Solving playback issues

[Bosco21]

Up until your latest software update on May 12 this problem did not exist. I have a TV that supports HDCP 1.4. I power off all my equipment at night. When I first try to play a program the next morning I get an HDCP error. If I power off the TV and power it back on the problem goes away. For the rest of the day I can turn my TV on and off as many times as I want without an error. But when I first power up  the next morning, I get the error. I repeat that this problem did not exist until your last update on May 12 for my Roku Express.

[makaiguy]

My guess is the Roku update takes a little longer to start up than it did before.  So when the tv starts up and checks the HDMI port the Roku is not yet quite ready to give a complete response, resulting in the error.

Suggestions - try one or more:

• Instead of turning tv off/on to clear the error, just switch tv to different input and back to the one for Roku, which should cause a new HDMI "handshake".  This should be quicker and easier.
  
  
• Before shuttling off tv, switch input to other than Roku's HDMI port so that it checks a different input first.  After tv boots up switch to Roku's input.
  
  
• Power up Roku in the morning before powering up the tv, or just don't shut Roku down overnight.

[RkkMe]

I get this only on the 2020 Ultra device (not older 4K Ultra devices) at times, but it goes away in seconds when the video starts playing normally. It used to come up more on earlier software builds, less so on newer builds but still presents itself sometimes. I haven't ran into a situation on mine where a video doesn't play and keeps the error on screen.

[Bosco21]

Regarding the replies so far, Switching to the other HDMI input (which is empty)  and back does not clear the error (possibly if the input was active it might fix the problem). No matter how long I leave the error message up it does not clear on its own. I think leaving the Roku on all night would fix the problem too but I prefer to power everything off. Turning the TV on and off so far is the best solution for me (other than a new Roku software update).

[IronGumby]

I was recently thinking about how Roku's stay on all the time, by design. Just curious — since there is no OFF button the on Roku, how are you turning it off, with a Power Tap / Surge Protector switch?  I don't think most people do this, but to each his own (I bet you are trying to extend its lifespan or decrease bandwidth usage when not using it). I'm going to see if my Roku feels warm tomorrow morning after doing "nothing" all night.  BTW, switching electronics on and off decreases their lifespan too, unless they have a standby mode.

[Bosco21]

My little Roku Express becomes quite warm. I would guess it uses about 5 watts. Overnight that's about 50wh. Over a month that's 1.5kwh. Over a year that's 18kwh. Why waste the energy? Longevity doesn't enter into it. Rokus all become obsolete and useless long before they fail. Also the less time they are exposed to the internet the less chance they can be hacked.

[RkkMe]

No Off button is an annoyance of mine as well, I always do as the user does, unplug it when not in use. It is always warm when not in use after long periods. I just unplug the power cord where it connects to the back of the device and let it sit there until I plug it back in. Personal preference for a 'greener' method.

[tannim]

I have a Roku Express 4K+ and I also have this problem. HDCP stops working.  My mother tries the device about 9am each morning after going to bed at about 11-11:50pm.  When she comes back out to use it, there is no video on sling or discovery+ or anything else that uses HDCP unless I physically unplug the roku's power cable(the HDMI cable is not enough) and plug it back in.  A system restart is not good enough.

There is no problem with the tv or the port the cable is plugged into, an amazon fire stick works perfectly.

This problem did not exist before the Jun 11 update.

[RokuDanny-R]

@tannim

Thanks for the post.

How is the device being powered? Is the device plugged into the TV USB port or is it plugged into a wall outlet?

With more information we will be able to investigate the issue further.

Thanks,
Danny

[Bosco21]

The device is plugged into a power strip which is plugged into the wall.  The power strip powers all my equipment and is turned off at night.. Thus the Roku and tv are both powered on at the same time although the TV does not actually power on until I turn it on.