The problem here is that the problem can be both software or electronics.

If you want to dive in to the electronic side of it I might have a hint here.

Since there are not schematics of these kind of newer products I have been looking at the schematics for Beolink Active and Beolink Passive just to see if anything obvious shows up.

It seems that for those the IR signal is connected to the microcomputer with only a resistor in between. The resistor is not likely to fail. However these units also has a protection diode to ground, and that could fail. A screenshot from the Beolink passive service manual to clarify what I am talking about

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If you can locate a diode with the same purpose in the Essence you can meassure if it has continuty in only on or both directions whre the latter would indicate a failed diode.

Hope this can be usefull for the further proces of fault finding

Thanks @madskp - I may well have a look inside!  It's actually boxed up again at the moment, but you've given me a reason to get it back out and have a play.

Glad to keep you occupied :-)

A quick update ...

I now have an NL/ML converter, so I today connected my round 'Timer version' IR sensor and it controlled the converter perfectly, hence I have proved that there is nothing wrong with my IR sensor or RJ45 wiring.  I tried the IR sensor again connected to the Essence and it still didn't work, despite yesterday's Essence SW update.

It might be time to delve inside the Essence as @madskp suggested a couple of posts ago.  I have limited time at present and need to prepare my motorbike for its MOT tomorrow, so I will report back here when I have news.

Looking forward to the development in this 😀

To bad that the update did not change anything

An old thread I know but there's been a major development 😊 After much patience I today got hold of a new round IR eye with the 'join' button, pre-wired with an RJ45 ready for Essence or NL/ML Converter (an 'as-new unused' purchase from Mercor's eBay shop for about £45 incl P&P). I booted up the Essence Mk2 connected from RJ45 PL output to the Aux input of a BeoSound 1. I pressed the sensor's  'join' button and the internet radio burst into life.  I then tried a Beo4 with no response. I then used the app to stop radio playback, and carried out the usual Beo4 procedure to put the Essence in A.OPT 1 - this was acknowledge with a double flash of the little green LED at the bottom of the IR receiver. I then pressed radio on the remote and it burst into life!  Allows me to change channels and everything!  I am very pleased (and relieved that there isn't a fault with the Essence)! 😊 I will now try all the ways to control the Essence with the Beo4 (aux/source selection etc) and refer back to my old notes about what I was trying to achieve previously.  I will add the NL/ML converter plus my M3 at some stage and see what sources I can select from where.

Hi Guy

That sounds amazing.

However allow me a couple of questions…

1. Normally you have to activate the Aux on the BS1 manually:
‘The AUX socket is activated by pressing both arrows and CD simultaneously’.

The way you describe it, the BS1 autosenses a signal coming from the Essence MK2/PL (and starts in Aux-mode).
Have I understood that correctly?

2. You write that the Netradio (from the Essence) starts and can be controlled, when you push Radio on the Beo4.
How come the BS1 does not react to the Radio command and activates the built-in tuner there???

I would assume, that this will only be possible, if you use a BROne/bt (connected to the Essence), since there is no ir command going on.

3. Is your goal to use the BS1 as an only-speaker device with the Essence Mk2 as the source device (including whatever is beo-linked to it)?
That would imo be a great little setup!

P.S.

I guess, in that case the ir-eye would not be needed at all.

MM

Sorry MM it's not that good - I have misled you!

I put the BS1 in A.OPT 0, and then used the buttons to select AUX, hence just using as a dumb amplifier.  It would indeed be great if I could work out a way to auto start it.  But doesn't one of the Essence BlueTooth remote setups also send an IR aux signal (I think I read that here).

My main aim was to get IR control of the Essence working - I really don't like controlling it with the phone App and would rather just pick up the Beo4 and press RADIO (or N.RADIO - it responds to both).  Eventually I will connect Beolabs, probably either my BL4000s or BL4s.

Just to add, volume control of the Essence also works well using Beo4 or the buttons on the IR sensor (as long as the Essence is not in fixed output level mode).

EDIT:  I have also now updated the Essence SW to version  6.5.58119.11794462  (the SW change versions are here: 

Great to hear that you got it working ind the end and that it was not a fault in the Essence or a software issue. I guess this also confirms that its only the IR eye with the join button that works on the Essence MK2.

The BS1 in Option 0 - that explains it!

I have always felt it a pity, that there is no ‘autosense’ on the A.Aux (of the BS1).
That is a feature that came with later products.

Would have been really nice, since the BS1 is very good sounding.
(That always kept me from buying one)

You can use ir with the BROne, but you have to change from one setting to another….which in the long run is too awkward.

I guess the only way to make that work, is some kind of automation….which I do not really understand.

The Essence MK2 just recently got an update - fantastic that B&O has not forgotten this long eol’ed product.
I have 3 of them 😀😀😀

Happy further experimenting.

MM