I assume this is the same topic as the thread in the JP1 group:
[Link: hifi-remote.com]

I think you can mail the 8017 to OFA and have them add VCR/0146. In order to do that they add a 1K eeprom and JP1 connector (all costing you nothing beyond postage and time sending it). That will make it easier to use JP1 later in case VCR/0146 is wrong and/or you want to improve it.

If you're great at soldering, adding the connector and a 2K eeprom yourself is better than having them add the 1K eeprom, because some advanced JP1 features require the 2K eeprom.