ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Eclipse 65V1-32Beosound M5Essence MK2BLI
you have a blgw. so look at the essence remote! use the light mode of the essence remote.
beoandy
BS Ouverture, BS 9000, AV 9000, Avant 32 DVD, BV9, BV6-22, BS 5, BS 4500, BS 7000, BC 9500, Beo6, BL Penta, F1000, BLGW, etc....
Hi, Seannie.
For RadioRa 2, you need what is called a "main repeater" that interfaces to the MLGW/BLGW. You can use it over your wireless network, but I prefer to connect the Main Repeater to the MLGW via RS232 for a more stable connection. You can probably find a main repeater on ebay for around $250 USD. All keypad connect wirelessly to the Main Repeater as the hub. For the wall button keypad, you have two options: a hybrid keypad that can dim an attached light or just a basic keypad that does not have a lighting load attached to it. Either way, the keypad is wired to your electricity. Note that the keypad can come in a variety of button configurations. What is good to know is that you can make the keypad ANY button configuration just by ordering the appropriate button replacement when you order the free button engraving. You can also make it any color you chose when you order the button engraving.
If you are replacing a light switch that currently is connected to a Philips Hue, you need to be aware that the hybrid dimmer cannot be attached to the load of the light using a Philips Hue bulb. This is one of those dimmers that cannot be attached to the load of an LED light. Instead, the solution is to hardwire together the load of the Philips Hue lamp so that it is always on and is just being controlled by the MLGW or your iOS devise.
The MLGW can recognize the key presses of any RadioRa 2 keypad button as a trigger! It's a very elegant solution. So much nicer than the Philips Hue Tap -- which I detest. There is also a tabletop keypad that you can use on a nightstand or coffee table. This, too, has free custom engraving for the buttons. Once engraved, the buttons have a pleasant green backlight that shows through the engraving.
RadioRa 2 also offers room occupancy/vacancy sensors. You can use the sensors as triggers with the MLGW/BLGW to trigger events -- such as turning on or off Philips Hue lights or turning on or off your B&O music in a link room.
Seanie-
I tried to post some photos of my examples, but couldn't get the photos to post in a message. I did, however, upload them to the "Media" section of this website, if you'd like to see some examples.
I can assure you, Beojeff is a genius regarding B&O and Hue! He helped me a lot!
Hello!
The way using Lutron switches is very impressive! Especially the RadioRa2 with personalized buttons are kind of a dream.
Please tell me: If I have "normal" switches (Europe, Austria, 220 V) is there an easy way to switch to Lutron?
How are the RadioRa wired up? Do they get the needed energy by existing wires (220 V) or is there a special wiring/bus needed?
Do I understand correctly that they send a signal to the main repeater which sends a signal through the existing WLAN to the bulbs?
And would also receive commands from an BLGW oder MLGW?
What about any other bulbs - not Philips Hue? How would this setup work? Also with MLGW/BLGW?
Thanks and best regards
Elmar
A little inspiration using the Hue products. I wouldn't use a keypad personally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIjfv4yuSLE
Ah, you know... A little B&O here, a little there
f5434964: Hello! The way using Lutron switches is very impressive! Especially the RadioRa2 with personalized buttons are kind of a dream. Please tell me: If I have "normal" switches (Europe, Austria, 220 V) is there an easy way to switch to Lutron? How are the RadioRa wired up? Do they get the needed energy by existing wires (220 V) or is there a special wiring/bus needed? Do I understand correctly that they send a signal to the main repeater which sends a signal through the existing WLAN to the bulbs? And would also receive commands from an BLGW oder MLGW? What about any other bulbs - not Philips Hue? How would this setup work? Also with MLGW/BLGW? Thanks and best regards Elmar
You can find some photos of examples that I have posted in the "Media" section of this website.
The wall keypads are wired just like you would wire a dimmer on your wall. Lutron makes different wall kepads and dimmers for different regional markets. I know that European wall switches are a different size and shape than those here in the U.S. The tabletop keypads can be powered by either a regular power cord or by battery.
RadioRa 2 uses its main repeater as a hub. The connection to its various switches, dimmers, and keypads is done via its proprietary VisionClear wireless technology. It can control its own lighting loads. However, control of Philips Hue lights is done through the MLGW or BLGW using a macro with the RadioRa 2 button press serving as a trigger. The trigger can be used for just about any event that the MLGW/BLGW can control. For example, it could be for a Philips Hue light or scene or it could be used to control your B&O audio or video. If you take a look at my photo examples, I have created a button labeled "News" to turn on my tv and switch it to my desired station for the news. I have programmed buttons for 'Cinema On" and "Cinema Off." I have programmed and labeled buttons to switch to appropriate N.Radio stations on my BeoSound 5 for "Lounge," "Jazz," and "Classical." I have even programmed and labeled a button for "ABBA" that will play an Abba playlist on my BeoSound 5. In the bedroom. I have a button on the nightstand labeled "Romance" to dim the lights and play romantic music. You can create any combination of events with macros and assign them to a button.
Lighting systems other than Philips Hue could be used as long as they are supported by the MLGW/BLGW. You just use that command or custom string as the resulting event.
RadioRa 2 commands could be resulting events to be triggered by other systems as well. For example, when the B&O Cinema On command is received by the MLBW/BLGW, lighting loads dimmed directly by a RadioRA 2 dimmer could be dimmed. I have a macro so that when CINEMA is pressed on my B&O remote, a popcorn popper connected to a RadioRA 2 switch begins popping popcorn.
The benefit of having a physical button on the wall or on a table is that you always have that command easily accessible. You don't need to fiddle with a remote or a tablet.
BeoMegaMan: A little inspiration using the Hue products. I wouldn't use a keypad personally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIjfv4yuSLE
The use of the BeoLink app to control Philips Hue bulbs as shown in that video is not stable! Trying to control multiple Phillips Hue lights in a way other than using the Philips Hue Scenes or Groups features can result in lights not receiving the commands or even the Philips Hue hub crashing. It is always better to control multiple Philips Hue lights by creating a Philips Hue Scene or Group. However, if you are controlling just one light at a time using the app, it is fine.
beojeff: BeoMegaMan: A little inspiration using the Hue products. I wouldn't use a keypad personally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIjfv4yuSLE The use of the BeoLink app to control Philips Hue bulbs as shown in that video is not stable! Trying to control multiple Phillips Hue lights in a way other than using the Philips Hue Scenes or Groups features can result in lights not receiving the commands or even the Philips Hue hub crashing. It is always better to control multiple Philips Hue lights by creating a Philips Hue Scene or Group. However, if you are controlling just one light at a time using the app, it is fine.
I have never experienced that problem in the setups I've done. It's been solid for me and those jobs. I think there might be something else at play if you are experiencing that problem.
BeoMegaMan: beojeff: BeoMegaMan: A little inspiration using the Hue products. I wouldn't use a keypad personally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIjfv4yuSLE The use of the BeoLink app to control Philips Hue bulbs as shown in that video is not stable! Trying to control multiple Phillips Hue lights in a way other than using the Philips Hue Scenes or Groups features can result in lights not receiving the commands or even the Philips Hue hub crashing. It is always better to control multiple Philips Hue lights by creating a Philips Hue Scene or Group. However, if you are controlling just one light at a time using the app, it is fine. I have never experienced that problem in the setups I've done. It's been solid for me and those jobs. I think there might be something else at play if you are experiencing that problem.
This is in the very nature of how the Philps Hue hub works. If the number of lights is very small, it might not be an issue. However, larger setups could have issues. Also, the MLGW does not let you add delays between Philips Hue commands in a macro. This might be possible, however, with the BLGW.
beojeff: BeoMegaMan: beojeff: BeoMegaMan: A little inspiration using the Hue products. I wouldn't use a keypad personally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIjfv4yuSLE The use of the BeoLink app to control Philips Hue bulbs as shown in that video is not stable! Trying to control multiple Phillips Hue lights in a way other than using the Philips Hue Scenes or Groups features can result in lights not receiving the commands or even the Philips Hue hub crashing. It is always better to control multiple Philips Hue lights by creating a Philips Hue Scene or Group. However, if you are controlling just one light at a time using the app, it is fine. I have never experienced that problem in the setups I've done. It's been solid for me and those jobs. I think there might be something else at play if you are experiencing that problem. This is in the very nature of how the Philps Hue hub works. If the number of lights is very small, it might not be an issue. However, larger setups could have issues. Also, the MLGW does not let you add delays between Philips Hue commands in a macro. This might be possible, however, with the BLGW.
I have been involved with a 40 bulb setup using the BLGW with no problems at all. This was achieved using the BLGW.
I can confirm it works great for me as well, with the BLGW it's really nice with the color picker on the app, the web panel and the TV OSD screen
it also works great using groups with many Hue bulbs including all the same functions as individual bulb control
What's really nice is the new Timer and user programable scenes in the BeoLink app, it's really cool to have access to all these settings on the fly and I love being able to setup timed events in my app based on sunset, sunrise or just time (one of the best features added in the BLGW recently if you ask me)
BeoLinkapp: I can confirm it works great for me as well, with the BLGW it's really nice with the color picker on the app, the web panel and the TV OSD screen it also works great using groups with many Hue bulbs including all the same functions as individual bulb control What's really nice is the new Timer and user programable scenes in the BeoLink app, it's really cool to have access to all these settings on the fly and I love being able to setup timed events in my app based on sunset, sunrise or just time (one of the best features added in the BLGW recently if you ask me)
Using the BeoLink App to create a lighting scene with Philips Hue is not at all practical. There are many benefits to creating a proper Philips Hue scene (as it is called in the Hue API) that is stored on the Hue bridge. In fact, the Hue Scenes are even stored on the bulbs themselves for rapid recall to eliminate the popcorn effect.
Yes when controlling many Hue bulbs as one group I agree it's best to control them using the group function in the BLGW, the user interface is the same as for individual bulb control in the app
BeoLinkapp: Yes when controlling many Hue bulbs as one group I agree it's best to control them using the group function in the BLGW, the user interface is the same as for individual bulb control in the app
The Group and Scene functions are completely different features in the Philips Hue API and serve different purposes. All Scenes use use the default "Group 0" with is the global Group that includes all lights. By default all Scenes use the global Group 0. However, Scenes can act on specific Groups if so constructed. A Philips Hue Scene should not be confused with a "scene" created on the BeoLink App, which is not a true Philips Hue Scene as defined in the JSON command structure. Using a proper Philips Hue Scene actually stores the information about the scene on each bulb so that it removes the traffic from the Philips Hue Bridge and provides faster, smoother response.
I feel we're straying from the question of the OP here
I think I forgot to mention one of the greatest uses of the RadioRa 2 tabletop keypad: the "Pause" button. I use this all the time!I have a button programmed on the keypad so that I just reach over to the end table in the living room to press the "Pause" button to pause TV, Apple TV, or Blu-Ray. Another press of the "Pause" button resumes playback. This is fantastic! The RadioRa 2 communicates by wifi to the MLGW. Therefore, there is no need to lift the remote and point it.
Sadly, I find that the BeoRemote One -- even at full IR strength -- cannot send the signal to the B&O IR receiver unless you raise it from the coffee table. This was not the case with the Beo4.
Similarly, the "Goodnight" and "Morning" buttons on the RadioRa2 tabletop keypad on the nightstand in the bedroom have become a part of everyday life. An issue with the BeoVision 10 in the bedroom is that the IR receiver is placed below the screen and blocked by the bed unless I raise the remote high.
That sounds very impressive!To sum up: Radio Ra 2 works on an own network which is set up individually by Lutron components; it can communicate with an existing network (like LAN or WLAN) and with e.g. ML Gateway
Radio Ra2 switches get their energy by existing wires - the lamps how are they connected? Is there - besides the "main repeater" - a base where all the wires come together? Or can those switches also to their job on their own?
Best regards Elmar
f5434964: Hello! That sounds very impressive!To sum up: Radio Ra 2 works on an own network which is set up individually by Lutron components; it can communicate with an existing network (like LAN or WLAN) and with e.g. ML Gateway Radio Ra2 switches get their energy by existing wires - the lamps how are they connected? Is there - besides the "main repeater" - a base where all the wires come together? Or can those switches also to their job on their own? Best regards Elmar
All RadioRa 2 components communicate wirelessly with the Main Repeater. If you control a light from a wall switch, a RadioRa 2 wall dimmer or hybrid keypad dimmer replaces that wall switch and is connected by the existing wires to the lighting load. For something that is plugged into a power outlet, such as a table lamp, there are interfaces that you can plug into the power outlet and into which the table lamp plugs.