Reply To: MCL82 data protocol documents?

[TK]

@Madskp Thanks much for your offer! There may be a specific version of the MCL82 box that I could use for engineering purposes, and it would be most helpful to have one.  I will return with a model number in short order – perhaps you have one available.

With reference to controlling the BM8000 without IR- as it turns out, it may be as simple as attaching a 7-Din Y-splitter to the BM8000 Tape output, and intercepting/inserting all the Datalink traffic that way. I’ve successfully managed to do this using the BM7000 architecture, which affords me near-complete knowledge of all the I/O between all the system components. Based on these proposal drawings posted by @cklit, I’d expect the same can be achieved with the 8000 series – I’m now “just another component on the Datalink bus with a 5V pullup”.  For the DL80/86 in the BM7000 at least- there appears to be no error checking of actual data content sent between components, so I am already able do things like turn components on and off, spoof the track count, and directly control the component function as if I was the BM itself. So far all the components are happy to oblige, with my rouge inputs being dutifully accepted as authentic commands and status messages. I’m imagining the BM8000 will allow for the same – worth investigating!

Your thoughts on the BM5000 are exactly what I have in mind for my science project.  The BM5000 uses DL80 protocols for it’s internal component architecture (from what I’ve tested), so that part works already with my current codebase.  Where I’m currently stuck is in finding the external command-set where I can control the BM5000 itself via the eensy-weensy teeny-tiny single DL I/O pin that connects it to a MCL network.  If the MCL82 command-set is rich enough, I’d be able to add the feature you describe, and even more. Given that I already monitor both internal DL80 busses, I can also properly intercept all component status messages, and emulate a DL86 interface for the BM5000, allowing for advanced integration with other B&O components.  (for the 3 people globally who may care to do do, LOL!)

It would also be straightforward to have a BM8000 control a CD7000, for example.  It’s just a matter of creating a macro which monitors for the BM8000 “Play” command, and injects the DL80 “Play” command on the DL. There’s a bit more to it than that, but that is the general idea.