OK! I think I have my permanent solution. Since I had no problems with the first setup I did with this project where I was using physically attached buttons instead of serial commands to control the unit, I am adding a second PIC, whose only job in life is to sit at a serin command pause and await commands. Upon receiving a command, it will simply set a pin high for about 100ms, simulating a button press. Proof of concept already works... Just have two small snags... (and a large one too, but one step at a time lol)
1. I am trying to send via serial just one character. Capital A-F, depending on what combo of buttons is pressed by the user. It's not going thru. The BT is linked. The link seems good. When I hold a button down, it causes the serin pause to release, causing my debugging LED to flash. However, no command is processed. I'm sure it's a format problem or something, but I have tried 9 ways to sunday and I just can't seem to spot what I'm doing wrong. Also, if I shut down the master BT and log my laptop terminal into the dish PIC, sending A-F from the terminal works perfectly and it responds as expected.

2. Only buttons 3 and 4 work. Buttons 1 and 2 do not cause the LED to flash on the receiving end. I assume I'm missing something again about analog/digital, but this pic is very basic and has no ADC, and for the life of me I cannot figure out what I am missing. I have read thru every register in the datasheet, and I'm just not snapping to what it is...

Here is the code for the handheld device:
Code:
'****************************************************************
'*  Name    : Wireless Handheld Device                                            
'*  Author  : John Moore                                           
'*  CHIP    : PIC16F628A                               
'*  Date    : May 28, 2014                                           
'*  Version : 1.0                                               
'*  Notes   : This pic will eventually have 4 physical buttons and an LCD                                        
'*          : as well as a BT device. Right now I just need it to send the
'*          ; serial commands, as I am monitoring the feedback with a terminal.                                                  
'****************************************************************
#CONFIG
__config 10000111110000
#ENDCONFIG

button1 var PORTA.2
button2 var PORTA.3
button3 var PORTA.4
button4 var PORTB.3
TRISA.2 = 1
TRISA.3 = 1
TRISA.4 = 1
TRISB.3 = 1
cereal var byte
TX var PORTB.2
TRISB.2 = 0
START:
if button1 = 1 then cereal = "A"
if button2 = 1 then cereal = "B"
if button3 = 1 then cereal = "C"
if button4 = 1 then cereal = "D"
if (button2 = 1) and (button3 = 1) then cereal = "E"
if (button1 = 1) and (button4 = 1) then cereal = "F"
if cereal <> "X" then serout TX, 2, [cereal]
pause 100
cereal = "X"
GOTO START
Here is the code for the PIC16F628A that is receiving the commands and "pressing buttons":
Code:
'****************************************************************
'*  Name    : On-Board Communication PIC                                            
'*  Author  : John Moore                                           
'*  CHIP    : PIC16F628A                               
'*  Date    : May 28, 2014                                           
'*  Version : 1.0                                               
'*  Notes   : This pic will never be more complicated than this. It's only                                     
'*          : purpose in life is to get characters and push buttons.                                                  
'****************************************************************
#CONFIG
__config 10000111110000
#ENDCONFIG

button1 var PORTB.7
button2 var PORTB.6
button3 var PORTB.5
button4 var PORTB.4
TRISB.7 = 0
TRISB.6 = 0
TRISB.5 = 0
TRISB.4 = 0
button1 = 0
button2 = 0
button3 = 0
button4 = 0

RX var PORTB.3
TRISB.3 = 1
LED var PORTA.1
TRISA.1 = 0

cereal var byte

START:
serin RX, 2, cereal
if cereal = "A" then 
    high button1
    pause 140
    low button1
endif

if cereal = "B" then 
    high button2
    pause 140
    low button2
endif

if cereal = "C" then 
    high button3
    pause 140
    low button3
endif

if cereal = "D" then 
    high button4
    pause 140
    low button4
endif

if cereal = "E" then 
    button2 = 1
    button3 = 1
    pause 140
    button2 = 0
    button3 = 0
endif

if cereal = "F" then 
    button1 = 1
    button4 = 1
    pause 140
    button1 = 0
    button4 = 0
endif
LED = 1
pause 250
LED = 0
pause 250
GOTO START