Features, settings & updates

[iwantmytv]

@AvsGunnar 

I've made perhaps some slight progress, but am still not able to play content. These are the things I have (and have not) done: 

1) The password I'm using was already all numbers. I have cleared that password on the router, reset it to the same, "saved changes," and restarted the router. Also cleared it on the Roku, many times, and reentered. (I don't really want to change the password. As I say, it was already all numbers, and changing the password will be opening more cans of worms with other devices--Sonos speakers, security camera, etc.)

2) I can't set the wireless mode to b/g/n, but I can change it to either b/g or n/g. I've tried both. (I can also change it to b or g. I haven't tried that.)

3) I have changed the password/encryption to WPA-2 (AES).

4) The 2.4-specific network already had a unique name. That's the network I've been using all along. 

5) iPv4 is not a choice. (The "iPv4" field is blank in the router interface, and there's no way to enter anything there. There is an entry for iPv6) The Nokia gateway only uses iPv6, apparently. 

6) Another thing I've tried--picking up an idea from another thread--is changing the channel from "auto" to a specific channel. I've tried both 11 and 6. (Haven't tried the other choice, 1.) And I've tried both 11 and 6 with different modes, both b/g, and n/g. 

When I say "slight progress," I mean this: I get to the Roku home screen, and I can click on the three different streaming services we use. None of them are asking me to reverify. But none of them will play any content, either.  
-- With Netflix, I get a "NW-2-5" code. The Netflix "details" page shows code "ui-113." These are connectivity error codes. (Though Netflix's own connectivity tester indicates everything is fine. Checkmarks all the way.)
-- With Amazon, it will eventually actually go to the content menu, and I can click on content, but it will not play.
-- With Apple TV+, it simply pulls up the Apple logo and then nothing happens.

I'm not getting any Roku error codes and, as before, both the Roku device and my router app indicate the internet connection between the two is fine... "excellent."

Needless to say, after putting many hours into this, I'm beyond frustrated. The current setup, with this router, worked flawlessly for 18 months. After an update from Roku, it seems to be broken.

Again, thanks for your help, AvsGunnar. Happy to try next steps if you have any.  

[AvsGunnar]

@iwantmytv 

If you are able to change the DNS settings in the router, try using Google DNS 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (primary and secondary).

I no longer have this router around to troubleshoot and I believe I had to actually use another router with the Nokia Gateway when I was troubleshooting certain DNS conflicts. (the Nokia5G21 did not allow DNS changes at the time, so had to place it in a Bridge Mode and add a router to the setup in order to get certain web addresses to resolve correctly.)

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Your settings that you tried in your troubleshooting all look good.

I would not discount that there may be something wrong with the router, the DNS, or a firmware issue/conflict that is affecting the Roku device.  I personally would try a Factory Reset of the Nokia 5G router as they are very easy to reconfigure.

Even though it is working with your other devices, certainly not uncommon for a router misconfiguration or firmware bug/corruption to only affect certain devices on a network.  I regularly find a factory reset of a router will sometimes cure issues that setting changes won't fix. (clears corruptions in caches that a restart/reboot won't clear.)

Of course, since you have a new Roku device on the way (not sure what model you ordered), may or may not be worth it for you to chase down the issue with the older Roku device.  If you ordered a newer Roku device, likely will be able to use the 5ghz band so may not have to worry about getting it to work on the 2.4ghz band. (Of note though, is that since the 3900 connected to the 2.4ghz band of your hotspot, the device is working but is just currently having an issue with the router.  I know you are hesitant to change the password, but I would really try that step.  Sometimes that is all that is needed to refresh the authentication issue...if that is indeed the culprit.)  Otherwise, my next step would be a factory reset of the router.

Feel free to continue with an update.

[iwantmytv]

@AvsGunnar 

I wanted to close the circle on this... 

Since last we spoke, I went to Best Buy and picked up the next iteration of the Express... one that's supposed to work with dual-band routers. It did not work. I got a bit further down the path, perhaps. But the same ultimate result. Both the Roku and the router indicated an excellent connection, but none of the streaming services would stream. So that unit is going back to Best Buy. I put my original unit back in, and went back to using the hotspot connection, which does seem to work fine.

My next step was going to be picking up an Ultra model that's supposed to work with Wi-Fi 6. BUT, this morning, we woke to a Wi-Fi outage. After power-cycling the router, the Wi-Fi came back up. And suddenly, my Wyze security camera was behaving properly after several days of weirdness. On a whim, I thought I'd check on the TV situation. And... the Roku is performing properly on Wi-Fi again! After all these hours of struggle, that seems like a miracle.

Here's what I think happened: the Roku update that was uploaded to our device on 10/17/24 broke the connection to our router. And there was an update that went out from T-Mobile to the router last night that somehow fixed the issue. That's all I can figure. And from our discussion, it seems like that router should never have worked with that old Roku unit to begin with. But obviously, it worked just fine for 18 months, and now it's working again.   

Don't know what the moral is here. Things get shaky with old tech... maybe that's all there is to it. As an average end-user, though, this was so frustrating. (And Roku was of zero assistance.) But I sure do appreciate all your generous help! Much thanks,

Mark

[AvsGunnar]

@iwantmytv 

Good to hear you are back up and running. 👍

From your description, it does sound that there was likely an issue going on with the 2.4ghz band that may have been resolved by the TMobile firmware update. (since most security cams still primarily use the 2.4ghz band, likely explains the "weirdness" you were encountering.)

Just to clarify, the Roku 3900 (and other Roku 2.4 ghz devices) should operate just fine on a network configured to use g/n.  (this is what my network is configured/uses for 2.4ghz devices).  However, some ISPs have configured their networks/routers through firmware in a manner that is requiring the router to use b/g/n in order for Roku devices to recognize the network and operate on the internet. (hence the suggestion to try b/g/n in case your ISP router had implemented the same changes).

The only real way to avoid such ISP changes is to forgo the use of an ISP-supplied router and just purchase your own.  By using your own purchased router, you are not subject to their updates and can choose when/if you want to upgrade your router's firmware.  Let your ISP supply you with the internet connection (the modem function), and let your router control your network configuration that you configure.

Since you are currently back up and running, I would not worry about it now, but in the future if issues arise again, I would consider purchasing your own router and just placing the ISP-provided router in a "bridge" mode (so it supplies the WAN/internet connection) and then connecting your own router to manage your devices.

Feel free to tag me/reach out if you need help in the future. 👍