Kobo Remote Confirmed

[Renate]

Between the crappy Kobo firmware and the crappy remote, sheesh.
The WiFi turns on when you enable Bluetooth???

And the report says that the buttons are loud/stiff?
I use the softest/quietest switches that I can find.

For $1 you can get a cheap Chinese two button selfie clicker.
(The only real problem with these is that most? timeout at 60 seconds, too quick for space cadet readers.)
For $30 you get ???

I picked up the 5-way for $20 years ago.
I didn't like how stiff the buttons were.
They were probably "dome" (buckling metal snaps) and not switch components.
I'm not all that fond of "ring" 5-way anyway.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I suspect that you will need to wait for the 4.38.23552 or higher firmware before the Clara 2E will be able to use the remote.

According to the firmware page, 4.38.23552 is the current firmware for the Clara 2E.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by trishau

If so - it's too late! Have decided that the battery cover issue is as big a problem as the BT not working.

The BT is not working because your firmware is too old. You need to update the firmware to get it to work with the remote.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I hope that coin cell powered devices with hard to remove battery covers get enormous pushback. Devices with convenient and easy coin cell replacement have been available for decades. I've had a number of recent devices with hard to remove battery covers and it is extremely frustrating.

Also very bad form to release a device before software support is deployed, especially in this case where the only thing missing should be a bluetooth HID kernel module, which could have been silently done years ago.

But support is there. 4.38.23552 was released for the Clara 2E was released sometime in November.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But support is there. 4.38.23552 was released for the Clara 2E was released sometime in November.

I don't think so. I didn't see a v4.38.23552 download available for Clara2E (mark10) or Libra2 (mark9) until 1st Dec.

[Mnementh]

Originally Posted by OG-Booksmith

Or you’re potentially running into: https://github.com/OGKevin/kobo.koplugin/issues/44 if this device auto connects.

Confirmed this is the exact issue I'm experiencing. On first open of koreader the page turner works perfectly, as soon as my Kobo goes to sleep (either by timing out or me closing the sleep cover), it does not work again until I restart koreader.


Nothin works other than a restart, the remote is detected, it's connected, removing it and re-adding in koreader doesn't change anything it won't detect keypresses until koreader is restarted.


Hopefully the future update to auto connect will fix this but I'm not sure if it will as the remote is connected after sleeping it just doesn't register keypresses. We'll see how it goes as I really want koreader back, I miss my proper folder navigation, Collections and Series in Nickel just don't cut it

I have added my comments to the GitHub issue, not sure how much help they'll be

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

I don't think so. I didn't see a v4.38.23552 download available for Clara2E (mark10) or Libra2 (mark9) until 1st Dec.

According to the firmware site, the 4.38.23662 is a November 2025 release. Probably close to December. But regardless, the OP posted today and there's plenty of time to have upgraded the fimrware for the BT controller.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

According to the firmware site, the 4.38.23662 is a November 2025 release. Probably close to December. But regardless, the OP posted today and there's plenty of time to have upgraded the fimrware for the BT controller.

Not quite right , Jon. The 2025-Nov-13 date is not the release date, it was the date on which 4.38.23552 was built. The release date was 2025-Dec-01 for the older BT capable devices which allowed me to post about the firmware release.

If you are waiting for an OTA update, quite a few Kobo devices are still waiting for the rolling release. There are quite a few people out there who do not use the Patrick's firmware download links page.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But support is there. 4.38.23552 was released for the Clara 2E was released sometime in November.

Originally Posted by jackie_w

I don't think so. I didn't see a v4.38.23552 download available for Clara2E (mark10) or Libra2 (mark9) until 1st Dec.

Correct. Jon has confused build dates with release dates in the past so at least he's being consistent.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DNSB

If you are waiting for an OTA update, quite a few Kobo devices are still waiting for the rolling release. There are quite a few people out there who do not use the Patrick's firmware download links page.

I imagine most people don't use Mobile Read or Patrick's useful site!

[trishau]

Originally Posted by trishau

If so - it's too late! Have decided that the battery cover issue is as big a problem as the BT not working.

Changed my mind - and bought another one which arrived yesterday! Have since installed the latest Kobo FW as well!
Set it up and used it last night - it's wonderful!! Can even turn wifi off and BT still works! I found I can work around the tight battery cover by using some non-slip shelf liner to grip it!

[Renate]

Originally Posted by trishau

Can even turn wifi off and BT still works!

I thought that the complaint was that the WiFi would turn back on after sleeping?

[trishau]

I asked Perplexity and got this response. A few tips there!

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/why...TMmiTdYcRhVN4A