Hello

First of. the MCL/ML converter will not work for this scenario. The powerlink plug is an input as it can also be used as an amplifier for passive speakers.

 

This thread has a description of different solutions link

Since the IR is not working there are not many solutions available. Several attempts has been made by me and other members to trigger the Beolab 3500 with 5V signals without luck.

The only working solution I know of for a MK1 is the Almando Masterplay (my experience described here  ) but it is not being produced anymore, so you should be lucky to find one

Hi,

Thank you for your feedback. I will definitely take a look at your thread in detail.

It sounds weird that you can trigger it though the ML or MCL ports, since that's how other B&O products talk to it. Especially since it doesn't have a build in source player.

I have read that many of these trigger+RCA to DIN doesn't work with the BeoLab 5, but think that's because of its internal dsp. Which the BeoLab 3500 doesn't really have. So again, why wouldn't it work??

Do you by any chance have the pin out documentation for the ports on the BeoLab 3500? Might try with an esp32 dev board.

I now wonder if my beocenter 9000 can talk to it, but it doesn't have ML or MCL. It does have link capability via the Beolink (type 2046) box and datalink, which I have. Also the beolink does say MCL 2A on it. Since both devices was able around the same time period, one would think.

Otherwise I might need a new front panel on my BeoLab 3500. Or maybe the IR eye can be connected?

Again thanks for the feedback.

Okay, so my engineer brain went down a rabbit hole....

There was at some point something called an ML Gateway, which allowed you to control ML device via the network. Sort of Beo intelligens but earlier. To add to this someone as made an Home Assistant (HASIO) integration, which allows you to control it via HASIO. This could be way cooler than my Chromecast audio streamer with some weird cable solution that might not work.....Also I do use HASIO so...  I Have attached the ML gateway Installation guide and here is the link

Also Someone has made a hat for a raspberry pi for controlling ML/MCL device. They also have some documentation for how the data signals look like. Check this .

With this in mind, it could be possible to make a streamer which and wake and play music on the beolab 3500 using an ESP32. NICE!

I'm unfortunately not good at programming, so I might start with looking at the ML Gateway.

 

Hi,

repairing the BL3500 IR is not that complicated if you know how to solder.

Just based on my own limited experiments, the 3500 does decipher and respond to Datalink 86 (MCL2), at least to an extent.  Penta status updates seemed to provide 3500 screen updates. and I think I recall an On/Off trigger. At this point I stopped looking at it.  Also of note, there is no "5V" injection option here, as there does not appear to be an "active" pin or similar that one sees on a proper Powerlink speaker. So to have any chance to wake up the speaker via ML/MCL, one would need to address it appropriately- for example using a properly formatted MCL2 command.

In my limited testing, I seem to recall that I could send an MCL2 signal to turn it on and off, and update the source on the screen.  I don't recall if I could send MCL2 that would manipulate the volume.  I spent a total of 10 minutes on it, so my memory may be a bit hazy.

All that being said, I do not know which 3500 firmware version- if any- is coded to respond to a signal to control ALL of it's features (On/Off, VolLvl, Mute). The 3500 I have at the shop is on FW 1.0, so it may fall into the "not yet implemented" category and not indicative of the later variants.

link

Do you by any chance have the pin out documentation for the ports on the BeoLab 3500? Might try with an esp32 dev board.

You should be able to find the pinout at the diagram for the MCL to 8 Pin DIN connector in this page in the Beotech section  Also if you have the Servicemanual for the LCS9000 (Beolab3500 MK1) it will have a pinout in it.

link

linklink

I now wonder if my beocenter 9000 can talk to it, but it doesn’t have ML or MCL. It does have link capability via the Beolink (type 2046) box and datalink, which I have. Also the beolink does say MCL 2A on it. Since both devices was able around the same time period, one would think.

The Beocenter 9000 does have MCL2 via the speaker 2 connections which is what you use with the MCL2A box. The Beolab 3500 MK1 also have MCL pinout via the 8 Pin DIN connector, but will not work if the SW version is upgraded to 3.x.

link

Also Someone has made a hat for a raspberry pi for controlling ML/MCL device. They also have some documentation for how the data signals look like. Check this link.

Ah interesting that project seems to be alive again :-) nice work @B3OHACK3R although it still seems to require some DIY work to get it running?

link

The ML Gateway alone won’t help you much as it requires a master system (video or audio) to provide power to the ML bus.

Just to clarify this, a Beolink Converter type 1611 or a ML powerbox can be used to provide the power, so no music system and TV is needed.

link

and I think I recall an On/Off trigger.

Could this be what is used for timer start which I think might have been the only scenario where starting the BL3500 via the MCL/ML bus would be needed in an original  intended B&O setup.

link

The 3500 I have at the shop is on FW 1.0, so it may fall into the “not yet implemented” category and not indicative of the later variants.

I tried to assemble a SW update list at one point  From what it says the SW 1.x versions does not fully inplement Masterlink, and there was an issue with the clock on MCL at one point. But it probably was implemented. I also have a SW 1.0 in my collection  

link

Ah interesting that project seems to be alive again 🙂 nice work @B3OHACK3R although it still seems to require some DIY work to get it running?

There is now an optional software image that just needs to be flashed on a SD card. Strictly speaking its still DIY but the software part can be plug-play with that one.

link

Just to clarify this, a Beolink Converter type 1611 or a ML powerbox can be used to provide the power, so no music system and TV is needed.

Absolutely.

link

There is now an optional software image that just needs to be flashed on a SD card. Strictly speaking its still DIY but the software part can be plug-play with that one.

Oh very interesting :-) I have not read the full description yet, but will defenetly look into that.