# Is there any quality difference between the 5 roku models

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-quality-difference-between-the-5-roku-models/753595>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 1, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-quality-difference-between-the-5-roku-models/753595 "2016-05-01T14:19:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-quality-difference-between-the-5-roku-models/753595/21 "2016-05-07T00:49:35Z")

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As it happens I just got a Roku stick as a gift. Liking it so far. No issues streaming via WiFi (but to be honest all my previous streaming via my phone and my Blu ray was via WiFi also). Two things:

I thought it was weird that they required a Credit Card from me.

It’s a little weird it can’t be turned off.

Otherwise I like it.

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-quality-difference-between-the-5-roku-models/753595/22 "2016-05-09T15:24:37Z")

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> [@TBG](#):
>
> I don’t know about your specific question, but in interest of helping, where do you have your Roku located? If it’s inside a closed cabinet or something, it’s possible that it’s overheating. I’d try locating it somewhere that it gets plenty of open space around it and maybe even take a small fan and point it at it to help cool it down.
> 
> It’s also possible that the “freezing” could instead be related to the service being used having issues, or even your own router or internet provider having issues (particularly if it’s at a time of day where lots of people are using internet in your area). Without seeing what’s happening it’s hard to tell if it’s just that or an actual hardware lockup, just thought it worth mentioning as a possibility.

It’s in front of my TV, so I suspect it gets plenty of air. I don’t recall it ever feeling even warm to the touch. It’s close enough to the router where I even ran an Ethernet cable to it for a while to see if it would help (it didn’t). It could totally be the time of day/service related. Like most people I watch TV in the evenings so that’s when I notice the problems. I’m also on ATT Uverse. However I don’t think that’s the problem; as the box reboots itself occasionally after some of the freeze ups. I’m almost ready to just get another one just to see if it will make a difference.

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