Frequently Asked Questions

Reprogramming the "Hotline" message

Some MBC-1.5 users have asked how to copy or move the animated "Hotline" message that the MBC-1.5 writes into the Beta-Brite as one of the factory messages. This message is stored in Text J of the Beta-Brite memory.

Users would like this message to activate with a different priority and have tried to duplicate the message elsewhere in Beta-Brite memory only to be foiled by the curious command "[STR]H". This command does not appear to be documented in all versions of the Beta-Brite manual.

This procedure is compounded by a glitch in the programming function of the Beta-Brite that causes it to display the STR[H] command incorrectly sometimes in the editing mode.

The commands that are programmed into the Beta-Brite to make the Hotline message are (in order):

• [HLD] Hold–pause when this message loops
• [SP3] Medium speed
• [AMB] Amber color message
• [STR]H Display String H–the word "Hotline"
• [DOT]J Display dot file J–a still phone
• [HLD] Hold–pause before ringing
• [SP5] Fast speed
• [NHL] No hold
• [STR]H Display String H–the word "Hotline"
• [DOT]Q Display dot file Q–ringing phone
• [STR]H Display String H–the word "Hotline"
• [DOT]R Display dot file R–ringing phone
• [STR]H Display String H–the word "Hotline"
• [DOT]Q Display dot file Q–ringing phone
• [STR]H Display String H–the word "Hotline"
• [DOT]R Display dot file R–ringing phone
• [STR]H Display String H–the word "Hotline"
• [DOT]Q Display dot file Q–ringing phone

Two of these commands do not appear to available from the keypad that comes with the Beta-Brite. Here is how to work around that problem.

[STR]H–display string "H"

String "H" is programmed with the word "Hotline". This command is a shorthand way to make the Beta-Brite display the word "Hotline" because it happens several times.

When you enter these commands into the text message area of your choice, replace every occurrence of [STR]H with the word "Hotline" (or another word if you prefer).

All of the other files are in memory at their normal locations and there is no need to move or otherwise recreate them–just call them up as the factory programmed message does.

[NHL]–no hold

The "Hold" command is used to place a pause in the telephone jingle animation between rings. The "No Hold" command removes the delay during the ringing sequence.

There is a keypad equivalent to this command in the BetaBrite. Press the "Speed" key on the keypad and the press "Select" to rotate among the choices–one of the choices is [NHL].