Hi all,

I'm sure the answer to this is on the forum somewhere already, but I've done a quick search and can't find the answer obviously. Question is, what products will a BL7000 effectively control? I know it's best to use it with two-way products, but for some reason I had a feeling that even then only certain products were compatible. I have a BM5500 and BC9000 - will it work with either/both of those?

Thanks in advance!

You're right there can be complications, mostly with older products. Obviously they need to be controllable by the Beolink 1000 standard, so older products like BM5000 are completely out (unless you have the converter box which is made from unobtanium).

I have a BM5500 which does not talk back to my BL7000, although it works 2-way with a MCP6500. Must be a software version issue in one or the other. Daily ops seem to be fine, but I'd hate to program the FM presets etc with just the 7000.

I believe BC9000 would work fine as it isn't 2-way anyway, but better have someone else confirm that.

The problems with later products should be minor issues. For example, if you have a later TV designed for Beo4, you can't rotate the stand with a BL7000, which can't send the STAND command.

You can use a Beolink 7000 with any product that uses a Beolink 1000 or Beo4. It is however very clunky to use in one way mode so I would not recommend it. It works very well with the 6500 system, 7000 system, 4500 system and 9500 systems. If you don't have one of these, it is going to be a disappointment.

 

Peter :

You can use a Beolink 7000 with any product that uses a Beolink 1000 or Beo4. It is however very clunky to use in one way mode so I would not recommend it. It works very well with the 6500 system, 7000 system, 4500 system and 9500 systems. If you don't have one of these, it is going to be a disappointment.

 

You are correct, but it will still look oh-so-cool!

True! I used to have mine next to the bed where it showed the time and source playing despite my having an Avant and Beocenter 2 as my main system. It worked because of my hybrid ML/MCL system! The blue screen was not useful though!

Thanks both! I suspected that was the case, seems strange though that a BM5500 works two-way with the MCPs (which also work with later BMs which are BL7000 compatible) and not at all with the BL7000. Then again, I'm not technical so what do I know!

I'm tempted to get one anyway just to look at and play with occasionally! I've got other more convenient remotes for daily use, plus the BC9000 will eventually be upgraded to a 9500 anyway so it could be brought in to full-time use then.

I would just get one for the collector value.  There is nothing like it ever made EVER.  What other remote rises up and has a motor in it?  So cool.  It is a work of engineering to marvel at. 

rgs218:

Thanks both! I suspected that was the case, seems strange though that a BM5500 works two-way with the MCPs (which also work with later BMs which are BL7000 compatible) and not at all with the BL7000.

Even more strange is the BM5500 works with a Beolink 1000 & NOT a Beolink 5000 - even though the Beolink 5000 works with the 2 way devices already mentioned such as the 4500, 9500, 6500 & 7000 systems

I agree your sentiments though - the BL7000 is totally cool

Chris.

I still have my B&O IR analyzer on the desk, but just realized I have never used it to follow what a BM5500 does - thus, a nerdy discussion explaining the phenomenon follows

The B&O IR commands consist of an optional address of the sender, and then the command. The one-way hand held remotes (BL1000 and Beo4) don't use an address, they just send the command part which is understood by all devices.

Two-way remotes on the other hand, like all "current" MCPs, BL7000 and I guess BL5000 as well, send their own address when sending a command. The receiving equipment then knows which address to reply to.

Let's take for example the "audio 1" command ("video 1" is a different code), which all these remotes are able to send. In hexadecimal notation, the command is 17 bits long with the code 0x0101. I use notation 0000:0101/17 for this.

So, here is what the different remotes I have at hand here will send when you click "1" in audio mode, talking to my Beosystem 6500:

• 0000:0101/17 (BL1000/Beo4)
• 0008:3E01/22 (MCP6500)
• 0008:3A01/22 (BL7000 configured two-way for BS6500)

If you know the hexadecimal number system, you will notice that all contain the same 17 bits long command code in the end, but the two-way commands have a (different) 5 bits long address prepended to them. I'm sure BL5000 would have a different address as well. In those cases, a lengthy infrared discussion between the remote and the Beomaster follows, and the remote receives the status information it needs to display. In the first case, the Beomaster just executes the command, but remains silent on the IR front.

***

Now, I throw two towels over the BS6500 to make it shut up and power up the BM5500. The MCP6500 works as before, with the same commands, and so do the one-way remotes.

However, the Beomaster doesn't react at all to the BL7000, which still thinks it has a two-way system to talk to, so it needs to be reconfigured. Panel -> setup -> system -> components -> blah blah... -> store. Let's try again:

• source -> radio: 0000:0181/17,  Beomaster turns on radio but doesn't send anything back
  
• "1": 0000:0101/17, Beomaster selects preset 1 but doesn't send anything back
  

...so it works!

***

So here's the explanation: a Beolink 7000 (and I suspect a BL5000) configured for a one-way device works just as a glorified Beolink 1000. It sends the short commands without an address, and doesn't expect anything back. BM5500 won't react to it in two-way mode as it doesn't recognize the address and ignores the whole command, it only knows the MCPs.

So in conclusion the BL7000 should work with any device that uses the BL1000 codes And you can store the 5500 radio presets with it as well, actually way easier than with a Beo4!

macjonny1:

I would just get one for the collector value.  There is nothing like it ever made EVER.  What other remote rises up and has a motor in it?  So cool.  It is a work of engineering to marvel at. 

I agree. I use mine with my BS 7000 and Avant. It works well with the TV, great with the 7000 and I do adore it's beauty.

Well, I couldn't ignore all your words of encouragement could I!? Actually I asked the question because I spotted a badly listed one on Ebay just 2 minutes down the road from me and thought it might be the best opportunity I'd get to buy one for not too much money! 6 days later and it was mine for £190 (bit more than I intended to spend but the value of these is only going to go up as far as I can see), delivered to my door FOC by the seller this morning.

It appears to be fully functioning as far as I can tell. As expected, no two-way with my equipment (thanks for the explanation BTW Mika) but it works fine one-way with the BM5500, BC9000 and my MX4002 for changing volume, source, channel, etc. And most importantly it looks superb! Favourite feature so far is the way it automatically lifts up when put down and returns to flat when picked up - it's amazing to think this is nearly a 20 year old design with that kind of technology! Probably my most irrational and unnecessary B&O purchase to date, but one of my favourites!!

Yeah, I remember when I got mine - absolutely no need for it but I just had to have one, and I was happy as a puppy when it finally arrived

I believe that price is quite OK for one in good condition, less than that will usually be some kind of a lucky strike (for the buyer!). Have fun with it!

I am glad this thread bobbed back up... as I had intended to compliment Mika on his explanatory post! Very interesting!

I can confirm (trial and error) that the BL5000 does the same.

hi rgs218 glad you got one (you out bid me at he last second)

i wanted a spare for my bedroom!

do be aware though that if it goes wrong there are NO parts available for these and very few people will touch one to repair.

but they are great arent they

mark

Sorry about that Mark! I didn't expect to win it to be honest so it was a nice surprise!

I know they're not the easiest things to get fixed, I'll probably keep an eye out in case one ever comes up for spares/repairs and just hope this one keeps working in the meantime!

Fascinating explanation Mika!
So, I send an audio command to my Beomaster 7000 (eg Vol down) using Beolink 1000, that should be the end of it, but no.
Eleven seconds later, my Beomaster sends a confirmation signal to Beolink 7000 which then shows the volume change!
The IR signal sent from the master to the remote, has no relationship with Beolink 1000 codes.
Fascinating!

Andy T.

That's how it works. The Beomaster will also transmit a status update when you control something from the front panels, the CD advances a track, etc. If you have something like a track duration display on, it will transmit the updated value once a second.

The clock display of the BL7000 sitting in its charger also comes from the Beomaster when you put the system into standby. I guess it also updates it periodically, although the Beolink will keep time "on its own" for a while.

This is a beautiful set up! even though the panel isn't B&O the room has a lovely feel to it, well done, and congrats on the purchase, i want one now! I love them on their floorstand chargers... :) :)

Thanks Dave! Part of the reason I actually chose that TV was that I thought it would match the B&O and the furniture quite well!   To be honest though that's not a great photo of the room - I posted some better ones on that 'flash your B&O' thread a while back.

Sadly this is a rented student house and so all my furniture and B&O will have to be removed and be put into storage when I graduate in June, and the landlord's cheap pine stuff (currently hidden in the garage!) will have to go back in

I'd love a floor charger too but they seem pretty rare and go for big money unfortunately.

Re-post

Re-post

Another re-post!

Argh! What happened! Mods help!

Rob - you're getting too much student loan if you're able to flash about with Beolink 7000s ;)

EDIT - and MCPs and Pentas etc.!!!!!!

Yes, i saw a floor stand for 375 pounds... ALOT! Worth it... :) Can i ask where you got your table from and how much it was? i was looking for one of these a while back, they look great with the newer B&O...