[flipside101]

 three workarounds:

1) Harmony hub. This guy can control the Mi Box via BT as if it were a keyboard. Very flexible but expensive. And the hub itself can only be controlled by a high end Harmony remote, or by a smartphone.


Thanks a lot.

Its worth keeping an eye on the harmony smart control bundle as this igets discounted 
on occasions (black friday is coming) .Im in the uk where its still £100 but the US has it around $80. not 'cheap' but not the super highend either