Remotes

[cterrier]

Is there a Way to Charge the Roku Voice Remote Pro without using the Charging Cable.  The Charging Cable is unreliable and has to be periodically replace.  The end that goes into the Remove has to be in a particular way and if you move the remote while charging the Flashing Lights stop and/or Remote stops charging.  Every few months I find I have to replace the Charging Cable.

Phones and some other USB devices are able to recharge just by placing the phone/device on a charging pad and the device recharges without a cable.  When will the Roku Streaming Devices have the same capability.  The Charging Cable is just about worthless and they're unreliable. 

[renojim]

It's not possible now, but sounds like a good idea.  You can try suggesting it:

Suggest a Feature | Roku Community | Roku

[Strega]

I thought they used a common USB-A to micro-USB cable for these.  I’ve never had one of those fail so maybe buy a different brand of cable?  I have had issues with micro USB and USB-C on phones where the connector in the phone picks up pocket lint and the cable no longer clicks in place.  That can be fixed with cleaning (pick/blow the stuff out) or you can get a port cover. 

[der0225]

I agree. Please also see my post today about Rechargeable Remotes Lacking A Charging Cradle that the Roku remote can be placed into when not in use. 

[atc98092]

I've never encountered any issues with USB cables on a variety of devices. I have one Voice Remote Pro that stays in my suitcase for travel. I travel on average every three weeks, and I recharge the remote about every third or fourth trip. It usually doesn't really need it even then, but I like to keep it in the upper half of its capacity. 

Yes, a charging cradle would be a nice idea, but for my use I'd never use it, since it would add bulk to my suitcase that's already pretty full. But for home use it would be nice. If Roku decides it's something worth considering, they would have to redesign the remote to use either contactless charging or just pads that touch when placed in the cradle. Any cradle that uses the existing USB port would potentially have the same connectivity issues one might have using a cord. 

[cterrier]

One of the reasons I might be having more problems then other users is that I use headphones constantly and that uses more of the battery compared to using TV or a Sound Bar for sound.  I have to recharge the remote daily.  The daily usage of the Roku Charging Cable results in the connection to the remote more troublesome.  I find I have to manipulate the connection more frequently and light doesn't always flash.

I don't understand why the Connection to the Remote doesn't click into place.

[atc98092]

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@cterrier wrote:

I don't understand why the Connection to the Remote doesn't click into place.

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Yes, using the headphone jack absolutely zaps the battery, regardless of the remote (rechargeable or non). As to the charging cable not latching, I don't believe that's available with any USB connection standard. I've certainly never seen it. It's the same as the HDMI connection, there is no latching mechanism on the cable or the socket. I have seen latching connections with Display Port, but that's a computer based standard, not for home electronics. And they are not designed for continual plugging in and unplugging. 

[cterrier]

What I don't understand is I never have problems recharging my phone and that also happens  on a daily basis.  It does use a different USB Charging cable and the end  is larger then the end of the the Roku Remote Charging Cable.  My phone doesn't click in either, but there never seems to be a problem with recharging the phone. 

[der0225]

Would suggest reviewing the charging capabilities of the old Logitech Harmony One remote to a possible design of a Roku remote with a Charging Cradle.  I do agree that the cradle would impede portability and a Charging Port would be a better option for travel.  But for home use, the key is remembering to plug the charging cord into the remote.  The Charging Cradle avoids that problem.

In one of my earlier posts suggesting a Charging Cradle, like the Harmony One, perhaps adding charging cradle connector tabs to the underside exposed to the outside of the Roku remote is an option. Parallel wires or similar connection could be run from inside the remote to the charging port to these underside cradle connector tabs. That would provide the ability to use the same Rechargeable Remote for both travel using the charging port and for home use with a Charging Cradle. I have owned a Harmony One remote for more than 12 years and have never had a charging problem with the remote since it is always placed in the Charging Cradle when not in use. Simply leave the Charging Cradle at home and take the seme Rechargeable Remote and the charging cable when traveling Or to avoid forgetting one or the other have one remote for travel and one for home use for optimal flexibility.

[Strega]

Both micro USB and USB-C have a “click/snap” though it is quite mild due to the small sizes of the devices.  If it’s not snapping at all, then I would first clean out the device.  If the actual clicky-bits have failed, it’s probably on the cable side since the cables have the (very tiny) springy bits. You can see them on micro USB but they are inside on USB-C. I suppose the connector in the device could be misaligned so the case of the device stops the cable from going all the way in.