> > 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).
>
> Boy, that brings back memories. We had one of these sets when I was in
> high-school.
> I believe it was a Zenith, though I wouldn't swear to it. I used to get a
> kick out of clicking
> the buttons just to hear the sounds. You are correct in that the channel
> selection was
> electro-mechanical. It was also a very loud mechanism.
Yes, I remember these. If you looked in the end of the remote, you
could see the metal rods (one for each button). The end of the remote
had a screen covering it. We found that you could use a belt buckle
as a remote, but the results were pretty random, but when you want to
confuse people that was enough.
I always found the high-pitched ring from the striker hitting
the metal bars annoying.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman_at_dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
Received on Tue Aug 27 2002 - 21:23:00 BST