Forum Discussion

Kwhalen's avatar
Kwhalen
Binge Watcher
4 years ago
Solved

Roku remote won't change channels on the over the air screen

My Roku remote recently stopped being able to change TV channels on my TCL, Model 55S401, software version 11.0.0, build 4139-30.  All other functions of the remote such as scrolling through the main...
remotes
  • Kwhalen's avatar
    Kwhalen
    4 years ago

    I think I solved the issue with the over-the-air channel changing!

    I unplugged the USB drive from the back of the TV that is used to store the recorded pause and rewind info,  and the TV started working as normal. Except I can't pause or record anything. I am not sure why, but I have gone through at least 3 USB drives that become unreadable after a while.  Something in the TV, or OS, corrupts them beyond repair and they can no longer be formatted. I have not tried to plug a different USB back in, since the pause, and rewind feature is very limited anyway.

tvid's avatar
tvid
Binge Watcher
4 years ago

Same problem, 11.0.0.0, Build 4193 - TCL TV

With internet connected: no channel listings (off-air or streaming), no remote changing of TV channels. As of today: June 21, 2022.

Tried everything. One thing works: DISCONNECT INTERNET: TV Channels back (with no info on listings, until you tune to the channel... per typical off-air TVs, without Internet channel listings).

So the problem is obviously with Roku channel listings. With ethernet, everything else works - including the Roku "Live TV" streaming (that is in effect an "app" complete with channel listings, but apart from the off-air channel guide).

The problem is off-air channel listings with the internet connected. Internet disconnected restores channel listing and remote operation.

- - -

(I think you may find that a few of the * functions related to channel management don't work, even though the rest of the TV controls through that asterisk menu do function as expected).

Kwhalen's avatar
Kwhalen
Binge Watcher
4 years ago

Thank you for your reply. It looks like other people are having the same issue.  It may be a Roku OS issue. 

I tried the Roku Live TV section and it does have a lot of content, but as far as I could see none of the channels were the local over-the-air channels. When I backed out of that section, then Home, and then back to the over the air the TV guide actually showed up and worked.....once. And then, it went back to not working.  It was the same thing that happened both times I factory reset the TV. It worked correctly once and then...nothing.

For now, the only way I can change channels on my TV is to use the "Manage Channels" setting on the main TV screen by using the pop-up on the left side of the screen.  All of the local channels will show up and I can hover over the one I want to view and it will go to it.

As far as I know, Roku is not looking at the problem.  I had the issue "escalated" at TCL to the software engineers, but have not heard anything from them. It may be time to upgrade my TV, but I really liked the TCL and the Roku OS. 

  • Kilonen's avatar
    Kilonen
    Binge Watcher
    4 years ago

    Good work around simpler than what I have been doing.  Thanks.

    ROKU - please get on this and fix it. 

    It isn't the remotes, system update, reboot, restart, or full reset.  None of that fixes this.  The issue is somewhere between your OS and your Live TV tile when viewing OTA channels.  The TV stops responding to the remote (other than volume, home, asterisk, and power buttons) after an OTA channel is viewed.  EVerything is fine after you go back to home - one time only assuming that you were on a ROKU Live TV channel and not an OTA channel when you open the Live TV Tile.

  • Kilonen's avatar
    Kilonen
    Binge Watcher
    4 years ago

    Excellent work around - will try that.  Simpler than the one I have been using. 

    For sure this is an issue with either the ROKU OS overall or with their OTA Live TV Tile.  Have factory reset twice, rebooted 3-4x, restarted more.  Happens with the ROKU remote and with my iPhone 13 as the remote. 

    Another symptom I have seen is that if you go to the live TV tile - highlight it but don't click it - the yellow box around the tile disappears after a few seconds (after the preview in the tile starts working).  Once it disappears - the remote left/right/up/down and the return buttons cease to function.  If you then hit the Home button - you return to the home screen and the buttons on any remote work fine.  So no way is this a remote issue.

    It isn't an antenna issue - because they are all listed IF the TV was tuned to a ROKU Live TV channel when you start the Live TV tile.  Left click to bring up the channel guide and all the OTA stations are listed.  Go to one and then after it tunes in - the TV stops responding to the remote again and you have to back out and get to a ROKU Live TV channel via Live TV in the Home screen list.  None of the OTA's show up in that channel guide - but when you go back to the Live TV tile - it starts up on the ROKU live channel and jthe guide works ONCE.  Your work around will be simpler.

    ROKU - please fix this.

  • tvid's avatar
    tvid
    Binge Watcher
    4 years ago

    Thanks to everyone for their input on this issue - which is, ironically, about the continued viability of one of the basic, original "inputs" on Roku TVs:  antenna TV (aka, the RF coaxial input).

    Kwhalen wrote:

    "For now, the only way I can change channels on my TV is to use the "Manage Channels" setting on the main TV screen by using the pop-up on the left side of the screen.  All of the local channels will show up and I can hover over the one I want to view and it will go to it."

    Yes, accessing Manage Channels is central to getting OTA channels back imho.

    In my case, addtional factors are involved:

    1. It was necessary to access "Live TV" in left menu selection - as accessing "Manage Channels" from icon/tile yielded a blank channel list... so there were no channels (streaming or OTA) to manage.

    2. So I accessed the "Live TV" menu selection in left column - or alternatively, accessed the "Live TV" sub-section from within the Roku TV (icon/tile/app). Accessing either one correlated with OTA channels re-populating the channel listing, along with streaming channels. 

    3. Once I was able to access "Manage Channels" with an actual listing of OTA and streaming channels, OTA channels have remained.

    - - -
    As I mentioned previously, one other method that correlates with return of OTA channels in the channel guide is to disconnect Internet.

    This is a pointless fix, unless you want to periodically connect/re-connect.

    But it was a sure fix, in my experience.

    - - -
    As some users have reported: I also have the persistent issue of sometimes not being able to change channels from within the channel listing. I can select a program on channel listing and get info about the program and/or channel, but clicking on an in-progress program in the listing does nothing.

    So in that case, going back Home and starting over typically fixes the issue.

    The 'problem' tends to occur primarily when first turning on TV and accessing the Live TV tile/icon.

    Weird issue, but I've learned to be very careful and methodical when first accessing the Live TV tile/icon - it does seem that Roku OS can become 'confused' otherwise. As a former computer progammer, I recognize this behavior as problematic logic related to monitoring the real-time event loop... there are lots of things happening in real time on your television, and obviously, things can go wrong if your programming doesn't account for all possible events. :^)


    - - -
    There is at least one other thread dealing with the general set of issues related to inability of TVs running Roku OS 11.0.0.0, Build 4193 to tune OTA channels and list them in the channel guide:

    https://community.roku.com/t5/Channel-Issues-Questions/Over-The-Air-Channels-network-tv-Disappeared/td-p/795911

    In this thread, Macmanjimmy69 relayed another possible fix he had found on other forums:

    "Goto TV Inputs setting and change icon from "Live TV" to "Antenna"... restart, change zip code (to another nearby) restart, scan channels, restart..."

    May or may not work for you, but I did change the icon/tile and label for "Live TV" to antenna... just for my own satisfaction. It at least makes clear how I think of that icon: as a representation of the antenna input - to which Roku then chose, at some point in history, to add streaming channels.

    The icon/tile represented the antenna TV input to begin with; Roku OS app should still respect that basic function of the television.

    I now just label that icon/tile "TV" - it is stil the antenna TV input to me, even though Roku has moved on to emphasizing streaming channels... which, don't get me wrong, I also appreciate! The selection of free ad-supported streaming channels is great, as long as OTA selections are also still available.

    Both, please!

    • Kilonen's avatar
      Kilonen
      Binge Watcher
      4 years ago

      Thanks for detailed response. Tried re-labeling input followed by restarts including zip and channel scan twice.  No change to issue for us.   Asterisk to manage channels does allow me to see OTA channels list and change channels but no guide info.  Will keep doing that until Roku gets this fixed. 

      Really liked the idea of Roku built into TV as the OS but this issue (and ROKUs lack of response) is the downside of that and making me rethink that.  I assume there is no way to run the TV for antenna without using the ROKU OS and interface.   

      I think ROKU did respond with support numbers for each TV maker but since the issue happens on (at least) TCL’s and Hisense seems unlikely they will have an answer for mistakes in ROKU’s software. 

      • tvid's avatar
        tvid
        Binge Watcher
        4 years ago
        Responses inline (in italics):
         
        Kilonen wrote:
        "Thanks for detailed response. Tried re-labeling input followed by restarts including zip and channel scan twice.  No change to issue for us.   Asterisk to manage channels does allow me to see OTA channels list and change channels but no guide info.  Will keep doing that until Roku gets this fixed. "
         
        You're welcome. Not surprising that changing the antenna icon/re-scanning channels didn't work for you - just a further data point. I do like having the antenna icon, but that's irrelevant to the functionality.
         
        "Asterisk to manage channels does allow me to see OTA channels list and change channels but no guide info.  Will keep doing that until Roku gets this fixed."
         
        Does work, which is a plus!
         
        "Really liked the idea of Roku built into TV as the OS but this issue (and ROKUs lack of response) is the downside of that and making me rethink that.  I assume there is no way to run the TV for antenna without using the ROKU OS and interface. "
         
        We also liked (and still like) the OS built-in to the TV, as long as all "TV" functions continue to work.
         
        Other than disconnecting internet, I don't know of any way to get antenna tuning outside of the Roku OS (other than opening up the TV and trying to analyze the hardware/software design). Tuning off-air is apparently part of Roku OS, would have to read up on that...).
         
        In another thread, I did recommend HDHomeRun for OTA-to-IP - you can use either the 'HDHomeRun' app or 'Roku Media Player' app to access locally tuned channels.
         
        I agree that the issue does cause re-thinking the issue of having OS built-in.
         
        fwiw, at about the same time we purchased the TCL Roku TV, we also acquired a Roku standalone streaming stick (works great), and the processing power of that small, inexpensive device exceeds the processing power of the TV...
         
        As long as you can get by with WiFi rather than wired Internet, a small dongle + TV that tunes off-air is a viable option. If you prefer wired ethernet (and we do), Roku Ultra is apparently an option for standalone devices.
         
        "I think ROKU did respond with support numbers for each TV maker but since the issue happens on (at least) TCL’s and Hisense seems unlikely they will have an answer for mistakes in ROKU’s software."
         
        Logic supports your conclusion - this is not a problem exclusive to one TV manufacturer. I esp appreciate input from users of Roku TVs other than TCL. Appears to be solidly a Roku OS issue.