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A little down this page looks to confirm that the wirering for the Essence and the NL/ML converter is the same although different color coding is used in the examples https://forum.recordere.dk/bo-din-kabler-connection-div-diy_topic7820_page47.html
Thanks for that – useful to know that I am at least trying to get it right, albeit without the Tx Rx connections!
The RJ45 cable that I used matches the T-568B standard colours of the second diagram. It would seem that B&O use those cables for 20m and great, but have a bespoke cable colour scheme for their 10m version.
Interesting that the photo at the link actually shows an Essence Mk1 – on the Mk2 the IR socket moves to the right of the Powerlink (one of the things I was checking when I bought mine!)
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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I have now made and adapter from RJ45 to 7 Pin female DIN so I can connect a ML IR eye to my NL/ML converter (only ground, +5V and IR data signals are connected in the adapter).
I have tested it with the NL/ML converter in stand alone mode with line in input and an active speaker + the IR eye connected.
I can control volume, set it to standby and activate it agin with a BEO4, so seems to be working with the wirering specified for the NL/ML converter.
The settings for IR in the NL/ML converter are option 1, 2 or 4, and thats it, so might be different that on the Essence.
Many thanks for checking with the NL/ML converter – it’s useful to know that works with the ML eye and just the three wires connected.
The instructions for IR with Essence only mention that it requires A.OPT 1. It’s explained here: https://support.bang-olufsen.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041742571-How-do-I-activate-sources-using-BeoRemote-One-or-Beo4
Option setting is one of my concerns. As we know, when Option setting is done with the Beo4, a B&O product is usually in ‘stand-by’ (powered up but not turned on). I can’t be totally sure what state the Essence should be in when setting options. It can either be ‘off’ (but powered), at ‘network standby’, or ‘on’. I am guessing that ‘network standby’ is right for option setting, but have tried all three states just to check. It would be far easier if there were a drop down A.OPT menu in the settings like your NL/ML converter.
Anyway, I am hoping that there’s a bug with the current firmware; I sent a query to B&O last night and they have responded to say that it has been forwarded to their technical team.
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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Thanks for testing those voltages. My Essence doesn’t seem to be supplying any voltage to a disconnected IR wire, so perhaps there is a Firmware problem (hopefully not a hardware problem, but we’ll see).
I am still waiting to hear back from B&O Tech support, and will post back here when I do.
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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Just an update – having been reminded by the other Essence thread!
I have been in discussions with B&O tech support but I still can’t get it to work. They advised me to update the software (which I already had) and asked me to confirm the connections – I sent a copy of the NL/ML eye wiring diagram from the ML handbook and they didn’t say it was wrong. I also asked them to confirm when to set A.OPT 1 – once they understood the question they told me that it should be done when the Essence is in ‘Network Standby’ – again, I had already tried this.
So I have given up! If there are new SW updates I will check again. Otherwise, it would be useful to know if anyone has got it to work recently, either with the newer JOIN ML IR eye or the older TIMER version that I am trying.
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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The problem here is that the problem can be both software or electronics.
If you want to dive in to the electronic side of it I might have a hint here.
Since there are not schematics of these kind of newer products I have been looking at the schematics for Beolink Active and Beolink Passive just to see if anything obvious shows up.
It seems that for those the IR signal is connected to the microcomputer with only a resistor in between. The resistor is not likely to fail. However these units also has a protection diode to ground, and that could fail. A screenshot from the Beolink passive service manual to clarify what I am talking about
If you can locate a diode with the same purpose in the Essence you can meassure if it has continuty in only on or both directions whre the latter would indicate a failed diode.
Hope this can be usefull for the further proces of fault finding
Thanks @madskp – I may well have a look inside! It’s actually boxed up again at the moment, but you’ve given me a reason to get it back out and have a play.
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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A quick update …
I now have an NL/ML converter, so I today connected my round ‘Timer version’ IR sensor and it controlled the converter perfectly, hence I have proved that there is nothing wrong with my IR sensor or RJ45 wiring. I tried the IR sensor again connected to the Essence and it still didn’t work, despite yesterday’s Essence SW update.
It might be time to delve inside the Essence as @madskp suggested a couple of posts ago. I have limited time at present and need to prepare my motorbike for its MOT tomorrow, so I will report back here when I have news.
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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An old thread I know but there’s been a major development 😊
After much patience I today got hold of a new round IR eye with the ‘join’ button, pre-wired with an RJ45 ready for Essence or NL/ML Converter (an ‘as-new unused’ purchase from Mercor’s eBay shop for about £45 incl P&P).
I booted up the Essence Mk2 connected from RJ45 PL output to the Aux input of a BeoSound 1. I pressed the sensor’s ‘join’ button and the internet radio burst into life. I then tried a Beo4 with no response.
I then used the app to stop radio playback, and carried out the usual Beo4 procedure to put the Essence in A.OPT 1 – this was acknowledge with a double flash of the little green LED at the bottom of the IR receiver.
I then pressed radio on the remote and it burst into life! Allows me to change channels and everything! I am very pleased (and relieved that there isn’t a fault with the Essence)! 😊
I will now try all the ways to control the Essence with the Beo4 (aux/source selection etc) and refer back to my old notes about what I was trying to achieve previously. I will add the NL/ML converter plus my M3 at some stage and see what sources I can select from where.
I genuinely think that there must be some sort of data ‘handshake’ requiement that prevents an older (non-join-button) IR sensor from working with the Essence Mk2, hence my problems with extensive testing of other sensors.I am happy to try other Essence Mk2 ‘IR control’ experiements if anyone wants me to look at anything else.Location: Warwickshire, UK
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Sorry MM it’s not that good – I have misled you!
I put the BS1 in A.OPT 0, and then used the buttons to select AUX, hence just using as a dumb amplifier. It would indeed be great if I could work out a way to auto start it. But doesn’t one of the Essence BlueTooth remote setups also send an IR aux signal (I think I read that here).
My main aim was to get IR control of the Essence working – I really don’t like controlling it with the phone App and would rather just pick up the Beo4 and press RADIO (or N.RADIO – it responds to both). Eventually I will connect Beolabs, probably either my BL4000s or BL4s.
Just to add, volume control of the Essence also works well using Beo4 or the buttons on the IR sensor (as long as the Essence is not in fixed output level mode).
EDIT: I have also now updated the Essence SW to version 6.5.58119.11794462 (the SW change versions are here: https://update.bang-olufsen.com/products/58ba6c9e15524870a403957cdfbee6ab)
(IR control was working both before and after the SW update)
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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