So, I got an e-mail from the dealer telling me I can trade in a Beo4 for a Beo5.  Never much paid attention to the Beo5 as I just have Beo audio and the Beo4 does a fine job for this.  However, I've been having trouble with my non-Beo TV (Toshiba) and Comcast Motorola DVR... and maybe Beo5 is my solution - I had been looking at upgrading to a close-out BV-7 40, but it doesn't really fit the space that I have, and I rather spend $6K on a Beosound 5.

Anyway, the biggest problem that I have with the comcast remote is that it doesn't seem powerful enough.  I normally sit about 16 feet from the TV, and I often have to press button a couple times for it to take.  Annoying #1 (yes, I've checked the batteries and cleaned the IR send and receive places).  The "power all on" macro also doesn't usually work either.  Turns on the TV or the STB, but not usually both.  Annoying #2.  Finally, I have the TV connected to some BeoLab 4000s via the PC port on a BeoActive.  Now, I need my Beo4 to control the volume (the TV has a fixed aux out).  This is enough of a pain that don't use the speakers as much as I would like because I hate having more than 1 remote (and having to find a Beo4 - often in the other room).  Not to mention that the Comcast remote isn't very smart - I need my TV remote to do things like change the picture size and source input.

So... would a Beo5 address my annoyances?  Is it:

1)  More powerful than my Comcast remote - or is the Beo4 so powerful because of the frequency range it uses

2)  Can it control the advanced features of the Comcast box?  Like the DVR features?

3)  I see it has macros so I could have it turn on/off my BL4000s + TV + STB with one button, right?  Then, I could have it control the volume of the BL4000s, right?

With the BL4000s in the picture, the Beo5 is my only hope (or the BV-7 40).

Should I take this to the next step - talk to my dealer, or am I one the wrong track...

Thanks for any insight.  

Stan

Stan,

You really asked three questions which were:-

1. More powerful than my Comcast remote - or is the Beo4 so powerful because of the frequency range it uses
2. Can it control the advanced features of the Comcast box?  Like the DVR features?
3. I see it has macros so I could have it turn on/off my BL4000s + TV + STB with one button, right?  Then, I could have it control the volume of the BL4000s, right?

My answers to your questions are:-

1. Based on your comments it appears that your Comcast remote does lack range and the Beo4 does have a higher powered output.
2. An XML file can be made for the Comcast DVR to allow it to be controlled by the Beo5 and will provide ALL the features the Comcast remote provides.
3. The Beo5 can be configured with macros so it can control several things from one button. You cannot control the Beolab 4000 speakers themselves as they do not have a direct facility to receive the infra-red signal or associated control. However you could control the Toshiba TV's volume with the Beo5. However, if the TV audio output connected to the Beolab 4000's is not controlled by the TV volume then this will not help you.
   

Thanks Keith for your detailed answers (and it's a nice summary of my "question" as well ).  I will give my dealer a call.

Actually, I should have been more clear about the BL4000s.  The TV is connect to a BeoLink Active which then (when I press "PC" on my Beo4) sends the audio to the BL4000s.  The volume control for the BL4000s is via the BeoLink Active's IR receiver.  I *know* the Beo5 can do this as it is 100% B&O.

Stan

So...  I spoke to my dealer, and he told me that the Beo5 is no good unless I have a BeoSystem3.  The only way it could control a non-Beo TV or Comcast DVR is via the BS3 and IR blasters.  This is how it worked when it was first introduced, correct?  However, from everything I read here, this is no longer true.  Correct? The Beo5 can talk directly to non-Beo devices?

He also wanted to charge me $200 for initial programming and no sharing of the config program.  I'm not against paying for an initial setup, but $200 seems steep (I would think they'd already have the codes for a very common STB, and all I need for the TV is on/off).  However, it's the idea of paying for all subsequent programming when I replace the TV or Comcast moves channels that really bothers me... 

I'm going to talk to another dealer.

Stan

Stan and others interested in this subject,

I regret to inform you that your dealer is incorrect when he says:-

• "The Beo5 is no good unless you have a Beosystem 3"
• "The only way it could control a non-Beo TV or Comcast DVR is via the BS3 and IR blasters"

When the Beo5 was first introduced you could not control 3rd party products because of lack of facilities in the Beo5 Configuration Tool and the firmware loaded into the Beo5. Since Tool version 1.30 this has no longer been the case and from a hardware viewpoint the Beo5 has always been able to control 3rd party products.

Please review my Beo5 web pages HERE for further details

Let me answer a few questions you raised:-

QUESTION -- Can the Beo5 talk directly to non-Beo devices?

ANSWER -- The Beo5 can control 99% of 3rd party products, however B&O have adopted a business strategy whereby they currently only produce XML files for business partner accessary products controlled directly. 3rd party STB's are controlled via the STB-C or PUC

Charging for setting up the Beo5 in my view is reasonable because the job is very time consuming and frankly was intended as a revenue generating opportunity for dealers.

QUESTION -- Does the dealer and B&O have a large library of 3rd party configurations

ANSWER -- Yes, B&O has produced a very large list of third party configurations for the PUC and a subset can be loaded into the Beovision. You can see a complete list HERE However the commands sent from the Beo5 are B&O infra-red commands which the STB-C or PUC translate to the configured STB

So, in summary

• You can control ANY 3rd party product directly from the Beo5 PROVIDED you are prepared to create an XML file for that product and have facilities to assess the command codes from your original 3rd party remote control. A few have been created and can be found in the download section HERE
• Many dealers are not able or willing to create these files and that is why so many dealers have provided the Configuration Tool to customers when they purchase a Beo5

Keith,

Thank you so much for your help here.  Please entertain one more clarification on this subject.  I'm trying to understand B&O's (and my dealers) perspective on this.  If I understand what you're saying:

1)  While the Beo5 is capable of direct control of practically anything, it's not within B&O's business model to support this. 

2)  B&O has libraries of control codes for many external devices, but these libraries on in a form that only works with BeoVisions and BeoSystems, not the Beo5. 

So, while what my dealer told me is technically incorrect, if one stays within the bounds of B&O's official support policy, then he is correct.

I can (grudgingly) understand these positions from a business perspective.  General support for direct control of 3rd party products via Beo5 sounds like a high effort/low revenue effort (especially when you already have this problem solved in another way).  Also, one of B&O's market differentiators is their approach to integration with 3rd party products.  Why "give" this away in the form of a $600 (+ programming) remote control?

On a seperate note, is the "Lintronics box" that you refer to in other posts for capturing IR commands the TT455-RT-238?

Stan

Stan,

B&O's business strategy for the Beo5 in principle is a good one for both the dealer to generate extra revenue and the customer to get a configuration which suits their needs.

The flaw, however is really two fold, 1) The initial introduction of the product and the supporting software for dealers was done before it was completed and it had a lot of software issues which gave the product a bad name, 2) Most customers wanted to control everything with the Beo5, but most dealers neither had the knowledge or the time to do a fully profressional job and the associated charges were seen as high by most customers.

Add to the above the common complaint about having to go back to the dealer each time a small update is needed is why in my view many dealers have provided their customers with the configuration tool which was against B&O company policy.

With regards to your first point, B&O have many business partners like Lutron which earns them revenue for these 3rd party products and so are focused on these as the only formal Beo5 support directly controlled products.

The extensive library of 3rd party STB codes are in a format which is different to the XML control files used by the Beo5 Configuration tool and for those with the knowledge, it is possible to convert from one format to the other, but is not something I would expect any dealer would have the knowledge to do or understand.

I can confirm that the Lintronics Box I talk about is the TT-455-RT-238 which is not only a very good tool but a great asset when controlling 3rd party products using a Beo4.

I just want to follow-up on this thread...  I bought my Beo5, and thanks mainly to Keith's help and software as well as various other internet resources, I have it doing 90% of what I need (the remaining 10% is just tweaking and optimization, and finding the time to tweak and optimize).  Most importantly, my wife (SHMBO) was originally skeptical, but now she is beginning to see the light .

Stan