[Rdot]

Hey I haven't been able to answer this question myself - is anyone using a phone to control Kodi over bluetooth? I see there are a number of apps which work over WiFi, but that doesn't work for my situation - I'm trying to build a little setup to take with me on work trips and won't be able to join hotel WiFi without an input device in the first place. I know I could setup an adhoc network from Linux, but then I wouldn't be able to simultaneously use my phone online.

So I'm looking for a way to control Kodi from a phone (ideally an iPhone) over bluetooth. I've seen some iPhone-as-a-keyboard apps out there, the ones I've looked at require Windows/MacOS software to be run on the computer which means I'd have to us something other than a raspberry pi for Kodi.

Anyone have any suggestions for how to use bluetooth to control Kodi running on a raspberry pi or similar low power non-Windows/MacOS platform?

[DarrenHill]

I've never found one that works over Bluetooth from a phone.

There are a few alternatives:

• If the hotel TV has CEC (wiki) then you can use that to operate the Pi.
  
• You can use a FLIRC USB dongle paired with a remote to control the Pi.
  
• You can wire up an IR receiver diode to the Pi and again use a remote for this (via LIRC). There are several instruction tutorials about doing that on the internet (just google it).
  

I have exactly the same set-up as you (Kodi Pi used in hotels) and initially I went the IR receiver route (using a Pi zero with a protoboard hat including the diode plus some buttons) but a while ago I upgraded it to a Pi3b and a FLIRC and that works fine. I've got a bunch of old remotes from various old TVs/Videos/players at home that I use with them, or you can pick up a cheap universal one from electronics or hobby stores.

In some hotels I also use the CEC (wiki) route, but that can be a bit hit and miss depending on what the hotel provides for the TV and how they configure it.

The latter two do mean of course you need to carry a remote with you, but that's not normally an issue if you're packing a Pi, power supply and cables anyway. I do it, all nicely put into a small bag (actually a repurposed wash bag).

[z3rodivide]

I know I could setup an adhoc network from Linux, but then I wouldn't be able to simultaneously use my phone online.

Have you tried to enable an hotspot from your phone and then connect Kodi to your personal hotspot ?
Then you should be able to use an app to control Kodi, the official "Kodi remote", for example

[jjd-uk]

Never used it myself but you could try this https://www.unifiedremote.com/ it turns your mobile into either a bluetooth or wifi remote/keyboard.

[edit] Looking at website it seems they have the option to load a specific keymaps for various apps including Kodi https://www.unifiedremote.com/remotes/kodi-keyboard

[DarrenHill]

Never used it myself but you could try this https://www.unifiedremote.com/ it turns your mobile into either a bluetooth or wifi remote/keyboard.

The bluetooth part doesn't work with the Pi. Or at least it didn't last time I tried it, which admittedly was a while ago.

You also need to install and run the server side on the Pi. Again it can be done, but it needs a little work and knowledge to do so (even under LibreElec).

[Rdot]

I've never found one that works over Bluetooth from a phone.

I have exactly the same set-up as you (Kodi Pi used in hotels) and initially I went the IR receiver route (using a Pi zero with a protoboard hat including the diode plus some buttons) but a while ago I upgraded it to a Pi3b and a FLIRC and that works fine.

Thanks for the info- curious why you upgraded away from the Pi Zero and towards a Pi3b? I recall running XMBC on a raspberry Pi1 and being quiet disappointed with the performance, is that similar to the Pi Zero (I'm really just exploring options, right now I'm using VLC on a firestick and pretty unhappy with the experience other than the remote)

[DarrenHill]

The zero works, but it's a bit slow for GUI etc. Plus I had a 3b become available as I consolidated the functions of two of my other Pi's into one at home, so I decided to repurpose it to my travelling one.

My normal travelling kit is a Pi3b + a WD MyPassport drive (for local playback) plus a firestick (for Plex mostly). That way I can easily do both streaming stuff and local playback for those all too frequent occasions when the hotel wifi has the bandwidth normally associated with carrier pigeons.

Your thread has actually triggered an interesting discussion within the team channels, as a few of us are either interested in this kind of control solution or have been in the past. I had another look at what's around today, and one thing you might be interested in is the Input Stick. It's a little expensive and I've not actually got one to comment on how well it works (nor do I have any association with them, I just found it after the discussions above), but it looks like a hardware equivalent of all those many "remote control" apps (the client/server ones like Universal Remote) but using BT.