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From: peraino@gmuvax2.gmu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video,sci.electronics
Subject: VCR+ codes
Message-ID: <1991May15.161024.27150@gmuvax2.gmu.edu>
Date: 15 May 91 16:10:24 GMT
Followup-To: sci.electronics
Organization: George Mason University, Fairfax Va.
Lines: 27


>From: jfr@locus.com (Jon Rosen)

>In article <1991May14.074739.3646@agate.berkeley.edu> shirriff@sprite.berkeley.edu (Ken Shirriff) writes:
>>I've determined the algorithm for the first 100 codes.  I wrote a C program

...
 
>But really, what is the point?  Get a life, man!
... 
 
>First of all, the codes are printed in the newspaper right where the
>times and channels of the programs are.  I.e., you know exactly all
>the information you need to know to program you VCR.  Anyone who
>can write a C program that is as good as the one you wrote can not
>possibly need something as dunce-like as the VCR+ to program their
>VCR!  Second, without the VCR+ equipment, the codes themselves
>are useless! 

     Aside from the challenge, I see good reasons for cracking the code.
My own interests are a good example. The codes are not useless. I own an
hp-48 calculator, which has infrared output. There has been a lot of talk
about using it as a programmable remote control. If the algorithm
is cracked, I can put it into the program, and have the same features
(and more) as the VCR+ box, for no cost to me.

peraino@gmuvax.gmu.edu