Features, settings & updates

[rontierra]

I  am used to Android smart TVs.  Just bought a Roku TV. Most non-intuitive menu ever.  Have to click through tons to menus ( probably because the remote is so minimal). I want easy access to all my antenna TV channels in one easy to find location. But you have to scroll through a lot streaming channels etc.

I think I will return the TV . The system is too convoluted to use.

[AvsGunnar · Accepted solution]

@rontierra 

Go to Settings/TV Inputs on the RokuTV.

Under Settings/TV Inputs/Rename change the name of 'LiveTV' to 'Antenna TV'.

Under Settings/TV Inputs/Manage Channels select 'Hide Streaming Channels'.

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When you now want to watch your Antenna/local channels, select the 'Antenna TV' tile from your Home Screen. (You should now just have your Antenna channels visible with no Streaming Channels).  If you want to watch the Streaming Channels, you can either select Live TV from the left side menu (if enabled under Settings/Home Screen/Live TV [Show], or through the Roku Channel.

[rontierra]

Thanks . That really helped. Now if I can only get the screen mirroring to work.

[AvsGunnar]

@rontierra

That one can be a little trickier depending on the phone/device being used.

Two settings to Enable are both under under Settings/System/Advanced System Settings

Try enabling 'Device Connect' and then setting 'Control by Mobile Apps' to Permissive or Enabled.

Then make sure Screen Mirroring is enabled under Settings/System/Screen Mirroring

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Of all the Android phones I have had, I have only been able to get my Umidigi F3 to screen mirror to my Roku devices via the phones Settings for Screen Cast.  On this phone model there is a little menu on top (3 vertical dots) that allows 'Enable Wireless Display'.  When this is enabled, I can screen mirror without issue. 

For all other Android models I have owned (mostly motorola), I had to use 3rd party free apps from the Play Store to accomplish screen mirroring.

Here is the latest User Guide for RokuTV which provides a little more depth to some settings in case one didn't come with your RokuTV. 

https://image.roku.com/c3VwcG9ydC1B/Roku-TV-User-Guide-14-0-en-US.pdf

The above is from Roku Support article https://support.roku.com/article/115004035608

Screen Mirror Support article https://support.roku.com/article/208754928

[rontierra]

thanks for info. I am also using a UMiDIGI G5 G6.. set the screen cast option to enable wireless display   without effect. The only devices that show up is my Google nest Hub and a TCL android TV.  Roku TV never shows up. Not sure which Playstore free app that might work.

[AvsGunnar · Accepted solution]

@rontierra 

Make sure those three settings referenced in the previous post are Enabled.  Then try performing a System Restart on your RokuTV (Settings/System/Power/System Restart).  Reboot the phone as well after enabling Wireless Display.

May also need to verify that there are no settings precluding devices from connecting to other devices (like client-isolation or firewall settings at router).  

Been awhile since I used the Play Store apps, but I liked Miracast (by Vulcan Labs).  They had an ad-supported free 'limited' version that worked for mirroring and casting. (ads were not too intrusive).

However, your Umidigi should be able to screen mirror to your RokuTV, so just have to try a couple different settings to resolve. (of course, make sure both phone and device are on same wifi network).

[rontierra]

ok restarted veything. Previously I did not see or the restart did the trick . But now the Roku TV appears in my screencast menus and when selected. Screen mirroring worked as expected.  

Thanks

[rontierra]

You mean the screen mirror doesn't work with many android to Rok TV devices ?

I tested  what I have : My Umidigi cell and one China brand tablet works fine to screen mirrior to Roku.

I have another tablet using the same configuration does not see the Roku TV on screen cast. The Roku official APP connects to TV but TV never requests connection on any of the devices

[AvsGunnar]

@rontierra

The Roku TV will only request connection if set to "Prompt" under Settings/System/Screen Mirroring.

If set here, you can then manage Allowed and Blocked devices.

If set to 'Always Allow' then the device will just connect if able and you will not see a message.

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I normally just use my Umidigi when I need to screen mirror.  I use Web Video Caster (available in the Play Store and also the Roku Channel Store) when I need to cast web videos or some local files on my phone/computer.  All other times I just connect a laptop via HDMI cable directly to the TV and bypass Roku to get the content on the TV screen.

Roku was more geared to Apple and iOS with Airplay and the like so Android/Chromecast/Googlecast support is a bit more hit/miss.

The Roku Support article on Screen Mirroring has some info on requirements but I have a couple devices that meet those requirements and they just don't work with Roku. (may be a setting in the device hardware or just incompatible for some reason).  https://support.roku.com/article/208754928

Don't forget the System Restart/reboot when trying to establish communication between the device and RokuTV.  At other times, may need to restart the router as well to refresh connections. (sometimes Roku gets stuck connected to a device and a restart/reboot/refresh is needed before trying to connect to another device. (just a caching error at times).