Apparatus for controlling a device of a motor vehicle includes a communication unit configured to shift the device of the motor vehicle from an idle mode to an active mode by sending a first wireless signal. The apparatus is configured to specify a frequency and/or a channel for transmitting and/or receiving the first wireless signal in the active mode and to control the device so that the device is only shifted from the idle mode to the active mode when the first wireless signal is received at the specified frequency and/or the specified channel.