BeoLink Converter 1611 Innovative Configurations

[Guy]

matador wrote:

Hi Guy, I have open a new thread on this and if you know howw to do this, it could be good to move your post over there (I dont know how to).

I just want to try one more Beoport thing on this thread (because it relates to the dual-input BL1611 and BL3500): I haven’t yet tried connecting the dual-input BL1611 to the same ML system as the Beoport and BL3500, there may well be audio-master conflicts if I don’t get the Options right.

So I’ll check that and report here, and then put any future Beoport thoughts in your new thread if I think that they will be useful for the stand-alone mac project.

[Guy]

Guy wrote:

I haven’t yet tried connecting the dual-input BL1611 to the same ML system as the Beoport and BL3500, there may well be audio-master conflicts if I don’t get the Options right.

I tried this and couldn’t find any way of selecting either of the BL1611’s dual-inputs when the Beoport is also connected to ML.  I tried various combinations of Beoport Option (0, 2, 4, 6) and BL3500 L.Option (0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6) but had several conflicts as far as I am aware. At one point Beoport even locked up (the PC screen controls disappeared) and I had to do a complete re-install of the SW!

*********  EDIT: Ignore above, Options 6 and 6 work – see below! **********

It was not a totally wasted exercise because I did notice that BL3500 can also be set to L.OPT 1 and 2 which are not in the manual. I may look into this further in the future.

Lunch now and then I’ll look at those BL3500 input pins.

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

I tried this and couldn’t find any way of selecting either of the BL1611’s dual-inputs when the Beoport is also connected to ML.  I tried various combinations of Beoport Option (0, 2, 4, 6) and BL3500 L.Option (0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6) but had several conflicts as far as I am aware. At one point Beoport even locked up (the PC screen controls disappeared) and I had to do a complete re-install of the SW!

One should think this was supported as the official drawing from B&O shows the dual input, and a Beoport should be able to coexist with another audio master in the same installation. But of course if that drawing is before the Beoport was made things could have changed.

[Madskp]

matador wrote:

@Madskp Yes those solution are the ones we try to avoid. They use the PL mode from service “Menu 0 4 GO” and the speaker is turned off as soon as you touch any key on the remote. Volume is set from the source and to me the more important: you lose the sound adjustments from the BL3500. It is clearly much better to have the 1611 solution. But when you have it, adding an extra source for casual needs with the PL path is something that comes free and can be useful.

What I take from thoose solutions is the pins used in the DIN connecter for respectivly MCL and PL , not the use case.

[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

One should think this was supported as the official drawing from B&O shows the dual input, and a Beoport should be able to coexist with another audio master in the same installation. But of course if that drawing is before the Beoport was made things could have changed.

That’s what I thought! However, perhaps the BL1611 needs to ‘recognise’ a connected product (older TV or BeoCenter) via the AAL socket (pin 6) so that it knows what sources are available.

I ran the setup through the PCG as if connected to a BL1611 and BC2300 in the main room, Beoport and BL3500 in two link rooms: This told me to put BL3500 and Beoport in Opt 6. The was no conflict or lockup with this, but I just couldn’t select (eg) TV or RADIO like I could when Beoport isn’t present. When I tried, the BL3500 just turned quickly on and off (as if looking for a source and not finding it).

*********  EDIT: Ignore above, Options 6 and 6 work – see below! **********

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

That’s what I thought! However, perhaps the BL1611 needs to ‘recognise’ a connected product (older TV or BeoCenter) via the AAL socket (pin 6) so that it knows what sources are available. I ran the setup through the PCG as if connected to a BL1611 and BC2300 in the main room, Beoport and BL3500 in two link rooms: This told me to put BL3500 and Beoport in Opt 6. The was no conflict or lockup with this, but I just couldn’t select (eg) TV or RADIO like I could when Beoport isn’t present. When I tried, the BL3500 just turned quickly on and off (as if looking for a source and not finding it).

Maybe your software version on the Beolab 3500 is making the trouble here?

[Guy]

Guy wrote:

Madskp wrote:

One should think this was supported as the official drawing from B&O shows the dual input, and a Beoport should be able to coexist with another audio master in the same installation. But of course if that drawing is before the Beoport was made things could have changed.

That’s what I thought! However, perhaps the BL1611 needs to ‘recognise’ a connected product (older TV or BeoCenter) via the AAL socket (pin 6) so that it knows what sources are available.

I ran the setup through the PCG as if connected to a BL1611 and BC2300 in the main room, Beoport and BL3500 in two link rooms: This told me to put BL3500 and Beoport in Opt 6. The was no conflict or lockup with this, but I just couldn’t select (eg) TV or RADIO like I could when Beoport isn’t present. When I tried, the BL3500 just turned quickly on and off (as if looking for a source and not finding it).

OK cancel all that from my last two posts!!!

I just re-programmed (both Opt 6) and re-connected. This time I was much stricter about Option settings, then powering off, reconnecting ML and then powering back on, with the BL1611 last.

Now it works! From either the PC or the BL3500 I can select either of the BL1611’s dual inputs as before. Only downside with this setup is that the Beoport is now only a local source, and cannot be accessed from the BL3500. Selecting (eg) N.RADIO on the BL3500 just opens the BL1611’s audio input.

Anyway, that’ll teach me to be more careful with re-programming and re-connecting!

[Guy]

OK now looking in the back of the BL3500 – photos first to give you serial number:

And this one partially shows a useful sticker (on the left) that allows you to check the speaker setup in the service menu – will do that later!

Madskp wrote:

one thing to look for without opening it could be to measure if pin 2 in the MCL/PL connector is connected to other ground pins or not

OK so no continuity between 2 and 7, or 2 and anything else!

Measuring approx 400 kOhms between 5 and 7, and 3 and 7 so let’s assume 7 is ground , and pin 2 is not connected.

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

OK now looking in the back of the BL3500 – photos first to give you serial number: And this one partially shows a useful sticker (on the left) that allows you to check the speaker setup in the service menu – will do that later!

Madskp wrote:

one thing to look for without opening it could be to measure if pin 2 in the MCL/PL connector is connected to other ground pins or not

OK so no continuity between 2 and 7, or 2 and anything else! Measuring approx 400 kOhms between 5 and 7, and 3 and 7 so let’s assume 7 is ground , and pin 2 is not connected.

ok these 2 informations combined indicate that you have a MK1 with the MCL connector. Good to know

[matador]

Two things then:

Yours is 1602. Mine(s) is(are) 1601.

Stickers changed along time. One of mines mention the SW version, the other not.

I can see from your pictures that you have the MCL engraving.
Here is the ID sticker of the guy who told me his BL3500 was able to start with only à 5v USB plug making it close to an usual Beolab. I didn’t asked him on which pin 5 v was fed. I’ll send you the pictures he sent me in PM.

(BTW, do you have the wall part of your wall bracket (because I’m working on a replacement trick if you’re interested.)

[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

ok these 2 informations combined indicate that you have a MK1 with the MCL connector. Good to know

Oh yes. And I thought I had a Mk2!

matador wrote:

Yours is 1602. Mine(s) is(are) 1601.

Only difference is that 1602 comes with a UK power lead and three pin plug. EDIT: and yours is 230V, mine 240v.

matador wrote:

(BTW, do you have the wall part of your wall bracket (because I’m working on a replacement trick if you’re interested.)

The other bit of the bracket came with it thanks. It will need some large screws and a solid wall if I do ever mount it!

[matador]

Guy wrote:

The other bit of the bracket came with it thanks.

Like we said here, you seems to have your bottom in a plate of noodles…

My stickers…

[Guy]

matador wrote:

Guy wrote: The other bit of the bracket came with it thanks.

Like we said here, you seems to have your bottom in a plate of noodles…

So the lovely lady that I bought the Beolabs from explained that they belonged to her father. He was an avid B&O fan for many years, but has just had to move into a Care Home due to advancing age. He kept hold of his Ouverture and (Original) Avant – apparently it took three people to carry it into the nursing home! That will be me one day!

[Keith Saunders]

As you may know the LCS9000 and both versions of the Beolab 3500 have the same 4 digit type numbers meaning you can only know which version of the Beolab 3500 by the Item number or the serial number.

The type numbers are as follows:-

• 1601 — EU
• 1602 — UK
• 1603 — USA
• 1604 — Japan
• 1605 — Australia
• 1607 — Korea
• 1608 — China

The BeoLab 3500 Mark 2 was introduced in 2006 from serial number 19343452

Item number 1160X11 is BeoLab 3500 with Master Control Link

Item number 1160112 to 1160138 is BeoLab 3500 Mark 2

[Madskp]

Keith Saunders wrote:

The BeoLab 3500 Mark 2 was introduced in 2006 from serial number 19343452 Item number 1160X11 is BeoLab 3500 with Master Control Link Item number 1160112 to 1160138 is BeoLab 3500 Mark 2

then I guess both of Matador’s are MK2.

On the picture of the BL3500 from the guy with the 5V trigger it seems to me that I can  the Item number to be 1160X11 and therefor and MK1 Version. I guess the SW 1.1 also indicates that it is an early version.

[matador]

Yes and Yes. I still need to confirm SW version of test unit.

On early ones there is also the MCL engraving under the DIN socket that show early units.

[Guy]

Just a quick note about triggering the BL3500 with 5V. I did tentatively try 5V to various pins whilst I had a 7-pin cable attached to the MCL socket (ML was disconnected). I tried all voltage injections variations that have been mentioned with ML turned both on and off. BL3500 did not turn on. Given that we now have BL1611 working well, I give up!

However, whilst searching for something else, I just noticed a Peter Pan diagram showing BL3500 attached to Wireless 1 by Powerlink. The thread is here: https://www.hifi4all.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20679&PN=1&TPN=149

I found the following Note interesting:

The combination Wierless 1, version no. 1780 and BeoLab 3500 version no. 1601 must not be connected to a separate IR-Sensor, here the IR sensor that is built into BeoLab 3500 works.
Installation of a separate IR-Sensor therefore only applies to the first version of Wireless 1. 

So (if the note is correct!) then with the later version of Wireless 1 (1780), there would have been no ‘trigger’ because the BL3500 was turned on with its own IR sensor.   The trigger only came from the early version of Wireless 1, which perhaps required a corresponding early software version in BL3500.

It’s a pity that the Product Configuration Guide doesn’t include Wireless 1, because it often points out minimum SW levels for various combinations.

[matador]

Test unit has SW3.1.

I checked also the runtime counter but dont know how to read it.
Service manual says:

A: XXXXX, which is the Audio mode operating time in hours x 10.

So if display shows 00150, is it 15 hours or 1500?

[matador]

Guy wrote:

BL3500 attached to Wireless 1 by Powerlink.

This is something that is puzzling me and for what I’not found any clear answer.
User manuals for the 3500 clearly says the Powerlink socket is of no use.
User manual for Wireless 1 clearly says connection with BL3500 must be thought Masterlink.

But I’ve also read many times on the forum that the Powerlink socket on the 3500 is there for use with W1.

I suppose they were different version of W1 over time, one of which uses Powerlink and the other Masterlink, right? But even then, Why would the Beolab react to a Powerlink connection from W1 only and not any other device?

Given you tried all the combination of voltage trigger, this something I don’t understand.

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

Just a quick note about triggering the BL3500 with 5V. I did tentatively try 5V to various pins whilst I had a 7-pin cable attached to the MCL socket (ML was disconnected). I tried all voltage injections variations that have been mentioned with ML turned both on and off. BL3500 did not turn on. Given that we now have BL1611 working well, I give up!

Out of curiosity: Did you try the combination +5V on pin 6 (datalink) and -5V on pin 7 (datalink shield)? I have had some thought about this and cam to the conclusion that the rest of the pins are either not conencted or used for the sound part. Furthermore one of the olde manuals regarding datalink signals mentions high signals in the voltage range 2.1 to 5.5V. But again it is just a thought.

 

 

[Author]

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