Wi-Fi & connectivity

[BartZLederman]

This morning one of my Roku devices decided that it wasn't getting a good internet connection.  I have two other Roku devices that seem to be working o.k.

All of them say they have a strong connection to my Wireless.  I have tested my Wireless router and my cable modem with my PC and they are working just fine.  I have a 100+ MBS connection according to Ookla.

So if there really is a problem, it is somewhere between my cable modem and Roku.  I would like to do some tests to see where that is, but it isn't possible because Roku does not provide adequate information.

What I need is the IP address or name that Roku uses for it's content servers, so I can diagnose a possible problem between my modem and Roku.  This does not appear to be supplied anywhere, nor are there any articles I can find that cover the topic.

There are many articles that say how to find the ip address of your own Roku device.  I don't need that, I already have it, and it's irrelevant to this problem.

There are many articles that say how to diagnose problems making a wireless connection. I don't need that, my Roku devices say they have good connectivity to my wireless router.

I need the third link in the chain, the connection from my network through the internet to Roku's content servers.

Does anyone have this information, or know of a way to beat it out of Roku?

Thanks.

[renojim]

Most of the content you watch on a Roku doesn't involve Roku servers whatsoever.  Is there a particular channel/app you're having trouble with?  If it's just one, then it would be their servers you'd be interested in.  If you have a problem streaming anything on any channel/app then you need to examine your whole network setup.  The first thing I'd do is try different Wi-Fi channels.  If that has no effect, try moving Rokus around.  Does the problem follow the problem device or is it dependent on the location?  Don't rely on the speed the device is telling you it's getting.  Unless you're having a problem streaming it's not worth the time looking into the "problem".

[BartZLederman]

I'm not sure I agree with your statement.

The problem exists across every single connection the Roku device is making.  There are not separate network tests for Roku to individual channels like YouTube or Sling or NHK World. There is ONE network test for the Roku device to the Internet, and EVERYTHING your Roku does goes through that connection.

If that connection is bad, everything is bad.

To determine where the problem is, we need to know the end point of the content provider.

If you think the various channels all have their own servers (which is possible), then we need at least some of the IP addresses to which the Roku is trying to connect.  As least one of those will be Roku, as they very clearly are the company that is serving the content on behalf of the various channel suppliers.

[makaiguy]

@BartZLederman 

I have had the situation you describe where Roku's Check connection showed I had a connection but when I tried to actually do anything it would say there is no connection.

I know it does not sound logical, but this has always worked for me to re-establish my net connection when it has been lost or not performing well:

• Restart the router (even if other devices have no problem finding and connecting).
• Restart the Roku to clear its memory cache via Settings > System > System restart (for a Roku TV it's Settings > System > Power > System restart).
• Find and connect to your network via Settings> Network > Set up connection

If that doesn't fix it, try disconnecting the power to your Roku for a few seconds.  When it comes back up, see if you then can set up the network connection.

[renojim]

@BartZLederman, I was going to write a long response about why your assumption is incorrect, but just let me say this - whatever server Roku is using for its speed test is blocked at my router as are almost all Roku domains.  I managed to get my wired Ultra to say it had no Internet connection (it showed "Poor < 1Mbps") and it still works just fine.  Roku is not serving content on behalf of anyone.  cloudfront is and akamai is and I'm sure there's others, but not Roku (who probably uses one of those two for their own Roku Channel).

I'll try to say it again - once you start streaming from say NHK World (it's Grand Sumo time!), there's no Roku server involved whatsoever.  It doesn't go through "that" connection.  The connection is directly from your Roku to NHK's server (nhkworld.webcdn.stream.ne.jp).  The only time a Roku server is involved is if it has to redownload the code for NHK's channel and to do some logging (all of which I block).

I'll admit that if your Roku is showing a poor connection then there is a problem, but trying to diagnose Roku's speed test or trying to analyze the connection to one particular server is kind of pointless.  If it's just one particular Roku then that Roku has a problem.  It's very strange it would say it has a strong Wi-Fi connection but a poor Internet connection.

I'd start by doing what @makaiguy suggested.  Ok, I guess I ended up writing a long response anyway.