I have a number of remote controls available, for example the remotes for an old Nokia VCR, a Sony DVD player, a Motorola Set-top TV box and a Topfield PVRt recorder.
I think I will have to wait for a couple of weeks until I am back home again, was too late in thinking about this alternate control remote… Unfortunately I have not found one in any store near me and I have a time slot that does not allow waiting for on-line purchases to be delivered. By Googling I have seen some examples of remotes that use a USB connected receiver (sometimes on a short cable) that plugs into the Pi and then “just work”.
