[Madskp]

CharlieWednesday wrote:

Ag good – at least I have an alternative then. If I can’t get an MCL2P I’ll get a Beolink Passive and an IR Eye, and connect it to my ML Distributor. The Beolink Passive amps come up cheap on eBay sometimes, but the IR Eye demands a much higher price. I have occasionally seen them sold as a package through (a 1657 with an IR Eye) so I might look out for that.

It is possible to hook up another type of IR eye to it like the MCL type. You will loose the volume control functionality on it though

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

CharlieWednesday wrote:

Could I connect a Beolink Passive such as the 1657 to that via Masterlink, or could I connect the 1657 directly to my Beocenter vas Powerlink?  I know this would mean I would also need the newer IR Eye as the older rectangular type that I already have would not work, but would this alternative (made up of newer components) work?

You can connect it to Masterlink and have it function as a link room with the IR eye attached.

If you connect it to powerlink the IR eye can not be used. When conencted to powerlink it can either function as a amplifier for passive speakers or as a converter from Powerlink to MCL which is redundant with the system you have (this option is for use with for example Beocenter 2300/2500 which does not have an amplifier built in)

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

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

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

I can’t remember if I ever dif try an IR eye on my NL/ML converter. If I find some time I will take a look at how that reacts

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

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!

Yes I think your IR eyes are fine but the Essence is not putting the IR voltage out.

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.

Guy wrote:

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

Good idea to have the understanding of how it should work.

 

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

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

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

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?

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

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

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.

 

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.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

I have connected exactly as in the diagram above, with just +5v, Gnd and IR data connected,

Not having any knowledge of the inner workings of the Essence I have a few thoughts regarding the cabeling, although I know you are pretty capable withe the B&O IR eyes.

• 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.
• If possible can you check the connection between the RJ45 connector and the screw terminal in the IR eye for continuity?
• When connected can you measure 5V between Ground and +5V in the screw terminal of the IR eye?
• Also when connected can you meassure a voltage around 5V between ground and IR data screw terminal of the IR eye?
• If yes can you see the voltage changing when pressing a key on the BEO4?

 

Hope this can help you dertermine if it is an issue with the connection or the Essence itself

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

If I remeber correctly from another thread that I can’t find right now there is a possibility of a transistor and a diode in the datalink circuit that can fail. It is transistor TR1 and diode D5

C63 is directly connected to the data pins on the speaker 2 conections

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

CharlieWednesday wrote:

Thanks – I’ve downloaded it ready for when it arrives. I’m using a Windows 10 PC (I’m a keen PC gamer, so Mac is no good for me!). I’ve held off on installing Windows 11 for now as it needs me to change some BIOS settings and then reinstall, and I simply can’t be bothered with all that just yet!

Great, if I remember correctly you have to run the setup as administrator for it to work

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Another source for narrowing down when the button and LED was removed is to do an Ebay search for Beolink Passive and ML/MCL converter. A lot of sellers have pictures that show both the front and the sticker with the serial number.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Also be sure that the left and right speakerlink connector are in the left and right speaker 2 socket respectivly on the BM7000. One of the connectors are carrying power and the other data. If they are factory made connectors there should be left and right stickers on them.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

CharlieWednesday wrote:

As for the Beolink PC2, I missed out on the one that was on eBay but another will come up, and I am just too curious not to buy one now!  One thing I didn’t think of though – will I be able to get the software for it?

It is not official available from B&O anymore, but I was able to find it online on a random download site. Let me know when if you going to need it and I can supply you with it. I have i running on Windows 10 even though it is not official supported.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Not able to answer your questions, but have an input based on the Beolink Passive and ML/MCL converter I have:

My Beolink Passive has the LED and power button and the serial number is 142373xx, so from year 2000 (source https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/serial-number-and-date-of-manufacture/ )

My ML/MCL converter does not have a visible LED (it is still in there and can be seen through the grill in the cabinet) and no power button. It has serial number 194461xx  so from year 2006

Hope this might be usefull, and maybe others can chime in with info from their products to narrow down the period where it was changed

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

matador wrote:

I am speechless. Thank you very much for the effort 😀

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

There are some reel to reel threads on the archived forums that might be interesting for you to take a look at, for example this

https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/18355.aspx?PageIndex=1

Other that that I have almost zero experience with reel to reel

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

The Playmaker is working 🙂 It is missing the stand though. Could someone measure the dimension of the stand material and the lenghts of the standing and lying part? Then I think I can bend something out of steel wire. Thanks in advance

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

ebnrob wrote:

If you’re not using the masterlink port on your Ouverture you could connect a 1611 converter to it, and plug the tape or record deck into it’s aux in. You can pick these up for about £30 on ebay. The converter would configure itself as the video master, giving you an extra source on the ouverture. Whatever is plugged into the converters aux socket will then be accessible on the TV, SAT & V.MEM sources on the ouverture. Rob.

Thanks for the input. I am avare of this solution, however my goal is to be able to datalink control the 2 connected units. Therefore the specific question regarding the Y-cable to datalink AUX solution

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

It can be setup as s link room (option 5 or 6), but might not transmit the clock then. BTW it also need a connected running computer to work

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

CharlieWednesday wrote:

Actually you know, there’s a very cheap Beolink PC2 going on eBay (which I believe is effectively the same as the Beoport?). Is there a way for me to have them all connected – Beolink PC2, Beolink Converter 1611, Beolab 3500 and Beocenter 8500? The Beolink PC2 on eBay has a Masterlink cable included which is split, so it can connect to two other Masterlink devices, so I’m thinking one connects to the BL3500, one connects to the 1611, and then of course my 1611 connects to my Beocenter 8500? Or am I simplifying it too much!? I’ve read that the Beolink PC2 acts as a master, so would this interfere with my Beocenter 8500?

the Beolink PC2/Beoport will conflict with the BC8500 as they have the same sources PHONO = N.RADIO, A.TAPE2 = N.MUSIC

So no that will not work

Location: Denmark

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