Forum Discussion

davedeb's avatar
davedeb
Newbie
4 years ago
Solved

channels are linking to wrong zip code area getting local channels from out of area

I live in Canyon/Ada County, but we are getting local channels through other side of state.

  • makaiguy's avatar
    makaiguy
    4 years ago

    @davedeb-

    Roku devices have no provisions for receiving live over-the-air broadcasts. (Roku TVs with Roku capability built in DO have antenna inputs for this purpose.) So any network programming received on a Roku device must be streamed via one of the streaming channel apps that carry local channels (YouTube TV, fubu, Hulu + Live TV, etc.). It is that channel app that determines which locality's stations you get.

    Some (all?) of these channel apps use the location indicated by the IP number assigned to you by your internet provider to determine your location. If your internet provider assigns or changes your IP number to one attached to one of its servers located in a different area, that could change the local stations you are provided.

    You can use a website like https://www.iplocation.net/ to see where the IP number assigned by your internet provider indicates you are located. If this doesn't represent your actual area, contact your internet provider and ask to be reassigned an IP in your area.

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  • makaiguy's avatar
    makaiguy
    Community Streaming Expert
    4 years ago

    @davedeb-

    Roku devices have no provisions for receiving live over-the-air broadcasts. (Roku TVs with Roku capability built in DO have antenna inputs for this purpose.) So any network programming received on a Roku device must be streamed via one of the streaming channel apps that carry local channels (YouTube TV, fubu, Hulu + Live TV, etc.). It is that channel app that determines which locality's stations you get.

    Some (all?) of these channel apps use the location indicated by the IP number assigned to you by your internet provider to determine your location. If your internet provider assigns or changes your IP number to one attached to one of its servers located in a different area, that could change the local stations you are provided.

    You can use a website like https://www.iplocation.net/ to see where the IP number assigned by your internet provider indicates you are located. If this doesn't represent your actual area, contact your internet provider and ask to be reassigned an IP in your area.

    • Boz's avatar
      Boz
      Roku Guru
      3 years ago

      Then please explain the purpose of adding a zip code field in the Roku settings.  Thanks.

      • renojim's avatar
        renojim
        Community Streaming Expert
        3 years ago

        Boz, to be honest that's something I'd like to know myself.  It appeared in the settings with one of the recent updates and I've never bothered setting it.  There's the note, "Entering your ZIP Code helps improve TV program information", but I don't get any TV programs on any of my devices.  As far as I can tell it's only for Roku's use as there's nothing in the developer documentation for it, so don't expect it to be picked up by whatever channel/app you're using for your local stations.

    • tinwhistler's avatar
      tinwhistler
      Newbie
      3 years ago

      I did this and my IP provider is located less than 3 miles from me.  Their zip and mine are the same, but I keep getting local programming from another state regardless of the zip code I enter on the device and on the website of the streaming providers.

      • Strega's avatar
        Strega
        Roku Guru
        3 years ago

        I occasionally check my IP-based physical location at a bunch of sites.  Right now, most of them list me in the correct state, but in 4 different cities.  Another one lists me in a state 2000 miles away.  When you run any particular app, and that app wants to show you something based on your location, I wonder which service any of them might use.  I suspect they aren’t required to use any specific provider, and the one that’s 2000 miles off for me, might be the most accurate for someone else.