Wi-Fi & connectivity

[moorrbrt2]

When I turn on my Internet Hotspot my TV automatically connects. I don't want it to do this.

[atc98092]

Roku devices will auto connect to the last used network when it sees it. You can't disable that functionality. There is no way to disable the WiFi radio in the Roku. I just double-checked within the hidden menus, and there's no such ability that I could find.

You could change the SSID of your hotspot, and since the TV hasn't connected to it before it won't auto-connect.

[moorrbrt2]

I can't be the only one who doesn't like this.  My phone and my pc allow me to disconnect from the Internet.  Don't like having to remember to unplug my TV when I want to go online.  Allowing the tv to stay plugged up weakens the signal.  Shouldn't it not connect when the TV is off?

[atc98092]

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@moorrbrt2 wrote:

Shouldn't it not connect when the TV is off?

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In most cases, a modern TV isn't actually "off" when you hit the power button. They are actually just in a low power mode with the display turned off. Some TVs offer an ability to disable what is usually called quick start, or something similar, and in that case it's in a deeper sleep mode. However, it still has the base OS running, otherwise pressing the power button on the remote would not turn it back on. It has to be running enough to respond to the IR power function, and most likely the wireless would remain on at all times. 

[moorrbrt2]

I do see what you're saying.  Not trying to be difficult.  I can use my smartphone and my PC without being online.  Seems I should be able to do the same with my TV.

My thoughts are that there should be a disconnect.  The TV works just fine when I don't have the Internet turned on.

I guess I was unaware of what Roku was when I bought the TV.  All I really wanted was a TV that I could use with an antenna and that would allow me to use Hulu, Netflix and YouTube.  The TV I had before only used the Internet when I wanted it to, but I unfortunately busted it.  Knocked it over cleaning up. lol

Thought I would like the Phillips TV better.  And I do.  Except for Roku.  There really should be a way to turn it off when it's not in use.  Guess I'm either stuck with it, or I have to buy another TV, which I really don't have the funds for.

Tell me.  Am I the only one who has this objection?

And, thanks for your patience in answering.

[StreamerUser]

Being able to easily enable/disable the WiFi with a toggle setting is something thats been requested before. 

However, for WiFi only models (most of them) this would cause loss of connectivity, and Roku would need to program a reminder indicator for the user that they manually disabled it and provide a shortcut to the setting to toggle it on again, otherwise they would deal with a massive amount of support requests for lack of connectivity, which are already pretty bad at times (e.g. major version updates).

If you compare Roku to any other CE devices including streamers (e.g FireTV devices dont have it, Shield's dont have it - they do allow you to enable/disable wired however), you will rarely find a setting to enable/disable the WiFi (even assuming saved credentials) - its usually restricted to mobile devices (phone/tablets/PDAs etc) due to their mobility/roaming, so Roku is pretty normal in that regard.

You can always make the suggestion, though the probability of it ever being implemented are near zero.

[atc98092]

You have to remember that a Roku player (not the TV models) is worthless without a network connection. Only a couple of models support connecting a USB drive with media for playback, the rest must connect to a network to be of any use. I agree that a Roku TV is useful without a network connection, but then if you aren't interested in using the smart TV functions why buy one? That was a rhetorical question, not directed at you. There certainly are use cases for users to want to control when the device is connected. It wouldn't take much for Roku to add such control, but my guess is they are focusing on the player devices that must have a connection, and just ignored the other use cases.