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DampDog's avatar
DampDog
Binge Watcher
5 years ago

Sudden poor Wifi signal?

Pretty sure my device is just dying. I have Roku express streaming player which is only about 18 months old and is suddenly not connecting due to poor wifi signal. It's been trouble free up to now and suddenly started to misbehave, it worked perfectly one day, then would not connect the next. (Nothing changed elsewhere)

Done the usual, restart device and router, but no joy.

I've switched it out with a Roku premier that is used in another room and that connects first time with "good" signal quality. When I check it with Netflix it shows a solid 22Mbs.

Placed back original Roku express and when it does occasionally manage to connect, signal quality is "poor" at best with Netflix measuring 0.395KBs!

Gut feeling is Wifi receiver has simply packed in!

Anyone else had devices die suddenly while still relatively new?

Though I like the Roku, it's making me doubt the quality of the product. Or have I just been unlucky?

tv & player wifi

47 Replies

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

    Did you try completely clearing out all the network connection information and starting over?

    Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset

     

    • DampDog's avatar
      DampDog
      Binge Watcher
      5 years ago
      makaiguy wrote:

      Did you try completely clearing out all the network connection information and starting over?

      Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset

       

      Not as yet. But cheers for reminding me, I'll give it a go.

      • DampDog's avatar
        DampDog
        Binge Watcher
        5 years ago

        I reset my network connection, but it made no difference.

        Well I had a little play with my two boxes just now. I found a little nugget of info on accessing the Roku internal signal strength page. Home button X5 then up, down, up, down, up, via the remote.

        My suspected dodgy Roku Express indicated a signal strength of around 15 (I assume out of 100) Simply switching boxes to my Roku Premier, and touching nothing else, I get an indicated 34. So more than double.

        So pretty much 50% less sensitivity between the two boxes. Whether it's been accidentally hobbled by an erroneous software update or its just packing in, who can say.

        Decided to bite the bullet and order one of the newer Roku streaming sticks as they are supposed to have 4X the range, so should fix it. Even though I'll be a few quid out of pocket, yet again..Smiley Sad

        Unless anyone has any suggestions for a better device for around the same money??    

  • Davidhx's avatar
    Davidhx
    Binge Watcher
    5 years ago

     

    Hello,

    I have the exact same problem with my Roku Express.

    All my other devices have excellent signal strength. The Roku can only be 5m from my WiFi router.

    On that WiFi secret screen, I'm getting strength 30

    Antenna 1 23

    Antenna 2 0

    Glitch rate fluctuates. 

    I notice the latest system update was December 18th v9.4.0 build 4200-51. This is highly suspicious and I hope Roku look into it asap!

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      5 years ago

      I would guarantee it’s not a software update. I have a Express 3900EU with the same issues in July, ~18months old. Mine will only connect if its within 1m of an access point. It’s not the AP, I’ve tried 3 different Ubiquiti models on 3 different firmware versions, tethering to various iPhones, 2 different travel access points. All legal frequencies / channels. WPA on and off. When using the ‘secret’ wifi screen I NEVER have any signal on Antenna2. With an AP ~10cm away it shows Strength:32, Ant1:49, Ant2:0.

      I posted the issue months ago and have had no response from ROKU. I therefore take this as planned obsolescence

      What is more annoying to me is that I do not want a wireless device. I would far rather have one with a built in ethernet port or the ability to use an OTG network adaptor ie.

      https://www.amazon.co.uk/UGREEN-Ethernet-Adaptor-Chromecast-Network/dp/B01N1X28F1

      Don't mention the Ultra, its not available in the UK and does not support some UK channels - BBC iPlayer...

  • Spir0s's avatar
    Spir0s
    Channel Surfer
    5 years ago

    Exactly the same thing happened to my Roku Express last week. Working perfectly for months and then all of a sudden unable to detect a WiFi network. 

    • TK8's avatar
      TK8
      Reel Rookie
      5 years ago

      These things are garbage. Had this happen with TWO express boxes now. Less than 2 yrs old, work great one day the next can’t connect unless 3-ft from the router.  I’ve done factory resets, reset the router no luck. This seems purposeful to get you to buy a new box.  I’m done with Roku. 

      • randatlas's avatar
        randatlas
        Streaming Star
        5 years ago
        TK8 wrote:

        These things are garbage. Had this happen with TWO express boxes now. Less than 2 yrs old, work great one day the next can’t connect unless 3-ft from the router.  I’ve done factory resets, reset the router no luck. This seems purposeful to get you to buy a new box.  I’m done with Roku. 

        Thanks for your reply. In my case, the problem seemed to be with the "streaming stick" because things stopped working again (lost the signal) after my last post. So, I figured that a box type of Roku, rather than a streaming stick, might be the answer. I ordered a Roku Ultra (box) and it worked right away - and is still working, knock on wood!!!

        If something should go wrong again, maybe I'll be through with Roku too. Do you use a different streaming media device now? Chromecast?  

    • DampDog's avatar
      DampDog
      Binge Watcher
      5 years ago
      Spir0s wrote:

      Exactly the same thing happened to my Roku Express last week. Working perfectly for months and then all of a sudden unable to detect a WiFi network. 

      That's interesting. I bit the bullet and purchased a Premier version, mostly because of the problems I've had with the Express version but also because the 4K version will be handy in the future.

      I'll leave it a couple of weeks and then try it again, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it sorted itself out like the last issue eventually did. Gut feeling is it's a software update issue, possibly at Netflix's end, but who knows, the customer support/feed back is nigh on none existent.

      Wile trying to bottom the issue I've used the "Secret screen" menu and also noticed these things run hot! My device is used in a cool bedroom at around 18deg C. The Roku hits 88-90degs and that is not streaming 4K. I'm pretty sure the processor is already beginning to throttle as you can see the clock freq  stepping up and down. I would imagine the lifespan of these devices will be pretty short running as hot as they do. Rubbish design on the heat management side. 

  • Kcarlisi20's avatar
    Kcarlisi20
    Newbie
    5 years ago

    Had the same exact issue! One day it was fine the next, stuck on poor connection and when I swap the other Roku express device in, the connection is excellent. Might be time for a new roku or maybe product entirely unfortunately 

    • DampDog's avatar
      DampDog
      Binge Watcher
      5 years ago
      Kcarlisi20 wrote:

      Had the same exact issue! One day it was fine the next, stuck on poor connection and when I swap the other Roku express device in, the connection is excellent. Might be time for a new roku or maybe product entirely unfortunately 

      It's all very far from being ideal and garnering the customers trust in the product. I bit the bullet and purchased a new Roku Premier, and up to now it's worked fine. As was the case with the other device for around 18 months.

      I did have a play with the Secret/hidden menus and noticed these devices run very hot for what they are. Mine was hitting almost 90degs in a cool bedroom with the device sitting in a well ventilated spot. 

      Just makes you wonder whether these things are basically cooking over time and the components are dying prematurely. I plan on trying the dead one again, just to see if it does burst back into life after an update or two. 

      • Strega's avatar
        Strega
        Roku Guru
        5 years ago

        I assume that is 90C?  If so, that is fairly warm.  I have noticed for decades now, that everything designed for the living room, is usually fanless or under-fanned and tends to run warmer than, for example, a typical computer.  On a few devices, I've actually set a reasonably quiet fan next to them and dropped the temperature significantly. On a Roku, I might not bother since they cost so little and they come out with a better faster version every few years anyway.

    • scd8's avatar
      scd8
      Reel Rookie
      5 years ago

      Does anyone from ROKU actually look at these post? Are there any humans available to contact at ROKU for support? Or do we just accept that the product fails in time?

      • atc98092's avatar
        atc98092
        Community Streaming Expert
        5 years ago

        scd8 

        These are user driven forums, and not official company technical support. There are a couple of Roku employees that moderate the forum, but they are not tech support. They will try to get you in touch with support if necessary.

        All electronic devices can fail without warning, regardless of age. I had a defective Roku TV right out of the box, but the replacement has been fine for close to 5 years. I have an ancient 2 XS in a drawer that will still work, but it's performance is so dismal I replaced it years ago. Every other Roku I have has worked fine for years. My old 3600 Stick and Roku 4 are still being used my two of my grandkids. But if any of them failed on me now, I would simply chalk it up to something that failed internally.

        My Sharp Roku TV is close to 4 years old, and has been shipped cross-country when I flew home. It has been misbehaving this past week, but I believe it's something in the Roku OS, as I have it in their beta test program and just received a new update. But if it suddenly conked out, it's an electronic device that can fail.

        Getting back on the topic of this thread, sudden changes in WiFi signal is usually caused by interference from some other device. Since not every Roku has the same WiFi radio inside, I can understand different models performing differently in the same location. The first thing to try with WiFi issues is simply moving the Roku a few inches in any direction. The radio wavelength at these frequencies is extremely small, so even a minor location change can make a difference. If that doesn't help, try changing the channel used in the wireless access point/router. For the 2.4 GHz band, the best channels to use are 1, 6 or 11. If you're already using one of those, try a different one. 

  • Pkate's avatar
    Pkate
    Newbie
    5 years ago

    Same here for 2 days.  My internet says it is Roku everything on there end is fine.  What is going on.  Poor signal and you can't  call them.  Really

     

  • GLeNo-S's avatar
    GLeNo-S
    Newbie
    5 years ago

    I have the same issue with a Roku Premiere.  It was working perfectly, but now it has a very poor WiFi signal.  I have factory reset this device and switched locations with another device i have both with the same results.   I wonder if this a Firmware update that is buggy.   

    Are there any moderators on this community from Roku that watchs these threads?  This seems to be an issue for many people so far and it looks like it started about 4-5 weeks ago.  That is when mine started acting up as well.

     

     

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      5 years ago

      Been happening for over 6 MONTHS. No responce on this forum from any Roku staff. I don't see the issue as a software update, there have been plenty since mine died, looks more like the WLAN chip has fried.

      For what its worth if you're in the UK and only using Roku for NOW TV you can now receive NOW on Amazon Firesticks. No hacks, just search and add the app...

      • DampDog's avatar
        DampDog
        Binge Watcher
        5 years ago

        I ran up my Roku Express again and ran up the hidden menu so I could monitor the temp. Within 10 mins or so it was up to almost 90degs C. (in a cool bedroom) You can see that the hardware is throttling like crazy. On mine the core frequency is bouncing about between 200Mhz and 1000Mhz. The core voltage is also dancing between 800-950mv. This looks more and more like a hardware failure to me. I suspect the components are being "cooked" due to running hot 24/7. Likewise because of the price point I doubt component quality is the best either.

        I'm still running 2X Roku Premier devices at the moment. (touchwood still good so far, even though they also run hot) However as they fail will hopefully be at the point where the home TV's will be updated to "Smart-TV's" by then. Should I need another streaming device prior to that I will be looking for an alternative device manufacturer. Having said that Amazon Fire sticks are not without overheating problems. I guess they think that these devices are so cheap folk will just go out and buy another. As they say, buy cheap, buy twice.

  • Dahigi80's avatar
    Dahigi80
    Reel Rookie
    5 years ago

    I have 6 Roku Express devices. One was exchanged by Roku for dying without warning just like you described. That device was only a few months old. I currently have another device that's on its way out like you described and it's only 5 months old. Roku had yet to reach back out to me to help. I guess they just don't last long? My other devices are all fine though. I've reached out here and on Twitter for help but no replies. 

  • FRSAM's avatar
    FRSAM
    Newbie
    5 years ago

    My 3yr old device has just started doing this! Buffering for ever and losing connection.  My phone and tablet connected with full strength so either the roku is simply poor receiver or is 'dying'. Are roku devices that poorly made? 

    • randatlas's avatar
      randatlas
      Streaming Star
      5 years ago
      FRSAM wrote:

      My 3yr old device has just started doing this! Buffering for ever and losing connection.  My phone and tablet connected with full strength so either the roku is simply poor receiver or is 'dying'. Are roku devices that poorly made? 

      I wrote you a long reply, tried to post it and got a Roku error! I couldn't get back to my response. Should have done a copy and paste job.

      Anyway, to make the long story short...

      Yes, sometimes these devices are poorly made but sometimes you have to be a little creative and really delve into the problem. I suspect a problem with your Roku's Internet settings. If the following doesn't help, maybe it's time to get another device. Or, read the other answers in this forum thread.

      So...

      Did you try powering down your TV and Roku, disconnecting them, reconnecting, etc? Then enter your Internet connection info manually? 

      Home > Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless etc.

      If this doesn't work.... Is your Roku a stick or a "box" unit? If it's a stick, they get awfully hot back there and I don't trust them. If you don't want to give up on Roku, I would buy a box type rather than a stick, to replace your existing Roku.

      I'm far from an expert but I hope this helps. Good luck!

       

      • mr102's avatar
        mr102
        Reel Rookie
        5 years ago

        I have a 42 Sharp Roku tv that has been rock solid for about 5 years.  The router has always been very close to the tv. I recently bought a high end "gaming" type router to improve performance on all the other devices in the house, and it has, except for some reason now the tv glitches/pauses when streaming. I do a network check and it takes a while to confirm internet and only gives me 15-16mbs.  Testing on my phone standing in front of it I get almost 400mbs.  I tried to move the router out from behind, about 2m up on the wall, but it hasnt really helped.  I thought I would simply plug it in directly but discovered the tv has no ethernet port.  I have not tried clearing network data yet as an above post suggests I will try that. 

  • BaronVendredi's avatar
    BaronVendredi
    Channel Surfer
    4 years ago

    Here we are in September 2022, this problem is still being reported & Roku seem to be in denial.

    I have two Roku Express (3900X) devices. They have worked fine for some years, but now they both tell me my wireless internet signal is poor in the spot I've been using them their whole lives. In fact last night the wireless connection became "unworkable" on both.

    I have now set them both up <1.5m from my router, done factory resets & they both still say it is a poor connection but workable. (As I type I have Disney+ playing Star Wars on one of them with no problems.)

    (Oddly, if I check the connection in their current temporary location they both say there is no wireless connection, but still work - it doesn't drop the connection it now claims it can't see...)

    Every other device I place in their original location is getting a strong signal. My very (8 years?) old Apple TV box works just fine in the same spot as I have tried both Rokus. It is the Rokus with the problem - not any other piece of my wireless infrastructure.

    I don't accept all the directions from Roku employees about checking X, Y or Z router settings. (I provide IT support for SMEs - I have a finely tuned bull**bleep** detector & years identifying exactly what problems are & fixing them.)

    Here's my theory - two options:

    1. A Roku Express will not last forever. They seem to run extremely hot & are a small cheap box. Perhaps they are slowly cooking themselves & eventually wear out. Maybe it's just an age thing. I have always been concerned that they seem to run hot & beyond disconnecting power it is impossible to switch them off.
    2. Roku are intentionally bricking devices. Manufactured obsolescence is as thing despite the planet's resources running out. Either after a certain point in a products life or ownership Roku change things to make a device unworkable & require replacing. Since my two devices have had very different amounts of time in use I suspect the latter.

    I doubt anyone will ever get a real answer, but I know where I'd put my money.

    My solution is to have just bought a third new device - a Roku Express 4K (3940EU). This even though I don't need 4K, but because my research suggests the wireless range is better.

    Surprise surprise, it is getting a very strong wireless signal sitting right next to the two original devices that can't seem to. A miracle!

    I think that this is the last time I throw money at Roku. Sad, because it has been nice to have a content agnostic hardware solution.

    • randatlas's avatar
      randatlas
      Streaming Star
      4 years ago

      BaronVendredi

      If it matters at all, this was my solution (edited for brevity): 

      I do have some of those HDMI extension cables, and the streaming stick has never worked when I use a cable with it. 

      Fortunately I was able to get things up and running again. Basically I started all over. Powered everything down, unplugged it all, etc. After I manually entered my router info - voila, the Roku's channels worked again.

      I am considering getting a box-type Roku (no stick) for the future because even though things are working now, that hot streaming stick still concerns me.

      Update: I did end up buying a Roku Ultra so I could ditch that hot streaming stick. Yeah, I reluctantly threw more money at Roku. I wish they could send us replacement units or upgrades so we didn't have to deal with this stuff and spend the extra money!

      I agree with your venting/remarks, and I hope your solution lasts...

      • MalakSonOfYHWH's avatar
        MalakSonOfYHWH
        Newbie
        4 years ago

        About a year and a half ago out of the blue Roku sent an email to my accoubt about replacing my roku express and sent me a brand new one at no cost to me was just instructed to get rid of the old  roku express . To throw it away exactly