Remotes

[puncspleen]

Seriously, the worst. I work for a Library that circulates these to the public. They have been a constant source of frustration for years. The remotes simply will not connect to the device due to the idiotic nature of design that requires them to connect via WiFi for them to function. We have 20 of them, half the time they will not connect, if at all over our network, which is Meraki Access Points and Switches. I've tried switch the channels on both the 2.4 and 5 networks, and nothing.

I recently gave up and decided to replace 10 of them, only to encounter the same issue, with brand new units, right out the box.

I will never recommend these to anyone. Massive design flaw, or cheap trash, or both. Haven't decided yet. Literally the most frustrating part of my day having to deal with these. I can't even begin to estimate how much time I have wasted trying to re-pair remotes and just get them to work.

[puncspleen]

I see that my original Subject line was edited by someone.

Original was posing the question: Why are Roku remotes such garbage?

[Strega2]

I've never had an issue with the Wi-Fi remotes, but if you don't like them, then the IR remotes are cheaper anyway. Any Roku except a stick model will work with IR remotes. (Third party IR remotes are usually even cheaper - I see packs of two for $12 on Amazon.)

[atc98092]

Roku remotes do not require a WiFi connection to function. The basic remote is IR, so doesn't use any radio to communicate. The Voice Remotes do use the same frequencies as WiFi, but a connection is not required. For one thing, the remote will work on a brand new device before it even asks to connect to a network. And The Ultra has an Ethernet jack so WiFi isn't even required to use the player. 

Whatever your issue is, it has nothing to do with your WiFi settings. We would need to know what model Roku players your have (the model number, not the name) and which remote you have for them. Assuming you are using the remote it came with, your Roku model number will let us know which remote it came with.

[puncspleen]

I now have 30 3820X Streaming Stick 4K using the remotes that came with them.

Sometimes they work to a point, such as entering the email address, then nothing. Before that, sometimes they work with a massive delay to input.

For the current 20 we have, not including the new 10, I've tried updating device and remote firmware/software, which really didn't help. I've moved the other units to another room thinking somehow they were interfering. I've done every troubleshooting step I could find. Issues still persist.

I thought just getting new ones would be the solution. I was wrong.

[atc98092]

Thanks for that information. Since you have a Stick model, the IR remotes will not work. All I can suspect is some sort of WiFi interference in your environment. I don't have anywhere close to the number of remotes you have, so my comparison stating there's no problem may not apply to you. I have heard of no wholesale problems with the 3920 remote, and the fact it's impacting all of them really does point to an environmental issue. Unfortunate, that is next to impossible to troubleshoot remotely. 

[Tivoburkee]

@puncspleen 

The 3820 Roku Stick its remote doesn't communicate directly with it, it communicates with usb cable with bump in it. The remote will remember which usb cable it was paired with, so you can't mix up usb cables between 3820 models and still have it control the next stick. 

[puncspleen]

I appreciate the response.

I am painfully aware of that requirement.  When these require service (every time they are returned to check that all the apps are logged in correctly) the supplied cable is used with the device.

The current issue is brand-new, out of the box devices not functioning correctly. I have altered every environmental thing I can. The fact that anything environmental will affect it is simply just bad design.

I understand that in a persons home that this may not be as much of an issue, but it also could. I can't even begin to list all the posts from people who have issues with these remotes. They far outnumber the counter posts of those who claim to never have a problem at all.

[Strega2]

Well Roku has something like 80 million subscribers and most people aren't inclined to create an account on a support forum in order to say that they don't need any support.

As for environmental issues, both Wi-Fi and IR remotes can have that problem. I find it hard to imagine a wireless system that can't have environmental issues. IR remotes tend to be bothered by sunlight, other IR remotes (the classic remote between the cushions problem) and sometimes certain fluorescent lights. In general, though, since the interference source has to be in the same room (or coming through a window) they are easier for people to debug. Of course, that's their downside as well - all within the same room pointed at the device. And as far as I know, no one has gotten enough bandwidth out of IR to do voice commands.