Remotes

[bhattn]

I recently purchased my first Roku device (Ultra 2024) which comes with Voice Pro remote (Model # RC1071). 

The Problems: 

1) The remote randomly becomes unresponsive. Pressing any button on the remote does nothing. I have noticed the light beside power button on remote turn solid red. Then when I plug remote to power supply, it suddenly becomes responsive. I do not expect this since I have already charged remote to over 90%

2) Additionally, the battery charge level in settings keeps decreasing fast. I noticed approximately 20% drop in 2 days with only 2 hours of total streaming on Roku.

I HAVE already TRIED RE-PAIRING and RE-CHARGING THE REMOTE ALREADY. 

Help is much appreciated. 

[makaiguy]

@bhattn-

I don't have a respose for problem 1.

For problem 2, does your remote have a slide switch on its left side?

If so, when this is ON, the remote always is in listening mode.  You get its attention by saying "Hey Roku" followed by a verbal command.  This function is on and consuming battery charge full time.  I never use it for this reason.

When set OFF, the remote only listens when the microphone button on the front of the remote is pressed.

Otherwise, there is some evidence that one cause of battery drain for those with point-anywhere remotes that connect to the Roku via WiFi-direct can be use of a router channel that is crowded by nearby routers using the same channel. It's been suggested that the remote has to work too hard constantly sorting through the information packets from other devices using the same channel such that it accelerates the battery drain. This is more likely to be a problem in the more heavily used 2.4 GHz wifi band, which is also used by Bluetooth connections and can receive interference from microwave ovens, than in the 5 GHz band.

If you have access to your router's setup, try configuring it to use a different WiFi channel to see if this helps the situation. If you are connecting in the crowded 2.4 GHz band, channels 1-11 are supported. Channels 1, 6, and 11 do not overlap each other and so give you the best chance at reducing congestion, so try each in succession, although depending on what channels your neighbors are using, other channels in the 1-11 range may work best. Also, reducing router bandwidth from 40 to 20 kHz may also reduce interference.