A Simple Hack to get Impact Mode on your PixMob Band

PixMob Band Purple

At the Overwatch League Grand Finals in Philadelphia, attendees received white wristbands that blink different colors in sync with each other during the event. When the San Francisco Shock won a round, they flashed orange and white in unison. When the Vancouver Titans — well, nevermind…

SF Shock Win

These bands, made by PixMob, have been used at various sporting events and concerts, most famously on Taylor Swift’s tours. They’re synchronized using an array of infrared transmitters set up in the arena, each sending signals to a different seating section.

PixMob Band from Overwatch League Grand Finals

Now you’re home from the event, and you don’t have an IR installation in your living room. But that doesn’t mean you have to throw your PixMob band away.

Instead, you can activate something called Impact Mode. Once it’s set, the band will blink different colors as you tap or shake it. Older PixMob models required some disassembly to achieve this. Fortunately, with the latest model, PixMob have made it easier than ever.

First open up the battery compartment on the back of the band and remove the two coin batteries.

Open PixMob Band

Underneath, you’ll find a circuit board. Locate the contact labeled “OPEN MODE”. Break this contact along the yellow line I drew in the photo below. I scratched mine off using the smallest screwdriver I could find.

PixMob Band Zoomed

Replace your batteries and enjoy your PixMob band back from the dead. Now you have proof that the band can also flash blue and green.

PixMob Band Hack

9 comments Write a comment

  1. Hi Thomas,

    I read the post on your blog (https://thomaspark.co/2019/10/a-simple-hack-to-get-impact-mode-on-your-pixmob-band/) about the PixMob bracelet (the one from the Overwatch League Grand Finals) and was really interested in what you had to say about it.

    I’m a student at the University of Notre Dame developing a new product that has features similar to those of the PixMob bracelet.

    Would you have 15 minutes to spare this week so that I could ask you some questions? I can arrange a videoconference, chat, or email you my questions. Whatever works best for you.

    Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you,
    Kevin Gabriel Alvarez

  2. Hi Thomas,
    I hope you are doing fine. For whatever reason Gmail keeps returning my emails saying that they were not delivered to you. Would it be OK if I sent you my questions as a comment through here? Is there any other way I could reach you?

    I really appreciate your help.

  3. I have a piximob bracelet with a 2013 date on the board that doesn’t look like any of the 2 bracelets mentioned in this article, It has the sensor for the impact mode but there are no traces to cut on the battery pad or a jumper, at least none that I could find. what components are interrupting when you cut the trace?

  4. i have the new pixmob Diamon V2.3 and it stopped working after the concert I changed the batteries but it does not seem to turn back on. How do I get it to work again?

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