A method and programming chart having viewable indicia thereon for programming a decoder-based controller is disclosed. It comprises: a substrate with an upper surface having a signal transmitting notch for transmitting and receiving a high frequency signal; a reflective board for partially reflecting the high frequency signal; and a plurality of supporting elements for supporting the reflective board on the substrate. The multi-level power driver drives the electric power device at one of a plurality of power levels, decodes the phase-notch pattern as a power step command, and switches from one of the power levels to another one of the power levels according to the power step command. Multiple temperature measuring devices may be located on the sootblower lance to measure the temperature across heat transfer surfaces and at different locations along the lance tube. This structure can enhance efficiency in molding weatherstrips since the weatherstrip attached around the two panels are in a hollow structure. Also included is a control circuit to maintain approximately the same P1dB point for the weak signal during high gain amplification as for the strong signal during low gain amplification.