Masterlink Gateway - is it any use to me?

CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted August 5, 2024 at 11:27 GMT

I recently bought a job lot of some B&O items as it included some parts I wanted (IR eye, BEO4, some useful cables, and other bits and bobs). It included a MasterLink Gateway. I thought I would just sell it on eBay (I connected it to my PC and followed the setup guide I found online to check it was working; it does), but before I sell it, I really don't know what it does - is it any use to me? As far as I can gather it's intended for integrating with certain types of home automation, from the days before smart home devices, so they could be controlled with your B&O remote. Is that all it does? I do love a bit of home automation, but all of my devices are modern smart home ones controlled with Google Home. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't any use to me before I sell it. In one room I have a Beosound 4, Beovision 8, Beolab 3500, Beolink PC2 and Beolink Passive, all connected on the same ML network, and also a Beolab 2000 connected to the same ML network but in a different room. Would adding the ML Gateway to this add any benefit?

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

T.W.G

Gold

2988 posts

Posted September 4, 2024 at 11:53 GMT

#711370

As the MLGW supports custom strings via HTTP/JSON etc. it is - possible to use it with e.g HomeAssistant. - control HUE lights - Control all your B&O compatible equipment with ML connector through the Webinterface on Browser, Phone, Tablet - etc. - etc. There are some great minds here in the forum and outside working on this. Don't ask me, I'm not one of them ;-)

CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted September 4, 2024 at 14:42 GMT

#711373

Thanks - I had no idea it could be so useful. I especially like the idea of being able to connect my B&O kit (most of it is in an ML network) with a web interface. I'll keep it and investigate this further, thank you! If anyone else has any tips or links to other resources, please do let me know.

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted September 8, 2024 at 20:29 GMT

#711438

After a lot of frustration I've at least made a start on this. I managed to update the software to the latest version, then, with the help of the PDF guide (intended for the B&O installer), I've spent a good few hours trying to build a web panel with virtual buttons, and also to write macros that I can trigger from my Beo4. It took me a long time to figure out - once you've added your ML products, room, virtual buttons and macros, you have to click the Test button then the Save button to save it in the admin panel - it all appears to have saved, but isn't really saved until you do that! So far I've managed to build a web panel which carries out some test functions successfully (just basics for now, power off, play CD, and so on), and I have been able to create a macro that responds to the LIGHT button on my Beo4. It is working - I can make it work with my Beosound 4, Beovision 8, Beolab 3500, Beolab 2000 and Beolink Passive, which I have in my ML Network. Only my Beolink PC2 is left out, as that is not ML Gateway compatible. It seems to be a genuinely useful price of kit for ML products - I'll continue here as I discover more about how to make it work.

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

MA

Madskp

Gold

1759 posts

Posted September 9, 2024 at 12:25 GMT

#711440

Location: Denmark

CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted September 9, 2024 at 16:05 GMT

#711442

It seems it works without the software update. The documentation is unclear, but I think that the update is only needed in order to have the BS4 pass LIGHT commands to the ML Gateway, but I don't need to do that. I have tested various commands on my various ML devices and so far everything works. I have also successfully set the unused LIGHT button on my Beo4 to carry out a specific macro (switch to A.Aux, and increase the volume by 6 - this is because I use A.Aux form my Beogram turntable, and it needs a little but more volume!). Now I'm trying to figure out how to get it to send custom API commands to my Philips Hue lights, which appears to be possible, but I'm no programmer, so I've had no success with that yet!

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

MA

Madskp

Gold

1759 posts

Posted September 9, 2024 at 17:07 GMT

#711443

Location: Denmark

T.W.G

Gold

2988 posts

Posted September 10, 2024 at 11:11 GMT ? Edited September 10, 2024 at 11:13 GMT

#711449

to control e.g. Philips Hue lights, you need custom strings for lamps, scenes etc. Found on the old forum: https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/16848.aspx custom string example from member BEOJEFF: To gradually turn off the lights: PUT /api/<username>/groups/0/action HTTP/1.1\0D\0AContent-Length: 39\0D\0AContent-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\0D\0A\0D\0A{\"on\": false, \"transitiontime\": 3000} To gradually turn on the lights: PUT /api/<username>/groups/0/action HTTP/1.1\0D\0AContent-Length: 38\0D\0AContent-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\0D\0A\0D\0A{\"on\": true, \"transitiontime\": 3000} This means you could use a beautiful Bang & Olufsen Essence Wall or table remote for controlling your lights, light scenes or whatever. :-) The Essence remote must be set to "light mode" and you need compatible ML equipment that supports forwarding light or control commands to your MLGW. Endless possibilities as the MLGW can control everything(!) that supports these type of HTTP/JSON control language.

CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted September 12, 2024 at 15:40 GMT

#711481

Thanks for this - I haven;t been able to make that work, but I have at least stopped getting error messages. I tried the above (adding my username and the correct group number for my lights, being 3), and I no longer get the error messages I was getting before when trying to figure this out for myself, but I also get no change in the state on my lights. This is the simplified version I attempted to just turn on the lights in my office, which I added as below to the Match/command string field: PUT /api/[username]/groups/3/action HTTP/1.1\0D\0AContent-Length: 12\0D\0AContent-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\0D\0A\0D\0A{\"on\": true} I've set the Type as Output (command) which I assume is right, but I tried the other two options too, just in case! I don't get an error message when I test it, but I don't get any change in my Hue lights. When I check the monitor, I see this (with the date and time): E: Custom strings: Hue Test: CONNECT I assume this means it is connecting to the Hue Bridge successfully, but it isn't understanding what I am asking it to do.

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

T.W.G

Gold

2988 posts

Posted September 13, 2024 at 07:32 GMT

#711486

For hue control, best way would be to start from scratch with their developer tutorials: https://developers.meethue.com/

or

Join BeoWorld

Register to access the forums, reference material, and exclusive member benefits — including our monthly prize draw.

Become a Member

December 2026 Prize Draw

Gold Members Only

As a Gold member you're automatically entered into our exclusive prize draw — your chance to win iconic Bang & Olufsen products. A unique benefit of BeoWorld Gold membership, every draw brings a new opportunity to win something special.

View Prize Go For Gold