diff --git a/firmware/Makefile b/firmware/Makefile
index 0292aac..95a998c 100644
--- a/firmware/Makefile
+++ b/firmware/Makefile
@@ -10,16 +10,12 @@ CFLAGS=-g -Wall -Werror -O3 -std=c99
 # the target
 DEVICE=atmega328p
 F_CPU=18432000UL
-# the port to flash
-#PORT=/dev/ttyUSB0
 # the flasher
-#PROGRAMMER=buspirate
 PROGRAMMER=usbtiny
 # to flash
-#AVRDUDE=avrdude -p $(DEVICE) -P $(PORT) -c $(PROGRAMMER)
 FLASHER=avrdude -p $(DEVICE) -c $(PROGRAMMER)
 # source files to compile
-SRC = main.c uart.c ir_nec.c
+SRC = main.c uart.c ir_nec.c settings.c
 # object files.
 OBJ = $(SRC:.c=.o)
 # listing files.
diff --git a/firmware/ir_nec.c b/firmware/ir_nec.c
index d9c185a..6746248 100644
--- a/firmware/ir_nec.c
+++ b/firmware/ir_nec.c
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 
 #include "ir_nec.h"
 
+const uint16_t MARKS[2]={9000,560};
+const uint16_t SPACES[4]={4500,2250,1680,560};
+
 void time2nec(uint16_t* burst, uint8_t pulses)
 {
 	
diff --git a/firmware/ir_nec.h b/firmware/ir_nec.h
index 983241f..7d86258 100644
--- a/firmware/ir_nec.h
+++ b/firmware/ir_nec.h
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
  * More information at http://www.sbprojects.com/knowledge/ir/nec.php
  */
 
-static const uint16_t MARKS[2]={9000,560}; /* mark duration in us [start,bit] */
-static const uint16_t SPACES[4]={4500,2250,1680,560}; /* space duration in us [start,repeat,1,0] */
+extern const uint16_t MARKS[2]; /* mark duration in us [start,bit] */
+extern const uint16_t SPACES[4]; /* space duration in us [start,repeat,1,0] */
 
 struct nec {
 	bool valid;
diff --git a/firmware/main.c b/firmware/main.c
index daff9cc..0039e8a 100644
--- a/firmware/main.c
+++ b/firmware/main.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "main.h"
 #include "uart.h"
 #include "ir_nec.h"
+#include "settings.h"
 
 /* global variables */
 #define INPUT_MAX 255 /* max length for user input string */
@@ -38,10 +39,10 @@ volatile uint8_t input_i = 0; /* user input index */
 volatile uint8_t pwr_ok; /* is power ok */
 volatile uint8_t fan; /* fan signal state, to measure tachometer */
 volatile uint8_t timer2_ovf = 0; /* to measure fan speed using timer 2 */
-uint16_t TIMER2_PRESCALE[8] = {0,1,8,32,64,128,256,1024}; /* timer 2 CS2[2:0] values */
+const uint16_t TIMER2_PRESCALE[8] = {0,1,8,32,64,128,256,1024}; /* timer 2 CS2[2:0] values */
 volatile uint16_t tachometer = 0; /* the tachometer time (from timer) */
 volatile uint8_t ir; /* IR signal state, to measure IR code */
-uint16_t TIMER1_PRESCALE[8] = {0,1,8,64,256,1024,0,0}; /* timer 1 CS1[2:0] values */
+const uint16_t TIMER1_PRESCALE[8] = {0,1,8,64,256,1024,0,0}; /* timer 1 CS1[2:0] values */
 volatile uint16_t ir_tick; /* number of counter ticks per millisecond */
 volatile uint8_t pulse = 0; /* pulse index within the burst */
 #define PULSE_MAX 128 /* maximum number of pulses to save */
@@ -49,15 +50,7 @@ uint16_t burst[PULSE_MAX]; /* pulse times forming a burst (from timer) */
 
 /* channel variables */
 #define LEVELS 10 /* the number of PWM levels */
-uint8_t ch_tick = 0; /* the tick counter for the channel PWM */
-#define OUTPUTS_1 5 /* the number of outputs for channel 1 */
-#define OUTPUTS_2 5 /* the number of outputs for channel 2 */
-volatile uint8_t* PORTS_1[OUTPUTS_1] = {&PORTC,&PORTC,&PORTC,&PORTC,&PORTC}; /* channel 1 output ports */
-volatile uint8_t* PORTS_2[OUTPUTS_2] = {&PORTD,&PORTD,&PORTD,&PORTD,&PORTD}; /* channel 2 output ports */
-uint8_t BITS_1[OUTPUTS_1] = {PC0,PC1,PC2,PC3,PC4}; /* channel 1 output bits */
-uint8_t BITS_2[OUTPUTS_2] = {PD2,PD3,PD4,PD5,PD7}; /* channel 2 output bits */
-uint8_t ch_1[OUTPUTS_1]; /* the level value for the channel 1 outputs */
-uint8_t ch_2[OUTPUTS_2]; /* the level value for the channel 2 outputs */
+volatile uint8_t ch_tick = 0; /* the tick counter for the channel PWM */
 
 /* flags, set in the interrupts and handled in the main program */
 volatile bool uart_flag = false; /* an incoming activity on the UART */
@@ -132,7 +125,7 @@ ISR(TIMER0_COMPA_vect) { /* timer 0 OCR0A match interrupt vector */
 	pwm_flag = true;
 }
 
-static void ioinit(void)
+void ioinit(void)
 {
 	/* configure power */
 	DDRB |= (1<<nPS_ON); /* nPS_ON is output */
@@ -223,64 +216,38 @@ int main(void)
 	ir_data.command = 0;
 	uint8_t ir_repeat = 0; /* number of times the IR data has been repeated */
 
-	/* initialize channel output PWM values */
-	for (uint8_t i=0; i<OUTPUTS_1; i++) {
-		ch_1[i] = 0;
-	}
-	for (uint8_t i=0; i<OUTPUTS_2; i++) {
-		ch_2[i] = 0;
-	}
-	uint8_t on_1[5] = {0,0,0,0,0}; /* times when to switch on the outputs for channel 1 */
-	uint8_t on_2[5] = {0,0,0,0,0}; /* times when to switch on the outputs for channel 2 */
-	uint8_t off_1[5] = {0,0,0,0,0}; /* times when to switch off the outputs for channel 1 */
-	uint8_t off_2[5] = {0,0,0,0,0}; /* times when to switch off the outputs for channel 2 */
+	uint8_t on[CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2]; /* times when to switch on the output on the channels */
+	uint8_t off[CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2]; /* times when to switch off the output on the channels */
 	channel_flag = true; /* calculate above values later */
 
 	puts("LED dimmer up & running");
+	verify_settings();
+	return 0;
 	while (true) {
 		/* calculated PWM values */
 		while (channel_flag) {
 			uint8_t start = 0;
-			for (uint8_t i=0; i<OUTPUTS_1; i++) {
-				on_1[i] = (start)%LEVELS;
-				off_1[i] = (on_1[i]+ch_1[i])%LEVELS;
-				start = (start+ch_1[i])%LEVELS;
-			}
-			start = 0;
-			for (uint8_t i=0; i<OUTPUTS_2; i++) {
-				on_2[i] = (start)%LEVELS;
-				off_2[i] = (on_2[i]+ch_2[i])%LEVELS;
-				start = (start+ch_2[i])%LEVELS;
+			for (uint8_t i=0; i<CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2; i++) {
+				on[i] = (start)%LEVELS;
+				off[i] = (on[i]+brightness[mode][i])%LEVELS;
+				start = (start+brightness[mode][i])%LEVELS;
 			}
 			channel_flag = false;
 		}
 		/* generate PWM for channel */
 		while (pwm_flag) {
 			if (pwr_ok) {
-				for (int i=0; i<OUTPUTS_1; i++) {
-					if (on_1[i]==ch_tick) {
-						if (on_1[i]!=off_1[i]) {
-							*(PORTS_1[i]) |= (1<<BITS_1[i]);
-						} else if (ch_1[i]==0) {
-							*(PORTS_1[i]) &= ~(1<<BITS_1[i]);
+				for (int i=0; i<CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2; i++) {
+					if (on[i]==ch_tick) {
+						if (on[i]!=off[i]) {
+							*(PORTS[i]) |= (1<<BITS[i]);
+						} else if (brightness[mode][i]==0) {
+							*(PORTS[i]) &= ~(1<<BITS[i]);
 						} else {
-							*(PORTS_1[i]) |= (1<<BITS_1[i]);
+							*(PORTS[i]) |= (1<<BITS[i]);
 						}
-					} else if (off_1[i]==ch_tick) {
-						*(PORTS_1[i]) &= ~(1<<BITS_1[i]);
-					}
-				}
-				for (int i=0; i<OUTPUTS_2; i++) {
-					if (on_2[i]==ch_tick) {
-						if (on_2[i]!=off_2[i]) {
-							*(PORTS_2[i]) |= (1<<BITS_2[i]);
-						} else if (ch_2[i]==0) {
-							*(PORTS_2[i]) &= ~(1<<BITS_2[i]);
-						} else {
-							*(PORTS_2[i]) |= (1<<BITS_2[i]);
-						}
-					} else if (off_2[i]==ch_tick) {
-						*(PORTS_2[i]) &= ~(1<<BITS_2[i]);
+					} else if (off[i]==ch_tick) {
+						*(PORTS[i]) &= ~(1<<BITS[i]);
 					}
 				}
 				PIND |= (1<<LED);
@@ -337,7 +304,7 @@ int main(void)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void uart_action(char c)
+void uart_action(char c)
 {
 	switch (c) {
 		case 'l':
@@ -367,7 +334,7 @@ static void uart_action(char c)
 			}
 			break;
 		case '1':
-			ch_1[0] = (ch_1[0]+1)%(LEVELS+1);
+			//ch_1[0] = (ch_1[0]+1)%(LEVELS+1);
 			channel_flag = true;
 			break;
 		case '2':
@@ -483,7 +450,7 @@ static void uart_action(char c)
 	}
 }
 
-static void ir_action(uint8_t address, uint8_t command)
+void ir_action(uint8_t address, uint8_t command)
 {
 	if (0==address && 72==command) {
 		printf("switching power supply ");
diff --git a/firmware/main.h b/firmware/main.h
index a9d93ff..6f94a9f 100644
--- a/firmware/main.h
+++ b/firmware/main.h
@@ -34,6 +34,6 @@
 #define CH2_4 PD5
 #define CH2_5 PD7
 
-static void ioinit(void);
-static void uart_action(char c);
-static void ir_action(uint8_t address, uint8_t command);
+void ioinit(void);
+void uart_action(char c);
+void ir_action(uint8_t address, uint8_t command);
diff --git a/firmware/settings.c b/firmware/settings.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd76b23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/firmware/settings.c
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#include <stdint.h> /* Standard Integer Types */
+#include <stdio.h> /* Standard IO facilities */
+#include <stdlib.h> /* General utilities */
+#include <stdbool.h> /* Boolean */
+
+#include "settings.h"
+
+#include <string.h> /* Strings */
+#include "uart.h"
+
+/* initialize variable */
+volatile uint8_t* PORTS[CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2] = {&PORTC,&PORTC,&PORTC,&PORTC,&PORTC,&PORTD,&PORTD,&PORTD,&PORTD,&PORTD};
+const uint8_t BITS[CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2] = {PC0,PC1,PC2,PC3,PC4};
+uint8_t mode = 0;
+uint8_t brightness[MODES][CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2];
+
+void verify_settings(void)
+{
+	uint8_t checksum = 0;
+	printf("brightness: %u\n",sizeof(brightness));
+	printf("checksum: %u\n",checksum);
+}
diff --git a/firmware/settings.h b/firmware/settings.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f300318
--- /dev/null
+++ b/firmware/settings.h
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#include <avr/io.h> /* AVR device-specific IO definitions */
+
+/* channel definitions */
+#define CHANNELS_1 5 /* the number of outputs for channel 1 */
+#define CHANNELS_2 5 /* the number of outputs for channel 2 */
+extern volatile uint8_t* PORTS[CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2]; /* channel ports */
+extern const uint8_t BITS[CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2]; /* channel bits */
+
+/* mode settings */
+#define MODES 3 /* the number of modes */
+extern uint8_t mode; /* the current mode */ //TODO load the mode
+extern uint8_t brightness[MODES][CHANNELS_1+CHANNELS_2]; /* the mode brightness settings for the channels */
+
+/* IR settings */
+enum IR_ACTIONS { /* the actions for the infrared remote control */
+	POWER = 0,
+	MODE,
+	BRIGHTNESS_UP,
+	BRIGHTNESS_DOWN,
+	CHANNEL_UP,
+	CHANNEL_DOWN,
+	IR_ACTION_END
+};
+uint8_t ir_keys[IR_ACTION_END][2];
+
+/* function to load/save the settings */
+void verify_settings(void);