Streaming Amazon videos?

As said earlier you can download programs from Amazon video to watch while offline. Depending on what type of charging port your phone has you will need an adapter to watch it on a large TV. In my case I have a type "c" charger so I use a type "c" to hdmi adapter. You then plug a cable into that and into your TV hdmi to watch your movies. 8.99 on Amazon. You can also use a tablet for this so you don't tie up your phone. We have done this multiple times and it works out great.

You do not have to use Alexa. Also, you don't have to buy anything else with Alexa to use the Alexa on the Firestick. They both work just fine with the remote to navigate to what you want to watch. I personally find the official firestick remote app to be helpful (you can check https://www.firesticktricks.com/remote-apps.html to see the full list). It lets me use my mobile as a remote controller if my physical remote is not working for any reason or in case I have lost my remote and can’t find it anywhere.

Clarification on how long you can keep downloaded videos from Prime.

Per Amazon:

You have 30 days to begin watching the video after you download it and once you start watching it, you'll typically have 48 hours to finish watching it.

On my Firestick, Alexa is only enabled when you push the microphone button on the remote and speak. Otherwise it's disabled.

Alexa might be loaded on the Firestick
It's not all that big,
It's mainly a verbal interface to A.I. Residing on Amazon's servers

monkey44 wrote:
Ok - a little recap. We need WIFI - got it both home and Phone Hotspot - We need newer Smart TV - got it - We need a capture device, like Firestick. Not got it but can buy it. Need Prime or some other online distributor - Got it.

SO, essentially, We hook this up, download some series or some movies at home, and watch anywhere ... WIFI or not ... as long as we start and finish movies in 72 hrs, or watch the series as long as it takes, no time limit.

And, if we run out of video stuff on the road, we can reload all new stuff into the Laptop or Device if we have a good WIFI signal, and then begin again :) :) :)

Thanks for all the info guys - No place in this country better than RV.net to get the knowledge we need. Happy Camping to all ... M44 & Genie

Final Q? -- what rate of WIFI do we need to download or watch??? Thx

Thermoguy already corrected a few items on your recap.

To your final question, depends on the quality of video download and how much you are willing to accept buffering. I'm not sure if you can control that with Amazon but with Youtube, you can control it to a high degree. The difference between the lowest quality and the highest quality video is massive.
- 144p (barely watchable on a laptop screen) is about 80kb/s (note the difference in units)
- 720p (standard def) is about 2Mb/s
- 4k (top shelf high def) is north of 15Mb/s

If we are on a marginal connection, we will often drop back to 240p or 360p but that's for a smaller screen (24" TV or laptop screen). If you have a big screen TV, you probably want 720p as the large size starts to make the graininess show up. (if you are watching on your phone 144p is actually not bad)

And put a piece of tape over the microphone. Call me paranoid, but I hate the thought of eavesdroppers, when I think I have privacy.

Alexa can be disabled in settings.

It's just another one of those annoying "invade your privacy" nuisance things for people too lazy to manually push a button.

It isn't required for running anything.

We have WIFI at home thru Cable, but on the road we have Verizon and T-Mobile - and unlimited data, so should be fine - Like you said, just let it load and watch it later.

One thing tho', I looked at Firestick, and it says "Just tell Alexa" and it starts. We have NO Alexa, and have no interest in it. All we want is ability to watch some movies on the road. We don't want satellite either. We're just looking for convenience of a movie or series occasionally in the evening.

So, just because it says on the newest Firesticks: 'Tell Alexa to start', does that mean it only works if you have Alexa ... makes little sense, but technology sometimes inhibits the very thing it enhances.

I don't remember the mbps for streaming, but my verizon phone and my att hotspot are both fast enough

For downloading and watch later, slow speed will work, it's simply time and patience, 3hrs to download a 90minute movie no problem, start the download then go do something else, come back when the download is finished, start another one, take a nap, etc..