Remotes

[MikeJC]

The buttons on my remote are just wacky. They don't do what they're supposed to do. So when I looked at the settings on my Roku Ultra it says I have a "gaming remote". Well I don't have a gaming remote. It's the original remote that came with the Ultra. And I don't play games and don't even own a video game. So why does it say I have a gaming remote? So I tried to re-pair it again but that doesn't work. I mean I press the pairing button for 5 seconds like it says and the pairing light won't light up. So I ordered a new remote. I ordered the Simple Remote - RC680 as that what it says my Ultra uses. It's a little different from the original but it has all the right buttons I need.

[renojim]

Gaming remotes have A & B buttons on them.  There have been a couple of Ultra models.  I don't know if any of them ever came with a gaming remote.  The Simple Remote you got will work with your Ultra, but it's an IR remote which must have a clear line of sight to the Ultra whereas the original remote uses RF (Wi-Fi Direct), requires pairing, and can be pointed anywhere.  If you're happy with the Simple Remote there's no reason to change it, but if you want a "point anywhere" remote that also has TV controls then you'll need one of the Voice remotes.

[MikeJC]

I do have the A & B buttons on it. I had no idea what they were for. But the buttons are all wacky and it does not give the proper command response when watch a video. The play/pause button does something else. The Back button is screwed up too. I have the Roku in a cabinet I always used behind a closed door. I guess I'll have to open it now and get a the RF remote later on.

[renojim]

If you're handy you can try disassembling the remote to clean off the contacts with alcohol.  It's kind of a pain to get them apart, but it's possible.  There's only one screw in the battery compartment and then you need good fingernails or something to get the clips on the two halves to unsnap.  You can also try compressed air to blow out around all the buttons without taking it apart.

[MikeJC]

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'm handy and have the tools and an air compressor.

[MikeJC]

Well, I tried to open it up. There is a screw in the battery compartment that I removed but there's no way to take it apart. I mean I did remove the screw but there's no way to pry it open. It's like it's glued together.

[renojim]

It's hard to get it started.  Assuming your remote is the same as mine, the easiest place to start is shown here: