rdr@inuxh.UUCP (Robert Rindfuss) (10/20/86)
Anyone who has some of the BSR mini controllers, like the ones that Radio Shack had on sale lately for $8.88, might be interested to know that with some very simple mods they can control all 16 unit codes, not just the 1-4,5-8 they advertise. I took one apart this weekend to see if I could add a switch or something to give me access to the codes 9-16, and lo, I discovered it was already designed to do it! Here's what you need to do: First, the little switch that selects the ranges 1-4 vs 5-8 is actually a 4-position switch - the only thing that prevents the switch from moving further to the right where the other two positions (for 9-12, 13-16) is the brown stick-on label on the housing. Even the housing was molded with the slot long enough for 4 positions. So step one: disassemble the unit, remove the tiny switch (don't lose the little spring that provides the position detents), then use a razor blade knife to cut the brown label the full length of the slot in the molded cream housing. Then put the switch and spring back in the slot. Step 2: look at the large 28-pin IC - if one of the pins (I forget which) has been broken off, you need to replace it by carefully soldering a short piece of wire to the stump and to the pc board where the broken-off pin would have gone. If all the pins are there you should be all set. That's it! Put it back together and you can access all 16 units in four ranges. Try it and let me know how it works! Bob Rindfuss AT&T Graphics Software Labs ...ihnp4!inuxh!rdr