I have exactly the same behavior and it has nothing to do with IR and orientation toward the controlled device. When trying to control a Roku over Wi-Fi and an Apple TV over Bluetooth, about every fourth command will be missed. The hub will flash but the device will not be commanded, so I must repeat the key press. And the remote is slightly more reliable the closer it is to the hub. I have spent MANY hours trying to get the remote to be reliable. Something is wrong with how the hub sends out signals. I have this behavior on two different remote/hub setups. Time for an Amazon return. I REALLY wanted this to work.