[Madskp]

One little update regarding the MCL/PL connector in the BL3500.

I have been a little confused since Keithe mentioend that the PCB’s wasn’t changed when the MK2 version was made. Especially the pinout differences between the MCL connector and a PL connector was illogical where the signal and GND pins are different

Also Peter Pans drawings indicated that (MKI top MKII bottom):

I looked at the wiriring diagrams in the servicmanuals for both the MKI and MKII several times and notices that also here the signal pins and the GND pins is reversed (MK1 top, MKI bottom):

So I thought if the PCB’s are not changed can the pinouts be reversed. I had earlier made a   mini jack to DIN conenctor like the Peter Pan one for the MK1. So I tried to switch the pins and put the signal lines on pin 3 and 5 and the GND on pin 1 and 4. Activating the BL3500 with the Menu+0+4+GO and the sound is comming through and I can’t hear a difference between that pinout and the pinout I had before.

So as for signal lines this suddely makes it very similar to the powerlink conenctor.  It doesn’t make us wiser on the 5V power on thing, but it might be a piece of the puzzle

 

 

 

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

I agree with Guy that you might need to go the ML ->1611 way to get an input with some kin of datalink that you might be able to communicate with.

A couple of source regarding datalink:

1.

Article on the Beotech section on this site: https://beoworld.org/beotech/datalink.htm

The linked datalink manual linked to on that site is not availebale there, but can be found in the manuals section if you upgrade your membership.

2.

A readme file for some Github projects regarding datalink. https://github.com/toresbe/datalink

he refers to it as datalink 80 and datalink 86. As far as I have found out datalink 80 is also what B&O call Audio Link which is the communication used between a Beomaster and tape/CD/phone. Datalink 86 is then what’s called Audio Aux Link which is the communication between Beomasters and Beovisions or in this case the 1611 converter.

As for how the inner workings of the communications work I have no idea, but hope you can get something out of these sources.

 

 

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

matador wrote:

Madskp wrote:

If you still need to connect airplay/cromecast as you mention in your first post you could always try if the 1611 coverter will give you an extra input or two

The Beosound Ouverture in the cabinet as since then be replaced by a Playmaker for streaming, including radios. It drives the BL8000 but also a Beolink Passive and a pair of C40 in the back. The Ouverture you see in the pictures is just there for when/if I need to listen to a tape or a CD. And also because I have no other place to store it!

Ahh then you are all covered with all sources in this setup 🙂

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Very nice looking setup. I like the detail with the lamellas on the cabinet.

If you still need to connect airplay/cromecast  as you mention in your first post you could always try if the 1611 coverter will give you an extra  input or two

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

Madskp wrote:

Did we have other combinations in play?

Have you tried these pins with ML both ‘off’ and ‘on’, using MENU MENU 0 9 GO and up/down arrow? I suppose it could make a difference (not that I noticed any with mine, but mine is SW2.0, and your SW1.2).

just tried that with the three same combinations. No luck again.
just a note I have no sound source connected, but Iexpect that the display should show something if its on?

also checked the SW version in the service menu, and it is indeed 1.2

One thing we havent considered is that the guy who succeded with this might actually have a modified unit without knowing it.

At some point I will try to open my BL3500 up and see if I notice anything we cant decode from the service manual

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Madskp wrote:

matador wrote:

Congratulations too. First thing to try would be the 5v trick on the MCL port. Once Again, they guy on reddit swear it works but we have yet to see!

I most certanly will try various combinations of this

ok so just troed to apply 5V to the following pin combinations on the BL3500’s MCL connector

Pin 1 and 7

Pin 3 and 6

Pin 6 and 7

No reaction at all on any of these. Did we have other combinations in play?

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

Madskp wrote:

And there you go. an extra input that can be chosen by any audio command that is not used for a datalink unit connected to the DIN inputs.

That’s useful! So as a ‘stand-alone’ the MCL2AV can have 4 selectable inputs if you include the AUX/TV socket (using ‘AV TV’). And the MCL input is a one-button-press selection. Does your test above have the AUX/TV socket connected to BL1611 etc, or is that to follow?

this was tested with the entire chain, MCL2AV – 1611 – BC6. Of course Ill also have to test it with my new BL3500 when I have a little more time for testing.

As I see it the total number of inputs for a BL3500 could be five with this setup:

– 1 MCL input on MCL on MCL2AV selectable with any audio command not used for other inputs

– 2 DIN inputs on MCL2AV selectable with shift+radio+6/7 or a.tape/CD if its data link products.

– 1 Din splitter input on the 1611 selectable with any video command

– 1 MCL/PL input on the BL3500 selectable with (menu) + menu + 0 + 4 +GO

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

tb59427 wrote:

Madskp wrote:

…

The setup would look something like this: BM5 -ML- 1611 -7 pin Datalink- MCL2AV – Beogram/Beocord

Yeah, I’ve been following this thread with a mixture of amusement, fascination and sheer respect for the amount of knowledge present in this community. I have started to put out searches in ebay classifieds to see whether I can source the components at reasonable prices to also build such a setup.

great to hear that orhers are also following our little black box adventure ? let us know if you needany input.

one buying advice for the MCL2AV is try to get one with the original power supply to be sure it has the right polarity on the power connector

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Madskp wrote:
Thanks for testing this. So the fifth audio input for the BL3500 is not an option. Might also have been overkill

Madskp wrote:

I already tested the BL3500 with a minijack to MCL connector special cable, and its working fine so probably ready to go into the testing setup.

Got a crazy idea. If the MCL input on the BL3500 can be used with line level signals the MCL input of the MCL2AV’s could probably also do that?

Quick testing with some cable with phone plugs, and connected my iPhone for sound input

And there you go. an extra input that can be chosen by any audio command that is not used for a datalink unit connected to the DIN inputs.

The other inputs can still be used with shift+radio+6/7 or the respective audio command if it’s a datalink unit.

Im not sure if the sound is a little lower, but didn’t have time to make a head to head comparison with the same source on other inputs right now.

will followup on this at a later point

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Millemissen wrote:

Right! However, the easiest way would be to use one of these

I agree with Millemissen that it is probably a simpler solution, as my solution is untested. Also if you only need one input and only ocassionally need the other unit my solution might be overkill

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

tb59427 wrote:

1. I still have an old BeoGram and TapeDeck that I would like to connect to the BM 5. How does that work. The manual is kinda fluffy about the USB Adapter needed. Anyone out there can shed some light on this?

Not knowing the USB another idea comes to mind when you want both a Beogram and a tape deck connected. In this lengthy thread https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/beolab-3500-and-1611-converter-settings/page/12/#post-15630 we are experimenting with alternative use of some of B&O’s “black boxes”. We have confirmed that a combination of the 1611 Beolink converter and the MCL2AV can give access to two inputs (tape and CD) on the MCL2AV from a Beolab 2000, Beolab 3500 and from a masterlinked TV. However we haven’t had the chance to confirm if this also will work from a Masterlinked Beosound/Beomaster.

The setup would look something like this:

BM5 -ML- 1611 -7 pin Datalink- MCL2AV – Beogram/Beocord

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

matador wrote:

Congratulations too. First thing to try would be the 5v trick on the MCL port. Once Again, they guy on reddit swear it works but we have yet to see!

I most certanly will try various combinations of this

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

Excellent purchase – and a long ML cable as well which will help with two-room setups. Looking forward to seeing some test results!

yes the long ML cable was an added bonus as well as a bunch of PL cables and the 2 BEO4’s.

I wont have time for testing the comming weekend, so it might take a little while before the results are rolling in

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

A little more info on my purchase.

The BL3500 is an MK1 with the MCL connector and SW 1.2.

The black box is another 1611 converter

I already tested the BL3500 with a minijack to MCL connector special cable, and its working fine so probably ready to go into the testing setup.

I dont think I realised before how the function with the Menu 0 4 GO is so easily aborted with any button press, so I really understand how its not an optimal way to use it.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

And then a package with this content arrived:

Stay tuned…..

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Ok, its something in the screw terminal for the connection of the tranciever, so it makes sense that it would loose connection every time I moved it a little. Still not perfect connection, but good enough that I could test that the Timer + reset / Timer + Av now works and the mute relay clicks when pressing the mute button in MCL2A mode, and works for PL when in MCL2AV mode. So I guees the replacement of TR100 and TR101 was the culprit, and the loose connction just confused me

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

pepps wrote:

It is indeed a 1611 Beolink converter connected to the Aux socket on the BM3500.

Thought so, just wanted to know if I was missing something.

pepps wrote:

I do plan to extend further into the cellar with another relay box and transceiver. Should be unlikely that someone will be playing music in the kitchen at the same time. I do have an MCL2AV and a spare MCL2P so I’ll probably experiment when the cellar developments are underway.

The McL2AV also has the benefit of extra local inputs so you actually can have an alternative source playing there while playing something else on the main system.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

Madskp wrote:

One thing I noticed though is that the relay is clicking every time I move the unit just a little bit. I haven’t thought about that before, so it might also have done it before but the unit was always laying still when powered on. I might have to look in to that one of the comming days. Could be a loose connection of some kind

Yes my relay only clicks (twice about a second apart) when I power up the MCL2AV.

mine does start with the two clicks, so something is right. Ill have to check for loose connections

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Sounds like a great setup. However if you are going to make more MCL zones you will not have individual volume control between those, unless you go the MCL2AV way.

just to be sure is it the ML/MCL converter you use in the setup, or is it the 1611 Beolink converter that plugs into the Aux connector on the BM3500? As I understand the ML/MCL converter is only used when the audiomaster is not MCL capable (no passive speaker plugs).

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

On that note, when doing a Google search for B&O information I think I am seeing less ‘Beoworld’ hits than before. Perhaps this is related to the new forum?

I just remembered this, and here is my input. I have a feeling that the most google hits I get from Beoworld forums is from the old 2007-2012 forum.

Location: Denmark

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