[Guy]

If you don’t have a handset that is registered to the original base then I think you are stuck and it’s a dealer task to reset.

However, before giving up it could be worth working through some of my suggestions in this thread, especially the one about resetting the handset and then putting it on the pyramid base/pstn:  https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/beocom-6000-mk1-base-pin-code/

[Guy]

Great news that it’s now working.  Those Mk1 handsets can be quite temperamental and slow to update, and the RF chip can also fail (symptom – ‘No Signal’) which is frustrating as there doesn’t appear to be a fix.  I have had less problems since I moved to BeoCom 6000 Mk2 handsets.

[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

If I set a new incorrect time on the Ouverture as soon as I confirm with go the time will get updated on both the BS ouverture and BL3500.

That’s good to know – hopefully all this information will be useful for someone else one day, not just us geeks!

Madskp wrote:

I just wonder why this does not work with the BV8 and BV10?

Perhaps because BVs 8 and 10 (unlike the BC6-23) were introduced when digital TV tuners were around, hence the availability of what should be a much more accurate time signal with the TV signal.  It’s a shame that this signal will not update attached ML devices, both audiomasters and BL3500.

Madskp wrote:

People would only notice if they had a Beolab 3500 connected to the BC2300 and the time was starting to be wrong

I think that the advice from B&O would be to turn off the time display on the BL3500!!

Yet another aside/thread drift:  The CD player is starting to behave erratically on my older two-way BC2300 – some (not all) discs turn then make noises and spin rapidly backwards!  It has the older CDM-4, curved-laser-path CD mechanism and a bit of research suggests that it may be worth replacing C100 on the servo board (the BC2300 equivalent of C2103 on other models).  It’s 47uF according to the Service Manual and I know from other threads that I must fit a blue axial Philips/BC – can anyone link me to an exact item that I can click to purchase in UK?

I checked Danish Sound Parts and can’t see a capacitor kit for the BC2300 CD board, but I am sure that I have read somewhere that BC9300 was basically a re-packaged BeoCenter 2500 so I wonder if there is read-across from other kits. 

Funnily enough, whilst swapping CDs between players last night one of my BeoSound 1s suddenly decided to refuse to play CDs!  I simply put it in Test Mode and ran through the CD tests to ‘exercise’ the CD mechanism and it started working perfectly again!  That suggests a sticky CD mechanism to me and it probably needs cleaning/lubricating, or just using more frequently!

• This reply was modified 1 week, 5 days ago by Dillen.

[Guy]

Check the handset/base menu and see if the handset is set up with a PERSONAL (stored on handset) or COMMON (stored on PSTN) phonebook.  I usually stick to COMMON.*

If playing with that setting doesn’t work, try resetting the handsets (Dot 7 000 9) – but make sure that you have the base PIN if you do this!

(I am assuming that the new handsets are Mk1, with the dot to the left of the wheel, rather than the INT button of the Mk2 version)

* EDIT:  From the Mk1 manual:

If you change your handset from personal to
common, your personal Phonebook will be
deleted and replaced by the common
Phonebook if any such exists. If you have
named your handset, this name is deleted too.

[Guy]

Good news – I found the BeoLink 5000 😀  Bad news, the display is starting to fail! 🙁

Anyway, something similar happened previously and the display improved as it warmed up, so I will bear with it for now before resorting to one of the known modifications!

I just tried a couple of experiments:

With just (two-way) BC2300, BL1611 and BL3500 connected:  If time is not showing on BL3500 (because it has been powered down/up again) I can use the BeoLink 5000 to set (or re-set) the BC2300 time and as soon as I press the final ‘Accept’ the time appears on the BeoLab 3500 display.

I then tried setting an incorrect time on the BC2300 (showing when interrogated with Beolink 5000 and also permanently on BL3500 display) and then power down, connect the NL/ML Converter, and powered up.  If I then tick the NL/ML Converter menu to ‘Push Time to Masterlink Products’ then as soon as I press ‘Save’ the time is corrected on both the BC2300 (interrogated with Beolink 5000) and on the Beolab 3500  display.  If I change the time-zone on the Converter that will also change the BC2300/BL3500 times.

So all is pretty much as expected – the NL/ML Converter as Videomaster will correct/over-ride the Audiomaster time.

I am not going to try adjusting the BC2300 time with the BL5000 when the NL/ML Converter is also ‘pushing time to ML’ as I don’t want to risk mucking up the Converter!

I can’t think of anything further to test so that’s it for now 😀

[Guy]

While I have all the equipment out, I just did a quick check that the RJ45 Powerlink outputs on both the NL/ML Converter and the Essence Mk2 will turn on/off the Beolink Passive.  As expected, this works fine as long as the RJ45 to Powerlink cable is the fully wired MK2 powerlink compatible version such as that supplied by Steve here: https://soundsheavenly.com/bang-olufsen/31-325-rj45-to-powerlink-compatible-all-in-one-cable-convert-new-2013-ethernet-powerlink-to-traditional-8-pin-din-powerlink.html#/9-length-18m

Tonight’s task is to search for the elusive BeoLink 5000 so I can get back to those BC2300/BL3500 timers tests!

[Guy]

Clutching at straws but the service manual shows P6 as being a ‘socket 6-pins’ and in the exploded parts diagram PCB1 is shown with just the socket in place (no attached plug or wire showing).

The ‘plug’ would then be part of the connector from the muting module (module 11).

I think it should come apart.  (It’s possibly a old Molex right angle PCB connector – something like this:  https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/part-detail/09481064 )

IMPORTANT EDIT:  But the service manual does cover a variety of Beogram models so there may have been variations of connector – like in the BG3000 video that you mentioned.  Also, if you look at Condor Audio’s BG4500 restoration, the cable appears to be soldered directly to the board, perhaps another variation or a modification (possibly after breaking the previously connector – so be careful!!)  Condor Audio BG4500 pdf here (perhaps @yachadm of Condor Audio can comment):  https://www.condoraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/Projects/BeoGram-4500-Turntable-Restoration-Repair.pdf

EDIT 2:  This advert appears to show your BG4500 board with the connector disconnected:  https://kosetrading.com/product/beogram-4500-computer-control-circuit-part-pcb-1/

[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

It might not be a good idea since you are connecting to different circiuts. But for a more permanent solution you can solder (I know you don’t like that 😉 ) an adapter where you connect pin 4 from the Becenter to pin 1 on the Passive. That should be safe.

Yes if I make it a permanent setup I will indeed make an adaptor.  No need for soldering – I can just use PL to RJ45 cables and copy @Tignum’s adaptor from here:  https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/beoplay-connection-hub-beolink-passive/#post-52183 (And I’d forgotten that I had contributed to that thread earlier this year – I must be getting old!)

Madskp wrote:

do I understand correctly that you can not even see the clock on the display of the Beocenter 2300?

That’s correct – you need to use the BeoLink 5000 remote; pressing CLOCK will show the time only on the reverse remote screen.  On the older BeoLink 5000 with the CONTROL button you press SHIFT then STATUS and the time is shown on the remote’s front screen.   BC2300 will send the time to BL5000 whether in stand-by or playing, whereas BC9500 has to be at stand-by.

Incidentally, I was just reading about the Ouverture clock in its User Manual, and noticed this text (my bold):

Note: If you use the BeoSound Overture in a fully
integrated Bang & Olufsen AV system (see page
39), the clock must be set via the TV.

… which does suggest that a Videomaster clock takes precedence over an Audiomaster clock.  Hence the NL/ML Converter (when set as V.Master) can correct the BC2300’s clock.

[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

This is a side effect of the Passive being able to support MCL rooms (I think we had this up in another thread) so it is waked up by the powerlink signal on pin 1 to be ready to serve MCL link rooms. So the passive is not optimal for driving passive speakers in the main room. Might be solved by making an adapter that switch pin 1 and 4 in the powerlink cable though.

Many thanks for that – you’re quite right and pins 1 and 4 are the problem.  As you were posting I was searching the archived forums and experimented by simply connecting pins 1 and 4 in the spare PL socket.   This made the BC2300 behave properly and start in the muted state when I select a source in the link room.  It also makes the headphone socket muting work correctly and automatically cut out the speakers.  Funnily enough, it also answers this question that I raised some 14 years ago: https://archivedforum.beoworld.org/forums/p/35573/295194.aspx

I am not sure if it is safe to leave PL pins 1 and 4 connected, but that was just temporary so I will research further if I ever have to use this setup permanently.  It would appear that there are similar problems connecting a Core to a Passive – see here:  https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/48967.aspx

Madskp wrote:

Do you think it is  coincidence that it shows a on the hour clock to start with or is there something else going on? You should be able to set the clock in the two way BC2300, right? Can you see the time on the display of the BC2300 to verify?

I think the clock is running properly in the BeoCenter and simply sends out an ML time signal ‘on the hour’, which updates the BeoLab.  And yes I should be able to set the clock in the two-way BC2300 but to do so I need to find one of my Beolink 5000s – that search is presenting a problem!!!  I also need the BL5000 to ‘read’ the clock in the BC2300 – I tried selecting CLOCK with a Beo4 and nothing happens.  I’ll look at these and your other question if/when I find the remote!

[Guy]

The older (two-way IR) BC2300 behaves exactly like the newer one.  I connected it just to the BL1611 and BL3500, and at 1104hrs the time appeared on the BeoLab, showing 1900hrs.  I added the NL/ML Converter temporarily to the mix just to update the clock in the BC2300 and then removed it.  I powered down/up the BL3500 and the time disappeared, only to re-appear at 1200hrs (showing 1200hrs), clearly having received an ‘on the hour’ clock update message from the BC2300.

As an aside (thread drift) I have noticed that with the system at stand-by, when selecting BC2300 sources in the link room, the speakers in the main room are turned on as well (in this case actually a Passive that clicks into life).  Option settings are correct and this happens with both BC2300s, and with a different BL1611.  It may be a limitation of using the BC2300 with a BL1611, but seems strange so I will investigate further.

[Guy]

Guy wrote:

I am going to unplug everything overnight, then tomorrow I will just connect BC2300 via BL1611 to BL3500 and see if the correct time is displayed

Overnight test complete.  I powered up the system at 0755hrs and the BL3500 clock burst into life at exactly 0800hrs.

I will now connect my older BC2300 (with two way IR and proper built-in clock) and see if it behaves the same way.

[Guy]

Madskp wrote:

Is the NL/ML converter set as videomaster in this instance? Here I am just wondering how the ML system prioritize when 2 clock signals are available

Yes it is set as V.Master.  It’s the first time I have known a V.Master send the time because as I mentioned earlier the BV10-32 didn’t.  But perhaps the NL/ML Converter sends the time in a format normally sent by an Audiomaster.  Or perhaps a videomaster time signal over-rides an audiomaster.

Madskp wrote:

So it appers that the clock in the BC2300 can be set by being in ML network with another device providing a clock signal if I understand this correctly?

It would appear so.  But remember that this is a hidden clock because these later one-way BC2300s were not supposed to have a clock function; so perhaps that makes a difference.  I may dig out my earlier two-way BC2300 (with non-hidden built-in clock) and see if I can ‘correct’ the time using the NL/ML Converter.

Madskp wrote:

Does that mean that the clock in the display on the Beloab 3500 only is adjusted once an hour, or are the minutes ticking?

The minutes are ticking.  It displays as a normal running clock, showing the correct hours and minutes.  If I remove the power from the BL3500 for a few seconds and then power up again, the time disappears but will appear again on the hour showing the correct time (i.e at 2100hrs).

With the NL/ML Converter added to the ML system, if I remove the power from the BL3500 for a few seconds and then power up again, the time again disappears.  If I then select ‘push time to MasterLink products’ then the instant I press ‘Save’ the correct time re-appears on the BL3500 (eg 2138hrs).  I can also change the time zone on the NL/ML Converter and this will instantly change the BL3500 clock.

(EDIT:  Once the BL3500 is showing the time, you can remove the ML cable and it will continue to run as a clock until it is powered down.  On power-up it needs an instant (NL/ML Converter) or hourly (BC2300) time signal to start showing the time again.)

I am going to unplug everything overnight, then tomorrow I will just connect BC2300 via BL1611 to BL3500 and see if the correct time is displayed (on the hour).  I replaced the BC2300’s internal battery during my recent overhaul so I assume that this should keep the clock running while powered down.

[Guy]

Carolpa wrote:

I checked my 5 BLC: all show todays logs only. Actually I do think they have pushed (minor) changes/update(s) to BLC’s before (without notice, without date change of latest update).

Thanks for checking that and confirming.  I did think 9 years was a long time without a SW update!

Carolpa wrote:

I use BLC’s a lot and the best and easiest way to controll and use is, to have only one ML product connected to a BLC which is integrated as Primary Beolink product to a NL device.

That makes sense for the most ‘controllable’ setup.  I continue to be quite impressed with the Converter and look forward to expanding my system.

[Guy]

As described over in this thread, I have been experimenting with a NL/ML Converter, initially connected to Essence Mk2 and the BC2300 used earlier in this thread, and then adding an ML link room using the BeoLab 3500.

I thought I would test the ability of the NL/ML Converter to ‘push time to ML products’, which is one of the setting in its System Menu.  As soon as I selected this option, the correct time appeared in the BL3500 – not really surprising but I am glad that this worked.

I then wondered if the NL/ML Converter had also updated the time on what I earlier suspected is a ‘hidden clock’ in my BC2300 – used earlier in this thread to send the incorrect time to the BL3500.

I disconnected the NL/ML Converter from the ML setup, and temporarily removed the power from the BL3500.  The time disappeared.  However, on the hour (at 1200hrs GMT) the correct time appeared on the BL3500.  I can only assume that this time signal is coming from the BC2300.

So it would seem that my  late model, one-way IR BC2300 does indeed have a built-in clock although it is not easy to adjust!  This clock does appear to ‘broadcast’ the time over ML every hour on the hour.   I can’t however think of any other devices (other than BL3500) that would normally make use of this information!  There may well be other Beomasters/Centers that have a similar hidden clock.

[Guy]

Guy wrote:

The NL/ML Converter sends the correct time to the BeoLab 3500 for display (once selected in in Converter menu)

The NL/ML Converter would also appear to have updated the time on the ‘hidden’ clock in my one-way BC2300!  Read about that in this thread.

[Guy]

I have just been testing further NL/ML Converter functionality while I have the equipment set up:

• Firstly I used ‘sources visible on ML’ to set ML sources ‘TV’ and ‘DTV’ as Essence NL sources ‘B&O Radio’ and ‘Music’ respectively (Music accessing tracks from my QNAP NAS).  I can select/control these using Beo4 on the BC2300 – using TV/DTV source selection.
• I added an ML BeoLab3500 ‘link room’ and get the same Beo4 functionality there.  Interestingly I can listen to an Essence source in the link room whilst listening to BC2300 sources in the main room.
• The NL/ML Converter sends the correct time to the BeoLab 3500 for display (once selected in in Converter menu)

[Guy]

Guy wrote:

XavierItzmann wrote: This, plus the concern raised months ago that the C’s poor old memory is constantly being rewritten to with useless failure log messages —thus condemning the device to an early, unnecessary death— tells us that the C is probably not long for this world.

I must have missed this concern because I didn’t have a BLC when it was raised.  It’s not ideal but can’t you just go into the BLC’s ‘Tools’ menu occasionally and clear the system log?  (Having said that, the only entries in my BLC system log are from today and I don’t remember clearing it after my experiments last week)

I just checked the NL/ML Converter’s ‘System Log’ today and all the 9 Oct messages have disappeared.  Perhaps one of the recent SW updates* makes the Converter clear the log data daily to avoid filling the memory?

* EDIT: Actually I don’t think there have been any SW updates since 2015, so now not so sure about this!

[Guy]

XavierItzmann wrote:

And so I re-confirmed that even if you only have one device connected to the BLC, you can’t get the app to display an icon of the BS5, even if you so set it on the BLC’s settings.

Many thanks for that confirmation.

XavierItzmann wrote:

This, plus the concern raised months ago that the C’s poor old memory is constantly being rewritten to with useless failure log messages —thus condemning the device to an early, unnecessary death— tells us that the C is probably not long for this world.

I must have missed this concern because I didn’t have a BLC when it was raised.  It’s not ideal but can’t you just go into the BLC’s ‘Tools’ menu occasionally and clear the system log?  (Having said that, the only entries in my BLC system log are from today and I don’t remember clearing it after my experiments last week)

[Guy]

Carolpa wrote:

workaround: if you add the Essence mkII to the setup, you could add the ML sources of the BC2300 as Essence mkII sources (In the Essence configuration: Link to other products; Connect to primary Beolink product; check the boxes for the available sources in Content-Sources-Local) Then it is possible to start the BC2300 Radio on the Essence mkII

That works – many thanks indeed @Carolpa

FM Radio from the BC2300 is now playing on the speaker connected to the Essence, and I am able to use the app to change stations and play/control the CD player too.

Just one anomaly, even after selecting (what I have named) ‘FM RADIO BC2300’ as a source for the Essence mkII  in the app, the app then shows the source as ‘B&O Radio’ (with the station logo blank, obviously).

[Guy]

Thanks @patcherley  – being very new to the NL/ML Converter setup pages I was convinced that I was doing something wrong, but it would appear to be normal behaviour.

Many thanks also @Carolpa

It’s useful to hear that Radio sources seem to have been skipped – understandable when you consider Encore/9000c.  I will set up the system later this week, re-connect the Essence and try the helpful workaround in your last paragraph.  I will report back, hopefully with positive results! 😀

[Author]

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