WiiM Remote confusing and needs a few adjustments

[Dude]

So, not confusing in the sense the buttons are what they are but, when I am playing an Ultra or pro Plus (same remote), and I am done and I want to power them off, I pick up the remote and press the red power button and, nothing. So I press it again. SOMETIMES, this then powers it off but, more often then not it takes 3 or way more presses!
How does it “turn on” to work with the streamer? Does it have a motion detector? I can't tell. My guess is no. So then, to use it, you have to press a buttom to turn the remote on? Which is best button to do that? How long after press before the remote is active?

Suggestion: If it has a movement detection chip, set it so when it is moved, and a button is pressed, it holds that until it links then, sends that button press. Amazon does this with their BT remotes. Even if the WiiM remote does NOT have a movement chip, and a button has to be pressed. Allow the user to press power and have it do the same thing, send the power button press to WiiM once BT is established. So user can press power and then walk away knowing X seconds later, it will send power off to the WiiM.

 

[harkpabst]

It's much simpler than that. If you power off a WiiM device (and I really mean disconnecting it from the mains, not standby mode and not pressing the red button), the connection between the device and its remote is lost temporarily.

Press any button, wait around 8 seconds or so and the next button press (no matter which one) will be recognised immediately. That's all. No fancy sensors.

 

[Doublej]

As harkpabst indicates, the secret to happy use of the remote is knowing it has very slow response time.

To put a WiiM in Standby press the red power button and wait. To Power On a WiiM press the red button and wait, though this may not be as useful as you desire as it won't restart what you were last listening to.

The best turn on button for me is one of the 4 presets. I have them configured to play a specific internet radio station or switch the WiiM input to my CD player. If I press one of the internet radio specific buttons the WiiM turns on, goes to that station and starts playing.

Another very useful button to Power On on a WiiM is the microphone button. With a WiiM in Standby one can press and hold the microphone button and speak a specific command. The WiiM will wake up and execute the command. For example with the WiiM in Standby, if I press and hold the microphone button and speak "Play Bad Bunny" the WiiM will Power On and start playing Bad Bunny.

You need to link your WiiM to Alexa for this to work.

 

[Burnside]

...if I press and hold the microphone button and speak "Play Bad Bunny" the WiiM will Power On and start playing Bad Bunny.

Does it work for other tracks too, like Wake up Boo by the Boo Radleys?

 

[Doublej]

Does it work for other tracks too, like Wake up Boo by the Boo Radleys?

It does indeed!

 

[Dude]

It's much simpler than that. If you power off a WiiM device (and I really mean disconnecting it from the mains, not standby mode and not pressing the red button), the connection between the device and its remote is lost temporarily.

Press any button, wait around 8 seconds or so and the next button press (no matter which one) will be recognised immediately. That's all. No fancy sensors.

So, we have to press once, stand there for 8 seconds, and then press it again? That is just dumb UX engineering.

 

[Dude]

If I press one of the internet radio specific buttons the WiiM turns on, goes to that station and starts playing.

So, this is exactly what is needed but for the power button. Press it and forget it. It will be a delay to wake BT and connect but it should remember, oh, the power button was pressed. But it does not. Dumb.

 

[slartibartfast]

So, we have to press once, stand there for 8 seconds, and then press it again? That is just dumb UX engineering.

Are you powering your device off at the mains for a long period? I thought that was the only trigger for the remote to sleep.

 

[Dude]

Are you powering your device off at the mains for a long period? I thought that was the only trigger for the remote to sleep.

No. Always power going to it. It is my home. I assumed we all understood that powering off meant, deep sleep nowadays. RIP actual full power off…

In USA, for homeowners, main refers to a water main but, singular, not plural. Power is just power or, room breaker, or power strip/smart power strip/smart plug or, 12 volt DC trigger.

 

[slartibartfast]

No. Always power going to it. It is my home. I assumed we all understood that powering off meant, deep sleep nowadays. RIP actual full power off…

In USA, for homeowners, main refers to a water main but, singular, not plural. Power is just power or, room breaker, or power strip/smart power strip/smart plug or, 12 volt DC trigger.

We also have water mains but we don't generally confuse them with mains electricity.
I have never left my remote connected to a powered on WiiM long enough to know if it stays connected. How long do you think it takes before the remote disconnects?

 

[Wiimer]

No. Always power going to it. It is my home. I assumed we all understood that powering off meant, deep sleep nowadays. RIP actual full power off…

In USA, for homeowners, main refers to a water main but, singular, not plural. Power is just power or, room breaker, or power strip/smart power strip/smart plug or, 12 volt DC trigger.

I use the WiiM device remotely every day, and pressing any button ( the play button or a preset button) always starts playback immediately. To be honest, I hardly ever use the power button, but I don't recall ever having any issues.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I have never left my remote connected to a powered on WiiM long enough to know if it stays connected. How long do you think it takes before the remote disconnects?

I find that my WiiM remotes stay connected until their battery level is low, and then they will start to lose their connection, but otherwise, they are trouble free, and have no issues operating my devices.

 

[harkpabst]

So, we have to press once, stand there for 8 seconds, and then press it again?

No. This only applies if you pull the plug or the power strip or whatever (in case you really thought I asked about taking the WiiM off the water supply ).

Power is just power or, room breaker, or power strip/smart power strip/smart plug or, 12 volt DC trigger.

If this is your definition of "power", then note that this ...

... when I am playing an Ultra or pro Plus (same remote), and I am done and I want to power them off ...

... will not power off your devices. It's still standby mode, not power off.

So, this is exactly what is needed but for the power button. Press it and forget it. It will be a delay to wake BT and connect but it should remember, oh, the power button was pressed. But it does not. Dumb.

I cannot confirm this behaviour with any of my WiiM devices. The "red button" sends the devices to standby as reliably as pushing a preset starts to play the music. If there is a delay it is less than half a second. The 8 second wait is only after the device lost its power.