Hi Bob,

> About three years ago I designed a unit using an IR remote.  At the
> time I used an NEC chip (UPD1620) in the remote.  Worked like a champ.
> Recently NEC has made the part obsolete without a suggested alternative.
>
> I suspect that since most of the remotes are made off-shore that few, if
> any, parts of this type are imported.  To make things even more
> difficult, the volume on this project is relatively low - buy quantities
> in the 25 - 50 piece range.
>
> I could roll my own but wheel-reinventing is Plan B.

Plan B has been done by some.  Aparently one of the largest consumer
remote manufacturers in Europe is also one of the largest PIC16C54
customers.  I expect they use ROM versions for volume but some
top end HI-Fi systems do not have such large volumes.

Generating the carrier is not hard or the modulation.  Keypad
encoding is something that I have not tried but should not be
that hard.

I do agree though that use of a commercial or kit remote is to
be investigated for small runs.  Velleman Kits has a multi function
Remote available as a kit with 16 buttons I think.  Maplin sells their
kits if I'm not mistaken.

Cheers
--
Kalle Pihlajasaari   kalle@ip.co.za   http://www.ip.co.za/ip
Interface Products   P O Box 15775, DOORNFONTEIN, 2028, South Africa
+ 27 (11) 402-7750   Fax: 402-7751    http://www.ip.co.za/people/kalle

DonTronics, Silicon Studio and Wirz Electronics uP Product Dealer