The mk2 can be swapped with mk3's. Only some mechanical changes. The processor boards are different. So are the displays of course.

The missing dots are not repairable. I've seen several displays by occasion which missed some dots. The problem wasn't cracked solder joints, unfortunatly.

Maybe the switch at the bottom was set wrong?

Sometimes you have to take off the powercords to make the displays working again.

Don't forget that the mk2 displays can't be placed behind mk3 glasses. They become unreadable. Or hardly visible.

Fully wired MK1 cables are normally used with the penta. These are thicker than the mk2 version. But then again, with mk2 cables, the penta wouldn't switch on...

I'm sure it is the Mk.2 PL cables that are the fully wired (and therefore necessary for the Penta displays). 

It is the Mk.2's that are the thicker cables, whereas the Mk.1 & Mk.3 are much thinner versions.

I'm sure it is the Mk.2 PL cables that are the fully wired (and therefore necessary for the Penta displays). 

It is the Mk.2's that are the thicker cables, whereas the Mk.1 & Mk.3 are much thinner versions.

Correct, as explained by Lee in a previous post:

Powerlink cable suitability for speakers;

Mk1 are for non IcePower speakers (for example the BeoLab 6000, early BeoLab 4000, BeoLab 8000)

Mk2 are for everything and can also carry data signals, so are perfect for BeoLab Penta.

Mk3 are for IcePowered (for example BeoLab 8002, BeoLab 6002, BeoLab 3)

Dave.

kammeri wrote:

I just swapped the mk2 display back into one of the speakers to troubleshoot the inoperability of the mk3 displays. Strangely enough, now even the mk2 displays have stopped working, which worked fine previously.

Or placed the connector upside down the wrong way?

Sometimes a total reset (back to standby and back on again) will help.

I got lost in which type of mk's powerlink cables. The earliest versions were very thick and looked the same as din-aux cable with a diameter of almost 8-10mm. Just to point out that the thinner versions will not work with the penta or beolab 5000 etc. These lab's need both pin 1 and 4 driven.