Wi-Fi & connectivity

[jeibner]

I have a new Roku Ultra model 4800X SN X01000W91R3F. Both the Roku and my laptop are connected to my home network via wired Gig Ethernet. I use Miracast to send media from the laptop to the Roku, but when I look at the performance tab in Windows Task Manager, I see that it's using a WiFi-Direct connection. I'm not satified with that connection which sometimes breaks up or drops out. Windows is supposed to recognize that the media device is on the LAN and switch to Miracast Over Infrastructure using the MS-MICE protocol but that isn't happening. I named my device RokuUltra which is what appears in the action center when I connect to it. I can see that Windows is aware of the Roku on the LAN because it shows up as RokuUltra under network>other devices and I can ping RokuUltra sucessfully. Can anyone tell me why I'm stuck with a WiFi-Direct connection?

[AvsGunnar]

Someone will surely come by and should be able to help you with this.  I was never able to get miracast to ever work/connect and gave up on that way to mirror or stream.  Never fully understood it I guess, or win10 or combo.  I just used Kodi or HDMI cables when i initially wanted to mirror.

Now I just use android casting devices and apps to connect to my Rokus.  Wish I could help.

[StreamerUser]

@jeibner wrote:

I have a new Roku Ultra model 4800X SN X01000W91R3F. Both the Roku and my laptop are connected to my home network via wired Gig Ethernet. I use Miracast to send media from the laptop to the Roku, but when I look at the performance tab in Windows Task Manager, I see that it's using a WiFi-Direct connection. I'm not satified with that connection which sometimes breaks up or drops out. Windows is supposed to recognize that the media device is on the LAN and switch to Miracast Over Infrastructure using the MS-MICE protocol but that isn't happening. I named my device RokuUltra which is what appears in the action center when I connect to it. I can see that Windows is aware of the Roku on the LAN because it shows up as RokuUltra under network>other devices and I can ping RokuUltra sucessfully. Can anyone tell me why I'm stuck with a WiFi-Direct connection?

While Windows 10 supports MS-MICE (see the MS in the name?), Roku of course does not (MS-MICE is a MS initiative).

"Miracast over Infrastructure" (MOI) and "MS-MICE" are not synonymous (MS-MICE is a Microsoft specific implementation).

Nor does "Miracast over Infrastructure" mean Miracast over a wired connection (it can be either secured wireless or wired).

A Miracast receiver device has to be specifically enabled for this method of connectivity (specific Miracast extensions) - if it isnt (e..g. the Windows MS-MICE dicovery process determines the receiver isnt MOI-enabled/capable), then it reverts to standard Miracast functionality.

So unless and until a Miracast-enabled device is also MOI/MS-MICE enabled (or compatible), its just a standard/normal Miracast device, and is treated as such (including connectivity).

Practically and effectively, that limits it to Windows 10-based devices (and whatever Miracast devices out there are specifically MOI/MS-MICE enabled, mentioned in their documentation etc).

It's safe to say that if a product/service/app doesnt specifically mention "Miracast over Infrastructure" or "MS-MICE" compatibility, it isnt.

Roku hasnt significantly updated its Miracast code/functionality in several years - longer than MS added MOI/MS-MICE support to Windows 10, so its also safe to say that it doesnt support MOI/MS-MICE.

[jeibner · Accepted solution]

Thanks, at least it's working to an extent for me over WiFi-direct.   It's a disappointment though because I've been able to cast media (music and home videos) over my network to an old WD-Live device for years even with Windows 7.   I use the feature mostly to cast music to my HK receiver through an HDMI audio splitter and an optical interface, so I don't need to turn the TV on.   Although the Roku DLNA app can access my media library, it's much less convenient than casting from the laptop, and requires the use of the TV.

[StreamerUser]

Unfortunately Roku also doesnt support its devices/RMP as a UPnP AV Media Renderer, which would allow UPnP/DLNA-based remote control/casting capability (this support has been requested for years, but has obviously been ignored/denied).