Forum Discussion

Kwhalen's avatar
Kwhalen
Binge Watcher
3 years ago
Solved

Roku remote won't change channels on the over the air screen

My Roku remote recently stopped being able to change TV channels on my TCL, Model 55S401, software version 11.0.0, build 4139-30.  All other functions of the remote such as scrolling through the main menus, controlling all the apps, etc., work fine. The batteries in the remote are fine and I did a factory reset to the TV. It did not help

My android phone app also works fine on everything else except the OTA TV navigation. I can get to a TV channel, but it stops navigating after that. The front power LED light flickers like it is getting the signal, but it just makes a blip noise and does nothing. 

Another odd thing is that I can press the asterisk button in the TV screen menu and go through the options on the pop-up side menu. If I do try the asterisk on the home screen OTA icon, it freezes up and I can only press the home screen button to get functionality back again.

Any suggestions will be welcome. 

remotes
  • Kwhalen's avatar
    Kwhalen
    3 years ago

    I think I solved the issue with the over-the-air channel changing!

    I unplugged the USB drive from the back of the TV that is used to store the recorded pause and rewind info,  and the TV started working as normal. Except I can't pause or record anything. I am not sure why, but I have gone through at least 3 USB drives that become unreadable after a while.  Something in the TV, or OS, corrupts them beyond repair and they can no longer be formatted. I have not tried to plug a different USB back in, since the pause, and rewind feature is very limited anyway.

  • Kilonen's avatar
    Kilonen
    Binge Watcher
    3 years ago

    I am having EXACTLY the same problem on my Hisense Roku TV.  One work around I found is if I go to ROKU Live TV (not the tile but in the list on left of Home) then tune to a ROKU channel like 115 the remote buttons work as normal for channel changing but my OTA channels are not shown. Exit back to Home, then to Live TV tile, 115 is playing. Then buttons work and guide comes up now showing my OTA channels.  I can then go to any of my OTA channels but this only works once. Once on an antenna channel TV doesn’t respond to back or return buttons - just home.  Does same using iPhone and ROKU remote.  Have checked for updates - nothing since May 11. Have restarted, unplugged TV, rebooted via the 5x home button… you tube method.  Have removed, re-added, rescanned Live TV input.  All don’t change it. Given TCL has exact same problem as my Hisense - has to be a ROKU system glitch. Please help.  

    • tvid's avatar
      tvid
      Binge Watcher
      3 years ago

      Kilonen wrote:
      "One work around I found is if I go to ROKU Live TV (not the tile but in the list on left of Home) then tune to a ROKU channel like 115 [...]"

      Yes, this is also how I began the process that correlated with OTA channels returning to the channel guide, with internet connected.

      "Once on an antenna channel TV doesn’t respond to back or return buttons - just home."

      Have experienced this - have to get out of the antenna/Live TV selection, go back Home and then launch antenna/Live TV again; the TV usually becomes responsive to tuning OTA channels with remote, then.

      When in a real mess, re-start TV - and if that doesn't work, unplug and 'reboot.' If that doesn't work... throw up your hands and say "&#$%."

      It seems that many are experiencing variations of the problem, and it also seems that there is not a single solution that works for all. But, somehow, accessing the "Live TV" listing in left column does play a role, for some.

      As mentioned, what also worked for me is to disconnect internet; of course, Roku TV isn't good for anything other than OTA, in that case... so that is not a "solution."

      Best of luck.

      • BKM888's avatar
        BKM888
        Newbie
        3 years ago

        My TCL Roku TV does the same thing. I thought maybe something happened to the TV tuner inside the electronics, so I went out and bought another TCL Roku TV and brought it home and set it up.

        Everything on the new one worked (including the changing of antenna channels) at least *until* I let the TV do the software update. Please understand that this was a fairly controlled test with a brand new TV right out of the box. I set it up without an internet connection and went straight to the OTA channels. I ran it this way for about an hour.

        Then I rebooted the TV with the factory reset, and let it go through a normal new user configuration (including entering my Roku account, etc.) and it also during this process downloaded and updated the firmware and all other software updates.

        Once this was done, the OTA channels on the antenna will only work when you first turn on the TV and you can get to your first channel. After this, you can no longer change channels. The 5-way button for going to the chanel guide and moving up or down channels no longer functions (unless you hit the Home button, then it will work to navigate all other apps.

        The only way I found to change channels on the antenna is to unplug the Roku TV from the AC outlet for 15 seconds and then plug it back in. This apparently resets the software and when you select the Antenna Icon you will be able to navigate to any channel you wish. Once you select that channel to view it, the software prevents you from changing channels again. Just like the video posted in one of the above posts, the night light flashes like it receives the signal from the remote, but nothing happens.

        To take this one step further, I bought 2 additional remotes that I keep in the cabinet because family members have a habit of losing them around the house so I keep spares until the lost one shows up again. For this test I took out all 3 remotes and the all perform the same, so it is not the remote.

        Definitely related to the most recent software update. When the stock Icons changed, so did the ability to use the antenna.

        BKM

    • Danny8's avatar
      Danny8
      Reel Rookie
      3 years ago

      Having the exact same problem with my Hisense Roku TV as well

      • Kilonen's avatar
        Kilonen
        Binge Watcher
        3 years ago

        Removing the USB drive fixed mine (permanently).  Problem has not come back.

  • tvid's avatar
    tvid
    Binge Watcher
    3 years ago

    Same problem, 11.0.0.0, Build 4193 - TCL TV

    With internet connected: no channel listings (off-air or streaming), no remote changing of TV channels. As of today: June 21, 2022.

    Tried everything. One thing works: DISCONNECT INTERNET: TV Channels back (with no info on listings, until you tune to the channel... per typical off-air TVs, without Internet channel listings).

    So the problem is obviously with Roku channel listings. With ethernet, everything else works - including the Roku "Live TV" streaming (that is in effect an "app" complete with channel listings, but apart from the off-air channel guide).

    The problem is off-air channel listings with the internet connected. Internet disconnected restores channel listing and remote operation.

    - - -

    (I think you may find that a few of the * functions related to channel management don't work, even though the rest of the TV controls through that asterisk menu do function as expected).

    • Kwhalen's avatar
      Kwhalen
      Binge Watcher
      3 years ago

      Thank you for your reply. It looks like other people are having the same issue.  It may be a Roku OS issue. 

      I tried the Roku Live TV section and it does have a lot of content, but as far as I could see none of the channels were the local over-the-air channels. When I backed out of that section, then Home, and then back to the over the air the TV guide actually showed up and worked.....once. And then, it went back to not working.  It was the same thing that happened both times I factory reset the TV. It worked correctly once and then...nothing.

      For now, the only way I can change channels on my TV is to use the "Manage Channels" setting on the main TV screen by using the pop-up on the left side of the screen.  All of the local channels will show up and I can hover over the one I want to view and it will go to it.

      As far as I know, Roku is not looking at the problem.  I had the issue "escalated" at TCL to the software engineers, but have not heard anything from them. It may be time to upgrade my TV, but I really liked the TCL and the Roku OS. 

      • Kilonen's avatar
        Kilonen
        Binge Watcher
        3 years ago

        Good work around simpler than what I have been doing.  Thanks.

        ROKU - please get on this and fix it. 

        It isn't the remotes, system update, reboot, restart, or full reset.  None of that fixes this.  The issue is somewhere between your OS and your Live TV tile when viewing OTA channels.  The TV stops responding to the remote (other than volume, home, asterisk, and power buttons) after an OTA channel is viewed.  EVerything is fine after you go back to home - one time only assuming that you were on a ROKU Live TV channel and not an OTA channel when you open the Live TV Tile.

  • CelticsFan's avatar
    CelticsFan
    Roku Guru
    3 years ago

    Roku does not make TVs keep that in mind. TCL made your TV. First step would be to restart your TV. Go to Settings/System/Power/Restart

    • Kwhalen's avatar
      Kwhalen
      Binge Watcher
      3 years ago

      I will post this question on the TCL forum also.  Roku makes the OS. I thought maybe it was a bug introduced, like when they broke the signal strength meter for OTA channels when they introduced update 10.5 a while back.

      Yep. I reset the TV to factory settings, unplugged it, and restarted it. No change.

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

        You probably need to re-scan your channels.