IR Eye – with/without autocontrast?

[CharlieWednesday]

I have a handful of IR eyes now, more than I need (2 of the old rectangular type and 4 of the newer round type).  I only recently realised however that the newer round type has a version with ‘auto contrast’.  Can anyone tell me, how do I know if any of mine are that model?  They seem to look exactly the same in images I’ve found online.  One of my IR eyes does not have labels on the buttons, but I had always assumed the lettering had just rubbed off!  Is that a different version; maybe that’s the one with auto contrast?

Reason I ask – I am on the lookout for a Beosystem 3, and I believe the version of the IR Eye with auto contrast will work with that.

[Guy]

As far as I know there are two versions of IR eye for the BS3 (neither has lettering):

• Auto-contrast version has 7 connectors inside and is fitted with a 9-pin serial plug for connection to BS3
• Non-auto-contrast version has 5 connectors inside, only three of which are used and connect to the BS3 via a 3.5mm ‘headphone type’ plug.

I’m guessing that different versions of the BS3 need (or work with) different versions of IR eye.

[CharlieWednesday]

Thanks Guy – I’ve checked inside and all of mine have 5 connectors, so none have the auto-contrast then.

While I knew there were different versions of the BS3 I did not realise they might have different connection types for the IR eye, so I’ll keep that in mind while looking for one – thanks.

[Guy]

CharlieWednesday wrote:

While I knew there were different versions of the BS3 I did not realise they might have different connection types for the IR eye, so I’ll keep that in mind while looking for one – thanks.

This link shows both SCART and component versions, and would appear to have IR-in connections for both types that I mentioned: https://thegogglesdonothing.com/images/beosystem3.jpg

[CharlieWednesday]

Ah, well that will make it easy then, I guess it doesn’t matter which version I get.  I know the later ones also had 2 HDMI out instead of 2 DVI out, but I don’t really mind if I get an earlier version with DVI and SCART; I can still use it.

I want one so I can add more inputs to my BV8 TV, and add my projector to the BS3 too, then control the whole lot with my Beo4.  Seems a worthwhile endeavour if I can get a BS3 cheap enough – I’ve seen them go on eBay for around £100.

[Guy]

There’s lots of advice about Bs3 versions in ArchivedForum2 so it’s well worth having a search – threads like this: https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/38155/290365.aspx

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

One of my IR eyes does not have labels on the buttons,

I also have one without the lettering, but the buttons are there and working, so probably another front cover that is used when the IR eye is configured with the 3 pin minijack where it only has the IR functionality.

[CharlieWednesday]

I had always assumed the lettering had just rubbed off one of mine, so good to know that this is not the case, and it was actually made that way!  It was originally included with a Beolink Active which I bought used from eBay, so I guess the original owner may have replaced their original (labelled) IR eye with this one at some point.

I also hadn’t considered the fact that the buttons would not work if connected via minijack, but that does make sense.  I have a Beolink PC2 to which you can connect an IR Eye via minijack, but I’ve never felt the need.

[Madskp]

As an extra info the Beolink handbook has some pages showing the different versions of the round IR eyes and how the wires are connected for the different connection types

[Author]

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