Hello, I,m new to Beoworld but have have enjoyed B&O equipment for almost 30 yrs. Has anybody had any experience in setting up a Logitech Harmony remote control for use with B&O products? I recently purchased a BM 5000 and have been told by Logitech that I need to get the HEX codes from B&O. I'll be calling B&O on Monday.

Thanks for any input on this.

John

Hi John,

Welcome to BeoWorld!

Yes, I have set up and use a Logitech Harmony to control B&o.

I use an 880 (programming/codes are identical across the range) to control a linked Avant and BS9000. Works perfectly.

I can tell you the following...

1.) I just ran the BM5000 through Logitech's compatibility checker and it came back good, BUT...

2.) The BM5000 does not respond to BL1000 and ^ codes (such as I use w/ my Logitech).

3.) There is a very good chance that it simply will not work.

4.) I don't believe B&o can help you with this... but we'll see!

In the meantime, I have a BM5000. I will be happy to give it a try for you and report back!

Regards,

Thanks for the reply, I will call B&O N.A. on Monday and find out . I'll continue looking for the BL5000 and MCP5000 on e-bay.

John

Beolink 5000 won't work with the BM5000. You need a Terminal 5000 if you want a hand-held remote for this unit :)

John,

The other John is correct! Terminal 5000 is what you want!

Now, I definitely recommend looking for the original remotes, but... guess what?

I got the Logitech Harmony (LH) to control the BM5000!!! I am utterly stunned!

It was not as easy to do as the BL1000 and ^ coded devices, but by using the "LEARN" command... VIOLA!

There are some minor programming issues to sort through (e.g.) POWER ON, and some timing issues, but it does work!

What is remarkable (to me) is that there is a sort of "HOLY GRAIL" external device (code converter) that B&o made to allow BL1000^ control of the BM5000/6000/8000 and BC7x0x gear. I went into the programming thinking... "no way" because of the previous need for this device. Like I said, I was stunned that it worked with so little effort.

So, what did I do next? Well, I just had to try the BM8000! Guess what? This time I had to go from "LEARN" to the "RAW" mode and IT WORKS!

I just can't believe it!

Anyhow, back to the BM5000. If you think you would like to go this route, I would be happy to help. In fact, if you went with an 880 (perhaps others)... I could do all the programming, supply you a login and you could DLOAD the config. We could work back and forth until you were happy. That being said, there are still the aforementioned issues that would have to be resolved. When I get the time, I will work on my config and get it done.

Q: Are you only using the BM5000? (i.e) do you have any other sources attached? Where are you located?

I know it has only been a few minutes, but I just had a bit of clear thought... rare as it may be!

The advantage of using the (LH) devices is not for just replacing a missing remote. Their power lies in controlling multiple devices/arrangements in a given room. I use one to control a B&o A/V room. I use another to control a non B&o A/V room that happens to have some B&o (not primary sources) in it as well.

If you are going the (LH) route to use only for a BM5000 or any attached devices, well... I think I would recommend holding out and getting the correct MCP and Terminal.

What I did already was more of a proof of concept, and it will suit me fine as my 5000 is in the non B&o room.

Figure a good MCP is 75-100 USD and a Terminal is 50-75 USD... you'd be "ALL IN" for maybe 150 USD, and have the correct and original remotes! You need to compare that to the street price of the (LH) and decide what other uses you may have for it... perhaps you could use it elsewhere as well once you would find the correct 5000 remotes?

...just some food for thought!

Daft question then - if the Logitech can do it, can the Beo5 be programmed to control the Beosystem 5000?

Puncher:

Daft question then - if the Logitech can do it, can the Beo5 be programmed to control the Beosystem 5000?

The thought crossed my mind!

Keith???

Hi Jeff, thanks for the help. I have a TV, DVR recorder and cable box hooked up to the Beomaster. None of these components are B&O. The LH is set up to control all of these and is working fine.The LH I have is the model 510 and I"m located inDenver CO.

Thanks, John

jam57:

Hi Jeff, thanks for the help. I have a TV, DVR recorder and cable box hooked up to the Beomaster. None of these components are B&O. The LH is set up to control all of these and is working fine.The LH I have is the model 510 and I"m located inDenver CO.

Thanks, John

OH!

I did not realize you already have one!

Let me go take a look at the 510 and see what "crossover" there might be.

Unfortunately, to use the "LEARN" commands as I did, well... you would need the T 5000! (I did not try my MCP, but I don't see why it would not work as well at this point).

I'll be right back!

The MCP may be a little suboptimal "teacher" in practice as it obviously sends the two-way versions of the commands and therefore the Beomaster will send replies back. While it sends, it cannot receive, and so repeated commands such as volume up or volume down might not work very smoothly. But this is all speculation from my part, I'll be interested in hearing the results as well!

@Mika: Good observation! I didn't even think about the two-way! Well, it will be a good experiment if nothing else!

@John: I have been chewing on this post for a while...

 On the surface the 510 and the 880 seem to be close, at least in a similar family, so to speak. The 880 has (4) more "activities" buttons and I am not sure how the 510's RGYB buttons (at the bottom) would correlate to the 880, but I *think* it will work fine.

Obviously, already having the 510... you have set up a login and DLOADed configs before. How deep did you have to go into the programming to get your current set up to work? (i.e.) Did you pretty much plug and play or did you have to do some tweaking before arriving at a final valid config?

And... just how are the other components connected to the BM5000? AUX (I assume)? Are you using the BM to output stereo CABLE sound to (2) speakers? Are you doing this by manually selecting AUX on the drop down panel?

Hey Jeff, the setup process for my other components was pretty straightforward with just some minor tweeking for the TV and DVDR. The BM5000 is connected to RL60's and a Sony subwoofer. Audio from the cable box is connected to Tape2, DVDR to Tape1 and I'm using AUX for audio from my PC.

John

OK... good... at least you have been through the software a bit.

And... it sounds like you are getting the most from your BM's inputs!

Tape2 is not selectable via a T5000, but is using the MCP... may cause an issue unless I can get the MCP's signal accepted by my 880 (as Mika pointed out above). You might need to do some source re-shuffling placing your least used source in Tape2 -at least you could still manually switch to it.

I would obviously like to work through the config for my own benefit and what I can learn, I can certainly pass on to you! In my case, the BM is in a typical arrangement with a BC and BG, so it is not the same setup as yours... the DEVICE codes would be common, but the ACTIVITIES would not. Though I am confident that this is completely able to be done, the logistics of the ACTIVITIES would be a challenge! As you are well aware, timing issues may arise as to the sequence of start up, switching, etc...

As far as proceeding...

1.) I will build a full config for myself.

-AND-

2.) Can you confirm that the 510 has the ability to "LEARN" IR commands? I can't find any reference to it... my guess is that it can. If so, I could mail you both the MCP and Terminal afterwards, and you can use the LEARN command to set things up. As I would have already done it, I could advise as you go. When it is complete and you are satisfied, just send the remotes back. (OTH... I have been considering selling the BS5000, so maybe this is all for not, if you wanted to keep them  )

-OR-

3.) A bit more radical, but viable...

One beauty of the (LH) config system is that you could literally have as many logins as you want. Granted you can't copy an account to another account (would be nice for testing). Instead, you have to work through each account as a unique entity. In my case, I have two distinct accounts for each of my rooms that use the (LH)'s. I have just set up a new, third account to allow the possibility of transferring a valid BM5000 config to you.

The account would be initially config'd for an 880.

What does this mean? Perhaps nothing as the Logitech Forums suggest that you can freely "replace the remote" in the software with no compromise to the programming.

I would build the config using my 880. I would give you the login info for the account. You would plug your 510 in and request "replace the remote." At this point you DLOAD and test the config. The 510 would only have the BM5000 in it and none of your existing devices.

After testing, you can then just as easily re-login to your existing account and re-DLOAD your existing config and overwrite the test config. You'd be right back where you started. Caveat (a chance exists that you may have to re-add your devices/activities if anything were to fail -particularly any special mapped keys that may not convert from 510 <-> 880).

At this point if all worked and you would be comfortable with me logging into your existing config, I could work right from there. All I really would need to do is add the BM5000 as a device with all the correct LEARNed commands. When you login again... go through the "replace the remote" procedure again. It would be up to you to include the BM5000 in your various activites. Oh, and then change your password!

DON'T post any login info here!

As I write this, John is seemingly in business... having chosen OPTION 3 from above.

This ended up being a classic COMPREHENSION and APPLICATION task... 95% COMPREHENSION / 5% APPLICATION.

(LH) remotes and software work off of (2) entries... DEVICES (TV, CD PLAYERS, CABLE BOXES, etc...) and ACTIVITIES (WATCH TV, LISTEN TO A CD, etc...)

The biggest challenge was working out the different remotes, ACTIVITIES, and the logistics behind pulling this off. Once that was sorted, actually pulling the trigger and doing it was no big deal. Capturing the code from the Terminal was a non event. The main issue that arose (as Mika so observantly pointed out) was some difficulty in reading the more complex signal from the MCP I needed for Tape2. It took about a dozen tries to find the "sweet spot" coming from the MCP... but, it worked! Another issue was that to power on the B&o in radio, you select a source (P1, P2, etc...) ...so, I had to program P1 as the default "power on" source when listening to radio. This could of course be altered to a Pn of your choice.

So, some points in conclusion...

1.) Any BL1000 and up controlled device can be controlled with a (LH) remote.

2.) Now, I can say with confidence, that any pre-BL1000 controlled kit (IR) can be controlled with a (LH) remote as well!

3.) Code can be read from an MCP.

4.) The idea of using the login worked w/o issue... there was no need for any of the "replace remote" previously mentioned.

5.) Can the Beo5 do the same?

Last night, I had the opportunity to now enjoy my non B&o ...AND... my BS5000 in the same room using (1) remote for the first time ever... a task that I didn't think was possible this time yesterday!

Yes I'm definitely in business now! There was a problem with the codes from the MCP but I'm more than happy with being able to perform the tasks that were available from the Beoterminal 5000.

John

jam57:

There was a problem with the codes from the MCP

OH OH!

What is wrong? Mine works...

The Tape2 command is in your DEVICE config. You will need to add the BM5000 device to your ACTIVITIES that use the Tape2 source.

Last night, the ACTIVITIES I programmed did not include Tape2, but you can use them for reference. Of course, I will be happy to login and work through it if you like. The source(s) can also be added to the DEVICE's and/or ACTIVITIES's "additional buttons" for manual selection.

++++EDIT++++

Good news! The MCP code was fine. This was an issue of accessing the Tape2 command... MCP codes can be used.