Wi-Fi & connectivity

[atc98092]

There is no definitive link between EMF and cancer. And frankly even if you don't have a single device with WiFi in your home, you still are bombarded with EMF of varying frequencies and amplitudes on a daily basis. Nearby cell phone towers. TV and radio broadcast stations, satellite signals, and many, many more sources. Not to mention your neighbors with their WiFi networks. If you use a cell phone, that's far more powerful EMF right next to your brain. But no one has gotten brain cancer from using a cell phone. 

The cancer.gov web site has this to say about cell phone use and potential cancer concerns. It completely relates to WiFi, as it uses similar frequencies and power levels:

Cell phones emit radiation in the radiofrequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Second-, third-, and fourth-generation cell phones (2G, 3G, 4G) emit radiofrequency in the frequency range of 0.7–2.7 GHz. Fifth-generation (5G) cell phones are anticipated to use the frequency spectrum up to 80 GHz. 

These frequencies all fall in the nonionizing range of the spectrum, which is low frequency and low energy. The energy is too low to damage DNA. 

[Anonymous]

I never said it was dangerous.  It’s simply a nuisance to an already crowded spectrum.  Thanks @atc98092 

[atc98092]

My response was not directed towards you. Yes, the spectrum is heavy with EMF, and odds are it won't get better in the future. 

Since the only wired Roku player (the Ultra) uses a WiFi remote, that means the WiFi radio still needs to be active. Yes, you can use a basic IR remote on the Ultra, but you lose some functionality by doing that, such as volume control and remote listening. But short of opening the Roku and disconnecting the WiFi antenna (voiding the warranty), there's nothing that can be done to disable the WiFi radio. And for Roku Sticks, the WiFi remote is the only possible way to control them (no IR support), so again it must remain on.

[UserOfStreamers]

@Ultimation 

No one was "acting like" there are no "Secret Menus" in RokuOS, they were simply stating the menus have changed & there is no option to disable WiFi, and that Roku discourages/deletes references to accessing them (and I've yet to see a single user defend such a practice, because it's obviously anti-user and just dumb).

I think you are misleading yourself/using flawed WiFi/RF detection tools if you think the WiFi "auto-disables" after a period of time when using wired connectivity.  Additionally, even if the WiFi were somehow disabled there is still other RF activity including BT (BlueTooth) within the device because the radio(s) within the chipsets/SoC would still be active, and even if those were disabled there would still be spurious/low-level RF/EMF due to the electrical activity within the device.

Its reasonable to want to disable WiFi or BT (specific wireless functions or protocols) though it would disable much of a device's functionality, and suggestions/feedback to do so have repeatedly been made:  https://community.roku.com/t5/Suggest-a-Feature/bd-p/Wishlist

[Anonymous]

@Ultimation @It’s actually a $130 piece of software with a professional spectrum scanner used for deploying Aruba hardware.  The thing genuinely went quiet.  AirPlay and all other functions work great over wired as long as your switch isn’t configured to filter multicast.

[Ultimation]

Thank you for telling me what you think I think. I don't have time to argue so I'll simply restate my goal more clearly. My goal is to use my Roku Ultra wired, with no wireless signals emitting.

[atc98092]

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@Ultimation wrote:

My goal is to use my Roku Ultra wired, with no wireless signals emitting.

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Unfortunately, it's simply not possible. And I have my doubts that any of the other choices (Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, or any Android based player) have that ability either. 

[MartyPA]

On your Roku Ultra, go to Advanced System Setting and disable Device Connect.  Works for me.  If you have a meter, put it near the Roku and you'll see that the wifi is diabled.

Also, ditch the RF remote.  Actually that setting has to be enabled for the RF remote to pair with the Ultra.

I've read that some people who have older Roku Ultras have to check it occasionally because it automatically changes back to Enable Device Connect, so check it occasionally, but that never happens to me.