BeoSystem 4 and prehistoric Beo4

30 replies
6(
Offline
65535 (archived2)
Bronze
Posted December 24, 2021 at 19:48 GMT
#2161991

On a whim I bought a used BeoSystem 4.

The seller had an old Beo4 remote that he included as part of the deal. My kids think it's the coolest remote they've ever seen.

I've connected the HDMI out of the BS4 to HDMI in on my Sony TV, and have given the BS4 a test HDMI input as well.

The BeoSystem powers on and, for a brief moment, looks entirely happy. I get the BANG & OLUFSEN logo shimmer in the centre of the Sony display and then nothing. Black screen. I can hear it and it gets warm, but that's the extent of my interaction.

As for the Beo4, it's clearly a super ancient version in that it has "TAPE" buttons. I have no idea how to configure it, or whether it'll ever work in this setup, particularly as everything I can find refers to later designs that have "MEM" buttons instead.

My questions are:

  • Would you expect to see something on the Sony TV other than the B&O logo at startup? If it was lacking an input, would it not say "no input" or similar?
  • Is the Beo4 just too old? How does communicate with something like a BeoSystem anyway? All a bit mysterious. Wondering if I cut my losses and look for a BeoRemote One.

Happy xmas!

RA
Offline
Razlaw
Bronze
Posted December 25, 2021 at 07:27 GMT
#2161992
I do not know anything about how the screen and BS4 work, but I think the Beo 4 should work fine for it, regardless of it’s age.
Millemis
Offline
Millemis
Bronze
Posted December 25, 2021 at 08:17 GMT
#2161993

There are some things to concider here.

First: do you have the IR eye connected!?

Otherweise no beoremote will help you.

The old Beo4 can basicly be used - however, if you want to use that, you will have to configure the BSys4 for that.

(A Beo4 with navi would be better overall).

It is essential that you can call up the Menu of the system - otherweise you won’t be able to configure the (HDMI) inputs, the speaker output etc.

Also the tuner needs to be configured - or maybe disabled.

 

Some more details are needed in order to help you.

The User Guide might give you some hints:

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

6(
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65535 (archived2)
Bronze
Posted December 25, 2021 at 12:13 GMT
#2161994

Thanks both. As a Beovision virgin my understanding of these things is nil, so as always I appreciate your patience.

It will come as no surprise to hear I don't have any IR receivers or transmitters connected to the BeoSystem 4.

The link to the BS4 guide MM kindly provided shows RJ45 sockets labelled "EXT. IR" and "IR / AUTO CONTRAST" which is presumably what I need to fill. However, all the IR related items on eBay, and Steve's "Beolink Infra Red Remote Eye" product, have 3.5mm jack type sockets.

There is an "IR Eye/Receiver Cable for B&O BeoSystem 4" on eBay but this leads to bare wires for a BeoLink IR Eye/Receiver. I'm kind of thinking these are all things B&O guys just have lying about in a drawer somewhere? 🙂

What am I missing exactly? What do I need to buy?

Millemis
Offline
Millemis
Bronze
Posted December 25, 2021 at 13:36 GMT
#2161995

Did you ask the previous owner?

A good B&O dealer should be able to help.

Must be something like this:

 

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

carolpa
Offline
carolpa
Bronze
Posted December 25, 2021 at 14:26 GMT
#2161996

Millemissen wrote:
First: do you have the IR eye connected!?

Otherweise no beoremote will help you.

One can use the B&o app as remote (no IR eye necessary). Be sure the Beosystem is connected to your LAN.

 

Note: hopefully the Beosystem 4 is setup normally, otherwise this maybe will not work.

 

6(
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65535 (archived2)
Bronze
Posted December 26, 2021 at 11:42 GMT
#2161997

From the tidbit you kindly provided I found the following 2018 thread:

/forum/general-discussion-and-questions/beosystem-ir-eye

I'm going to lash something together in the office workshop and update this thread in the event some other lost soul acquires a BeoSystem years from now and wonders what the heck to do with it!

6(
Offline
65535 (archived2)
Bronze
Posted December 26, 2021 at 11:45 GMT
#2161998

Carolpa wrote:

Millemissen wrote:
First: do you have the IR eye connected!?

Otherweise no beoremote will help you.

One can use the B&o app as remote (no IR eye necessary). Be sure the Beosystem is connected to your LAN.

Note: hopefully the Beosystem 4 is setup normally, otherwise this maybe will not work

Confess I have not thought of using the app. Only just realised that deep into the BeoVision section, over on the far right, joy of joys, is a BeoSystem 4 😁

Will report back.

6(
Offline
65535 (archived2)
Bronze
Posted December 27, 2021 at 14:04 GMT
#2161999

Well, dang. Connecting via Ethernet and the app sees it within a few seconds of powering up.

6(
Offline
65535 (archived2)
Bronze
Posted December 27, 2021 at 14:29 GMT
#2162000

Have reached a dead end. There is a user defined PIN that's been set and, according to the manual, this code can't be removed without having the PIN in advance to deactivate it. Or it requires the involvement of B&O.

Have gotten in touch with the seller. Won't accept commands without it.

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