Roku Remote loses it's mind

[richt 94]

I regularly have a problem with the Roku remote control in Emby.  The scenario goes like this.  We'll be watching a pre-recorded show and in order to skip commercials will use the fast forward and skip ahead functions.  When I press the fast forward button (twice for accelerated forwarding) sometimes nothing at all happens.  The rewind button does not work and the skip ahead and skip back buttons do not work either.  Some buttons still work but may no longer perform their designated function.  For example pressing the play button will initiate a switch from the show we're watching to a random live TV channel.  I can then press exit (back arrow) and be dropped back to the menu for the pre-recorded show I was watching.  The remote will now be "magiclly" working correctly and I can resume the program.  The Home button always works to close Emby.  I've replaced the remote and still have the same problem.  So far I have not seen a comparable remote failure while using the Roku to stream video in Netflix, Prime, etc., so I'm "skeptical" that the problem is solely with the Roku.  Any thoughts?

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  I'm afraid I don't have any thoughts except that most Roku remotes are line of sight IR devices.  Do you have a clear view to the box?

During playback, the Roku system itself is handling most of the remote operations.

[richt 94]

These Roku remotes are RF.

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

1 hour ago, ebr said:

Hi.  I'm afraid I don't have any thoughts except that most Roku remotes are line of sight IR devices.  Do you have a clear view to the box?

During playback, the Roku system itself is handling most of the remote operations.

I do not think that the "most" applies anymore. The Ultras, Premiers(I think), and all the sticks are RF and I think that those make up the majority of the Rokus in service.

I also do not think what the OP describes is IR related. I have one Roku Ultra (In my bedroom) that has its remote from time to time simply act funny when using the RF remote. I keep an IR remote nearby and when the Ultra acts up the IR always works. If I use or do not use the RF remote for a period of time it will eventually revert back to normal. Also if I remove the batteries and reinsert them the remote always works after the remote gets started back up.

I think the problem is in that particular remote not the Ultra but I have not tested to be sure. I also no the when the remote goes off on one of its weird trips using the IR remote does not bring it back any faster.

I have proven that for my Ultra the problem is not in Emby. It does happen most often when navigating in a show or in the Emby menus but that "oftenness" is because I use my Ultra mainly for Emby so it is natural for any Roku failure to most often be inside Emby.

I do not know if my problem is the same as the OPs but it is a remote misbehaving on a Roku device.

My suggestion is to either get a new remote for the Roku, but that might not fix the issue, or get and use an IR remote that works with Roku.

Note: All Rokus, except the sticks, respond to IR so any universal remote will work with all Roku if it includes a "Roku" code.

For my main Roku Ultra I use a Harmony Ultimate Hub and I never have a glitch with it.

[richt 94]

Thanks but I'm already on my second remote doing the same thing.  I cannot use IR in this install without changing things around quite a bit as the Roku is not line of sight.   Interesting input on IR though.  Maybe I'll try out the roku remote app on my android tablet to see if it works without issue. 

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

18 minutes ago, richt said:

Maybe I'll try out the roku remote app on my android tablet to see if it works without issue. 

The remote app uses the same basic interaction as my Harmony hub does so you "should" have a good chance that you will not see the problem when using that remote. But, of course, this is the world of technology and you might just have "gremlins." They have been the cause of many many technology failures. But the movie was wrong on several points like the absurd "feeding after midnight" stupidity. Gremlins come in all sizes and they do want feeding but they feed on the anxiety byproducts that humans excrete when frustrated.

Or it simply could be the general case of "Murphy's Law": "The perversity of the universe always trends toward a maximum."

Personally I think the the CIA, conspiring with the NSA and Google are beaming microwaves into our brains causing us to be the one causing the problem and to not remember we have anything to do with it.It is a widespread and they have even selected frequencies that are not blocked by a foil hat. And they also get in using the optic nerve and subliminal signals through phones, computers and television. 

Spoiler

They're everywhere, they're everywhere. Resistance is futile. That's it "they" are really electronic based Borg.
Everyone "thinks" STNG was purely fiction but it is really based on a few writers "memory of the future" that is mostly "fact that will be."

Good luck.

[speechles 2055]

Is your Roku using 2.4ghz WiFi or the 5 ghz WiFi?

The Roku remotes themselves (the WiFi direct kind) will use the 5 ghz band. If you set the Roku connection to use 2.4 ghz this might cause the problem. The WiFi direct signal the Roku generates to connect to the remote will interfere (it is always on 5ghz) with the signal to get connected to your Emby server and the internet (if you are using 2.4 ghz). It will cause cross-talk problems and usually since 5 ghz is more interference prone will make your Roku remote laggy or non-responsive rather than impact your Emby server or internet. This might be what you are experience if you are using an WiFi connection on your Roku.

Make sure if the remote is WiFi direct that you connect the Roku to 5 ghz to avoid interference between the Roku WiFi remote and the Roku WiFi connection. That is my best advice.

Spoiler

We are in the matrix. Welcome to wonderland. Find Alice. Take the red pill and follow the white rabbit.

feel lucky?

Edited March 10, 2021 by speechles

[ebr 16169]

Okay, then it is likely RF interference, no?

[richt 94]

Thanks for the frequency info.  It gives me something else to consider.  The Roku isn't using WiFi as it is on a wired LAN connection, however I'll check and see if there is anything else that could be causing the interference, like the TV it is near.  I have some Z-Wave and Zigbee devices, but the closest they get is 2.4 GHz.   The number of devices I have on the 5 GHz WiFi is somewhat limited, so it should be easy to isolate them by temporarily disabling 5 GHz on the WAP and see if it changes anything.  I'll also try repositioning the Roku to see if there is any relief. 

 

[speechles 2055]

My Roku TV has a line-of-sight IR remote. That means I do not have the "headphone jack" for private listening or the "voice search" button. Both of those require WiFi direct RF remotes. You might also try change the batteries. The WiFi direct remotes will chew through batteries like no tomorrow. You can also purchase a line-of-sight remote.

TCL Roku TV:
https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Remote-Roku-Sling-Shortcuts/dp/B07MWJ29ZH/ref=asc_df_B07MWJ29ZH/

You can buy that for $8 USD and use it when the WiFi direct remote acts up. That IR remote above is an exact copy of what I have. Get a 2 pack for $13.99 too. The IR line-of-sight remotes sip the battery. The batteries will last for years. The batteries in the WiFi direct remotes may last for weeks or a month tops.

Once the batteries in the WiFi direct remote get bad (too low to send a signal to your Roku at the distance you like to use it at through any and all interference) they produce the exact results you experience. That may be what this is.

Roku Box $8 USD:
https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Remote-Roku-Sling-Shortcuts/dp/B08XFWMRGC/ref=asc_df_B07MWJ29ZH

Roku Stick $8 USD:
https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Remote-Roku-Sling-Shortcuts/dp/B08XB6B55J/ref=asc_df_B07MWJ29ZH/

Edited March 10, 2021 by speechles

[pwhodges 2012]

28 minutes ago, speechles said:

The WiFi direct remotes will chew through batteries like no tomorrow.

I've had mine for three months now and haven't yet had to change the batteries.

Paul

[speechles 2055]

1 hour ago, pwhodges said:

I've had mine for three months now and haven't yet had to change the batteries.

Paul

Roku ultra with gaming buttons? The ones with the Nintendo Wii like gaming remote on the older Roku ultra chew through the battery. You can tell by the weight of that remote. Hefty. The heavier the remote is the more juice it wants.

If you have those A & B buttons you have the battery eating remote but can use your Roku for gaming. Full motion controls with gyroscope and accelerometer. Turn the remote sideways and game on! Angry Birds. Donkey Kong. Scramble.

If you have the 1 & 2 buttons you have programmable buttons and lost ALL the gaming functionality.

Newer Roku devices cannot be used for gaming. There is a reason to keep your older Roku. Because of this old Roku 3 can be found selling for $100+ because it supports Roku gaming.

Edited March 10, 2021 by speechles

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

2 hours ago, speechles said:

You can buy that for $8 USD and use it when the WiFi direct remote acts up. That IR remote above is an exact copy of what I have. Get a 2 pack for $13.99 too. The IR line-of-sight remotes sip the battery. The batteries will last for years. The batteries in the WiFi direct remotes may last for weeks or a month tops.

That has not been my experience. The batteries in my Roku remotes last for at least 3-4 months of use. Of course I NEVER play games on my Roku and I do not "hold" my remotes while watching TV so the motion detector does not continually detect motion.

It is primarily the motion detection that eats batteries.

It is also recommended that when you put the remote down on a table it is best to lay it face down so that it does not rock when there are vibrations from the floor.

Of course I have to admit that I no longer really use my Roku's original remote but, when I did, I got months of use. I do keep a couple of Roku IR remotes just in case I need to use my Rokus when I have no RF connection to it. Only happens rarely as the Roku RF remote does not require the use of my router. Hence the name "RF Direct."

Edited March 10, 2021 by Gilgamesh_48