Q. A pal from work says you can watch Comcast on a Roku box. I say that’s crazy because you need a Comcast cable box. Who’s right? — Tom, Greenbelt, Maryland. 

Tom, you’re both right, sort of. You can watch your complete Comcast video lineup on Roku, but you also need a Comcast/Xfinity video set-top.

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Confused? Okay, let me explain.

Comcast has an app on Roku called Xfinity Stream that allows you to watch the same channels that you subscribe to via your Xfinity X1 set-top. For example, if have the set-top connected to a living room TV, you could watch your Comcast programming lineup on another TV in a different room by simply connecting the Roku to the second set.

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This is a nice feature for Comcast subscribers who want TV in multiple rooms without paying for additional set-tops because, at least for now, the Xfinity app does not require an additional fee. (Note: The Xfinity Stream app is also available on smart phones and tablets.)

You can also watch Comcast’s Instant TV service on a Roku device without having any video set-top. But you do need Comcast’s Internet service, and a modem. For more information on Instant TV, click here.

By the way, Comcast’s video services are available on the following Roky devices:

Ultra (4660), Ultra (4640), Premiere + 4630, Premiere (4620), Express + (3710 and 3910), Express (3700, 3900), Roku TV (5XXX, 6XXX: Models within the 5000 and 6000 range), Streaming Stick + (3810), Streaming Stick (3600 and 3800), Roku 4 (4400), Roku 3 (4200, 4230), and Roku 2 (4210).

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Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvpredictions.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

— Phillip Swann

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