I don't think it's ever been published, so it would be reverse engineering time...

Datalink is more or less public, at least the frame structure, (although it is hard to get direct information from anyone as everybody seems to be trying to sell you something) and might have some similarities, but I wouldn't expect it to be too useful - ML probably needs much more complex communication.

I think the ML Gateway is the way to go. It is really expensive though, £1800.00 in the UK.

The ML Gatways costs 2010 € in Germany and there is not a lot of documentation about the functionality on the B&O website. Before spending this amount of money for a “simple” gateway I would like to get more information about it.

Attached is screen shot from a simple USB logic analyser. The data was taken from a 1611 converter when switching V. AUX on. Maybe it is possible to find patterns when taking a lot of data frames during the day ;-).

Any hints are welcome.

Lintronic has done something similar, it connected the lintronic box's IR connector to a pin of the 1611 converter and he is able to trigger actions based on commands passed on the ML.

But the MCL/Datalink protocol is older than the ML protocol, and I do not think you could get all the new Beo5 codes.

That said if you want to trigger only a few actions, like lights, the lintronic solution might be enough.

I am interested in the ML gateway myself, and it can do a lot, basically here is how it works:

When you set it up, you have a way to assign a unique number to all your B&O TV and Audio equipments.

Then you'll get a message every time one of these devices receive a command from the remote, but also if the state changes by itself... for example the DVD goes to the next track.

The Beo5 can be setup to send signals that are not recognized by the TV or Audio system, so they simply pass them through and you receive a message as well. So you can trigger an action in your home automation software.

If you do not have a Beo5, you can use LIGHT codes from the Beo4, they also pass through.

The ML gateway is 2 way, so your home automation system can send a signal to turn the TV on, change the volume, etc...

tournedos wrote:

I don't think it's ever been published, so it would be reverse engineering time...

Datalink is more or less public, at least the frame structure, (although it is hard to get direct information from anyone as everybody seems to be trying to sell you something) and might have some similarities, but I wouldn't expect it to be too useful - ML probably needs much more complex communication.

hi,

i did a lot of research two years ago when i was planning out my b&o setup during the renovation. i found a white paper that describes how masterlink functions. it's probably still out there on the web somewhere. google may lead you to it...

scott

PhilLondon wrote:

If you do not have a Beo5, you can use LIGHT codes from the Beo4, they also pass through.

As a first step that would be enough. Unfortunately the logic analyzer does not capture anything when pressing the LIGHT button followed by a number or something else on the Beo4. So it seems that these commands do not pass through (in my case through a BeoSound 3000). Is there a complete and detailed explanation of the ML Gateway features? From http://ikatu.com/en/rnd/mlgw it is possible to download an installation manual – but it is not very detailed.

BTW: From interpreting the data it seems that ML uses a standard RS232 communication protocol: 19200 baud, 8 data bits, one parity bit (which can be dropped), one stop bit. The last byte of a frame is always 00h the second last byte is a checksum (last 8 bits of the accumulation of all data bytes before).

Checksum generation (example applies to the above posted logic analyzer data):
C0h + C1h + 01h + 0Ah + 00h + 00h + 00h + 0Dh + 02h + 01h + 33h + 35h = 204h -> Checksum = 04h

Andreas wrote:

Unfortunately the logic analyzer does not capture anything when pressing the LIGHT button

Try "LINK, LIGHT".

It may not be the Beosound 3000 that does not transfer the LIGHT command, but maybe it is the Beolink converter that filters it.

One thing you could test is a Beolink PC2 box. It has a USB port on one side. I do not know if it trasnfer all the ML codes to the computer or only some that are necessary.

P.

Attached is a schematic from a BV5. Nearly the same solution is used in BeoLink converter. The logic analyzer probe is connected to Pin 1 of the ML-ASIC, so it is possible to get the unfiltered packets from the MasterLink bus.

After work I try “LINK, LIGHT”.


Andy

All this info and testing is great!  Please keep this up guys.  I think there are many that are extremely interested but may not be technical enough to add much to the conversation.