Roku Device Features, Settings & Updates

[AAA_Japan]

I recently purchased a ROKU ULTRA and there is no search function.  I've tried about 10 times to pair the remote it but it refuses to work (took out the batteries ext).  Voice button does not work.  Only works as a home button.  In the main menu there is also no search function either (??).  I installed the IOS app and there is no search function or voice function in the APP working.  I'm running my ROKU through a brand new Denon AVR-X1500H 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver hooked up to a OPTIMA 4K projector.  Any advice?

[Basil]

Your profile doesn't list a location, although your username indicates it might be Japan.

Not all Roku features are available in all area. I believe Roku is only supported in United States, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, & Peru.

Some features might not even be available in certain of those locations. Outside those locations, there is a greater chance that functionality isn't available.

[AAA_Japan]

Thank you for your reply.  Yes I'm in Tokyo.  Bought a box through ROKU on amazon not knowing this....   They were happy to ship it to me.  There should have been shipping restrictions on it if it doesn't work.  

Are their any fixes to get around this?  DNS?

[Basil]

"AAA_Japan" wrote:
Thank you for your reply.  Yes I'm in Tokyo.  Bought a box through ROKU on amazon not knowing this....   They were happy to ship it to me.  There should have been shipping restrictions on it if it doesn't work.  

Are their any fixes to get around this?  DNS?

Oh, discussions about getting around geo-restrictions are a no-no.

If the Roku device won't suit your purposes there, you might want to look at returning it. Amazon generally is good about that.

[jb0om]

Umm this seems a little silly. Not having the ability to search is a pretty big deal. I'm in the same boat. Content restrictions make sense but crippling other features? How is that fair??? I bought the device in large part because of the ability to do a voice search and now here I am in South East Asia with limited ability to even return it. Not impressed.

[trekkeriii]

"jb0om" wrote:
Umm this seems a little silly. Not having the ability to search is a pretty big deal. I'm in the same boat. Content restrictions make sense but crippling other features? How is that fair??? I bought the device in large part because of the ability to do a voice search and now here I am in South East Asia with limited ability to even return it. Not impressed.

Because Roku doesn't have access to the specific channels that have the content in your area, makes sense that it cannot search for the content in those channels (apps) either. Most of the apps that Roku can search doesn't work in your area. So, the content restrictions applies to why the search doesn't work.

[dyrelogan]

Here is a case in point, everyone. These georestrictions are truly a farce, that’s all. I have an Apple product. I bought it here in Thailand. I have been living here for 6 years. I use Apple TV on my iPad bought here in Thailand. I subscribed to Britbox and downloaded their app. When I go to use the app, it tells me that it will not work because I live in Thailand and it is blocked in my region. So, I go through Apple TV and subscribe to Britbox that way. No VPN used yet I’m able to access Britbox freely without these phantom georestriction baloney that these companies invented. I can also access several other premium stations through the Apple TV app that I cannot through their own apps. They each tell me that it is not available in my country, yet I’m watching freely on the Apple TV app. And to tell you the truth, I’m tired of these greedy bigwigs all over the world restricting me of the content I am paying for and they are happily taking money from my bank account (a Thai account no less, which they have no problems doing, interestingly enough). It’s not cool. I can see why a lot of people torrent these days, because of these greedy bigwigs restricting us. You don’t see Netflix doing this. You don’t even see apple doing it. If they can give us unrestricted access, then billion dollar companies like Disney+ and HULU and others can too. This is ridiculous. 2020 is nearly half finished and we are still blocked from receiving our entertainment that we are paying for. Get it done, big businesses. We are tired and we are many.