How To: Add USB Flash Drive to Roku TV Getting Pause and Rewind Features

Rich Gates August 17, 2021 DVR Using USB, Flash Storage

It is not difficult to get some premium functionality from Roku TV like pause and rewind by simply adding a USB flash drive to your setup

You will need to configure the Roku TV and the flash drive to work together, but it’s not hard to do.

To get close to 90 minutes of pause or rewind time you will want to use a 16GB or larger flash drive. So using something small like a 2GB or 4GB USB drive, probably isn’t worth the effort.

The other caveat is that the pause function is only available on the live TV input, limiting you to whatever’s coming over your antenna or cable connection.

So if the above sounds like something worth trying, let us show you the way:

What you’ll need:

Roku Smart TV (not the dongle or box). Said another way, a Smart TV with the Roku app.
Live TV input (usually either antenna or cable)
Roku TV remote control (standard with Roku purchase)
A 16GB or larger flash drive. Can be either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0

Once you’ve selected your flash drive be sure nothing is on the USB stick. This process will format the drive and remove any files you have on the drive.

Getting Started

Locate a USB port on your Smart TV. Any port will work. These will be found on the back side of your Smart TV. Connect the flash drive to a USB port.

Going to your Roku home screen and move the cursor until you are highlighting the LIVE TV option. This will be a tile on the home screen.

Don’t click LIVE TV, but rather get into the Options menu of Roku. You can either click the Gear button on the Roku remote, or you can press the Home button on the remote five times.

roku tv remote with gear, setting, button

In the Options menu select the “Set up Live TV Pause” and follow the on-screen instructions. Part of those instructions will include formatting a USB flash drive so Roku can sync with the flash memory for pause and rewind features.

Roku software will ask you to confirm the formatting process via a pin. This is only to make sure you think before you format because once you format the drive, any old data on the USB stick will be gone!

roku tv format usb flash drive

Done

Once live TV pause is enabled, you will be able to pause live television using the play/pause button on the Roku remote. You can also rewind up to (about) 90 minutes of live TV. This gives you plenty of time to have a nice family dinner while the Roku is on pause… then come back to finish the show.

Review: Windows 10 Computer Stick

Rich Gates April 23, 2020 DVR Using USB, USB Reviews

In 2015 Intel introduced the Compute Stick or Computer Stick – the product has been around ever since. The idea is simple and eligant. Intel wanted to create an HDMI dongle computer which can run Windows 10.

There is no confirmation, but our suspicion is that Intel wanted a ultra-cheap and portable solution to run Windows for embedded applications like set-top boxes (DVRs) and other IoT (Internet of Things) products. If our assumption is correct, it’s a wonderful product and is a great solution for its intended purpose.

PCWorld did a fantastic review of the compute stick back in 2016, and a link to that article is at the footer of this post. The PC World review outlined the specifications and performance levels of the Intel based product. We will let that article do the heavy lifting for the tech people out there, but today we want to talk about the applications one might have for a computer stick.

For only $120 (ish) off Amazon, this is an excellent solution to run Windows 10 for a host of specific applications.

computer stick

Several quick talking points before we move to examples of usage out in the field:

HD Media Player From Western Digital

Rich Gates November 3, 2008 DVR Using USB, Video

Western Digital released a hard drive compliment to their USB Passport hard drive, the WD TV HD Media Player.Â What they’ve done is develop a high resolution real time streaming device capable of recording up to 1080p to your USB hard drive or super sized USB stick.

usb video streaming

It’s clear to me Western Digital will begin developing products to complement or enhance the need of their core business products – hard drives and storage. The WD TV HD Media Player has a memory buffer inside but uses two USB ports on the backside where you can plug in USB sticks or USB hard drives, like the Passport, to store the digital stream. The WD TV HD is competatively prices at $129.99 and has HDMI composite outputs. Continue Reading

DVR Snuggles Up With iPhone & iPod

Rich Gates September 19, 2007 Apple / iPod, DVR Using USB, USB T.V., Video

ReplayTV is not the first to introduce a USB dongle for DVR use, however, they are the first to integrate a format easily playable on Apple hand-held devices like iPhone and iPod touch. The Personal HD system bundles both digital ATSC and analog NTSC technology and play over-the-air HDTV signals or old school analog TV source. So now you TV junkies can overload on adictively pathetic reality TV shows (well, except Survivor).

The real joy of the USB tuner is the software. The Personal HD specifically supports transfer of video to a format playable on widescreen hand-held devices made by Apple. Not to leave anyone out in the cold, the software can preserve multiple shows at once and even support USB devices from rival companies, such as ATI (AMD) and Pinnacle. The ReplayTV goodie bag for the Personal HD system include direct encoding in a 4:3 ratio, intelligent keyword filter system to find shows by cast member names, show IDs or genre. Although the reply system isn’t out just yet, it will be later this fall at the tune of $100. Source: Electronista Continue Reading

HDTV from a USB stick

Rich Gates September 21, 2006 Apple / iPod, Audio, DVR Using USB, USB News, USB T.V., Video

Pinnacle Systems, a division of Avid, has brought many great products to market. Here is another piece that will surely peak your interest. The Pinnacle PCTV High Definition USB stick. This USB powered gadget makes the recording of HD TV not only easy, but inexpensive too. Continue Reading

PocketDISH from DISH Network has your number

Rich Gates August 7, 2006 Audio, DVR Using USB, Gaming, USB News, USB T.V., Video

On DISH Network and want to take everything with you? Movies for the kids, music for you and pictures for the grandparents…well, the PocketDISH from DISH Network has your number. The PocketDISH is a single device that replaces your MP3 player, photo storage equipment and portable DVD player. By connecting the PocketDISH to a DISH Network DVR, you can load and watch hours of your favorite TV or movies. Continue Reading

Print Server without wires from D-Link

Rich Gates May 17, 2006 DVR Using USB, USB Input Device, USB News

D-Link enhances wireless performance for inter office interoperability with the RangeBooster G (WBR-1260) Print Server. With the quick install wizard the D-Link Printer Server can connect up to 4 printers in minutes. The techs have tested the print server with over 100 printer models and is compatible with a wide range of USB multifunction printers and is backward compatible with USB 1.1/1.0 printers. The Ethernet port on the Print Server can be used as a wireless bridge. This provides wireless connectivity for any Ethernet-enabled device, such as a computer, Digital Video Recorder (DVR), or Network-Attached Storage (NAS) to the wireless network. Continue Reading

USB TV Tuner from Pinnacle Systems

Rich Gates February 27, 2006 Audio, DVR Using USB, Software, USB News

Pinnacle Systems has an ulta compact USB 2.0 tuner for Digital Terrestrial TV. The USB stick requires no cables and plugs directly into the USB 2.0 port. With the TVCenter software it actually transforms your laptop or PC into a DVR system. You can watch TV or record to MPEG1/2 or DivX video formats. Continue Reading