Remotes

[volleydrummer]

This may be elementary to some but I am not very tech-savvy:

A relative bought a Streaming Stick 4K w/Voice remote for a Samsung TV.  Few months later the Samsung TV died.  The new TV is a TCL w/Roku built-in that came w/a non-Voice remote labeled "TCL - Roku".  This remote works fine w/the TV, as it should.

My question is: can the Streaming Stick 4K Voice remote be paired w/the TCL Roku TV?  The Voice remote is Model #3820R2; Mic pin hole is to the left of the Power button.  I assume the '2' at the end = 2nd generation?  Mine is #3820R and older; Mic pin hole is centered under the Power button.  If this is possible, I want to help attempt pairing the Voice remote to the Roku TV.

OR do the two remotes operate on different frequencies?[<=correct term here?]   Thank You for any assistance or information in layman's terms[please]...volleydrummer.  

[ROkooFlix · Accepted solution]

You can add a Roku Remote.

Home > Settings > Remotes & devices > Remotes > + Add a new remote > OK

Keep the original remote, it may be needed after a Factory reset if one is ever needed.

[makaiguy · Accepted solution]

@volleydrummer-  Some additional background:

The new Roku TV came with its own remote.  This uses a direct line of sight infrared (IR) beam to send commands to the TV, like most remotes for TVs and other devices.  Roku TVs from all manufacturers all use the same set of IR commands so this remote does not need to be paired with its TV and will "just work" with any Roku TV it "sees".  Roku TVs use a different set of IR commands than separate Roku devices do, so Roku TV remotes can ONLY be used with Roku TVs.

The Voice remote that came with the Streaming Stick controls the Roku via WiFi, not IR.  (Streaming Sticks are normally used behind the TV where IR cannot reach, but WiFi can.)  Streaming Sticks do not even have IR receptors and so can't be used with IR remotes at all.

WiFi remotes must be paired with the Roku they are to control, and once paired will control ONLY that Roku, unless subsequently re-paired to a different Roku.  Roku TVs can be controlled by Roku Voice remotes, same as Roku devices, once they have been paired to the Voice remote.  The reply from @volleydrummer tells you how to re-pair your Voice remote to the Roku TV.  Once paired to the Roku TV, it will no longer control the Roku Stick.

If you do pair the Voice remote to the Roku TV, the original Roku TV IR remote will continue to work, so you will have two working remotes for that TV.  We use both the original IR remote and a Voice remote for our bedroom Roku TV so it can be controlled from either side of the bed.

Once you pair the Voice remote to the Roku TV, your Roku Streaming Stick won't have a working physical remote should you wish to use the Roku on a different TV,  unless you purchase another one of the Voice remote models to pair with it.

[volleydrummer]

@makaiguy @ROkooFlix    Thank You BOTH!!

If possible [I'll find out shortly], I will click both replies as Solutions.  "Technologies" would probably have been a better word choice than "frequencies".  My limited tech knowledge prevents my understanding how the Voice remote using WiFi can communicate w/a TV that usually receives IR - but that's okay.   If pairing is possible using the normal process/steps, that's all I need to know and is what I was hoping for.

At some point, I will help my relative [by phone, out-of-state] add the Voice remote via Settings, and then hopefully successfully pair it w/the Roku TV.   Thank You both for straightforward common sense replies/information!...volleydrummer.

[makaiguy]

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@volleydrummer wrote:

My limited tech knowledge prevents my understanding how the Voice remote using WiFi can communicate w/a TV that usually receives IR - but that's okay.

 The TVs have front panel IR receivers to work with IR remotes, and they also are equipped with WiFi receivers for network connection that can communicate with WiFi remotes.  Their software can respond to either set of commands.