Even Better Still

by Mbuna

This article is not about screwing up the display model computers at Best Buy.  If that's your "thing," then you'll have to read something else.  This article is about having a little fun with your local Best Buy store.  So, if you're interested, read on.

Have you ever wondered why it's sometimes very hot or very cold inside large chain stores like Best Buy or Walmart?  Or why the lights sometimes shut off during late-night sales?  It's because the utilities in most of these stores are controlled at a central location for every store.  The lighting, heating, and cooling system of each Best Buy is controlled by Best Buy corporate headquarters.  How?  By modem, of course.

The possibilities for fun are endless.  Imagine turning off the lights in the middle of the day, or cranking up the heat in July.

The first thing you'll have to do is find the number for the control unit.  The control unit is usually located in a room with other equipment such as the fire detection system.  Sometimes this room is visible from the sales floor - look around for it.  If you find the room, look for a box on the wall labeled "Tracer," and follow the phone cord out of it.  Hopefully there is a phone number written on the jack.

If you can't find the phone number, you'll have to resort to more traditional methods to find it.  Call the store and get transferred to somebody with a little technical knowledge, but no idea what they're doing.  A manager is a bad choice, but a PC tech would be a great choice.  Tell them you're from the home office in Minnesota and you can't get the heating/cooling control unit to respond.  Have them make sure the phone cable is plugged in tightly.  Have them unplug it and plug it back in.  Have them verify the phone number...

Dialing the number with your modem, you'll find a screen like the following:

XXXXXXX #XXX TRACER L V14.5 Main Menu: H-help, L-list 1) S-select for Event Log 2) S-select for Building Status 3) S-select for ICS Equipment Status 4) S-select for Operator Logon & Logoff 5) S-select for Reports and Summaries Menu 6) S-select for Building Control Menu 7) S-select for Keyboard Timed Override 8) S-select for System Setup Menu Type number of selection, then press "S" to select it

The interface is unusual.  Press the number of your choice and then a capital S to select that choice.

The first thing you'll need to do is log on, otherwise you can't do anything.

Choose 4, then S.  You'll see the following:

XXXXXXX #XXX TRACER L V14.5 Main Menu: H-help, L-list 4 Operator 000 logged on. Access level 0. Enter pass-number or 0

Here's where the fun starts.

The codes are four digits long, and you can try as many times as you like.  (How's that for security?)  When you get a correct number, you'll see something like:

Operator KWH logged on. Access level 2. Enter pass-number or 0

Press Esc and you're accessing the system with privileges.  Have Fun!

If you don't have a local Best Buy, fear not, for it's a sure bet most chain retail stores have similar systems in place.  Try Walmart, Kmart, Shopko, Sears - and report your findings!