Roku setup

[Kingsfallon]

Hi,

 I need your help on how to let my RCA 4K TV recognize my purple Roku stick ?

because when I put it in the TV DHMI directly the light on the stick doesn’t light and the TV doesn’t recognize it 

thank you so much in advance for your help 

[Strega]

That's the one that plugs into an MHL connector?  If so, make sure you're not plugged into an ordinary HDMI connector (no power on those).

[Kingsfallon]

Hi Strega,

thank you so much for your reply, but I’m sorry I don’t understand what do you mean and what I have to do, so could you please kindly explain more on how to solve this issue?

 Thank you so much 

[makaiguy]

The purple Roku 3400 and 3420 Streaming Sticks used MHL (Mobile High-definition Link) capability. The MHL connection physically looked similar to an HDMI connection and also supplied power to the unit  so a separate power cord was not needed. These Roku models have been long discontinued and are no longer available.

MHL never really caught on, and is rare or non-existant on current tv models so this capability has been dropped from all Rokus produced since those two. Now Rokus are powered via a USB cord plugged into the Roku. 

If your old Roku Streaming Stick has no USB port for a power connection, which it sounds like is your case, it will only work when plugged into an actual MHL port, which are getting pretty rare these days.  It cannot work with a standard HDMI port because the port does not supply power. 

Otherwise, if your stick does have a USB port, connect a USB cord from the USB port on the Roku to a suitable USB power adapter connected to your house power.  Make sure the adapter is rated for an output of at least 1 amp.  Note that you MAY be able to plug the cord into a USB port on the TV instead, but many TV USB ports do not supply the 1 amp current needed to power a Roku reliably.

[DBDukes]

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@Kingsfallon wrote:

Hi,

 I need your help on how to let my RCA 4K TV recognize my purple Roku stick ?

because when I put it in the TV DHMI directly the light on the stick doesn’t light and the TV doesn’t recognize it 

What's the model number of the device?

[Kingsfallon]

Hi,

its model is 3400X

the purpled stick

thank you 

[makaiguy]

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@Kingsfallon wrote:

Hi,

its model is 3400X

the purpled stick

thank you 

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The 3400 is MHL only and cannot work in an HDMI port because the HDMI port does not supply power.

This is a very old Roku model from 2012 that was discontinued in 2014.  It is no longer being supported by Roku and has not received a Roku update since Roku version 9.1.  Current models are up to 9.4, and an update to 10.0 is currently rolling out.  Many of the more recent channels rely on capabilities added in later models and won't even load onto a 3400.  Newer models are much faster and more responsive.  I think you'd be very pleased with the improvements if you upgrade to a current model.

[Strega]

This website has a picture of a TV with a MHL port.  (Port 2)

If you have such a TV, your Roku will have to be plugged into that specific port.  If your TV has no such port, then it's time for a new Roku.  (It probably was time for a new Roku, anyway!)