[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

One thing i note when looking at the wirering diagrams for the IR eyes in the Beolink Handbook is that Essence and Core for that matter is not mentioned. I would expect the wirering to be as for the Beolink Converter NL/ML, but you never know.

Yes I noticed that, but every other B&O sensor with RJ45 is using pins 1, 4 and 7 for 5V, Gnd and IR data respectively, so I see no logical reason to be different!  Steve at Sounds Heavenly used to sell a cable to connect an older ML IR eye to the Essence, but he can’t comment on DIY solutions such as this.  Relevant thread here: https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/20753/170471.aspx#170471

I just set up a BL1611 with BL Passive and ML IR eye and checked sensor voltages.  Fully connected, IR data voltage is approx 4.2V dropping to 3.7v when IR is transmitted (similar to your MCL results).  Interestingly, if I then disconnect the ML sensor pins 1 and 2 (SCL and SDA), remote control still works but IR data voltage drops to 1.8V, increasing to about 4v when IR is transmitted.  I can’t work out any logic to this, as SCL/SDA seems to be a discreet circuit within the sensor, other than sharing the 5V supply.  (Also, the red standby light doesn’t work if SCL/SDA are disconnected, but I was expecting that.)

Madskp wrote:

BTW. could there be a software issue with the Essence, like feature removal in newer versions og first added after ceartain software revision? Pure guesswork from here

Yes, it’s quite possibly SW related.  I updated the Essence to the latest version 2.5.55678.170713653, but past updates have addressed IR control issues, as you can see from this list: https://update.bang-olufsen.com/products/58ba6c9e15524870a403957cdfbee6ab

It wouldn’t be the first time that a SW update has cancelled an earlier fix!

Not sure where to go from here – maybe I’ll approach B&O Tech Support?

[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

I just tried to disconnect the IR data pin on the MCL2 AV. On the screw terminal of the MCL2AV I hav 4.95V. on the loose wire from the IR eye I have arround 2.6 volt. As I understand this type of signaling the tramitting part should try to pull the voltage down.

Where you are measuring the 1V and 0.4V could you try to disconnect the wires to see if voltage from the IR eye differes from that from the Essense?

Thanks for checking that.  Measuring IR wire when disconnected gives 0v at Essence, and 1.2V at sensor, the latter increases to approx 4V when IR transmitting.  It is behaving as if the Essence is expecting IR data on a different pin!

I just repeated everything with BS3 sensor – same results.

I will find something else to connect the ML sensor to – maybe BL Active or Passive, and see how the voltages change.

[Guy]

CharlieWednesday wrote:

Under the little flap where the notepad goes?

Yes – this is where it is.  A bit awkward but folds down from the top.

EDIT:  Folds from right to left – see photo attached to Beozips post here: https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/42465/309140.aspx#309140

EDIT 2:  From Beocom 1401 manual:

[Guy]

Having checked an ML sensor circuit diagram (within Beolink Active service manual) , I suspect the sensor – will now try a BS3 sensor.  Watch this space 😀

EDIT:  ML Sensor circuit diagram:

[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

That does not sound right. I just double checked on a MCL2AV, and the voltage between ground and IR data is normally 4.95V and drops to some place between 4 and 5 V depending on the key pressed. I have also seen this behaviour on other setups.

So is the 5V at the IR data produced by the powered IR eye or does it come from the source (Essence or MCL2AV)?

Madskp wrote:

One thing you could do is to meassure on the bare ends of the rest of the wires in the network cable if any of them have a voltage arround 5V. That could indicate if the Essence has a different wirering.

Just checked whilst just +5V and ground connected to IR eye.  All connections at 0V with the exception of Pin 2 which reads -5V (which makes sense at that would be data Rx in a fully wired sensor).

I wonder if the Essence needs the correct ‘JOIN’ type IR sensor with data Tx and Rx also connected in order to carry out some sort of handshake and work properly?

[Guy]

Back home now!  Answers in bold below:

Madskp wrote:

Have you used a cut over network cable to make the connection? I have seen some network cables that do not follow the standard color coding for example what comes first the white/orange or the orange.  Yes a cut network cable, but used a magnifying glass to look through the clear connector to check colour coding against pins.  Pin1 White /Orange, Pin 4 Blue, Pin 7 White/Brown

If possible can you check the connection between the RJ45 connector and the screw terminal in the IR eye for continuity?  Checked and fine for all three connected pins

When connected can you measure 5V between Ground and +5V in the screw terminal of the IR eye?  Yes

Also when connected can you meassure a voltage around 5V between ground and IR data screw terminal of the IR eye?  No, it’s about 0.4V

If yes can you see the voltage changing when pressing a key on the BEO4?  Pressing transmit shows momentary change from 0.4V to about 1V

[Guy]

Sorry madskp I posted without seeing your post – got to go out now but will have a look later!

[Guy]

I am still unable to work this out!  I have checked the Essence RJ45 and there is 5V between pins 1 and 4, so the  IR eye is receiving power.

There is a menu setting in the Essence’s settings remote control menu that has a tick box against ‘Match mode 4 and mode 0’ – anyone know what this is for?  I have tried on and off, to no avail.

I have tried a second IR eye in case the first is faulty – no change.  I will try a BeoSystem 3 IR eye next, or maybe an MCL eye.  With just IR, +5V and gnd connected, either should work.

I can’t help feeling that there is a setting in the Essence that I am missing, but I am struggling to find any guides regarding IR control.

[Guy]

+1 for FLAC.  I used Exact Audio Copy to do mine.

One good thing about FLAC is that it’s then easy to use that high quality FLAC copy to convert to other (‘lesser’) files types if needed in the future.  eg My last car wouldn’t play FLAC from SD cards, so I converted a playlist of FLAC files to 320kbps mp3.

[Guy]

Old thread I know, but I too now have an Essence Mk2 and am trying to connect a older hockey-puck IR eye with the timer button, exactly as jelop attempted unsuccessfully above.

I have connected exactly as in the diagram above, with just +5v, Gnd and IR data connected, but I can’t get any response from the Essence, even when trying to put it in A.OPT 1.  There are no indications from the IR eye, not even a red light when the IR is transmitting.

Does anyone know of any tricks to get the Essence Mk2 to respond to Beo4, IR control?

[Guy]

Ah, pity we didn’t try the other BM7000 first!

Does the ‘faulty’ BM7000 accept the Option setting without problem?  I can’t remember if there is an indication on the front panel when you set A.OPT 1 or whatever.  Maybe compare it with your ‘working’ BM7000.

There could well be an internal fault in the BM7000 – other than checking for broken data connections to the extra pins of the Speaker 2 sockets I don’t know what else to suggest.

[Guy]

Great news about the Beoport/PC2.  You may wish to have a read of some of my experiences in this thread: https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/beoport-beoplayer/page/3/#post-39476

Mine worked a lot better once I realised that I needed to install he Beoport software, rather than the Beoplayer software!

There are still a few problems with internet radio – mine won’t play BBC radio stations for more than 30 seconds which is annoying, but I think it’s a BBC format problem.  BFBS, Classic FM and Danish stations (eg DR P1, 2 and 3) are fine.  There is still some strange windows behaviour where it mutes the BeoNetRadio sometimes when you change stations – you have to open the PC’s volume mixer to unmute. It happens on both Win10 and 11 (but not Vista!) and I haven’t found a fix.

Will you be using it with a PC or Mac, and if the latter what operating system does you computer have?

[Guy]

physics wrote:

Thanks Guy. Yes, I am thinking of another Ouverture or a BS3000. Would they automatically be older than a BC2 or a BS4?

Ouverture was produced 1994-2003

BeoSound 3000 was produced 2000-2006  (There was also the BS3200, similar but with a built in hard drive – I have read many reports about problems with the hard drive, hence probably best avoided)

BeoCenter 2 was produced 2004-2012

BeoSound 4 was produced 2006-2010

With all the above, I would look for condition rather than age.

[Guy]

So I have ordered a new laser for the faulty BeoSound 1 – it’s on the way from China and I’ll let you know how I get on.

I wanted to start using the new SW2.5 BeoSound 1 with the clock, so I removed the CD mechanism from one of my working SW1.3 (no clock) BeoSound 1s and fitted it in the new one – despite being a slightly different CD module (VAU1255/01 rather than VAU1255/21LF, it works well.  When swapping the laser modules I was careful to keep the display module (PCB3) with the original main board to avoid any SW incompatibility or Pin Code conflicts.

Here’s the working mechanism that I moved:

The ‘donor’ BeoSound 1 now needs a good internal clean – a job for tomorrow:

[Guy]

theoz wrote:

I have a BL1000 and a beo4 and doesn’t really remember how to set option

Option setting is easiest with the BL1000 (the remote without the screen).

With the entire system shut down (at standby):

In the main room with the BM7000, just press SOUND 1 STORE

In each MCL link room, press LINK 2 STORE and then LINK 6 STORE – each time you press store a red light should blink in the transceiver.

[Guy]

My only accessible Passive is Type No 1657 with SW1.4.  It does have the switch and the serial number is 162812XX.

Also, I think that the SW versions may have similarity with BL Active – i.e needs SW1.5 for A.AUX and SW1.6 for MLGW compatibility (There’s probably SW version details in one of the archived forums)

[Guy]

theoz wrote:

What kind of option settings for the BM7000 ?

A.OPT 1

If you are unsure how to set Option settings let me know what type of remote you are using and I will let you know how to set.

Did you check that MCL cable was connected to BM7000’s Speaker 2 socket? Not speaker 1.

[Guy]

Another thought – check first that the MCL cable is connected to the Speaker 2 sockets on the BM7000.  (Your symptoms suggest that they may be in speaker 1 sockets!)

[Guy]

You say that you have tried a different MCL cable – does that mean that you have also checked the connections inside each MCL2A and MCL2AV box – I would check that all the connections are secure.

Second thing that I would check is the option settings, for the Beomaster and each link room – re-do the whole system with the correct options, and make sure you do so with the system powered down.

EDIT:  If no video products also connected, options should be set as follows:

Main Room (BM7000) – A.OPT 1

Link rooms:  L.OPT 2.6 (set L.OPT 2 then set L.OPT 6 afterwards) – check that each transceiver blinks to acknowledge setting.    An additional requirement may be to hold time the Timer button on each transceiver and send an AV command with the remote – I think that the transceiver should again blink to acknowledge.

[Guy]

What about. BeoSound 3000?  It would keep the same aesthetics alongside the Beolab 2500s.

I would also try harder to fix the Ouverture. Is the repairer experienced with vintage B&O?

[Author]

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