I'm sure I've seen this recently, but now I want it, I can't find it!

How do I tell which version of the Beolink 1000 I have? It has a "light" button, so I assume that it's a mk3 or mk4. Perhaps this is one of those questions for the FAQs. Unfortunately, the FAQ pages claim to have no Beolink 1000 FAQ!

If it helps, the numbers from inside are:

  8053335

  14890316

As an aside, is it possible, easy, or DIY-able, to update the firmware in these controls?

Thank you,

Mark
 

Sorry, just curious as to why you would want to upgrade the firmware.
What do you want it to do that it can't do now?

To determine which version you have you look at the back of the Beolink 1000 as below:-

jandyt - I made the assumption that an upgrade would be needed for later devices. My control does not have a DVD button, for example.

Keith - Now I'm more confused. The back of my control looks like a Mk1, but the top middle button is "LIGHT", which I thought was only present on the Mk3 and Mk4.

Thank you, guys,

Mark 

As far as I know there was never a dvd button on the 1000?

I have never seen a Beolink 1000 with a DVD button and I always thought that all versions of Beolink 1000 had the "Light" button

Keith Saunders:

I have never seen a Beolink 1000 with a DVD button and I always thought that all versions of Beolink 1000 had the "Light" button

I think the MK1 has link which was used as light? 

Hi!

 

deaddruid:

 I made the assumption that an upgrade would be needed for later devices. My control does not have a DVD button, for example.

There ist no version of the BL1000 with DVD button, although the DVD command can be generated by using "SHIFT+SAT" on the BL1000.

cheers

Foxtrott 

I'm confused, too! After scrutinising those pictures until my eyes have gone funny, i can't see a difference betwixt 2,3 & 4. Is this a magic eye test, or am I just being a bit blonde?

MK1 & 2 versions don't have the light button and have identical functions & operations. The difference between them is only the operation of the buttons on the PCB. The MK1 has square foil domes which press onto the PCB whereas the MK 2 has a contact sheet made of electrolytic dots doing pretty much the same thing. These don't have the "light" button and Mobe is correct with using the link button on these.

The MK3 onwards (we're now at MK 6 I believe) have the "light" button and have a totally different concept for contacting between the buttons & the PCB - and they all differ in some way. The functions & operations between these are all identical though but the keypad layout differs from the MK 1 & 2. Therefore any upgrade from MK 3 onwards will be pointless. To upgrade a MK1 or 2 you would need to change the PCB and the button mat.

NONE of the beolink 1000's have a DVD button and you need to access this via some button combination although I'm not sure what this is.

Chris.

PD:

I'm confused, too! After scrutinising those pictures until my eyes have gone funny, i can't see a difference betwixt 2,3 & 4. Is this a magic eye test, or am I just being a bit blonde?

The problem is that some different versions have the same layout on the back - the picture that Kieth posted is true but can only be used as a rough guide. The MK 5 & MK 1  for example look the same from the back but the keypad layout is totally different and they were made @ 20 years apart!!.

 

PD - if you look closely the MK4 has an extra segment than the MK3 in the top half.

Oh dear! I thought there were only four versions.

The reason I started trying to work out what I had was because I wanted to start collecting light controllers. However, the LC1 manual refers to Beolink 1000 Mk1 and Mk2, yet does not mention the LIGHT button - it uses SHIFT,LINK combinations. The LC2 manual says you need a Beolink 1000 "latest version", and uses the LIGHT button. Rather than carry on being confused, I thought I should work out what I have got. I didn't realise that it would be so difficult.

Do we not have something simple, like a mapping from serial numbers to versions?

I suggested a FAQ in my initial posting. I think I should increase this recommendation - a Beolink 1000 FAQ should 1. help to identify which version of the 1000 is which, 2. describe the differences in use, 3.  describe incompatibilities, 4. describe physical differences, 5. describe secret codes. If this thread persists a little longer, we may have the data to do the first four of these!

Thank you all for your comments to date,

Mark 

I am a great supporter of FAQ's because you generally can go directly to what you want to know without searching forums and databases.

There is really a couple of reasons why you do not see a lot of comprehensive technical FAQ's, first, generally speaking those people able to answer all the potential questions are usually have least time and/or willness to produce them unless there is an incentive, second, a lot of FAQ's tend to answer the questions you already know the answers too, so people tend not to read them and therefore often miss an answer they actually need.

deaddruid:

Oh dear! I thought there were only four versions.

The reason I started trying to work out what I had was because I wanted to start collecting light controllers. However, the LC1 manual refers to Beolink 1000 Mk1 and Mk2, yet does not mention the LIGHT button - it uses SHIFT,LINK combinations. The LC2 manual says you need a Beolink 1000 "latest version", and uses the LIGHT button. Rather than carry on being confused, I thought I should work out what I have got. I didn't realise that it would be so difficult.

Mark 

Mark, there are only really 2 versions as such. The early version which includes the MK1 & 2. Or the "latest" version which is anything from the MK3 onwards.

To tell if you have the early or later one just look at the middle button on the top row. If it is marked "light" then you have the latest version.

 

Chris.

OK, guys, let's see if I understand. My interpretation of the responses so far is:

A. There are only two keyboard layouts of the Beolink 1000. The first is found on Mk 1 & Mk 2, which do not have a LIGHT key, and the second on Mk 3+, which does have a LIGHT key (Medogsfat)

B. The secret codes on Mk 1 and Mk 2 differ (LC1 manual, pages 20 & 21)

C. Functionality of the LIGHT button can be emulated on the Mk 1 and Mk 2 by combinations of SHIFT and LINK (mobeyone & LC1 manual)

D. The physical construction of the switches under the keyboard differs between Mk 1 and Mk 2 (Medogsfat)

E. Mk 3+ controllers differ in their physical construction, but possess identical functionality (Medogsfat)

F. There has not yet been a version with a DVD button. The function of such a button is emulated by use of SHIFT and SAT (Foxtrott, Medogsfat, mobeyone,Keith

Mark 

I thought that the difference between Mk I and Mk II was that the first one had RESET where Mk II has A/V ?? (Both without the LIGHT button)

deaddruid:

OK, guys, let's see if I understand. My interpretation of the responses so far is:

A. There are only two keyboard layouts of the Beolink 1000. The first is found on Mk 1 & Mk 2, which do not have a LIGHT key, and the second on Mk 3+, which does have a LIGHT key (Medogsfat)

B. The secret codes on Mk 1 and Mk 2 differ (LC1 manual, pages 20 & 21)

C. Functionality of the LIGHT button can be emulated on the Mk 1 and Mk 2 by combinations of SHIFT and LINK (mobeyone & LC1 manual)

D. The physical construction of the switches under the keyboard differs between Mk 1 and Mk 2 (Medogsfat)

E. Mk 3+ controllers differ in their physical construction, but possess identical functionality (Medogsfat)

F. There has not yet been a version with a DVD button. The function of such a button is emulated by use of SHIFT and SAT (Foxtrott, Medogsfat, mobeyone,Keith

Mark 

A,C,D,E & F - correct.

B - not sure.

 

@ Christian - both the MK1 & 2 have the reset & AV buttons. The keypad layout is identical.

Chris.

Are these of any use......................

(notice the LC1 cost in the 1990's)

 

 

 

I know that Audio Terminal is a bit longer

There is some info on Beocentral

Hi

The combination SHIFT-SAT for DVD is only with  mk. 3 and 4,

On mk 1 and 2 it is SHIFT-CD

 

Søren

Ah, but Audio Terminal isn't really a Beolink 1000, and it's significantly different.

Tel - thank you for the pictures - they're excellent. What is the leaflet they're taken from?

Christian & Chris - thank you for your feedback on my summary.

A little more information, and I'll feel like writing a FAQ page! Mind you, it'll have to wait until mid-September - I'm snowed under until then.

Mark
 

We  cut make a guide here is a start:

EDIT

moved to here

beoperson:

I know that Audio Terminal is a bit longer

There is some info on Beocentral

 

Like the AV Terminal ?

 

deaddruid:

Tel - thank you for the pictures - they're excellent. What is the leaflet they're taken from?

The leaflet was with the MK 3 when I had to upgrade from MK 2, hence North America illustration on reverse of page.

I had problems with the MK 2, they thought I had spilt some liquid on it (I hadn't), my second MK2 had same problem - so changed that also. At the time B&O allowed 50% trade-in for the MK2 against the MK 3.  

Let's not also forget the difference in finish between the mk1/2 and the mk3 visually (other than the button layout).

My mk6 on the left (same as the mk3), and mk1 on the right.