Roku and Switch

Fogold · 19 Feb 2016 at 10:43

Anyone know how to make a Roku work through a Gigabit Network Switch? I've tried Netgear and TPLink. No go. Roku works fine direct wired, but through any switch no good. Have tried all the usual networking stuff (fixed ip etc).

Avalon · 19 Feb 2016 at 10:51

Check the uplink from the switch to the router, also test the cables.

bledd · 19 Feb 2016 at 10:57

List your network setup.

Fogold · 19 Feb 2016 at 11:58

2 DSL lines through a load balancing router then a Netgear Unmanaged Gigabit switch to pc, server, Netgear Nighthawk wireless access point, Vodafone Suresignal and other switches. Wired to Roku from first gigabit switch which works fine , but I had hoped to put another switch by the Roku to use wired ethernet on other devices in the living room. (not a fan of wireless if I can avoid it). All works flawlessly apart from trying to run Roku through the switch.

Caged · 19 Feb 2016 at 15:10

That's only happening if there's some VLAN configuration on the second switch (or it's broken).

bledd · 19 Feb 2016 at 16:51

+1 what kind of switch is it?

Fogold · 20 Feb 2016 at 10:45

netgear Prosafe 8. Also tried a TP Link. Could try another one as these two were lying about.

Fogold · 20 Feb 2016 at 10:47

The thing is the ROKU is already running off a Netgear Pro 8 at the router/load balancer end. I thougt I could daisy chain another at the Roku end but na da. It's not that big a deal. I just can't get my head round why it doesn't work. When I plug the jack into the switch lights come on. Cable from switch to ROKU, nothing. Diect to Roku, no problem. I'll try a device other than the rioku.

Fogold · 20 Feb 2016 at 10:52

Laptop no problem. Its just the roku. Maybe it's set up not to work.

Caged · 20 Feb 2016 at 16:37

I'd suspect the cable is damaged or is too short and the switch port is using some power saving feature. Switches are invisible to the devices connected to them (OK you could use CDP/LLDP but it's not a TTL issue).

Fogold · 20 Feb 2016 at 17:20

That's what I thought. Tried several cables and the laptop works no problem.

Thanks for all the replies. I've contacted Roku support to see what they say.

Cheers!

Caged · 21 Feb 2016 at 16:20

Be interesting to find out what it was. I suspect something on the Roku is slightly out of tolerance and causing problems.

Fogold · 4 Mar 2016 at 13:25

Well. Turns out the Ethernet socket is really dodgy on the Roku. Jamed a piece of cardboard under the RJ45 and it works like a charm. Discovered this after even the direct connection was flaking out. Bloody awful really and I should send the unit back, but can't be arsed. On searching it seems there are issues with the Ethernet sockets on these.

Caged · 4 Mar 2016 at 21:27

I'd send it back anyway to be honest. If you got it from Amazon then it's not even massively inconvenient - you get the new one before the old one has to go back, and you can drop the parcel off at a bunch of corner shops and newsagents.