Sometimes those remotes must be pointed directly at the control box. (may be inside one of the covers at the tube side of the awning-or-up against the outside wall if the lights are mounted against the wall) Sometimes you cant see the box at all as it may be inside, and the remote sensor is outside (and inside) the rail itself.
All Im saying is make sure the "switch" is on ! Make sure the battery saver is removed from the remote (as mentioned above). Then try pointing the remote at all 4 points of the awning.