those of you with Roku's, please read.....

JanJ

I have 3x Roku Ultra’s…. Up to 4K resolution, of 3 different vintages:
Roku Ultra LT (No SD Card slot. No Dolby Atmos. Model 4801RW)
Roku Ultra 2023 (Has SD Card slot with 32GB Card installed)
Roku Ultra 2024 (Has NO SD Card slot . Faster CPU More RAM)

All are at same (Current) firmware version, though they are different units….

I was browsing my router looking to see if Security cameras had attempted to access internet, and discovered one of my Roku’s (The ULTRA LT one ONLY) was accessing the internet pretty much 24/7!!
The 2023 and 2024 units were not doing this, and only occasionally phoned home, looking for updates, I assume…
But being on 24/7 downloading ???? Not Good!

So I go to Roku forum and post, indicating proof it is doing that…. And I get a reply saying I have to hit the HOME Key before powering down….. I’m doing that!!!!
Obviously no help… Then I discover a setting: POWER, that allows unit to power off when nothing is requested in 20-30 min… is NOT Available on the LT, but IS on 2023 and 2024! So I post on THAT, asking WHY?
Crickets!!!

So I’m on my own, eh? Thought about it for a while and decided to do a FACTORY RESET BLASTING EVERYTHING and STARTING OVER!!! Just the LT unit, left 2023 & 2024 alone… (They continue to work correctly, by the way)

Did that, and Re-Configured everything, including channels with other logins than Roku. Everything configured EXACTLY as it was before…. AND SURPRISE-SURPRISE!!! POWER SETTING RE-APPEARED, and I ENABLED IT!!

That was yesterday afternoon…. This morning checked Router…. Ultra LT accessed Internet for only a minute since it was FACTORY RESET and RE-CONFIGURED!!!! (Same amount that the 2023 & 2024 did!!) 🙂!

Be advised of this fix if your’s is doing the same thing!!

I posted back on Roku site with pics proving that this fixed it…. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A FIRMWARE BUG!!!
I’ll be watching that to see if it fails again over time….
PS: STILL CRICKETS from Roku Support folk who watch over things there!

Andyross

If you haven’t checked, you can post this info on the AVS Forum for higher-end Roku’s.
https://www.avsforum.com/threads/official-roku-4k-hdr-premiere-ultra-owners-thread.2604017

JanJ

Tried. Even reset password. Won’t let me in. Holdover from forum argument years ago, I think

JanJ

The Factory Reset “fix” has continued to work.

At Roku site the approach by a couple others has been that my hitting home - then powering off is an incorrect way of exiting a channel, yet the system switch: POWER, that did not even display until I did the Factory reset — and then showed as disabled — when that was set the 24/7 connect to internet doing ???? Then ceased. Is an even more abrupt close!! All 3 different version Roku’s are addressed the same way, and only 1 connected to Internet 24/7, so ?????? So not finding a specific documented way of exiting a channel - HOW TO???

CRICKETS!! Like before!!

I think that user site has lots of trolls.

Like the Roku! At 4K or 2K it does a very good job! And you can set it up without using a CC.
We are using it as an addition to, not to replace our DTV Service. Seeing that we have ZITO for Internet, and ZITO’s equipment has no battery backup, and our power goes out frequently……. Our Generator and UPS’s keep power up here 24/7/365, but internet goes out more frequently than AC Power does, due to ZITO being ZITO — so Roku cannot replace DTV…. Even if I wanted to!!

bennor

Roku’s are extremely chatty even when not in use. One option is to physically pull power to the Roku. Personally I have my Roku Ultra (and it’s associated TV) on a smart outlet and turn off power to the Roku when it’s not in use. Easy when the smart outlet is Alexa voice enabled. Other options (which can be used in conjunction with removing power to the Roku) are to use DNS sink holes like Pi-Hole and similar to reduce the Roku internet chattyness.

JanJ

bennor
I’m not seeing this to be the case. With exception of recent LT issue, where it was 24/7….
I see Ultra LT connect once in 6-8 hours, and even less on 2023/2024 Ultra’s.
I do not have zip code or CC Attached to account. Actually I’m very happy with them!
The 2024 model is on a 4K/Dolby System, the 2023 & LT ON 2K TV’s.
It does a good job of UP & DOWN Converting, Down to 2K or 4K
From 8K sources, plenty of free channels, and those premium $ channels that are not paid through Roku work correctly, and quickly!

bennor

Look around on the internet, plenty of posts on how chatty the Roku is, particularly with Pi-Hole users. On my network the single Roku Ultra I use tops the list with blocked requests by the Pi-Holes. That Ultra made over 800 requests per my Pi-Holes over the past day despite only being powered on and used for 3 hours total. 2 of those three hours was streaming local media from Plex.
Top Blocked Clients (per both PiHoles)
RokuUltra requests: 514 (next closest client requests was 496)
RokuUltra requests: 108 (next closest client requests was 32)
Lots and lots of blocks for scribe.logs.roku.com.

antdude

Lots of online devices are like that. Look at Apple, Microsoft, Google, etc. 🙁

Andyross

One issue with a Roku is what Screensaver is used, or features like Backdrops. Some screensavers get info from Roku servers, and the pictures on Backdrops also come from their servers or other servers as far as I can tell.

Either disable any screensaver, or use something basic like the falling Roku logos or clock.