1. No, there's no way to side load an app on a Roku. The only unofficial channels that can be installed are when using a channel code that the developer offers.

2. Roku devices auto-update roughly once every 24 hours. You can also force a manual update check from the settings/system/update menu. This not only checks for OS updates, but all channels as well.

I didn't state that very well. What I meant was that they all have the same functionality. The 4K versions have the only real difference from the 1080 players. On Roku devices, there was a rough dividing line between players that didn't support Netflix profiles and players that did. Roku has pretty much discontinued support for all the non-profile players. Those old players don't get the new versions, and for Netflix they haven't for quite some time.

Just received my Ultra order. One major bummer is the lack of a remote power controls. No, I'm not concerned about the little bit of power it uses. I am concerned that precisely 100% of the time somebody is done using the projector, and the Harmony powers the projector down, the Roku will continue streaming and sucking WiFI network resources until YouTube, or Prime, or whatever was last streaming is finally drained of all its 1's and 0's (that could take a while, like forever). I'm certain nobody in the house will take time to stop Roku streaming before they shut down the projector.

I powered the Roku stick with the projector USB port so that it automatically shut down when the projector is turned off. I assume I can't do this with the Ultra. Is there a way to get the Roku to stop streaming at least in the absence of a power control?

So I just got my new Roku Ultra set up and I can’t for the life of me get it to output 5.1 audio. I have the Roku going into my TVs HDMI 2 and the AVR connected to HDMI 4 (ARC). I can get 5.1 on my cable box and 4k blu-Ray in HDMI 1 and 3 respectively, there shouldn’t be any difference between HDMI 1-3 anyways. I have the Roku set to Auto (Dolby Digital) and HDMI audio to Dolby Digital. I tried HDMI audio set to Auto to no avail. I noticed in my TV sound settings Dolby Digital is grayed out leaving only PCM and DTS Neo 2:5 as options which suggests to me that the Roku is only outputting stereo for some reason. Can anyone help me out here? I’m at my wits end with this stupid thing.

Edit: I have volume mode set to off during playback also.

Edit2: I’ve tried the other 2 HDMI inputs now with no luck. Optical out from the TV to the receiver with no luck. I tried bringing my Fire Stick 4k from the other room and trying it, 5.1 worked perfectly. If I can’t get this figure out I guess I’m just going with the Fire Stick. I had hoped to use the Roku for things such as Vudu but if I can’t get 5.1 then it’s not a great option.

Edit3: I think I know what the problem is. It sounds like the 2019 Roku Ultra ONLY supports Dolby Digital+ and will not downconvert to Dolby Digital and thusly will only give you Stereo sound if your system can’t decode Dolby Digital+. My TV doesn’t support DD+ pass through so I’m SOL there and my receiver doesn’t support HDR pass through so I’m SOL there. I guess I’m bringing the Roku back to Best Buy. What a pain, all this wasted time and frustration. This should be advertised with the Roku Ultra that a good portion of systems simply won’t give you 5.1 audio.

The 2019 Ultra is different from the original 4640. The female plug adapter into the Ultra Unit is sized different. I didn't check the power specs.

If you program your Harmony to send the Ultra 'Home'/'Home' commands during the OFF macro command, it will take the Ultra out of any app and put your homescreen back to its original position.
This will stop streaming and reduce the screens/devices being used by one, which may be a problem with some apps that limit the number that can be used at the same time.

Why would anyone not go back to the home screen when finished with the unit before powering their system down? Sounds like an education problem, not a Roku problem .
Gerry

Which model of Harmony Remote is the one to get for an HT type system, TV, STB, AVR & Roku Ultra?

With OS 9.2, Roku added a function that will stop streaming after 4 hours if the remote is not used. I believe it's a setting under network, but can't remember if it's enabled by default. Users should be aware enough to return to the home screen when done using it, but the bandwidth saver setting at least does stop streaming after a while.

I have my pronto universal remotes return my Roku Ultras to home as part of the programmed power off sequence. Works great so long as you remember to to turn off the "Control Other Devices" (CEC) option on the Roku. Before I did that sending the Roku to home would turn my TV back on. I might have been able to fix the powering on of the TV by changing the power off sequencing in the Pronto, but it was easier to disable CEC in the Roku.

I enjoy the Harmony Elite with the hub. Touch screen and plenty of hard buttons. Works pretty well and controls everything without having to point the remote. Will control Roku via WiFi so you can quick launch channels with either a button press or I tie it in with Alexa to have it go directly to say Hulu.

Only weird thing I noticed this weekend, I replaced my Airports with an eero. Same SSID and password, but just doing that caused me to have to re-add my Roku to my setup as the remote wouldn’t detect the Roku.

Ya, I too share your concern and only use Ultra's in places I know I'll stop the streaming (return to home) when "powering down the room".

There's been a feature request for a "return to home on power" on the ROKU forums for quite some time. Also, as noted, a recent changed has at least added a "return to home on timer".

One option I've seen people discuss (I've not used them) is a smart strip similar to this one. You plug the projector into the control outlet and the ROKU into the switched. The strip will power down the ROKU and all switched outlets when the projector is powered down.
https://www.amazon.com/TrickleStar-O...0YBDH95E7N024W

I just bought a 2019 Ultra and it works fine. The only question I have, is the unit supposed to be warm even in standby? My Express that I replaced would go into a sleep mode and be very cool. Doesn't the ultra have a sleep mode too after so many minutes of non-use? I haven't used the TV or Roku since yesterday and the Ultra is warm to the touch just from being plugged in and not in use. Is this normal?

UPS driver just left and below is my 2019 ROKU I just ordered a few days ago.
Man Amazon PRIME is Super-Fast !!!




Terry

^^

I love Amazon Prime shipping also, but you might not want to post your name and address on the web.

I have now replaced the older Roku Ultras in my three main AV systems with my new 2019 models. Once again the default ON setting of CEC in my HT room where I have both a TV and a projector was a bother. I was using my projector to do the installation/setup (the TV was powered off and not receiviing any signal from my CX-A5200) and the new Roku saw fit to turn the TV on for me. Did serve as a reminder for me to disable the CEC setting.

I can see where CEC can be useful for simple system configurations but in my systems it just gets in the way.

No-Worries on name and address as I have been on multiple internet sites for over 20 plus years.
So I doubt there are few members that don't know who I am and where I reside.

Terry

My 2017 Ultra is slightly warm after 24 hours of swimming fish (screen saver & LED off) which is 10 minutes, but a user configuration item.

Isn't this is the norm with ROkus? I thought only one Roku Ultra could do this? The one with the optical output?

I've never had this issue with my old Ultra. Once I shut everything off it must stop playing Youtube, netflix etc. Because when I come back to the title, it resumes where I left off.

I never go back to the home screen. Because there has never been a need to. All my Rokus must stop playing the content once I turn my TV and receiver off. Because they resume where I left off when I come back to the show on a Roku or another device.

it's extremely rare I go back to the home screen on a device when I finish watching or am in the middle of watching something. I just hit the off button with my Harmony remote and leave the room. It doesn't matter what screen I'm on.

Good evening. I just purchased a 2019 roku ultra that was on clearance for a second tv. I have currently a premiere plus from 2016 I do believe. Can someone breakdown the difference in the two players? Do both support dolby atmos with compatible apps? Thanks in advance

I think that Swimming fish must run 24/7. Because it is always running on my 2016 Ultra and my Streaming Stick+. Even if I haven't used my ultra for three weeks. When I come back to it the screen saver is on.

I will be picking up the new Ultra today or tomorrow from Best Buy though. I have a bunch of things I need to pickup before my time runs out for online order pickup.

That's not the way it works for me with YTTV or PLEX LiveTV. It continues to stream (2018 Ultra).

My connection is Ultra -> Yamaha AVR -> TV and CEC enabled

Thanks. I'll check this out once I have the Ultra set up.

Thanks -- this would probably be sufficient -- I don't mind 4 hours of wasted network -- 4 weeks would be bad (which could happen a lot since we don't use that system very often -- I will forget to stop the stream 80% of the time, my family 100%)

That's excellent -- the "return to home on power" is brilliant -- better than a true power on/off (or the always horrendous power "toggle") because it prevents any occurance of power "sync" issues. That outlet is very cool also -- I was looking for exactly that on Amazon last night but wasn't able to find it. I will use that outlet if I can't find a setting/Harmony programming solution.

1. Because they are human
2. Because they have been shutting off TV's for decades without having to do anything on the cable box
3. Because sometimes they bounce between chomecast and ps3 and Roku and when they shut it off it's very easy to miss that something was left on
4. Because I have a Harmony remote that should be able to make everything dead simple without anyone having to think -- and then you have a manufacturer like Roku that makes something that should be trivially easy impossible.

I know you are half-joking, but I have no patience for corporate apologies. A huge chunk of Roku's market is cable conversions, and for the "market disrupter" to require a behavior change for viewers to manually stop content before they turn off the TV, when no such requirement has ever existed people's decades of experience with cable, is about the stupidest thing Roku should do. Especially since adding it couldn't be more trivial, probably could be implemented in just a firmware update. It's just dumb.

Very interesting. Maybe Roku automatically shuts down streaming when the HDMI handshake goes away from powering down the TV/Projector. If that is the case, it's excellent.

It may be the norm but it’s not exactly common knowledge. It took me a lot of very specific googling to find this out. It’s not as though they print this info on the box or on the product page. It’s functionality you expect from any AV device and not telling you it’s not there is total BS.

I'm not using YTTV or Plex Live TV.
I do use Youtube and Plex though. And other apps, like Netflix, Philo, Amazon etc. With those they must stop once I turn the TV and receiver off?

Are you sure on the Amazon? When I did my trial it too continued to stream (that was about a year ago). The ROKU app itself also continues to stream as does iHeartRadio.

I've never done Netflix nor Philo but I haven't seen any app behave as you describe.

How is your ROKU connected to your TV?

They cant all have the same functionality if the 4K/HDR versions are different from the 1080p versions (and they are, both build and functionality-wise). The 4K/HDR builds can play 4K/HDR - the 1080p builds cannot - different functionality, different builds.


The Roku 1 SE (2710) has a netflix version/build (3.1 build 6041) that doesn't support profiles - yet, its still supported by Roku and continues to receive RokuOS firmware updates (e.g. it has received several builds of 9.2.0 (and 9.1, 9.0, 8.x, etc), including the current one of 4701) - this is not "discontinued support" - just the opposite.

In fact, it even has the Disney+ app on it (works fine).

So while Netflix may have version-locked its app to older versions/builds not supporting profiles on "low resource" models, Roku still supports them, as well as other companies like Disney (profiles and all).