I've got 16 BSR model LRC-1 remotes. I've searched the net, and can't find any supporting information on them. I can't even locate a BSR support site, and consequently assume that they are now a defunct entity. From what I can ascertain, they were a somewhat large marketer of audio equipment that apparantly met their demise around 1993 or so. The enclosed instructions were paltry, and extremely terse. From what I can gather, the remote is a 100% learner, with no programmed library of codes. Thus, it appears that you first have to have the device's original remote, or at least a remote that contains the code library for the particular device. The remote, itself appears to be able to "learn" codes for at least 6 devices, more if you don't use all the buttons while in a particular setting.
In addition to the switch to select the six devices, the upper section has indicator lites for "send", error, and battery. This section also has the 2 buttons labelled "learn" and "delete".
The middle section has 20 buttons: numeric keypad 1-0; power; channel up and down; volume up and down; "+"; "-"; "alt"; display; and mute.
The lowest section has 12 buttons: A,B,C,D (which I assume are 4 device selector keys); with the other 8 buttons assigned the typical vcr keys, Rec., Video/TV,pause, power, FBWD(fast rewind?), play, F.FWD (Fast forward?), and stop.
I'm not sure if this layout means that you can "teach" in 24 different vcr type devices (4 different in each of 6 device mode setting) or not.
Any help or info on these would be greatly appreciated

This message was edited by jamesgammel on 03/13/02 14:18.35.

James, I still have one of these remotes and used it for a number of years. I loved it! Don't pay any attention to the the writing above each key. It's there only to allow someone to program in the most commonly used commands, but you can really record any command on any key.

As for the programming, you can record one command per key per bank, making a total of 192 functions (or until you run out of memory - how much memory the thing has is a mystery). The A, B, C, and D keys are there for each user's personal use (say your tuner has four banks of programmed radio stations or you want to program in the power toggles for four pieces of equipment there).

I loved this remote and had commands learned everywhere, but only I knew where each command was. When my fiancee couldn't operate my system and was forced to watch tv in the bedroom when I'd go out of town on business, I knew it was time to upgrade to something more intuitive.

What are you doing with 16 of these guys? Knowing the age of these units, I would assume the lithium batteries would be dead by now. I had to replace mine a few years back.

Hope this info helped you.

Merrill

Merrill,
I found one on ebay a good while ago. I was impressed since the memory was blank, and you could apparantly learn a ton of commands. I got one on a lark, and the guy that had them gave me an offer I couldn't refuse (like about 7.00 each), and I had a project in mind. I played with it again last week and did discover a "quirk". In learning Volume up and down, timing is a factor. you need to hold down the remotes button for a minimum time, but if too long, the motorized volume knob will really zip, and "fine-tuning" was almost impossible. volume changes seemed to go up to 3 times faster than the learned remote. Thus, timing was critical-- long enough to catch the initial burst, but not too long so that it zips.
The upper part is just paper, so a replacement printed out, holes punched etc., custom labels could be easily attached. I also felt slip on printed "transparancies" could be used for the lower section thus labeling the keypad for the device programmed. Not all that difficult to make. I haven't taken one apart, do you remeber what lithium battery you used to replace yours? Knowing that may be of help to me in the future.
The nicest part was you could learn any button from the original to any key, and set it up any way you wanted. Not that many are leabelled on the keys, themselves, so almost total customization is possible. Plus, it doesn't matter what remote you use on any device, you can mix and match from several different devices for one "position". and use every key; 2-3 devices on one device setting if there aren't that many needed for a particular device, like a vcr or tv. I'm still playing with one and may discover more "secrets".
As you know, no "device code" needs to be found, just learn to whatever "device" selector, and button you want. Even the "power" button doesn't care what's put there. Perhaps I'll send a private email about why I originally got so many, and not bore the forum' readers with such a personal and weird reason.

James,

I don't remember what type of lithium battery the things uses. I just opened it up, took out the battery, went to Radio Shack and got the replacement. I seem to recall some soldering, but not sure if it had to do with the battery or if a lead fell off from the AA-battery housing.

I had the same idea about laying a new sheet over the buttons with punched out holes, but ended up moving up to a Pronto. Yes, you have to be careful how long you record a function. If you hold a key down and let it record for more than a second, it will repeat the command, where letting up on the key right away will record it as a send-once command. A very nice feature.

I suppose if it weren't for my wife, I'd still be using the LRC-1. Definitely a really cool remote. I thought about getting rid of it, but don't see any real reason to part with it, especially seeing how I'd get less than $10 for it. I'll keep it around as a conversation piece.

Merrill

Merrill,
I'm considering setting mine up specifically with a "device" selection for my soon to be wife. She doesn't use much of my system, so I could program one setting just for her. All she would use is the TV, and Satellite, and maybe even the vcr. Since It doesn't require a device code, I could program all three of the components under just the one, and use the obvious needed functions. For tv, she just needs on/off, volume up and down; Satellite on/off, channel selection(up/down), "ok" and the numeric keys; and the vcr typical functions are already labelled and provided including "on/off"(power) I can still program the other device positions for "my stuff", and as she gains comfort, she can still use them as well in time. It doesn't matter that I may learn a specific device key twice, heck, the remote don't care. Later, as she gains knowledge and comfort with "my" settings, we can delete her area and use it for something else. Is this a workable possibility for you too?

Your plan sounds great, but it wouldn't have been feasible for me. My wife wants to see "Play" under the play button, and "PIP" under the picture-in-picture button. She also the likes the fact that when she wants to watch a DVD, she can press the DVD icon and the TV turns on, the receiver turns on, the DVD player turns on, the receiver switches to the DVD input and turns on the center channel, and the TV switches to the Hi-def input. Hell, I do, too, for that matter. It's also a great convenience never having to memorize what channel Discovery or A&E are on. You just touch a station's logo and you're there.

When I used the LRC, to prevent from having to switch around from bank to bank, I had quite a bit stored on only two banks and you basically had to know what key did what - the labels under them became useless. Even if I hadn't crammed everything onto two banks, there were lots of functions that I wanted that didn't fit any label on the unit.

The LRC is a great remote for what it is. It's plenty flexible and has more than enough memory for almost any application, but it was lacking a bit in the label and macro areas. If it had macros, I suppose I'd still be using it, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Merrill

I just picked this BSR LRC-1 remote up; how do you get it to learn? All help would be appreciated.

Ray,
1. select one of the 6 device positions. 2. Press "learn" 3. press the button you want to learn to. 4. Position the teacher 10-16 inches below the bottom of the learner, and press and hold the button you want the LRC-1 to learn. Wait till the learn led quits flashing, and the green "send" led flashes. You can keep learning a button at a time until your done with the set to the device position. To shut off the learning mode, press "learn" again. To delete one, just press "delete", and the button you want deleted. Deletes will require pressing delete for each one you want, it doesn't stay active for more than one key at a time like the "learn" does.
There are NO preset codes, so if you don't have a teacher, you aren't gonna get a signal programmed in; It's strictly 100% learning.
You'll find that short presses on the teacher will be adequate for most signals. Longer presses work better for repeat signals like volume, but watch it, don't learn too long of a volume signal or you'll get large increases per button press. It takes a bit of finesse and experience to know what works good. To short will yield volume increases so small you can't perceive them, too much will yield like 1/4 rotation moves at a time.
I've found mine would learn some signals other's refused to learn. Oh yeah, there's no magic in those device "names". If you have a a couple remotes that have fewer buttons, you can put two devices on the same device setting, just divide up the buttons in some way you can remember. TV's and VCR's work pretty good to set up this way.
You might also get two different signals learned to one button since the learn time is pretty long, effectively some small macros. It'll take some finesse with quickly going from one teacher button to another.
Hope this helps.
Jim

Thanks Jim!
I figured out how to program it and hour after i sent this. lol Thanks for the quick response. I gave it to my son he loves it, he has everything in the house programmed in it now..lol
Ray