Wi-Fi & connectivity

[MrMikeW]

I just bought a Roku Express 4K+ through Amazon.  Every time I turn it on I get a "no connection" error message.  When I manually reboot by pressing the power button, Roku finds the connection just fine.  But after I turn it off and later restart I get the same error.  Is the device malfunctioning?  What are my options?  

[jontalk]

In my experience connectivity issues tend to be linked to network congestion. The best way to resolve it is through use of an app like WiFi Analyzer for Android or something similar in the Apple store. The app shows you the number of others in your immediate area along with the channels chosen, including yours. By changing the channel to one that's less congested, you may resolve the issue. If you're not network savvy, most WiFi routers offer both 2.4 and 5 gHz bands, the former having greater range but much slower than the 5 gHz band. Where 5 gHz is concerned, the lower channels (36-48) have greater power and range than the higher ones (157-165). Hope that helps

[makaiguy]

@MrMikeW-

A "Power" item has been added in the "Settings > System" menu for some of the newer Roku device models. At this writing they are Streaming Stick 4K/4K+ (3820/3821), Express 4K/4K+ (3940/3941), Roku 4 (4400), and Ultra/Ultra LT (4800/4801). You can check your model and model number via Roku menu path Settings/System/About.

If you have one of these models, the new "Auto power savings" item in the Power menu will put your Roku device into a low power standby condition after a 20 minute period of inactivity (i.e nothing has been streaming and no user interaction has been received). In this low power state neither its connection to your home network nor its HDMI connection to your TV are active. If your TV was off and you turn it back on while the Roku is in this state, this often leads to a "no connection" error display on the TV, and on some TVs can lead to HDCP copy protection errors and other connection problems when the HDMI connection is reestablished.

Pressing a Roku control key (like the Home button) on your Roku remote (not Power, Volume, or Mute buttons, if your remote has them, as they act on the TV, not the Roku) should bring the Roku out of standby and back to full operation. Pulling the power for a few seconds to restart the Roku will restore full operation as well.

If you disable "Settings > System > Power > Auto power savings > After 20 minutes of no interaction" it should prevent your Roku from going into standby in the first place. The power savings are very small and for the hassle it causes many users, I don't think it's worth having this feature activated.

For further details, see this Roku information page: https://support.roku.com/article/6306527767575

[MrMikeW]

Thanks a lot to both of you.  Great information that I never would have known otherwise.  I really appreciate the help.