Adding remote to ceiling fan that is not on a switch but the light is
I resolved my issue.  This website was a big help: https://www.do-it-yourself-help.com/ceiling-fan-wiring-diagrams.html.  Turns out the source wire to the ceiling fan was from above at the fixture.  From above the fixture it went through the fan, then down to the switch. So I needed to run it as a switch loop. I didn't have 3-wire cable as shown in the link above, but since the white/neutral at the switch is just capped and performs no function, I used the white as the red and labeled it as hot. Everything is up and running and the remote works great. No more replacing fan parts that break every year or so from pull cord operation.