Di2 hood buttons failure

Working fine for me on two different bikes. You are remembering to press them before setting off. I’ve found if you don’t wake up the di2 before setting off then it hasn’t connected and it stops looking once you’ve set off.  If you forget you need to find it on the sensors screen during the ride and press connect. 

The buttons are working fine on my Ultegra 8100 12-speed Di2. What version of Di2 are you using?
Is it just the buttons that do not work? Can you see the Di2-info on the screen.

I always press on of the the shifters to wake up Di2, before starting the Edge. Just  the same thing iheatcock says.

Yes, I wake up the Di2 before the timer starts
Ultegra Di2 6800 11spd

I thought the 6800 didn’t have the buttons on the top?  Only from 8000 onwards.  

I had the same problem - on my Gravel bike (11 speed) solved it by moving my D-fly out of the frame. 
The problem started after last firmware update.

Really be surprised if this is the firmware. Unlikely to have changed the range.  I had to move my D-fly out of the seat tube and into the handlebars as it was not reliable but this was the Garmin 1300. I think it was just out of range or interference with something else (power meter or speed/cadence sensor). 

I think the bigger problem is expecting buttons to work in 6800 when I’m sure they don’t actually exist!  Only DA 9000 had them in that range. 

Equipment Garmin Edge 1040 solar, Di2 GRX 

FYI.  6870 is Di2. My recollection is that the wireless unit, if used, only sends limited info like gear position and battery status.

I don’t have 6870 only Dura Ace but I recall they didn’t have hood buttons. Every search I’ve looked at seems to confirm this. The only way I’ve seen to change screens would be set up full synchro *** on one shifter and program the other lever buttons to do the screens. 

Perhaps as a start someone can categorically say they do have the buttons otherwise how are they expected to work if they don’t exist!