Learn me - Sideloading spectrum app on fire stick

I'm considering changing from Fubo to spectrum TV choice. It will save $80 per month on streaming and get me TNT and NESN without requiring cable company login. Even if I don't drop Fubo, the bundled pricing means my bill won't change if I add the spectrum streaming.

One challenge to getting buyin from the rest of the family is the hardware, we have fire tvs or fire sticks for the current streaming. Spectrum and Amazon apparently don't like each other so the only way to get the app on a fire stick is to sideload it, otherwise I need to get 3 Roku devices ($39/ device reducing savings), or go with spectrums xumo device on 3 TVs ($60/device)

I'm hesitant to load a 3rd party app that has access to my home network, but specially since I work from home more than in the office. I suppose I could put the TVs on the guest network, but I'm not sure if that buys me much on the Netgear Orbi if the app has some malicious code. 

I know we have many people on here more knowledgeable about these things than I am, so I'm hoping someone can help provide some guidance. 

TL:DR

Teach me how to side load 3rd party apps on a fire stick without putting my network at risk. 

There's no inherent risk to sideloading an app in general, it just depends what app you're sideloading. I wouldn't distrust the Spectrum app (assuming this is the one from the Spectrum cable company?) any more than whatever Amazon has - if you look at how their security devices work, you should probably even trust Amazon less than Spectrum...

In general sideloading on Android involves getting the .apk installer file onto the device and then overriding/disabling "security" warnings to install it even though it did not come through the default app store. A minimal-risk and fairly easy way to do that would be to install the F-Droid store from https://f-droid.org - this has all the open-source apps including a Google Play Store alternative (it can access the same library as the Play Store and thus gives you the same questionable level of security assurance the Google Play Store does) called Aurora Store. So then you install Aurora Store from the F-Droid store, and from there you should be able to use Aurora Store to search for and install the Spectrum app just as you would in the Play Store.

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Thank you.

It's not the app itself that I'm concerned with, at least not any more than the other apps from Amazon. It was more the idea of downloading it from a 3rd party that isn't google, Amazon, or spectrum (the cable company).

The recommendation for f-droid is helpful and I'll look into that, since it sounds like a known entity. 

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Thank you that might help me get Disney+ on my tablet 

I currently use Sling and have several times looked at Spectrum TV choice but the fine print appears to say there would be about $20 in monthly taxes and fees .. which reminded me why cable sucked.. but OTT streaming services also suck now and bundling might result in lower total cost from Spectrum.  

If you subscribe to it and learn that my concerns are unfounded, I'm interested to hear about it.

Also: Rokus go on sale frequently. 

In reply to OHSCrifle :

My bill was $119 for the 500 Mbps service and a VoIP modem for a house phone. I kept the same internet plan, added TV choice, dropped the phone, added a cloud dvr ($5 by only saves 50 episodes), and a xumo device (free for 12 months) and my bill changed to $129.

Right now I'm using AirScreen on the fire stick and the Spectrum app on my phone to cast the programming to the fire stick. I'm currently in a 14 day trial period for AirScreen, then it's $13 for the year and can be used on up to 5 (maybe more) devices. Seems to be working relatively smooth, and I can name the TVs in the AS app, so it's easier to pick the right device to cast to. 

I need to teach everyone in the house how to use the app and cast, and then I can drop Fubo ($88/month) and not have to buy Roku devices. 
 

edit: I was able to sideload the spectrum app on the fire stick, but got an error when launching stating it isn't compatible with the hardware. 

In reply to No Time :

Sounds like a good solution. Is that the entire bill, inclusive of taxes?

In reply to OHSCrifle :

Yes, I just checked and $119.98 was what I paid them last month.