Wi-Fi & connectivity

[Unltd]

And the fact that you can actually connect through a Wi-Fi device on Plex tells me you are having a Roku issue. You are having a jelly fin issue with authentication. 
you just want to blame Roku. If jellyfish can’t handle an offline connection, then Roku can’t connect. Plex can handle that connection. Roku just doesn’t slow you a connection. But it does in fact connect. 

[atc98092]

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@Unltd wrote:

Open that Plex app. 

it should tell you there is no internet connection. And give the option to proceed anyway. Choose proceed anyway. Put the ip address in the space for manual connection and wait. It will find that server. 

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Unfortunately that won't do any good because the Roku won't have any network connection at all. Roku still insists that a connection to the Internet is mandatory to complete a network connection (the exception would be if you are using Ethernet as it would still get an IP address from the DHCP server). Roku has been asked to modify this for people that want to use them in RVs or other places that don't have an Internet connection but does have a media server on the local network. 

It has also been requested to be able to enter a static IP in a Roku, but again no response. But even entering a static IP won't work to make it connect to a WiFi access point until Roku allows a WiFi connection without needing Internet access.

[atc98092]

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@Sdub5150 wrote:

That is the dumbest answer ever given in the history of dumb answers. It matters zero % that the device is primarily used for "internet streaming".

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Unfortunately, Roku management has little interest in supporting users with local media servers. The only app they offer to connect to such servers (Roku Media Player) hasn't been updated in close to 5 years and had a number of really annoying bugs. While Plex, Emby and Jellyfin all have Roku apps for their servers, the user is still stuck with the lack of WiFi connection without Internet access.

Further up in this discussion there is a workaround to fool the Roku. You must first connect the Roku to a WiFi access point with Internet access. Once that is completed, the Roku will always reconnect to a WiFi network that has the same SSID and password. So, once you've moved your Roku to the Internet-less WiFi, you make certain that WiFi has the same SSID and password. Naturally, that will only work if you have access to the WiFi settings to make such a change. But that's the only possible way to get around the Internet connection requirement.

[Tindallh]

One thing I have learned Onn this subject; There are other Roku-like devices out there that do not have an issue connecting to local network services without an internet connection, have just as many apps, and far fewer intrusive adds Onn your screen.  Without naming names, one in particular is about half the price of the low-end Roku and, ironically, you can even load the Roku Channel app Onn it.  With Roku's seeming unwillingness to remediate the issue, Two of my Roku devices have already been replaced, and I sold my Roku stock as well.  If this is the hill Onn which Roku chooses to die, so be it.

[Scubadvr13]

I would like to know which device you now use over Roku? I have the same issue accessing my Jellyfin, would like to get a device that will actually work as it should.

[Tindallh]

Onn.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/onn-Google-TV-4K-Streaming-Box-New-2023-4K-UHD-Resolution/2835618394?clas...

[TheMav]

atc98092 Wrote:  "

Further up in this discussion there is a workaround to fool the Roku. You must first connect the Roku to a WiFi access point with Internet access. Once that is completed, the Roku will always reconnect to a WiFi network that has the same SSID and password. So, once you've moved your Roku to the Internet-less WiFi, you make certain that WiFi has the same SSID and password. Naturally, that will only work if you have access to the WiFi settings to make such a change. But that's the only possible way to get around the Internet connection requirement."

That's absolute rubbish!

Have you actually read anything on this thread?  Honestly, I can't believe you have even written that - how do you explain that once the internet connection is absent that it will not connect to a local Jellyfin server?

The internet settings for the WiFi router were the same as they have always been for goodness sake - what are you not understanding?????  It will not connect to Jellyfin once the internet service is out - this is the whole point of the thread.

[atc98092]

@TheMav Of course I've read everything previous. I'm simply offering the only way to connect a Roku to a WiFi network that doesn't have an Internet connection. It's a cludge, and personally I really hate that Roku hasn't offered a way to allow connecting to a network that isn't connected to the Internet. 

I don't use Jellyfin, but I do use both Plex and Serviio (two similar server products). I have never used either on a network without an Internet connection, and I honestly don't know if Plex will work without an Internet connection. But I do know from other user comments that Serviio will work without being connected to the Internet.

It sounds to me that Jellyfin won't work without being connected to the Internet. That's not something that Roku has any control over. The same with the Jellyfin app for Roku. If it needs to "see" the Internet to work, it's because Jellyfin programmed the app that way. 

I have more than 20 years of computer and networking experience. Despite what you think, I actually do know what I'm talking about.

 It will not connect to Jellyfin once the internet service is out - this is the whole point of the thread. 

No, the topic of this thread is connecting a Roku to a WiFi network that doesn't have Internet. Any issues with Jellyfin needs to be addressed by the Jellyfin developers. 

[TheMav]

I can see we're not going to get any further with this and not going to get into a di*k measuring contest over IT experience, for which I have significantly more years, suffice it to say that I can't see this being a Jellyfin issue alone - it happens with just about every app I use and therefore it's a non-event and I will leave it there as we are not going to progress this issue further as has already been stated by Bryanmw42:

"If the ONLY purpose of the device was to stream "PAID" content streams there would not be other applications available.

ALSO,  under YOU TUBE terms of service, You tube DOWNLOADS TO OTHER DEVICES can be mirrored from the YOU TUBE app without an internet connection.  If you dont want to support that, then REMOVE YOU TUBE, but I know you cant, because its your NUMBER ONE APP on the Roku System.

Roku should have an interactive dialog:  "Roku is unable to reach the internet.  Please select an app that allows local streaming (You Tube, Amazon)"

Your logic and argument have NO merit.  If you designed the device like ALL other internet devices, which CAN acquire a dhcp address and remain on the network WITHOUT internet it would not be an issue.

i am a corporate network engineer and I manage over 1500 devices (mobile and media) which have NO issue staying on network when our internet goes off line.

THIS IS A BAD DESIGN ISSUE WITH ROKU, not a user error."