[ale] OT: Roku

[Greg Clifton]

Jim,

Good thoughts, I forgot about the effect that antenna orientation/location
can have on a wifi signal. Of course, if the chip is already fried from
inadequate cooling, the "box fan" won't bring it back, but it is a good way
to test for thermal issues on an early stage failure. I'm glad you're [so
regular] on the list!

GC

On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 1:13 PM, Jim Kinney <jim.kinney at gmail.com> wrote:

> Just a thought: when you tried using a cat5 wire, did you also turn off the
> wireless?  Not at the roku (which is questionable) but at the router itself.
> This way you _know_ the cat5 is being used.
>
> Second thought, put the laptop in the same physical location at the roku
> and try the netflix again. There may be a localized interference that is
> exacerbated by heating of the device.
>
> Lastly: external fan effect - does it make a difference if you have really
> excellent cooling? shoebox with 6" fan and roku in the front to make sure
> all air flows through the gizmo is cheap test rig.
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 12:24 PM, Chris Fowler <cfowler at outpostsentinel.com
> > wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 2010-08-02 at 11:59 -0400, Jerald Sheets wrote:
>> >
>> > I get no wireless failures with Roku nor do I get wired failures.
>>
>> The wireless failure is a hardware failure that happens with time.  My
>> daughters use the Roku so it stays on 24x7.  I bought the box in 07/09
>> and I think the wireless failed in 01/10.  What happens is that the box
>> no longer can "see" access points.  It will lock up in the configuration
>> page for wireless.  If you try to get the MAC address of its wireless
>> adapter you get all 0's.  This is not an intermittent problem.  It is
>> death of the wireless transceiver.  If you google and look in forums
>> you'll see this scenario.
>>
>> I do not know what causes this.  Possibly the heat from being left on
>> either makes solder joints fail or kills the chip.
>>
>> Before the wireless failed we had some issues streaming anything on the
>> first box.  It is so hilarious because the girls stopped watching Roku
>> but used a laptop in the same room running Windows XP and Netflix
>> streaming!  After I saw that I doubted signal strength was an issue and
>> decide more on hardware.  When someone is doing something on a laptop
>> next to a device that should be able to do it, it is hard to blame the
>> network on that one.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> --
> James P. Kinney III
> I would rather stumble along in freedom than walk effortlessly in chains.
>
>
>
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