Well, there aren't that many people doing MCL at this scale on the forum I guess...

I don't remember all the twists, but have you been able to verify at some point that the MCL2E actually works?

Not as such, Mika. I kind of trusted it worked and at first I connected the cables wrongly and nothing worked (I had them linked the wrong way round). I changed them and then at least I got some music out of the speakers connected to the MCL2As after the MCL2E. Nothing except Power On, though... :(

It's been on my mind for a while: given the help I have been getting, the least I can do is join the club properly... would I find an MCL2E guide on the site and some written help about what I'm looking for? Not a problem doing a bit of reading on my part...

We have the MCL2 installation and user guides on site (the "user" guide actually being the one that an installer would like to read), but they don't go inside the boxes at all - otherwise I would've told you a long time ago what the correct spec for the power supply is! Just wiring and configuration instructions.

One thing I note there is that they advice to locate the expander box as close to the audio master as possible, and it should then be able to drive three parallel chains of up to four MCL2A's (each up to 500 ft). Dunno how critical that is, but I'm sure it's not a hard limit.

No. My understanding is that I need to switch off the whole system, connect the MCL2E, then swich back on and finally plug in the MCL2E. Does that sound about right?

Before this gets too confusing (switch off = remove from mains?) and acknowledging that MCL can be "picky..."

I would turn everything off, remove from the mains, make all of your connections... then and only then -reapply power. First to the MCL components, then finally to the Master.

NOTES: I wouldn't classify my suggestion as "best practice" but more "logical practice." I have not used an extender in any MCL networks; I will be happy to review my manuals and re-post as needed.

P.S. Reviewing the thread for more insight -the expander took the brunt of the hit from your first post... it may have actually worked when you sourced it. Now, hard to say!

Dragos wrote:

I thought I'd better test the system with one extra box and the MCL2E expander. The expander came without a DC adaptor, so I borrowed a 12V 2.3A one from an external hardrive. Disaster!

ooooooohh, man!!!!!!

Dragos wrote:

ooooooohh, man!!!!!!

Is that good or bad? 😕 😂

You know what, guys? This is weird but I'm not complaining and I only hope it goes on for some time.

I worked out that a reason for the one-way behaviour of some of my transceivers could be explained by faulty cabling. Fortunately it was only because the tremendously fiddly white data cable had come out of its place in my 3rd MCL2A. So that was a good start. However, even after rectifying that, the MCL2As connected after the MCL2E didn't want to play ball properly, so I gave up, got rid of the MCL2E and connected them directly. Now my beloved white BM5500 is driving 5 MCL2As on a 30m cable (about 98ft, not more than 500ft as I originally thought ... imperial and metric, hey? well, if Nasa got mixed up...) (I'll abandon the 6th room because I really don't want to push my luck).

If only I could find a white Beogram 5500 Christmas would come early...

Anyway, I digress :) Thanks a lot, everyone, for your invaluable help. Have a super duper day,
Dragos :)