When it works, its great. When it doesnt - never makes any sense

It picks and chooses when its going to connect. I often loose the remote for weeks & count on my phone app... But after a week or so, I have to turn it on with the remote once & then the phone will connect. I dont get the home sharing. I did it once and that didnt help my old phone that had it. We probably have the first gen appleTV weve had it a while. Weve been thru so many remotes. I think thats part of there gig. They know well have to keep buying them. Were gonna have to buy another because I think it fell somewhere deep in our couch :/ grr

Q tothe T about Remote, v4.2.3