B&K Components

Spire_Jeff

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone else is currently using the B&K CT Series in any jobs?

Also, anyone controlling any of the B&K AVR or REF series receivers?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Deleted User]

B&K opinion

B&K control via RS232 has been a good experieince for me. The control strings are reliable and easy.

I can't tell you much about the audio quality, but the control works well.

Spire_Jeff

In my experience, the audio quality has been great. As for control, are you doing anything with 2 way communication? And is there a module out there that I am not aware of?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Deleted User]

B&K Protocol

I wrote my on own control.

RCVR = 20 // B&K AVR 305 RECEIVER 9600,N,8,1

Sample string for volume up.
SEND_STRING RCVR,'(0,S,I,1=24;)'

Sample string for volume down.
SEND_STRING RCVR,'(0,S,I,1=C4;)'

Sample string for source select.
SEND_STRING RCVR,'(0,S,I,1=60;)' // TV INPUT

Sample string for power off.
SEND_STRING RCVR,'(0,S,I,1=80;)'

Sample string for power on.
SEND_STRING RCVR,'(0,S,I,1=40;)'

The protocol is attached. The check sum is optional.

Spire_Jeff

I am familiar with the protocol (I have the DIP Spec and two product appendices printed out) I have been writing a module off and on for the last few months that handles the CT series and am almost done with it. I was just wondering if they went and released a module just as I am finishing mine I'll post the module when I am a little further along with it. (Still having some problems saving presets and I might implement the checksums)

On that topic, have you done anything with saving presets at all? Actually, I think I figured out what dumb mistake I made while I just typed that question

Thanks,
Jeff

[Deleted User]

2-way communication

Sorry, I should have looked at your post a little closer.
I am not doing any 2-way communication.

There is no module that I know of.

I never had a unit long enough to get that involved.

Spire_Jeff

Ok, onward I press in writing the module. Even if a module is released, writing my own module of this complexity has been a great learning experience for me so far. It has also allowed me to appreciate the time and effort that goes into the development of the modules released by AMX to a greater extent.

If you ever have the chance to play with one of the B&K CT receivers, let me know and I'll shoot you a copy of my module if you don't mind giving me a little feedback as to how it works.

Jeff

2nd Rick

Jeff,
My company also returned to B&K, after a painful stint with Elan multi-zone components over the past 7 years or so.

We were a B&K dealer before they even had a remote controlled preamp, much less the digital products they seem to do so well with these days.

I see that this is 9 months old, but I would love to see the module you created as well as hear any pros/cons to integrating the unit.

Thanks,
Rick
2ndRick@gmail.com

Spire_Jeff

I'll see what I can do to get you a copy of the module I have. As for the B&K Products.... The multizone pieces were great compared to Elan. We have since moved to dedicated audio/video switchers and seperate amps because with the installs we have been doing it is more flexible for our needs.
We had some issues with the Version 1 CT products, but I believe they have cleaned up the issues. One thing I did find, If you have to use 2 or more ELAN volume controls with IR receivers in a single zone, you have to add a diode to the IR Data wire of each VC or the B&K will have problems with the IR.
Another thing we started doing was eliminating the IR control from the B&K IR ports over the sources and let the AMX processor control the sources. We did this mainly to eliminate that pain in the *** CT1 IR wire mess. For simple 6 zone installs, you can't beat the sound quality at that price. I also saw that they are doing soome very cool things with the new products they showed at CEDIA. (It seems that some of our suggestions made it to them )

If you have any questions on the product, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer. Again, I'll see what I can get you of the module, but beware that not everything from the DIP is completely implemented and documentation is only half done

Jeff

flcusat

Jeff I'm new to B&K and AMX as well. Did you ever finished that module for the CT Receivers? I tried to play last night with a CT-602 and try to control it through Control a Device in Netlinx but since I didn't have any souce or keypad connected to it I didn't have a visual feedback.
If I type any IR commands like Power On for zone 1 which is (0,S,I,1=40; ) I can see the TX and Rx led in the NI-3000 serial port blinking but I don't have any feedback. Is this the way I'm suppose to write the string in control device? if I input the string like this:
"(O,S,I,$1=$40;)" the Tx led in the NI-300 lights up when I send the string but it doesn't received any feedback(Rx).
Thanks in advance.

Pedro.

flcusat

By the way in my post above you might notice that if I type a ; follow by a ) I get a wink. That's why I had to put and space between them in the first string.

flcusat

Ok, I think I wasn't quiet awake last night, so I played a little bit more this morning after I posted my previous questions. Here is what I got this morning.
If I send the string from Control a Device in Netlinx like this:
(0,S,S,3="CD";) which is name input 4 CD it works, but if I add the check sum which would be like this (0,S,S,3="CD";cs16) it won't work.
I know that with IR commands I won't receive any feedback from the CT, but with commands like the one above which is a system parameter I should receive a response from the receiver and as a matter of fact I can see the Rx led in the NI-3000 light up. I have in the CT menu the feedback to reply and the echo enable.

flcusat

By the way How can I turn off the smilies to get rid of those Winks every time I type a ; follow by a )?

Chip Moody

Inelegant, but you could try bracketing your text with code and /code brackets: (If you're not familiar with tags in these posts, those tags need to have hard brackets around them as well)

something with a ;)

There may be another way - this just popped in my head.

- Chip

Joe Hebert

or you could use the bold tags around the ; like this ;) ...a little more elegant maybe

flcusat

There sould be a way to turn off the smilies in the text but I haven't found it yet.

flcusat

There sould be a way to turn off the smilies in the text but I haven't found it yet.

joelw

Spire_Jeff wrote:

Also, anyone controlling any of the B&K AVR or REF series receivers?

Hi Jeff,

I've written fairly complete modules for Yamaha, Meridian, McIntosh, Sony, Denon, Integra, etc. receivers for both AMX and Cres.... environment. I recently had the chance to write a 2-way module for the REF 50. It was pretty time consuming to nail the tx/rx comm engine, but it works very well. From what I've seen the protocol structure is common between their products.

In my eyes one way communications on these units would be a total hack, and not recommended.

Is there a B&K dealer needing AMX drivers? If you provide short term loaner hardware, I will develop drivers to meet your needs. Please contact me.

flcusat

How long do you think you might need the equipment to test? I have a CT-602 that I could send to you.

joelw

It largely depends on my current load. I would say a week at my office to be safe.

I just finished a large casino project yesterday, so I'm open till the 14th of August.

This unit has some nice features. Among the many, it has option of converting IR from keypad IR receivers to a DIP message. This could be used as Netlinx button action.

Having a CK1.2 keypad in conjunction would be good.

flcusat

I currently have 2 CT-602 in stock and 1 HD6 I could send one CT-602 to you and the HD6 but I will need you to work first with the HD6 because I have to send it to a job we are doing in Bahamas but I don't know when that will happen. I don't currently have any keypad because I'm using the RTI's RK3 with the CT-602 but I could order one and make then ship it to you. Give me a call at 305-888-0072 or e-mail me at flcusat@bellsouth.net to get into the details.

Pedro.

vining

Have you done a forum search for B&K? There were previous post with code for the CT series components.

How many CT unit are going into the projects? If more than one you need to connect to two seperate AMX ports because BnK passes through the dip commands from one to another (basically one way IR) but you get no feedback from both units unless both units are connected individually to the AMX master. You'll have to work your code accordingly.

Some of the older units also had spuratic feedback, the bass and treble if I recall and sometimes worked but often didn't until the eprom was changed. Not flash firmware upgradeable.