Frequently asked questions

• What has to be in the house for the R5 to work?

  At least one SONOFF device with the eWeLink-Remote gateway function. The official list: the MINIR4, MINIR3, BASICR4, DUALR3/DUALR3 Lite and MINI-RBS relays, the M5 and TX Ultimate wall switches, the NSPanel Pro, the iHost, the S40/S40 Lite plugs and the B05-BL bulb. Older relays such as the BASICR2 cannot hear this signal.
• Do scenes still fire when the internet drops at the dacha?

  Commands aimed at the receiver itself — yes: the signal runs directly over the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth radio, up to 90 m in the open and about 45 m through walls. Scenes that involve other devices in the eWeLink account, however, are executed by the cloud — those need the internet.
• How do 18 commands fit on six buttons?

  Each key reads three gestures: click, double-click and long press. In eWeLink every gesture gets its own scene — 6 × 3 = 18; the full mapping is always visible in the app on the remote's page.
• Can I build a two-way switch together with the M5?

  Yes, it is an official SONOFF scenario: the M5 sits in the flush box and switches the chandelier, while the R5 sticks at the second point — above the stairs or by the bed. The light obeys both sides, and the pair works locally even when the M5 is offline.
• Do I need a separate hub or Wi-Fi to set it up?

  No separate hub enters the picture — the receiver itself plays the gateway: a relay or switch with eWeLink-Remote. Wi-Fi and the eWeLink app are needed once, to add the receiver and bind the remote; after that presses travel directly over the radio.
• Can I use the R5 with Home Assistant?

  Yes, officially: the eWeLink-Remote Gateway add-on from the iHost Open Source Project repository syncs the R5 into Home Assistant, where click, double-click and long press become automation triggers. The server needs a working Bluetooth module with passive scanning enabled.
• Will the remote survive winter in an unheated house?

  The rated range is 0 to +40 °C, and the housing is meant for indoors. In a house that freezes below zero, the lithium CR2032 cells drain fast and the maker does not guarantee operation — take the remote with you or leave it in a heated room.