Remotes

[FranklinJ]

Have you tried using your cell phone with the “official Roku app?”
You can configure the app to play the sound through your cell phone, a Bluetooth port on your cell phone, or the “USB-C”  to audio out on your cell phone.

In the Official Roku mobile app there is a switch to toggle called “headphone mode”

Unfortunately, I cannot send you a picture of this Software switch, however, I can give you some instructions.

In the mobile app Link the app to your device.   You can do that in a section marked “Devices” on my app,  Devices”  is located on the bottom of the screen.  Select your Roku device that you wish to have connected to your cell phone for audio.  

After selecting my Roku device, I select from the bottom of the screen, the icon named “remote”  I get a working image of a roku remote control device.

You may check to see if the software remote is properly connecting to your device by using the left arrow right arrow home button, etc.
Presuming it is properly connected, in the upper right corner is a gear.  Press the gear
Among other sub menus on the gear, you should see haptic feedback, Swipe, switch device, and “headphone mode.”

Select “headphone mode”  And you may get some visual cues that your official Roku mobile app is now channeling the sound through your phone device.

Have your headphones connected to your phone device as you normally would for audio, and you should hear the sound of your Roku device. Depending on my headphones, and the type of phone I use, I can connect to the Headphone audio jack, Bluetooth into the phone, Or use the USB-C To Mini headphone Adapter connected to my USB-C on the phone.  
Feel free to write back if these instructions do not work for you.

Or better yet let me know that these instructions do work for you!

[Mbs1979]

I had the same concern about the 2nd gen losing the headphone jack, but it is good to know that the Roku TV app’s remote has the headphone button. I never had any issues with the battery life on my 1st gen remote with the headphone jack and USB-C charging port. It lasts a very long time, and I even use the headphone jack and connect a Beats headset to it. The sound is amazing.

I am looking at replacing my 65” Samsung 4K Smart TV with a 75” Roku 4K Smart TV (I despise the Samsung “Smart Hub” interface… it is absolutely horrible). I love my 43” Roku Smart TV I have in my bedroom, but I want the 75” Roku in my living room. Does the 75” Roku TV come with the 2nd gen remote?

[renojim]

@Mbs1979, there are three classes of TVs from Roku themselves.  You can see what they come with here (the Pro series comes with the VRP 2nd edition):

Roku TV – Learn about Smart TVs with Roku streaming built-in | Roku

For Roku TVs made by other manufacturers, you'd have to check their websites.

[DH2OS]

Hello FranklinJ ...

I haven't used the mobile app but I'm sure it works as you described.  My response:

1)  A cellphone will weigh a little more than twice what the remote does.  I can carry my wired remote in my shirt pocket and barely realize that it's there.  Can't do that with a cellphone.

2)  To use the app you'll need to go through a lot of steps (like any app) while looking directly at the cellphone.  This takes time and distracts from what is playing.  The Voice Remote Pro is very well designed as an ergonomic device - after a few weeks of use, I can operate all the buttons without looking. 

3)  Because the Voice Remote Pro is designed well enough that I don't to look at the buttons then I don't need backlit buttons at all.

4) I use the remote for a few hours a day and the rechargeable battery lasts for about a week, and even with that, I get about an hour's notice on screen before it stops working.  We all charge our cell phones daily, so doing the same with the Roku remote is just as easy and just as normal.

5)  I don't have Bluetooth headphones but from what I can see the ones that provide good quality sound can be expensive.  The headsets I use are all wired and all produce very high-quality sound and cost $10.

6) I can't comment on the increased range because my house is relatively small and I can currently get a good signal everywhere with the Gen 1 remote.

The next time Roku wants to make a change - use Focus Groups!  It takes longer to get the new product out the door but you'll have better certainty that your users will like your new product.  When you're trying to improve on an existing product your groups will need to consist of members who are already familiar with the current product.

All the best!

[FranklinJ]

You are absolutely right on question number one - hands-down no questions asked. My Bluetooth air shocks (which connects directly to my Roku ultra)via Bluetooth) fit behind my ears and use bone conduction so I can hear conversations and hear pre-recorded content.  I don’t even need the mobile app for that.  I also have Jabra headphones, which have good quality audio for phone calls, as well as Roku ultra television.
For those examples where I need a mobile app (without going through it step-by-step on paper)  it seems like about a three step process.  You flip a switch in the app you add your device to your phone and they “talk” to each other.   Did I mention how expensive air shocks are?  

High quality sweat resistant But fairly pricey  

I’m not surprised the battery wimps out on your pro two remote.  I suggest you call tech support about a warranty replacement.  My remote is constantly with me, and I am flipping channels all day and I get much greater time than you describe. I’ve also seen Roku remotes (which I have reported) That never seem to charge up to 100% and go down to 79% within hours.  I have suggested their battery or their Charging mechanism is faulty.  Roku is good about resolving that. When their product doesn’t quite meet specifications, they are willing to do some initial testing and then swap it out.  For those who are not using an Roku ultra, for example, the ONN ROKU TV or TCL Roku TV You do need the mobile interface. The TVs just don’t like to Bluetooth the headphones. The TVs only seem to Bluetooth to large speaker packages. I may get a loudspeaker package, but because I want to not because I have to

My newest Iphones have a USB-C connection. I can use it for power or I can use it for audio. It’s a wired connection for audio.  The USB-C wired headphones were not too costly and sound pretty good.

Had I been a member of the focus group I would have said “Roku you have a USB-C connection on the bottom of your pro two. Use it to charge power and  Use it for USB C headphones.  I can’t be the only person who thought of that.

Call Roku about running low on power they should be able to help with that one.

For that little headphone adapter that came with the original pro remotes, I can plug that into my iPhone 6 And use the Remote app to redirect the audio to my iPhone 6, and I can get it through the original phones.

But I would like to see some USB headphone connectivity built into the pro two  Once you get accustomed to the keyboard, it’s not that bad. Well what I mean is it took a little getting used to

Write me again and tell me how your

Adventure continues. I’d like to hear more

[renojim]

@FranklinJ, one little correction - TCL, onn, and the other Roku TVs made by various manufacturers can't link to any Bluetooth speakers or headphones.  They only support Roku wireless speakers that use Wi-Fi direct, not Bluetooth.  I wouldn't want you to get some Bluetooth loudspeaker package and then find out it won't work with your TV.  🙂  Some of the models of TVs made by Roku do support Bluetooth speakers/headphones.

How to use Bluetooth headphones for Headphone Mode on your Roku streaming device | Official Roku Sup...

[Stiina]

Yes the app is useful but some of us like to use our phones while watching tv and if whatever we’re doing has audio it will either stop playing one of them or blends the audio. Somethings don’t let you turn off the audio or automatically plays the audio so you have to either deal with both playing for a bit or pause whatever you’re watching while whatever game, ad, or video plays.

[GaryRoehl]

Well here we are again.  We have 4 Roku units in our home.  I’ve written publicly about Roku’s lack of caring for their customers and their poorly designed remotes on other platforms.  Now this… We use this platform sickly because of the ear phone jack.  That’s it.  Now I have to use my phone as the remote listening device?   I thought that was what the ear bud piece was for?  Oh that’s right, you don’t listen to your customers.  So now my phone will have to be fully charged to watch TV.  Oh right, now my phone is no longer a phone in the evening, it’s a listening device. 
Another feature I distain about Roku is when you pause your show, you better return pronto as Roku will drop your show, and auto switch to the Roku network.  But I was enjoying my show.  Who gives Roku the right to auto switch my tv to their inferior network?  I’m disappointed because I’ve been a Roku faithful for years.  I **bleep** and moan because we still have one remote that runs on batteries.  A brand new set won’t even last a week.  Roku the name goes on leaving good customers unhappy once again.  
Gary Kelley

[Tivoburkee]

@GaryRoehl 

They still sell a rechargeable remote with a Headphone jack:

Roku Voice Remote Pro | Rechargeable Voice Remote | Roku

Its just doesn't light up. 

[renojim]

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@GaryRoehl wrote:

Another feature I distain about Roku is when you pause your show, you better return pronto as Roku will drop your show, and auto switch to the Roku network.  But I was enjoying my show.  Who gives Roku the right to auto switch my tv to their inferior network?

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I suspect you may be pressing Play/Pause while the screensaver is active which will take you to whatever the screensaver is advertising.  Try pressing one of the arrows if the screensaver is active and then Play/Pause.