Wi-Fi & connectivity

[bmorton]

How do I connect directly to my Internet router via ethernet with the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Remote and Long-Range Wi-Fi device? I tried to connect with adapter and did not work. I want to do "wired" connection instead of "wireless". 

Thanks

[makaiguy · Accepted solution]

Sorry.  Streaming Sticks have only WiFi network connections, no direct Ethernet connections.

Roku Ultras have Ethernet jacks.

Roku Express 4K, Roku Express 4K+ and Roku Streambar can connect to Ethernet via an external adapter  connected to their USB ports.

[AvsGunnar]

@bmorton 

If you have the Roku Streaming Stick 3820/3821, you can use an ethernet adapter since it has the newer Realtek chipset.  Although not officially supported as being ethernet capable, the process is set forth in this thread https://community.roku.com/t5/Wi-Fi-connectivity/Using-Streaming-Stick-4K-4K-Wired-amp-Without-Remot... by @StreamerUser.

As for the ethernet adapter, although some users have gotten various 10/100/1000 (USB 3.0) adapters to work with Roku devices, these are hit or miss. (mostly miss).  Try the known compatible 10/100 (USB 2.0) ethernet adapters listed in the Roku Support Article https://support.roku.com/article/360058027813 and try and verify that the chipsets are either AX8877X or SMSC95XX.  (the X are variables, these will be actual numbers in the adapter's specs, so an AX88771 chipset will be compatible).

[renojim]

Keep in mind that if you can get an Ethernet adapter to work the remote won't work since it communicates via Wi-Fi direct and you'll no longer have any Wi-Fi connection.  You'll have to use the Roku app on your phone as a remote.

[bmrkusr]

I can confirm that wired networking does work (as of mid-december 2023) on the Stick 4K (running OS 12.5.0), using the "Cable Matters Micro USB to Ethernet Adapter" you can buy on Amazon, even if the merchant's listing says it's not compatible with Roku devices.  You will have to control your Stick 4K via the official Roku app on either your tablet or smartphone, because the standard Roku remote that comes with your device is a WiFi device, not a bluetooth one.

!BUT! The OS will periodically complain about its missing wireless receiver, even if the Stick 4K has a working network connection and you're successfully using the Roku app on your tablet or your smartphone to control the device.

So, it works... and it sort of doesn't, because of the (somewhat) frequent pop-up about the missing WiFi receiver.

[rokonymous · Accepted solution]

Got the Roku Streaming Stick 4K (3820) to work with Ethernet and remote. For that I connected a cheap USB hub via OTG cable to the stick and plugged the ethernet adapter and the antenna cable into it. Connect the wireless cable/adapter as usual to a power source (USB-A). For the other end (Micro-USB) that usually goes to the stick, I used 2 adapters as that is what I had laying around (Micro-USB to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A (male)) to connect it to a cheap old USB 2.0 hub. No external power required for the hub as the power has to come through the Roku antenna cable to power everything. Additionally, I connected an old Anker USB-3 ethernet gigabit adapter to the hub and a network cable. For the last part, I used an OTG cable (Micro-USB to USB-A female) that I plugged into the stick and the hub into the OTG cable. Using a 2A power supply (to be safe), it boots up normally, connects to Ethernet automatically and the remote can be used as usual. The USB ethernet adapter is even hotplug capable and WIFI could still be used if desired. I had to test with some different usb cables, adapters and hubs that I had laying around until it worked. The hub should be a super cheap and passive one that does not have any internal logic to distribute power since power will flow from the antenna cable to the hub, stick and ethernet adapter.

[JezZedex]

Hi all. I am new to this sort of TV viewing and have just got set up with an Express 4K stick. Got it all set up and now getting used to it.

Anyway, what I hope to do is connect using the Ethernet adapter method, as has been suggested here. There appears to be 4 options listed, but what concerns me is three of those state they are not compatible with Roku Express. Only the UGREEN shows compatibility. I am sure the item I received is model no. 3940EU if that is of any use.

Is this the case or will any one of the 4 work? I really do not want to go for one and find it does not work.

Thank you in advance for any help.

[renojim]

Look in the comments or answered questions for users that have actually tried the adapter with a Roku device.  The description and specifications were probably written before any Roku devices supported a USB Ethernet adapter.

[JezZedex]

Thank you for the reply. I will continue as you suggest, doing a more in-depth specific search. As you suggest, the Amazon links I was redirected to from here may be out of date & a bit ambiguous.

[JezZedex]

I went for the UGREEN model, got it connected without any hassles and all is working as well as can be hoped for.