Channels & viewing

[meswtp]

It is going on right about a month since our Sling App stopped working on the Roku. It works on our other devices but we purchased it to watch on our TV and now can't. Once we finally get the guide to load, when we click on a channel to watch, the buffering wheel of death appears. Finally, it pops up error 27-1, which states " We're sorry. Temporarily unable to load video..." etc. I called Sling. They have been less than helpful, only offering up the same fixes of "delete the Sling App, reload the Sling App, unplug the Roku, plug it back in, check for updates, etc...etc...etc." None of it works. Finally, they tell me that they don't know what else to tell me so they have submitted my problem to the next level of help and there is nothing further they can do for me right now. Well, is anyone going to call me back once they figure it out? "No, there is no one to call you back to tell you the solution, if one is found." So, with my own limited investigation, I discover that, apparently, I am not the only one having this issue. I gather that this is related to a Roku update? So, I try to get ahold of Roku by chat and get told that I am being transferred from the accounts department to the tech department. Then, I get shoved into a queue and ultimately, am disconnected from the chat. I can't find a direct phone number or chat line for a Roku tech support department, either. Has anyone discovered a fix for this problem? If not, is anyone working on it? Is there a direct line of communication to Roku tech support?

[pinchbrain]

I just started having that issue myself today. Prime and Youtube won't work either. I have no idea what to do. I hope they're working on it.

[DBDukes]

@meswtp 

One thing I'm seeing in your response is a process done out of order.

1. Remove the app
2. Reboot the Roku
3. Reinstall the app

All three steps, in that order.

What's I read from your post is that you remove it, reinstalled it, and rebooted. That's not the same thing. What you described is 1,3,2. It's gotta be done 1,2,3 order.

Now, I'm not saying that will resolve it, but that is a process to try, and from the order you gave things, it hasn't been done.

[meswtp]

DBDukes, when I listed off those solutions in my original message, it was just a quick list in no particular order. I have done them in the correct order, multiple times, over the past few weeks and have had no success. However, when I read your message, I did attempt it again (in the exact order you mentioned) and it still does not resolve the problem. I do appreciate your attempt to help me though. I really wished it would be that simple.

[DBDukes]

@meswtp 

As you expect, I'm one of those that isn't experiencing the issue. I'm watching Sling right now, in fact. So, whatever is going on certainly isn't impacting everyone. In fact, and you might not like this, it's impacting a small percentage of Sling/Roku users. If it seems like a lot to you, you're not wrong, but keeping in mind how many Roku users there are, and how many Sling TV users there are, there are millions of Sling/Roku users out there, and most don't have the issue. However, many do, including you, and a solution or resolution does need to be found.

So, whatever is going on, there is some thing that is different. As I said, I don't have the issue. But there are so many things that can be different apart from us both being Sling/Roku users. For example, you're paying for Sling TV service. I'm not. I primarily use Sling TV to watch over the air content through Air TV. But, Sling also has a lineup of channels that are included with Sling Free. That's what I'm watching right now.

You see, using Sling to watch Air TV means the app isn't doing anything from the Internet. My Air TV device is on my network, and Sling app is on Roku, on my network. So that would never be a valid comparison.

But, I'm watching Sling Free right now (FlixFling Now is showing "20 Million Mile to Earth") so it is a live streaming of sorts, not on-demand content. I'm wondering if your issue only arises from content from your paid plan (Sling Orange, Sling Blue, etc).

If you watch Sling Free (stuff without a colored dot; Sling Orange content has an orange dot, Sling Blue content has three blue dots), does the issue happen? If you have Air TV, does the issue happen on locals? And what about on-demand content (way down at the bottom, History, Epix, Curiosity Stream, etc.)? Does any of it run?

I'm just throwing things out there to see what might be different. Is the issue truly on everything, or just live content? And is it paid live content, vs other linear content? If you can check those, maybe we can find something that is the key to all of this.

[Rckinrobin]

Sling stopped working today Sat. Nov 20th. (Roku TV 49S405, about  3-4 years old) It would allow me access and then drop to buffering when I chose a channel.  I did what you said in that order, remove/reboot/reinstall and it's working.

I don't trust it.  I've had too many issues with this TV. I hope to get rid of it early next year.

Thanks for the response. Robin

[meswtp]

I am happy to say that after a newer update, our Sling started working again.