Remotes

[jacknorth]

(I'm not sure when this started happening, as I haven't used the phone app in a couple weeks.)

I have a Sharp Roku TV (made by Hisense, I think). Lately, the phone app on my Android cannot find the Device (TV) unless I do a System Reset. I've installed the app on my wife's Android phone to see if the problem was the phone. Same result. Also tried the iPhone app on my daughter's phone. I am on the same WiFi network, and I've tried connecting manually using the I.P. address shown in the About section on the TV. I have also tried a thrid party app on my phone, with the same result, so I suspect the problem is with the TV.

If I do a System Reset the phone apps work. Until the next day or so. I've lost the connection a couple times in the last 3 or 4 days.

Any ideas?

[Michelle3]

If Hisense manufactured the set then you’d need to contact them here: https://www.hisense-usa.com/contact

Or, if it’s an official Sharp manufactured set, contact Sharp here: https://www.sharptvusa.com/contact

~ Jordan

[jacknorth]

Thanks. I was thinking maybe some others were having this issue. If it's just me, I'm not sure I care enough to devote hours with either. I guess I should at least let them know about the problem, then just hold out hope for a fix via the next update.

[Michelle3]

Honestly, I bet if you contacted Sharp about the Hisense manufactured Sharp set, they’ll probably be like, “that TV set was manufactured at the time when we sold our TV division to that inappropriate Hisense company so contact them instead.” 😛

~ Jordan

[AvsGunnar]

@jacknorth 

Some of the RokuTVs lose network connection more than others.  You can try placing the RokuTV in more of a standby (Fast Start) mode that might help with this.  If the TV loses connection, then will disconnect all devices communicating with it.

(Settings/System/Power/Fast TV Start)

---

Otherwise, you might try seeing if switching to another wireless channel on your network might help. (Possible some interference is preventing discovery).

----

All in all, getting off pretty easy if a System Restart is establishing discovery between your phone and RokuTV.  Some users are reporting not being able to connect at all.  It does seem that both the Android and Apple mobile apps have undergone recent updates, so could certainly be a contributing factor.

[atc98092]

I have 7 different Roku devices on my network. One Sharp 4K TV, three different models of the Ultra, a Premiere, a Express 4K+, and one I can't recall. 😄 Two of the Ultras are wired, the rest using either 2.4 or 5 GHz WiFi. Using the iOS version, they are all visible and I can control any of them. 

Almost always when the app isn't seeing a device, there's a networking issue. From your description, it might be the phone's connection to your network, or the TV's connection.

Exactly what do you mean by System Reset? A factory reset of the Roku TV, rebooting the TV (removing power or using the restart menu option), or something on the phone?

Often there's a security setting in the WiFi router that is blocking access, or you're using WiFi configured as Guest access, but with an intermittent connection that's likely not the case. 

[jacknorth]

Thanks for the info.

System Restart is a menu option under About/Power. It's not a factory reset, it's simply a full power cycle.

[jacknorth]

Thanks for the tips. I think the TV is already in Fast Start mode...I'll check in a bit. I think the WiFi interference idea is worth a shot. I'll switch and check.

[atc98092]

Right. Remember that with Fast Start enabled, the TV doesn't actually turn off with the power button. You have to use the System restart or remove power for 10 seconds or so to truly reboot the TV.