard drive?

 

[MJMCCAND]

As I mentioned in another thread, the Apple Lightning to HDMI adapter is an easy plug and play solution. Stay away from third part adapters. They are cheaper and will work, but many report issues with different streaming services.

Just ordered an Apple adapter from Walmart, that should do the trick...I kind of hate to even consider doing this. My how I have strayed from the truer form of camping when we'd sit out by the fire til late, then climb into a tent to maybe play cards by the light of a flashlight hung from the tent poles. Oh well, seasons change as do people and our preferences. Though I must say we do still hang out by the fire, but not quite as late as we used.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

What is the average size of the downloaded file if in high def? Can you just DL in standard def to save space on hard drive?

Anywhere from around 400 MB through several GB.

There are ways to compress the video files, but you do lose definition.

The smallest and best format is the matroska video format. Most video players will play the file, but I've always recommended VLC, Video Lan Client; it plays everything, natively.

 

[dryfly]

Anywhere from around 400 MB through several GB.

There are ways to compress the video files, but you do lose definition.

The smallest and best format is the matroska video format. Most video players will play the file, but I've always recommended VLC, Video Lan Client; it plays everything, natively.

In post #4 Rob mentions downloading to his laptop. This is what I'm interested in.

I'm assuming this is done using a video streaming provider specific app? If not then how do you download and create the video file on the computer? Then there is the question of converting the file to the matroska video format you suggest. I need a "101" class on this.

My interest stems from the fact I'm on my last Directv HR24 receiver. It still uses the 18" easy to carry/aim antenna. When it dies I've got to re-think a whole new satellite solution or just record and stream.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

In post #4 Rob mentions downloading to his laptop. This is what I'm interested in.

I'm assuming this is done using a video streaming provider specific app? If not then how do you download and create the video file on the computer? Then there is the question of converting the file to the matroska video format you suggest. I need a "101" class on this.

My interest stems from the fact I'm on my last Directv HR24 receiver. It still uses the 18" easy to carry/aim antenna. When it dies I've got to re-think a whole new satellite solution or just record and stream.

For Netflix, (this is only in a Windows computer) you will need to go to the Windows store and download the Netflix app. Within the app, you should be able to download and watch offline movies.

Everything I've been reading says the mobile apps are the best for offline content viewing. (I use Linux on my computer and Android for my devices so I want completely familiar with Apple things.)

There is no Mac app so downloading and watching offline Netflix content is not possible, there is an iOS app so you can download and watch offline content on an iPad or iPhone. (I'm sure you can use the lightning to HDMI dongle to watch it on the TV.)

For Hulu, I'm not sure as I don't subscribe to that streaming service.

For the Matroska video conversion, that really is out of scope for this thread. Also, this is if you want to convert a video you own (say from a camcorder) to a small, lossless, format that you can play on your computer or mobile device. There are many guides and videos on the Internet that will walk you through how to do this.