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A fresh copy of the Test Schedule is attached – new text in blue.
I will be having a play with the Beolink Active (Test 11) later today, although I am not really sure what I will be testing! Suggestions welcome!
I have also found a Beolink Video 1615 (Test 16). However, having read the Service Manual I am not sure that it is worth even testing anything. The manual states:
All ML output components have been removed … the audio path is one-way from ML to AAL.
Hence ML can only be an input, so it’s probably only worth testing with an MX TV or similar – which I don’t have.
Anyway, apparently I now need some ‘fresh air’ so I will be back later …
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Test 15 – OneRemote input/control
Well this was straightforward! I made a OneRemote adaptor (without soldering!) to connect OneRemote DIN output pins 2, 5, 3, and 7 to AAL input pins 2, 4, 1, and 6 respectively. (I wanted the OneRemote to be an audio source, rather than video).
I programmed the OneRemote as ‘A.TAPE’ source (setting 402 – cable direct mode with the OneRemote’s IR receiver disabled), which means it should be selectable and controllable over ‘datalink’ using A.TAPE. The BL3500 is connected to the BL1611 ML cable.
Result: Full control possible. The OneRemote radio only starts when A.TAPE is pressed, not other audio/video sources such as CD or RADIO. I can select radio presets, move through the menus to listen to music off my NAS etc.
So the OneRemote setting (402) seems to change its datalink capabilities to work with AAL. And the AAL datalink pin 6 is functional!
I repeated the above test using BL2000 and that works fine too. I also checked full functionality using BL3500 and BL2000 connected at the same time.
EDIT: And just a short press of the Beo4 ‘off’ button shuts the complete system down including the OneRemote.
EDIT 2: Photo:
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Same here with BC2300, BC6 and 1611.It made nothing appart the long press shutdown
At least we are getting consistent results, so that’s something. I am about to try datalink control of my OneRemote radio ….
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This is less logical. Or maybe not: the converter was meant to be connected to a Video AAL or Audio AAL, but not both at the same time. Then without Y splitting adapter or similar in which scenario would the converter need to revert to video mode after have been triggered by Powerlink?
It could be connected to both video and audio AAL at the same time, hence this diagram in the ML handbook.
But I can’t work out how it triggered a return to videomaster. Perhaps something in the data triggers the switch back. I have just tried shorting the PL pin 4 to ground, but that makes no difference.
EDIT: Actually it must be a request over masterlink that triggers the switching between audio and videomaster, in the same way that we are using it with the Beolabs.
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I dont undestand it either. The MCL pinouts on the Beotech page has a DC supply of 7.5-8.5 Volt on pin 2 where powerlink on/off pins can be either pin 1 or 4. Furthermore MCL normally caries speaker level signals, where powerlink caries line level signals.
I suppose that in MCL mode the BL3500 (LCS9000) worked a bit like an MCL2AV. That too used the speaker level input and turned it into a volume controlled PL output. The MCL2AV also had its own power supply, hence didn’t need the 7.5-8.5v supply. I suspect that (like the MCL2AV) the ‘MCL BL3500’ volume would also go up and down slightly as the ‘master volume’ in the audiomaster was varied.
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Just a note. In my experiment I injected the power on pin 4 and 7, but as mentioned pin 2 and 7 is soldered together in my 1611, and conneted to the ground plane in the 1611. As you see some kind of reaction Im not sure if it will make any difference in your case. But if you have a multimeter handy you could try to measure if pin 2 is connected to the ground i one of the connectors just to verify.
We now have a copy of the BL1611 Service Manual (I’ll PM you a copy) – here’s the PL socket:
I just opened my BL1611 up again to check internally with my multimeter – there is no continuity between pin 7 and anything else as far as I can tell. Pin 2 has continuity with the ground plane.
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I am stopping the tests for today. Some may have noticed that I have deliberately avoided anything that involves soldering, but I will be forced to make up a few leads to try most other options!
I am happy to repeat anything that I have tried so far if you want more info or there is something that I have missed.
Attached is a fresh copy of the test schedule with new notes in Blue.
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Whilst a lot of people talk about the 8 pin din being a PowerLink socket we all know that is not really true. It just used the old MCL din socket so that a new module would not need to be designed.
I may be missing something, but that diagram shows pins 6 and 7 transposed with pins 4 and 5. Is that a typo?
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Further report on Test 8: PL trigger of BL1611
Part B, BL3500:
BL3500 behaves exactly as BL2000 above. The only ‘funny’ is that when the PL voltage forces a switch from video to audio, the BL3500 display continues showing the original video source.
Note that the BL1611 does require at least 10 seconds of ‘power off’ to clear the audio-only mode. It then takes about another 10 seconds to re-configure when the power is re-connected.
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So cute, you didnt vacuum today but you still protected the carpet under the converter and the 2000!
Hey, I am in a rental house and who knows what may burst into flames ?. The cardboard will protect the carpet!
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Quick report on Test 8: PL trigger of BL1611
Part A, BL2000:
So I rigged up a 3v source (2x 1.5V cells). I then tested this with BL2000 (in L.OPT 6), injecting the voltage between pins 4 (+) and 2 of the BL1611’s PL socket with the usual two audio sources connected to AAL.
With the BL2000 powered down, applying 3v does nothing. The BL2000 does not switch on.
If playing an audio source, this is unaffected by voltage application.
If playing a video source, with voltage application the BL2000 switches to an audio source.
Having injected and then removed the voltage to the BL1611, it remains ‘audio source only’. I cannot then get a video source on the BL2000 with either the remote or the front panel. It stays like this until I disconnect the mains power to the BL1611, wait a few seconds (EDIT: minimum 10 seconds), re-connect mains power and wait a few seconds more. It then returns to normal dual input behaviour.
Hence the PL trigger voltage seems to force BL1611 into audio mode which is only then cleared with a power cycle.
Again, any suggestions for further testing are welcome whilst I repeat the above with BL3500.
EDIT 2: I repeated the above with the BL2000 in L.OPT 0. No change to behaviour. I see no merit in trying L.OPTs 4 or 5.
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OK so Test 7 ongoing – I had to tidy my test setup!
- BL1611, BL2000 and BL3500 connected by ML
- To avoid putting BeoLabs in separate rooms, BL3500 is in L.OPT 4 and BL2000 is in L.OPT 6:
- Left Beo4 is in permanent LINK mode, to control BL3500
- Right Beo4 normal mode, to control BL2000
- BL1611 audio source is iPhone 5s
- BL1611 video source is iPad
It all works pretty much as I would expect to work with a ‘normal’ audiomaster. I can select video (iPad) or audio (iPhone) sources with both Beolabs, including the front panel on the BL2000. I am unable to have ‘video’ source on one Beolab with ‘audio’ source on the other – but I expected this because ML can only carry a single source in each direction.
Two observations:
- With both Beolabs playing a video (iPad) source, pressing PC (or A.AUX) on the BL3500 remote switches both Beolabs to the audio (iPhone) source. In the same situation, pressing PC (or A.AUX) on the BL2000 does nothing. This confirms the inability of my BL2000 to do anything with those two commands.
- If I change the source using the BL2000 remote, the source also changes on the BL3500 (as expected) but the display continues to show the original source. (It may well behave like this with a normal audiomaster.)
I will leave it running for a while in case anyone has anything further to suggest or test.
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I need to clarify my earlier statement about the latest version of software being 3.3. The upgrade to version 3.3 was to allow wireless link, so unless a Beolab 3500 mark 2 has been used with a wireless link most will either be version 2.0 or 2.1
Thanks Keith – I have no intention of going anywhere near a Wireless 1! ?
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Guy wrote:
Quick question: Do you know if BL3500 SW 2.1 will also make it show PC in the display? (rather than V.AUX which is currently displayed on my SW 2.0 version when I press PC)Not a far as I am aware. The final software version of the Beolab 3500 mark 2 was version 3.3, but currently I cannot find details of the changes between 2.1 and 3.3
Thanks Keith. I will wait for Matador to confirm the SW version of his ‘test’ BL3500.
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regarding test 8: the powersource doesnt has to be 5V. The specifications states >2.5V, so maybe a coincell battery or two AA will do for testing.
Regarding test 12: single components may not work because og the difference in Audio Link, And Audio Aux lin. Dont know which the DVD use though, so might be something working.
Regarding test 13: Take a look on the diagram of the BS1 in the servicemanual. Pin 7 is called dataOut, so might control a tape recorder. Pin 6 is called data in, so I guess its not two way communicationif it works at all. Actually pin 6 and 7 is stated as not connected in the specifications for the BS1. Therefore its only on the diagram its shown
Thanks for all this Mads – very useful.
I don’t hold out much hope for the BS1, but who knows with B&O!
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Point 3 – I’ll add to the document ready for Amdt 2.
Point 5 – answer is ‘yes*’ and I will add a note to the doc.
Too cold to wear just a blouse/shirt here! I have several layer on including army surplus long-johns! I need to power-up a few B&O black boxes to warm the room up!
* EDIT: Apart from volume, but that makes sense as the BL3500 is supposed to be in a link room. The volume will of course adjust on the BL3500.
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I decided to get a little better organised and prepare a list of setups tested, and those still to test. They are numbered so that we can refer to them easily. I have uploaded as a pdf but am happy to upload as a word doc if you want to amend for your own use.
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This post is intended to provide additional information related to the Beolab 3500 mark 2 and the Beolink type 1611 converter rather than answer any particular question raised in this excellent thread.
Many thanks Keith – that’s really useful to have in this thread for reference.
Quick question: Do you know if BL3500 SW 2.1 will also make it show PC in the display? (rather than V.AUX which is currently displayed on my SW 2.0 version when I press PC)
(EDIT: And my SW2.0 version does already show DVD rather than CDV. Other sources display the ‘older’ input names)
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Morning all!
Blimey, all these things to test! I need to text my wife (who’s at work) and let her know the vacuuming isn’t going to get done today!
Firstly great to have Steve on board, able to cast a professional eye over our attempts to push the boundaries of the B&O black boxes in our collections! Great to hear that your wife is back home recovering Steve.
@Guy: if you are willing to try it, I would be very interested to hear what reaction the BL 2000 and BL3500 has if you apply some voltage to the powerlink connector on the 1611 as I did. Do they turn on, and maybe off when power is removed?
I’ll add that to the test list – sounds like I am being forced to get my soldering iron out ☹
Guy, do you have a Beolink Active 1636 (or 163x)?
Yes!! And the good news is that I know what box it is in! According to my records it’s a 1636 at SW version 1.1.
I was told 163x converter replaced 1611 and I would like to know if it can drive the 3500 as standalone the same way the 1611 does.
I have never heard of a BL Active being used without it’s IR sensor attached, but am willing to try! I also suspect that the Active’s PC socket input will only respond to PC source selection.
Coffee required first, then into the boxes to find some bits …
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So tonight I made an attempt at Test 12 – making use of the BL1611 AAL pin 6 datalink input.
I don’t have any pure datalink source devices other than my BG6500 turntable and that is packed away so carefully that I am not prepared to get it out for this project!
However, I do have a DVD1 for which I previously made a special SCART to 7-pin DIN cable for the project described here: https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/45162/327485.aspx#327485
Basically, the cable connects SCART data pin 8 to DIN pin 6, plus audio to DIN pins 3 and 5. It previously worked well to connect an extra ‘CD’ player (the DVD1) directly to my BC9500’s AUX/TV socket, which also uses pin 6 for data.
Anyway, for this test I used the BL3500 as the controlling ML device and the DVD1 was connected to the BL1611’s AAL socket. Audio (a CD) played fine with a video source connected, but no datalink control of the DVD1 was possible (I couldn’t start up the DVD1, play, stop, or change tracks with the remote, hence had to use the DVD1’s front panel). However, when I tried a long-press of the Beo4’s ‘off’ button, the entire system did shut down including the DVD1.
Hence some data is being passed from BL3500 to the DVD1 via the BL1611, but just not the full spectrum of normal datalink commands.
I hope that Test 15 (Control of OneRemote radio) will be more successful, once I have made that (nameless) adaptor!
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