Remotes

[missusmax]

Does a Roku/Roku compatible remote exist with numbers where you can simply put in the number for the channel you want? I have 2 Roku TVs, use Spectrum streaming on both. It's annoying as **bleep** to always have to go through the guide just to get to a specific station, as opposed to typing in a number to get there.

[atc98092 · Accepted solution]

Short answer: no.

There are some universal IR remotes that work with some Roku devices that the number buttons will work. However (you knew that was coming) the app/channel you are using on the Roku must support the channel number input. The Roku OS itself (which is what you are using to select over the air TV channels) does not support that to the best of my knowledge.

I can offer something that helps a small bit. You can use the left and right transport buttons (the ones with the double arrows on either side of the play/pause button) and move through the guide by a full page instead of a single line. It does speed up moving through the guide a bit, but it's all I can offer. 

[Rdhanning]

Download the ROKU App and there is a keyboard with numbers! So much easier to enter email and password and change channels. 

[TheGoldenLife]

This is unbelievable.  WHY IS THERE NOT A REMOTE WITH NUMBERS?  I have a mentally challenged grandson who has finally learned to use the remote for a Smart TV with numbers.  We have just purchased a Roku TV only to find out we cannot use any numbers.  

There MUST be an alternative.  We just spent almost $500 on a TV that can't be used by the person we bought it for.  HELP.  

[atc98092]

It's unfortunate, but there are many "Smart" TVs that have basic remotes with no numeric buttons. Roku TVs are one, but Fire TVs are the same way, and there are others that also use the same basic remote idea. When shopping it's important to check the remote to see if it will satisfy your needs. It's stupid that even needs to be done, but that's the current market.

There are generic IR remotes with number buttons that will work on a Roku TV. But there's no assurance that the number buttons will actually work on the Roku OS itself. I believe some users have had some success with such remotes, but it might be hit or miss if the buttons work within a specific app that has channel numbers, such as Pluto TV. 

[Strega2]

Before spending $500 on a TV, please spend a little time looking at it, reading reviews, and possibly reading the manual.  Honestly, I find it hard to imagine that you could spend 10 minutes thinking about this purchase without getting an idea of what the remote looked like.

Personally, I think Roku makes great players.  Roku TVs make compromises that I don’t want to make so I skip those.  That said, even though my Samsung TV has channel numbers on the remote, I don’t use them.  My only service with numeric channels is satellite TV, so I would use its remote for that.  However, I rarely if ever type in a number on that remote either.  Rather, I browse the recordings in the satellite DVR and select one.  I’ve been using DVRs since 1999, in part so I wouldn’t have to think about channel numbers (or commercials, or what time of day a show is on…) 

Everyone has their own usage cases, so check your gadgets before buying.