Remotes

[Argonaut]

After regular remote destroyed, purchased two new Roku remotes online.  Went through how-to videos.  The new remotes are the simple kind.  Main Steps:

1. unplugged TV for 30 seconds

2. plugged TV back in.  Turned it on. 

3. Installed batteries in remote.  

4. Pressed Home button and Back button together for about 30 seconds.  

Nothing has happened.  None of the posts in Roku community seem to provide different info.  Any ideas?  

[Tivoburkee]

Are these new remotes true Roku branded remotes? Or an aftermarket brand? Were they in trademarked Roku purple boxes? Aftermarket remotes will not control your Roku by wifi, only IR. With IR there nothing to pair, it works or it doesn't plain and simple. A Roku tv IR remote is useless on Roku stand-alone streamers, same as stand-alone Roku IR remotes are useless on Roku tv's. 

[Argonaut]

     Am confused by the term "Roku TV" I keep seeing.  The TV is a Samsung.  Perhaps that disqualifies it from being a "Roku TV".  Bought the replacement Remotes through Amazon.  No, there was no official 'purple' box.  So maybe they are 'Knock-offs'.  It is hard to tell - they look identical.  Do knock-offs ever work?  Perhaps there ought to be a better way to identify them because we were sure we were getting Roku Remotes.  

Am thinking the best way I can be sure things will work (out-of-the-box) is to put down the money on an entire new streaming system, Roku or otherwise.  It is extra money spent.  It will probably be Roku, as it has extra benefits, like the Roku Channel.  But the remotes have always had issues like using up the batteries quickly.  

So, those are my thoughts.  Any other ideas?  Just not sure I can see the point of buying ANOTHER   remote if there is a chance it will be a knock-off.  I could not tell these were knock-offs.   

[Tivoburkee · Accepted solution]

Unlike Apple tv and Fire tv when it was first released, Roku never called itself a TV until it released an actual TV with screen. On this site Roku tv's are true tv's just like your Samsung accept the User Interface is a Roku streamer built in. 

If this is an aftermarket knock off Roku remote, it might be able to control stand-alone Roku streamers as well as Roku tv's, no true Roku IR remote can do that. You have to look at the manual it came with. 

Be the way what model of Roku do you have? If it is Roku stick, that's Roku with built-in hdmi connecter, and not a hdmi jack, this will not work with ANY type of IR remote. Sticks only communicate with true Roku wifi voice remotes. 

If I were you I'd buy a new Roku which comes with remote. Like the Roku express 4k+ on sale:

Amazon.com: Roku Express 4K+ | Roku Streaming Device 4K/HDR, Roku Voice Remote, Free & Live TV : Ele...

Only Roku devices with Wifi remotes like the above have tv controls that will control the tv power and volume of your Samsung tv. Roku that come with IR remote do not have tv volume keys or powers keys. 

[Argonaut]

Thanks for all your help and knowledge.  Appreciate it!