The wifi direct network generates a very strong wifi signal that causes interference and disrupts any other wireless network traffic using that channel. When you have many roku devices in your home, and more broadcasting devices from other nearby homes too, you have a scarcity of available network channels that can transmit clear signals on 2.4ghz and 5 ghz. Many users have problems with this and want to disable wifi direct and just use IR. We used to be able to disable this from the 'secret menu' however this was removed in a roku update in the fall of 2020. The ability to turn P2P off in the secret menu is no longer exposed in the Secret Menu, which we really could use re-enabled. Note disabling WiFi direct in the regular settings menu will only temporarily stop the roku from broadcasting a wifi signal. The setting is not sticky so when auto-updates or reboots happen it is likely to turn back on and cause interference again. Please give this feature back

I have a family member with EHS and RF of any kind (WiFi, Bluetooth, or WiFi Direct) cannot betolerated. The only remedy for us was to teardown (at your own risk) the ethernet capable Rokuand remove the 2 or 3 antennas depending on the model. Use an IR remote and disable deviceconnect. No more interference with other electronic equipment or problems for those with EHS.I have 2 different Rokus- 1 is an Ultra, and both work fine. It's too bad that the WiFi radios don't turnoff when an ethernet cable is plugged in- kind of like the old boombox when you plug in a headset; the speakers quit blasting.

WOW! Never occurred to me that this could be a problem for those with medical issues. Thanks for your input. This should be a requirement, that we be allowed the 'direct' easily-accessible option to control our personal electronic environment.

Do you have a good video link (e.g. youtube) for the roku ultra breakdown and radio removal? I would definitely be interested...

So this is great, I cracked open all 3 of my Roku ultra devices and removed the 2 antennae in each, closed it back up and it works great! Not some models may have 3 antennas but my older ultras only had 2 each.I'd rate this as easy, all that's needed is a nylon spudger, philips screwdriver and optionally some electrical tape.All I did is wiggle the metal antennae at their 2 connection points to fatigue the metal until it snaps off. I covered the terminal points with electrical tape just in case and re assembled.Note if you have micro SD cards you will want to remove them first before starting, as they get in the way of removing the case.jnwf wrote: The breakdown that I first used is from TechRepublic: https://www.techrepublic.com/pictures/cracking-open-the-roku-2-xs/ Images 18, 24, & 28-30 were helpful. Also, this youtube video was useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2KGYDw-q-4 Having a background in electronics, I guessed that removing the WiFi and Bluetooth antennas would be the easiest way to stop RF output without harming any other circuitry- so I used some hefty wire cutters to cut them off and for added measure cut the pcb connection to nearby broadcast chips with an exacto knife. No harm done, so both Rokus that were modified work fine with no measurable rf output. You do take a risk bricking your media player, but for us worth it. So stay grounded and don't touch any pins on chips if unnecessary.

Wireless <> WiFi <> WiFi DirectTo be clear, disabling Device Connect does disable WiFi Direct, which is what the title of your feedback asked to be able to do.Not sure what you are referring to as a "wireless broadcast", but once Device Connect is disabled, you will not be able to find/detect the Roku using WiFi Direct (or any other functionality that relies upon it, such as Miracast or Hotel & Dorm Connect).You might want to re-name/re-title your OP to "Option to disable all wireless/WiFi output"

Feature request: disable wifi broadcast to reduce wifi interference - re-enable P2P down setting

35 Replies

ct_connect
Channel Surfer
4 years ago
I am encountering this problem on both a Roku Premier and Roku Ultra (connected with ethernet).
I have other Roku devices in the house that don't seem to cause the same issue.
The device(s) that cause the issue are located next to the wireless router, could that be a contributing factor?
- StreamerUser
  Roku Guru
  4 years ago
  If you want to disable WiFi Direct, simply disable Device Connect (that's Roku's term for WiFi Direct):
  Settings/System/Advanced system settings/Device connect=disabled
  You wont be able to do so unless and until any/all WiFi Direct (Point Anywhere/Voice) remotes are either unpaired (either by "forget this remote" or by pairing it to another Roku, etc), or not "In Use" (by using another remote IR-only).
  - ChefZ
    Streaming Star
    4 years ago
    Unfortunately that configuration doesn't seem to stop the wireless broadcast, at least as of when I reported the issue. I've confirmed this with wifi scanners on my mobile.
    
    The only reliable solution in the past was to disable from the secret menu, which is now not available
Svano
Reel Rookie
3 years ago
Agreed...I have the same issue... Had A HIDDEN wifi on the same channel as my wifi connection and did not know where it came from... Found it with the Mac address... Roku....I understand the need at the setup.. But it keeps broadcasting AFTER wifi setup completed... Default channel is 6.. Guess what.. So is the guest network I am at... resulting in bad and conflicting channel on wifi band... We should at least be able to switch chanel on the Roku just so it's stops interfering with légitimit traffic... Basic network stuff that your engineers missed at design time... Former product manager talking... Ciao
- rogerx
  Reel Rookie
  3 years ago
  Roku mandates wireless function for zapping ads directly into your brain.
  
  TIP: The ads appear and sounds are much clearer & better, if the roku device is nearby on your desktop or nightstand!
  - rmongiovi
    Reel Rookie
    3 years ago
    Actually, it's just bad customer service. Charge extra for a device that supports a wire connection for people who want to avoid wifi and then make wifi unavoidable. The fact that it causes interference is irrelevant.
    I have my own wifi access point, thank you very much. I don't need my wired ultra competing with it.
nroewe
Newbie
26 days ago
This isn’t about having many Roku devices in your home this is a design flaw in your product. Anyone who knows anything about wireless knows you don’t use the same channel as another network. Your device is changing to my channel even after I change it and essentially acting as a network jamming device. This needs to be addressed or the FCC might need to get involved. You are most likely violating part 15 which states devices can not cause any interference but must accept any that may cause undesirable operation. Well your TV is causing signal interference with my home router and if I change the channel the TV follows. That’s called malicious behavior and it needs to be fixed. I’m seeing so many people online complaining and your answer is this is by design. Then your design is flawed and whomever made that decision didn’t understand what they were doing. So fix it and stop allowing your product to behave like a malicious hacker on everyone’s home network. This needs to be escalated to the highest level within your company immediately.

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Feature request: disable wifi broadcast to reduce wifi interference - re-enable P2P down setting

35 Replies

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