Are you using the original USB cable with bump in it? That is the long-range wireless receiver, its what the remote actually communicates with not the stick+ itself. If you're still using it, it might have gone bad?
A tv remote will not control a Roku stick+, no Roku accepts control via cec, and Roku sticks only accept wifi signals no IR. The only non-roku remote to control Roku sticks are universal remotes like harmony elite that control devices by IP, the internet.
Edmund
Roku Community Streaming Expert
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