Wi-Fi & connectivity

[dragonfoureyes]

I have two Roku express boxes, model number 3930rw and two Google pixel 3a phones.  I have checked the software on the roku's and they are up to date.  Both Roku's connect to my phone's hotspot with no problem, but will not even show my wife's hotspot.  Every other internet connected device picks it up, but neither Roku will.  I have seen the other posts about phones not connected and tried doing network resets on the Roku and the phone, as well as unplugging the Roku and plugging it back in to no avail.  Please help.  We are about to go on the road and will need both hotspots to be available.

[atc98092]

That sounds like one of the hotspots is using a channel that Roku doesn't support. Look under your phone's hotspot settings and see if there's a way to manually assign the channel number used. Roku devices only work on channels 1 through 11 on 2.4 GHz. If the phone is trying to use, 12, 13 or 14, it won't be visible.

[makaiguy · Accepted solution]

Also note Express 3930 supports ONLY the 2.4 GHz wifi band.  If the phone's hotspot is set to use the 5 GHz band instead, the Express won't ever see it.

[atc98092]

I didn't think that phones offered a 5 GHz hotspot, but after a quick search I see that now some of the latest phones do. Depending on the model of phone the OP is using, that could very well be what's happening.

[dragonfoureyes]

Thank you.  That was perfect.  I'm not sure how her phone got changed to 5 ghz, but that was the problem.

[makaiguy]

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@atc98092 wrote:

I didn't think that phones offered a 5 GHz hotspot,

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I had the inside track on that one since my Galaxy S9's hotspot can be set up for either the 2.4 or 5 GHz band.  Doesn't give me any choice of channel, though, or if it does I haven't found it.