Sofabaton X2 remote - Anyone with success setting up the Dish remote?

J_Smooth · Mar 20, 2026

This new remote could be a terrific Harmony replacement, but some commands (like channel up/down) don't work when the device is added. Has anyone successfully added a Dish remote to the Sofabaton and what settings did you use?

I am using a Hopper Plus, which is listed in their options to add. When I chatted with a service agent, she first said it was a DISH problem as they only use RF. When I explained that my DISH settings were set to "IR On" and that some commands did transmit, she told me to send in a support ticket requesting those be programmed.

I'll probably return this unless I find a way to have all commands work. The DISH remote probably gets 75% of the use. I mainly need a universal to change inputs easily across about five different activities controlled through an Onkyo AVR.

JS_racer · Mar 22, 2026

i thought you are able to program or learn buttons on that one ?? (not sure the process, don't own one, but its on my radar... harmony elite here)

J_Smooth · Mar 22, 2026

JS_racer said:
i thought you are able to program or learn buttons on that one ?? (not sure the process, don't own one, but its on my radar... harmony elite here)

Yes, you can choose to learn instead of choosing from the database. However, when in learning mode, the DISH remote can't teach any commands. So if it's not in the database, you don't have that option.

Bobby · Mar 22, 2026

The Hopper Plus and Joey 4 use RF only for commands. That was a requirement from Google. The Hoppers and Joeys can be either RF or IR. So, the buttons on the Sofabaton. which is IR only like the Dish 40 remote, will work for Hopper commands but not Hopper Plus. I don't believe there is a way around this.

J_Smooth · Mar 22, 2026

Bobby said:
The Hopper Plus and Joey 4 use RF only for commands. That was a requirement from Google. The Hoppers and Joeys can be either RF or IR. So, the buttons on the Sofabaton. which is IR only like the Dish 40 remote, will work for Hopper commands but not Hopper Plus. I don't believe there is a way around this.

Thanks Bobby! This is the exact answer I was looking for and answers the question. Looks like the X2 is going back. Frankly, while it comes close to the Harmony, it fails in other areas (favorites).

So if I'm getting what you are saying right, the reason some commands like Channel up/down don't work is that they are RF due to being specific to Google Hopper Plus. And other commands like guide, home, etc work because they are transmitting in IR. It's weird that the X2 can't learn from the remote either, since the remote isn't unique to the Hopper Plus. Seems like it would learn it, but not be able to receive it.

Bobby · Mar 22, 2026

J_Smooth said:
Thanks Bobby! This is the exact answer I was looking for and answers the question. Looks like the X2 is going back. Frankly, while it comes close to the Harmony, it fails in other areas (favorites).

So if I'm getting what you are saying right, the reason some commands like Channel up/down don't work is that they are RF due to being specific to Google Hopper Plus. And other commands like guide, home, etc work because they are transmitting in IR. It's weird that the X2 can't learn from the remote either, since the remote isn't unique to the Hopper Plus. Seems like it would learn it, but not be able to receive it.

The remote, and I am assuming you are speaking of the Dish 54 remote, is an RF remote only. The IR remotes can't learn from an RF remote at all.

J_Smooth · Mar 22, 2026

Bobby said:
The remote, and I am assuming you are speaking of the Dish 54 remote, is an RF remote only. The IR remotes can't learn from an RF remote at all.

Yes, it's a 54.0. To teach the X2 remote, you point your remote at its hub. For me, this just hangs. I tried every code set they had for Dish hoppers, joeys, and the Hopper Plus they had in their database. For all, channel up or down never worked with any code.

Bobby · Mar 22, 2026

J_Smooth said:
Yes, it's a 54.0. To teach the X2 remote, you point your remote at its hub. For me, this just hangs. I tried every code set they had for Dish hoppers, joeys, and the Hopper Plus they had in their database. For all, channel up or down never worked with any code.

And it won't work with the Plus because the Plus reacts only to RF signals.

J_Smooth · Mar 22, 2026

Bobby said:
And it won't work with the Plus because the Plus reacts only to RF signals.

Any idea why 2/3 of the remote works? Do those transmit in IR instead of RF?

Bobby · Mar 22, 2026

J_Smooth said:
Any idea why 2/3 of the remote works? Do those transmit in IR instead of RF?

There are Google things and there are Dish things. Google doesn't use every command from the remote. The commands that it does use must be in RF. It doesn't use 2/3 of the available remote commands. The Plus is an add on to the Hopper and is only used for the Google side of things while the Hopper itself still operates as a Dish receiver. The Dish receiver side can still decipher IR commands. If you were to remove the Plus from the Hopper your Sofabaton remote would work for all the button presses.

J_Smooth · Mar 23, 2026

Bobby said:
And it won't work with the Plus because the Plus reacts only to RF signals.

What I still don't understand, and it doesn't make a difference about this Sofabaton being a fail for DISH Hopper Plus is that the Sofabaton does transmit about 1/2 of its signals in IR as several buttons do in fact work. It appears that DVR, Exit, Home work. Channel up/down, Guide, Back, and Play/Pause do not work. So, it's not all RF or IR that I can tell.

Bobby · Mar 23, 2026

J_Smooth said:
What I still don't understand, and it doesn't make a difference about this Sofabaton being a fail for DISH Hopper Plus is that the Sofabaton does transmit about 1/2 of its signals in IR as several buttons do in fact work. It appears that DVR, Exit, Home work. Channel up/down, Guide, Back, and Play/Pause do not work. So, it's not all RF or IR that I can tell.

You get the same with the Dish 40 remote and Harmony remotes as well. It is what it is.

tanman · Mar 24, 2026

J_Smooth said:
Any idea why 2/3 of the remote works? Do those transmit in IR instead of RF?

So Google says the X2 does transmit in RF also but it appears it is latest generation only. I also note the RF frequencies are 433/315 MhZ. Wonder if that would work with the Plus?

J_Smooth · Mar 24, 2026

tanman said:
So Google says the X2 does transmit in RF also but it appears it is latest generation only. I also note the RF frequencies are 433/315 MhZ. Wonder if that would work with the Plus?

Nope, I tried both. At this point after several of their suggestions, there is no way to make the X2 work rough the Hopper Plus. I'm returning it. They initially offered just 30% off for a universal remote that isn't universal, but I told them I needed a full return, which they have now agreed to.

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Sofabaton X2 remote - Anyone with success setting up the Dish remote?

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