Remotes

[Thecube]

I have a Roku 3. The original remote can control the TV from any room in the house. The up volume button is broken though, so I purchased the Roku Voice remote ($20 version). It paired easily but it only works within a 15ft distance and has to be pointed directly at the device.

According to the troubleshoot guide, if your remote has a pairing button it isn't an IR remote and should work from anywhere.. Is this correct? And if so, what could the problem be?

Thanks!

[Tivoburkee]

No, that is not correct when it comes to controlling the tv. The voice remote communicates with Roku by wifi, but only controls the tv by IR, you have to have a line of sight between the remote and tv. Your original roku 3 remote didn't have tv IR on board, it controlled the tv by hdmi-cec. It was wifi signal from the remote to the roku, then it was cec signal over the hdmi cable from roku to  the tv it was connected to. The voice remote only controls Roku tv's volume via wifi, no other tv's. 

[makaiguy]

It has been a while since I retired my Roku 3 (4200), so my memory may be faulty, but I don't recall the gaming remote that came with it controlling the tv volume at all.  I only remember the remote volume rocker switch controlling the volume for the remote-listening headset when plugged into the jack on the remote.

[Tivoburkee]

After an upgrade the cec was turned on for certain brands of tv, it sure didn't work on the Panasonic I had at the time. 😞 More people posted on the forum it didn't work then did. Its been updated since to where even older models like the roku 2 xd respond to roku cec power, volume, and  mute commands. The 3500 purple stick when paired with a Roku 3 remote responds to the volume commands. 

[Thecube]

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@Tivoburkee wrote:

No, that is not correct when it comes to controlling the tv. The voice remote communicates with Roku by wifi, but only controls the tv by IR, you have to have a line of sight between the remote and tv. Your original roku 3 remote didn't have tv IR on board, it controlled the tv by hdmi-cec. It was wifi signal from the remote to the roku, then it was cec signal over the hdmi cable from roku to  the tv it was connected to. The voice remote only controls Roku tv's volume via wifi, no other tv's. 

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Thanks for the responses! 

Do you know if there is a replacement remote available that would work like the original? Or something to look for in a universal remote that would enable it to work like that? 

[Tivoburkee · Accepted solution]

Roku sells the Gaming remote for $29.99, its fourth one done on this page:

https://www.roku.com/products/accessories/player

[Thecube]

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@Tivoburkee wrote:

Roku sells the Gaming remote for $29.99, its fourth one done on this page:

https://www.roku.com/products/accessories/player

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Update: Ordered the Gaming remote and everything works perfectly, thanks for your help!