Forum Discussion

sluggo5112's avatar
sluggo5112
Reel Rookie
6 years ago
Solved

How do I switch between my cable TV and Roku device?

We mostly watch cable TV and want to continue to do so. No interest in cord cutting. Recently bought a Roku Ultra that I hoped would allow us to occasionally expand our TV viewing options. Can I easily toggle from my cable TV to the Roku and back?? I have not set up the Roku yet and if we cannot continue to use cable TV as our primary viewing mode or if it is a big pain to go back and forth, I'll return the Roku.

TV & Player Setup
  • makaiguy's avatar
    makaiguy
    6 years ago
    You connect a Roku to your tv by plugging it into an HDMI port on the tv, same as with a cable box. If your tv has multiple HDMI ports they can both be connected at the same time. Then it's just a matter of switching your tv to the appropriate HDMI input.
  • makaiguy's avatar
    makaiguy
    Community Streaming Expert
    6 years ago
    You connect a Roku to your tv by plugging it into an HDMI port on the tv, same as with a cable box. If your tv has multiple HDMI ports they can both be connected at the same time. Then it's just a matter of switching your tv to the appropriate HDMI input.
    • sluggo5112's avatar
      sluggo5112
      Reel Rookie
      6 years ago

      Thanks Makai Guy. I'll give this a try. Cable is in HDMI 1 so I'll put the Roku in HDMI 2. I know I can move between HDMI 1 and 2 on the remote. Sadly, I'll have to disconnect my home entertainment unit that enhances the sound of the TV (currently in HDMI 2 - there is no third one), but life is full of decisions.

      • atc98092's avatar
        atc98092
        Community Streaming Expert
        6 years ago
        sluggo5112 wrote:

        Thanks Makai Guy. I'll give this a try. Cable is in HDMI 1 so I'll put the Roku in HDMI 2. I know I can move between HDMI 1 and 2 on the remote. Sadly, I'll have to disconnect my home entertainment unit that enhances the sound of the TV (currently in HDMI 2 - there is no third one), but life is full of decisions.

        Yes, some TVs have only one or two HDMI ports. Another option to consider is adding an AVR (audio-video receiver) and speakers. All but the absolute lowest priced models have at least 4 HDMI inputs, and you just leave the TV on a single input and change your device selection at the AVR. Even with only two speakers, it will sound much better that the TV's internal speakers. And if you add the full 5.1 (left, center, right, two surround and subwoofer) speaker setup you get outstanding surround sound. Yeah, it will cost a little, mostly for the speakers. But if you get an AVR that supports 4K video you should be future-proofed for a long time. 

    • LindaKL's avatar
      LindaKL
      Reel Rookie
      5 years ago

      I have an Insignia Roku TV and Dish. The Roku remote that came with the TV is too "old" to get some of the newer apps like Apple TV+. So I went out and got Roku Express.

      The Insignia Roku device has volume and on/off controls which the Roku Express does not have. Also, on the Insignia Roku remote, the Home button takes me back to the screen with all the channel apps AND the HDMI thumbnails for the TV so from the remote I can get back to the TV.

      However, the Roku Express home button only shows the thumbnails for the streaming apps and does not show the HDMI or Cable Box thumbnails. So do really I have to keep 3 remotes - the Roku Express, the Insignia Remote and my Dish remote, or is there another solution?  

      Help!!!

      • atc98092's avatar
        atc98092
        Community Streaming Expert
        5 years ago
        LindaKL wrote:

        I have an Insignia Roku TV and Dish. The Roku remote that came with the TV is too "old" to get some of the newer apps like Apple TV+. So I went out and got Roku Express.

        The Insignia Roku device has volume and on/off controls which the Roku Express does not have. Also, on the Insignia Roku remote, the Home button takes me back to the screen with all the channel apps AND the HDMI thumbnails for the TV so from the remote I can get back to the TV.

        However, the Roku Express home button only shows the thumbnails for the streaming apps and does not show the HDMI or Cable Box thumbnails. So do really I have to keep 3 remotes - the Roku Express, the Insignia Remote and my Dish remote, or is there another solution?  

        Help!!!

        In short, yes. The TV remote is still necessary to control the TV power and volume. The Express remote is not capable of controlling those functions, because as you mention its remote doesn't have those buttons. So even with CEC functionality, there's no buttons for that control. And the Dish remote is of course required to control the satellite receiver. However, way back when I used to have Dish their remotes could also control a TV, specifically the power and volume. So it might be possible to program the Dish remote to control at least the TV volume. That gets you down to two remotes at least. 

    • georgedanz's avatar
      georgedanz
      Newbie
      5 years ago

      I have Roku installed but now cannot use my TV remote to get to the Cable, HDMI selection.  How do I change that?

      • atc98092's avatar
        atc98092
        Community Streaming Expert
        5 years ago
        georgedanz wrote:

        I have Roku installed but now cannot use my TV remote to get to the Cable, HDMI selection.  How do I change that?

        You have Roku installed where? On a smart phone? iOS or Android? I use the iOS app and it hasn't affected using a remote on any of my Roku devices. 

  • renee3's avatar
    renee3
    Newbie
    5 years ago

    Thank you, but that doesn't really answer the question.  The question is how to do the switch.  My Sony TV remote has an "input" button that allows me to switch inputs, but the Roku set up disabled the Sony remote, and the Roku remote does not have such a function.  I see from other responses that there's such a thing as a separate HDMI switch that I could purchase, but is there any way to switch without getting such a switch?  Or would I have to pull out the Roku HDMI plug to re-enable my Sony TV remote to choose the cable input?  And if I did that, would I have to go through setting up Roku all over again?  Thanks.

    • atc98092's avatar
      atc98092
      Community Streaming Expert
      5 years ago
      renee3 wrote:

      Thank you, but that doesn't really answer the question.  The question is how to do the switch.  My Sony TV remote has an "input" button that allows me to switch inputs, but the Roku set up disabled the Sony remote, and the Roku remote does not have such a function.  I see from other responses that there's such a thing as a separate HDMI switch that I could purchase, but is there any way to switch without getting such a switch?  Or would I have to pull out the Roku HDMI plug to re-enable my Sony TV remote to choose the cable input?  And if I did that, would I have to go through setting up Roku all over again?  Thanks.

      The Roku remote should in no way disable the regular TV remote. The input button on the remote should still function as expected. The only thing that certain Roku remotes can do (not all of them) with a TV is controlling volume, mute and power. But they don't disable the normal remote. These functions are controlled with IR (infrared) commands, and there's nothing any device can do to block those, other than perhaps flooding the room with IR and blind the receiver on the TV. But that would be something that the device would be intentionally designed to do, and the Roku remote doesn't do that. 

      • renee3's avatar
        renee3
        Newbie
        5 years ago

        Thank you, Dan, you're quite right  - -  I simply wasn't pressing the input button on the Sony remote hard enough.  Armed with my new knowledge from your quick answer, I went back to it, pressed harder, and voila!  

  • shircur's avatar
    shircur
    Newbie
    3 years ago

    I'm having the same problem.  This is my second Roku device with Roku Express remote.  No problem with first Roku, but now the remote is slightly different and I cannot get back to regular cable tv unless I unplug the roku.  Not going to do this. I'll return the Roku

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

      shircur, are you looking for help?  The Roku remote wouldn't have anything to do with getting back to regular cable TV.

      • TheSillyOldBear's avatar
        TheSillyOldBear
        Reel Rookie
        3 years ago

        Seems poor UI design that I can switch from the set top but not back to it.

  • LindaDilld2's avatar
    LindaDilld2
    Newbie
    5 years ago

     Can I use my Roku with my cable

    And how would I set it up from cable to Roku

    • LindaDilld2's avatar
      LindaDilld2
      Newbie
      5 years ago

      I use my Roku with my cable and how would I switch from cable to Roku on my TV

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

        Find the Source or Input button on your TV's remote and press it to switch between devices.