Prushing & gregeusa answered this further down the thread but to clarify. U1 & U2 have IR in the handset but do not have a Hub so would need a separate extender (available from your favourite online shop). The X1 does NOT have IR in the handset, it’s in the Hub, BUT it also comes with 3 Blasters in the box that you can connect to the hub and run to within view of your TV (and/or a second/third cupboard). From memory they are about 2-3 metres long. If you need to run them any further I believe you can buy extensions. If your equipment is really that far away and you cannot run the Blasters alongside your very long HDMI cable to the TV then look elsewhere as none of the Sofabatons will serve your purpose.

If its still under warranty e-mail them with a video of the issue and they will replace it. They did with me. If its out of warranty or you just wish to fix it get some Electrical Cleaner (its nonconductive so don't just use any old cleaner) quick squirt down the gap and all will be well again.

I thick they are asking for Remote & Hub Firmware Versions. Mine is Remote 11 and Hub 15 and doesn't go to Main screen when charging, maybe some other versions do.

IR learning does seam to be a bit hit and miss. I have 2 aircon units it learnt one no problem but refused to learn the second. I also have 2 Panasonic TV remotes it will learn from one but not the other. Even stranger I have another learning remote that if I teach it the Panasonic codes the X1 won't learn and then use that to teach the X1 it works. One last tip, another remote I tried that it wouldn't learn in the daylight it did in the dark!

In the app go to Devices / Edit / Edit on the device you wish to change its behaviour / Power Settings / Power State. There are 4 options, I think the one you want is “Always on, unless the Off key is pressed” but never used it personally I prefer equipment that's not in use to be Off.

I can't remember where and can't look as moving house and X1 is packed away but somewhere there is an option so when switching Activities you can chose to leave existing equipment On or it turns Off.

Consumer Electronics Control. It is supposed to help integration between equipment so when say you turn on your streaming box the TV turns on and switches to the correct input automatically. Different companies can call it different things, Panasonic call it Viera Link. When it comes to the X1 what happens is the Activity turns on the streaming box which using CEC turns on the TV then as part of the Activity the X1 tries to turn the TV on but this actually turns it off as its already on.

You need to use “Electrical Cleaner” its nonconductive other cleaners may do exactly what you say. I did a quick squirt, using the straw it came with, down the gap then turned the wheel.

This can be easily fixed with a quick squirt of Electrical Contact Cleaner. Mine works perfectly again.

To help with your last point as you sound like you are now out of warranty. Get a spray can of Electrical Cleaner and a QUICK squirt using the straw will have it up and running again. And if you still have the old one you will now have two.