27 Aug
2002
27 Aug
'02
4:59 p.m.
Some US company (I forget who) made an ultrasonic
remote controlled valve TV
where the remote was essentially tuned metal bars that were mechanically
hit when the button was pressed. No electronics in the handset at all.
The receiver in the TV detected one of 4 (or so) different frequencies
corresponding to the 4 buttons on the remote, and then operated a relay
to trigger the appropriate function (I think channel selection was done
using an electromechanical stepping swtich, etc).
My grandparents had a TV with an ultrasonic remote. I think it was a
Zenith, may have been an RCA.
And my parents have a Sony with an ultrasonic remote. The remote is long
since dead, but back when it worked, you could hold the remote up to your
ear and actually hear it clicking different patterns for each button
pressed. The remote ceased to work after a bad battery leakage incident.
Actually, I should see if they still have the remote as the last time I
saw it, I didn't have the skills needed to repair it, but today I
probably could. They probably do have it, knowing them, it is still in
the holder on the back of the TV where I put it some 20 years ago when I
decided it was no longer working (I definitly get my pack rat problems
from them).
But at least with the Sony remote, IIRC it was transistors that did all
the work. I don't know about my grand parents one, as I never opened the
remote, but that TV was old enough it might very well have been one of
the first with a remote at all.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
27 Aug
27 Aug
11:41 p.m.
I had one of the Zenith with the tuning fork remotes. It was a 19"
cabinet model, B&W onlt of course. I purchased it in a yard sale in
1972 for $10.00 to complement my $40.00 a month house. The house was in
the "slum" area of town, but it was all an 18 yo, out of high school for
2 weeks and employed at the minimum wage of $1.60/hr could afford. The
rats were bigger than my siamsese cat. Later that year, I got a job as
an electrican's helper at $2.25/hr. I could afford a slightly better
house and a new JCPenny TV, a 19" color model with an ultrasonic remote
(transisitor). The color set was a private labeled Toshiba set that
lasted well into the late '80's.
James
Chris wrote:
Some US company
(I forget who) made an ultrasonic remote controlled valve TV
where the remote was essentially tuned metal bars that were mechanically
hit when the button was pressed. No electronics in the handset at all.
The receiver in the TV detected one of 4 (or so) different frequencies
corresponding to the 4 buttons on the remote, and then operated a relay
to trigger the appropriate function (I think channel selection was done
using an electromechanical stepping swtich, etc).
My grandparents had a TV with an ultrasonic remote. I think it was a
Zenith, may have been an RCA.
And my parents have a Sony with an ultrasonic remote. The remote is long
since dead, but back when it worked, you could hold the remote up to your
ear and actually hear it clicking different patterns for each button
pressed. The remote ceased to work after a bad battery leakage incident.
Actually, I should see if they still have the remote as the last time I
saw it, I didn't have the skills needed to repair it, but today I
probably could. They probably do have it, knowing them, it is still in
the holder on the back of the TV where I put it some 20 years ago when I
decided it was no longer working (I definitly get my pack rat problems
from them).
But at least with the Sony remote, IIRC it was transistors that did all
the work. I don't know about my grand parents one, as I never opened the
remote, but that TV was old enough it might very well have been one of
the first with a remote at all.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
28 Aug
28 Aug
4:59 a.m.
I had one of the Zenith with the tuning fork remotes.
It was a 19"
I have some X10 controllers that have ultrasonic remotes. Later on they
switched to IR.
My old alarm clock sitting next to the X10 controller used to do funny
things to the lights.
Is there desire for such? (should I bring to VCF)
6:28 a.m.
On Wed, 28 Aug 2002, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote:
If you do, I'll buy it (if nobody else does first ;)
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
* Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *
I had one of
the Zenith with the tuning fork remotes. It was a 19"
I have some X10 controllers that have ultrasonic remotes. Later on they
switched to IR.
My old alarm clock sitting next to the X10 controller used to do funny
things to the lights.
Is there desire for such? (should I bring to VCF)
1:46 p.m.
I'll want a vendor space.
Is the floor plan available yet?
I don't remember how many of the ultrasonic X10 units I have. They look a
lot like the later consoles, except for a partially hidden grille.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
On Wed, 28 Aug 2002, Sellam Ismail wrote:
On Wed, 28 Aug 2002, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote:
If you do, I'll buy it (if nobody else does first ;)
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
* Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *
--
Fred Cisin cisin(a)xenosoft.com
XenoSoft http://www.xenosoft.com
PO Box 1236 (510) 558-9366
Berkeley, CA 94701-1236
NOTE: My ISP is having difficulties. If you have problems reaching me at
this e-mail address, you can leave a message at:
fcisin(a)merritt.edu
I had one
of the Zenith with the tuning fork remotes. It was a 19"
I have some X10 controllers that have ultrasonic remotes. Later on they
switched to IR.
My old alarm clock sitting next to the X10 controller used to do funny
things to the lights.
Is there desire for such? (should I bring to VCF)
4:58 p.m.
Sorry.
That was intended to be private to Sellam
--
Fred
On Wed, 28 Aug 2002, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote:
I'll want a vendor space.
Is the floor plan available yet?
I don't remember how many of the ultrasonic X10 units I have. They look a
lot like the later consoles, except for a partially hidden grille.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
On Wed, 28 Aug 2002, Sellam Ismail wrote:
--
Fred Cisin cisin(a)xenosoft.com
XenoSoft http://www.xenosoft.com
PO Box 1236 (510) 558-9366
Berkeley, CA 94701-1236
NOTE: My ISP is having difficulties. If you have problems reaching me at
this e-mail address, you can leave a message at:
fcisin(a)merritt.edu
On Wed, 28 Aug 2002, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft)
wrote:
If you do, I'll buy it (if nobody else does first ;)
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
* Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *
--
Fred Cisin cisin(a)xenosoft.com
XenoSoft http://www.xenosoft.com
PO Box 1236 (510) 558-9366
Berkeley, CA 94701-1236
NOTE: My ISP is having difficulties. If you have problems reaching me at
this e-mail address, you can leave a message at:
fcisin(a)merritt.edu
I had one
of the Zenith with the tuning fork remotes. It was a 19"
I have some X10 controllers that have ultrasonic remotes. Later on they
switched to IR.
My old alarm clock sitting next to the X10 controller used to do funny
things to the lights.
Is there desire for such? (should I bring to VCF)
8157
days inactive
8158
days old
5 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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cisin＠xenosoft.com -
foo＠siconic.com -
jrice＠texoma.net -
mythtech＠mac.com