Help! I have two Remote 3s, and I am struggling to maintain connections to devices with either of them.
My Apple TVs are dropping off all the time and turning unavailable; my Denon receiver is doing the same. I think the wifi network is being maintained ok by the remote - 2.4Ghz, on a low channel <10 - it’s more that the devices go offline, and then the remotes then hunt for them, and say they are unavailble. Sporadically the devices reconnect, and then go offline again.
Am running latest firmware, but I’ve had this problem since I first tried setting the remotes up. They are essentially unusable as a result.
Am wondering if my Asus XT8 network is causing problems? Are there network configurations I need to change to ensure the remotes are able to maintain their connections?
I think I’m having a similar issue with IP integrations, specifically Apple TV & an LG TV. I seem to lose connectivity, which does sometimes return, but at times I need to power off and on the remote. When this occurs, I believe I see a small white dot moving back and forward on the status are at the top right of the home screen. This is so much an issue when I’m using, but is a problem if other members of my household are using it. I can’t yet decommission my harmony remote.
Same behavior with my BT remotes (FireTv Stick / FireCube). It disconnectes at random. The remote is unusable. If it is not resolved with future softwares, i plan to sell the remote for sure.
Is there a design mistake? It’s the remote which is the hub?
It should be the docker always powered which send all orders (Wifi/BT/IR) to devices. The remote would be only the controler which communicates with its hub via a low power protocol (thread?).
If i’m right the small white flashing dot means that one of the integrations is not started. Look in the web configurator and than integrations which has no green checkmark but a red cross and let the developer know.
My Apple TV and Denon integration load, and run for a while. But then the remote loses them; the Apple TV is frequently dropped. This leads to the the flashing dot at the top of the screen, which if you touch brings up “Reconnecting…” message. For some reason, the remote isn’t holding on to the connection. I don’t know if this is a remote issue, or incompatability with the router.
Would be interested to know if anyone is using Asus mesh network, an apple TV, and is having this problem.
Clearly from the above messages, there’s a challenge with LG devices too, and some others.
Unlike the Harmony the dock is not the main controller. The software runs in the RC3 remote. The dock is only used for charging and sending IR.
Have you tried turning on the ‘prevent sleep’ option in each activity you create?
I was having similar issues with the integrations taking a while to reconnect after the remote went to sleep. But preventing sleep fixed this. It does shorten the battery life a little but I have never had a flat battery because I charge the remote every night. And you can also use a wireless Qi charger if you need.
You need to understand that the RC3 is not a replica of the Harmony. It works differently and is still very new with development from the community. The integrations are written by volunteers and each version of an integration gradually improves the functionality.
Thr RC3 is currently not a consumer grade product. I would say it is more an enthusiasts product that requires time and configuration. It will get better over time.
I understant this remote is new and not for mass public but sorry it must at minima fullfill the basics: take control of main boxes and TV set of the market flawlessly. Then the integrations lire Roon, HA, … are nice and maybe useful for some clients but please make it works perfectly for the core use cases of a remote control.
exactly same problems here. R3 with re-connection issues all the time to the ip-sources. I tried everything: Auto-Wifi, 2.4/5GHZ, low wifi channel on 2.4 and 3 different Routers (now using Netgear Nighthawk). Nothing solve the connection issues. Rebooting the R3 works for the moment but it doesn`t last… I think it is the WiFi chip within the R3. Hope it is possible to fix in software.
Are you saying that the IR (like Harmony uses) is not working? Or are you having problems with the two way IP based integrations, which Harmony can’t do?
I see. The BT is sent from the remote itself. I didn’t realise this myself initally until I worked out that the devices need an unobtructed connection to the remote. If you are far away, or have the devices in a metal rack, or behind lead glass you may run into BT connection problems.
I’m not sure, but I think the dock has BT in it, just not implemented. But someone else might be able to confirm this.
Mine is not a remote sleeping issue. My remote is staying connected to the WiFi. I have integrations that are staying connected (for example my Zidoo integration is very stable). However, my Apple TV integration and my Denon integration regularly disconnect (and then struggle to reconnect). Meanwhile I can go to my Zidoo device and control it (proof wifi is working); allt he time Apple TV says not available.
This means either: (1) Apple TV integration has bugs; (2) there’s something about my Asus network settings which means it’s blocking the visibility of the Apple TV to the remote; or (3) there’s something wrong with my Apple TV. However, this happens with all my Apple TVs, and they stay visible to my Home Assistant setup.
So… I am thinking it must be (1) or (2).
But I do feel that Apple TV, and big brand TV (such as LG), and Asus as a router manufacturer are pretty much part of the basics here - and the remote should be working with IP control straightfowardly with all.
I totally understand what @MMinehan is saying and agree that this is not currently a consumer grade product. That is something that I really like about it. I am more than happy to work with the guys at Unfolded Circle to sort these issues out. That said, it does need to replace my Harmony Elite as my main remote control for my loungeroom setup. While I can normally sort the loss or IP connectivity, I need the remote to be reliable enough that other members of my household can use it without issues. Currently, using IP to control some devices, I can’t be confident that this is the case.
As my environment is quite simple, and I really only use the Apple TV for streaming, I can quite simply revert to just using IR, and then use the streaming apps on my LG TV, but this isn’t how I want to run things. I would like to be in a position to exploit new functionality provided by the Remote 3.
To say that this is an enthusiast device rather than a consumer device is all very well, but I feel that ultimately for Unfolded Circle to survive, it needs to become a consumer device as there is nothing else out that that I can find that is comparable.
To be honest, I find these teething problems to be enjoyable, and will continue to work to finding a solution. I feel that the battery life is a bigger issue. These issue will not make me consider returning the remote, and will not stop be purchasing the Remote 4, if it becomes apparent that hardware changes are needed to resolve some of the issues. I love to tinker with technology.
I have R2s for 20 month and R3 for 6 weeks now and no remote or dock has WiFi problems.
I use 2.4 GHz (different SSID then 5GHz), WiFi4, fixed IP (by router) and channels must be below 12 and WPA2 should be used. I use FritzBoxes in a Mesh configuration which are very popular in Germany but they are more a simple system. If I read about problems Unifi and Asus are often mentioned.
For BlueTooth default is that connection is establish when needed and disconnected after a few seconds which is often notified on the display of devices this is normal and can be avoid I think at the moment only by using the REST-API.
So to update on some changes that have helped for me.
I took the plunge and switched out my Asus XT8 mesh system and replaced it with a TP Link Deco system. Since then the integrations that I was losing connections with on the Asus, are proving to be stable on the TP Link Deco (ie Apple TV, Denon).
So it would appear to have been something about how data is moving around the Asus network that is causing the remote to lose its connections.
It’s much snappier now, and less issues too with the web configurator.
I know that’s not much of a fix for folk - but it does provide some insight, hopefully.
@BarneyH - I’m glad you got yours fixed - I wish I could say the same for me! I’m having terrible “reconnect” issues and I also have the same problems you had with Apple TV. I have access points connected via Ethernet to the Verizon router, but even if I connect to those (they have different SSIDs), I still experience the same problem. Because of all this, I too assume it is something in the router; I’m in the US and using a Verizon FiOS router. I was looking to swap it out, but unfortunately it’s not so easy because I also am running TV through the router.
I’m the “needle in the haystack” and hoping that someone reading this can point me to something - ANYTHING - that could help!