Wi-Fi & connectivity

[idk838]

i don’t care if this topic has been posted 100 times. my roku (Expess) doesn’t like to work at random times, the **bleep** thing is so bipolar i want to through the thing out my window. the internet just SUDDENLY doesn’t work. randomly. the thing has a mind of its own like oh let’s discontent from the internet at 5pm then wait till next week till it works again. my router is completely fine, everything works on other devices.

i’ve tried EVERYTHING.

Here is a list of what i tried but it didn’t help;

Restarting 

Resetting 

Clearing system cache

Restarting router and modem

Reinstalling apps

Disabling Network Ping

Switching Networks

Un-plugging and re-plugging it in

Disconnecting and re-connecting

Watching countless youtube videos

Reading countless articles

Model: 3930X

Software version: 10.0.0 build 4209-AE

Device ID: S00820ASSYAP

(i apologize if i come off as a bit rude, i’m just holding back punching everything in my sight.)

[StreamerUser]

1) Does "resetting" include both:

   A) Network Connection reset:  Settings/System/Advanced system settings/Network connection reset

   B) Factory Reset:  Settings/System/Advanced system settings/Factory reset  ?

2)  Who is your ISP?

3)  What brand/model modem/router/gateway?

4) Have you manually configured your 2.4Ghz SSID channel (1, 6, 11) and its settings (20Hz bandwidth), no "B" mode, etc?

5)  Are you within your return/refund/exchange window?

[idk838]

@StreamerUser By reset i mean factory reset, i’ll try the other option you said.

My ISP is Spectrum.

I have no clue if i’m in my refund range, i purchased my roku early this month.

I don’t know what you mean by 4 (i have never attempted it)

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@StreamerUser wrote:

1) Does "resetting" include both:

   A) Network Connection reset:  Settings/System/Advanced system settings/Network connection reset

   B) Factory Reset:  Settings/System/Advanced system settings/Factory reset  ?

2)  Who is your ISP?

3)  What brand/model modem/router/gateway?

4) Have you manually configured your 2.4Ghz SSID channel (1, 6, 11) and its settings (20Hz bandwidth), no "B" mode, etc?

5)  Are you within your return/refund/exchange window?

---

[DBDukes]

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@idk838 wrote:

@StreamerUser By reset i mean factory reset, i’ll try the other option you said.

My ISP is Spectrum.

I have no clue if i’m in my refund range, i purchased my roku early this month.

I don’t know what you mean by 4 (i have never attempted it) [configuring 2.4 GHz network]

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A factory reset does include a network reset, so if you did that, resetting the network settings on the Roku was already done.

Roku has a 1 year warranty. Some retailers have a return window for electronics; @StreamerUser is probably suggesting utilizing the return window and replacing it with another in case that one is simply a bad one.

@StreamerUser can probably explain it better, but Roku Express uses 2.4 GHz network band, which is suseptical to interference from other devices because so many devices use it. You're probably using either channel 1, 6, or 11. If you can change it to one of the others, that may be less crowded and have fewer interference issues.

[idk838]

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@StreamerUser wrote:

1) Does "resetting" include both:

   A) Network Connection reset:  Settings/System/Advanced system settings/Network connection reset

   B) Factory Reset:  Settings/System/Advanced system settings/Factory reset  ?

2)  Who is your ISP?

3)  What brand/model modem/router/gateway?

4) Have you manually configured your 2.4Ghz SSID channel (1, 6, 11) and its settings (20Hz bandwidth), no "B" mode, etc?

5)  Are you within your return/refund/exchange window?

---

Resetting network connection didn’t fix it.

[StreamerUser]

You would configure your 2.4Ghz SSID settings via the configuration pages of your (Spectrum supplied) modem/router/gateway.   Try manually configuring the channel to 1, 6, or 11, the bandwidth to 20Mhz, and to G+N+AC only (no B mode)

You generally access the config pages via your browser to 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 etc - this is model/ISP dependent (look it up online or call Spectrum to ask how to do this for your modem/router/gateway).

Spectrum has been having some intermittent DNS/etc issues so that could explain the "bipolar" connectivity you're experiencing as well.

If you are still within the return/refund/exchange window from the retailer you bought it at, you could do so - if you do, get the Express 4K/4K+ (3940/3941) - its dual band and can also connect to 5Ghz, so this give you more WiFi connectivity flexibility than the Express (3930).

[AvsGunnar]

@idk838 

I am certainly leaning towards the Spectrum DNS servers as at least contributing to the problem some are having.  Appears that you may have to download the Spectrum App in order to change the DNS server if using a Spectrum provided router.  Many public DNS servers to choose from, but for ease of use and normal users, the Google public servers are ideal.  The two DNS addresses to use are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

I would certainly do the above initially to see if connection issues stabilize.

Here is a simple walkthrough of the Spectrum App and DNS change procedure.  Restart both your router and your Roku devices after Saving and Applying the DNS changes.  https://cleanbrowsing.org/guides/change-dns-on-spectrum/

If you are using your own router, then you can make these changes from within the router admin.

If you find that your Roku is working today, then probably experiencing the DNS issues others were this weekend.  Would also still make sure your router's Wireless Settings are configured to the ones recommended by both @DBDukes and @StreamerUser regarding channel selection and channel width.