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
Hi,
we are moving to a house and I am currently planning the B&O setup. I am yet to decide if we shall install master link around the house but most probably we will have some kind of installation as I have a number of Beolink Actives, a Beolab 3500 and a Beolab 2000. Then again, you can just use a Beolink Converter with an Airport express as that's mostly how we listen to music nowadays anyway (i.e. streaming).
Then I am thinking about the possibilities of an MLGW and what could be achieved with that in my setup. For instance, in our apartment we are controlling lights through LC2s but I am considering of either migrating to Phillips Hue or Nexa as this would be both more future-proof and also hidden. As I understand it, these can be controlled by an MLGW.
Basically, what I am wondering is if you think that MLGW is a good product and if you would buy one today?
BRRiven
My B&O products: Beosound 9000, Beosound 2300, Beosound Century, Beolab 8000, Beolab 6000, Beolab 4000 x2, Beolab 3500, Beolab 2000, Beolab 10, Beolink Active x2, Beotime, Beo5 x2, Beo4, A9 keyring x2, LC2 dimmer x6 and growing....
Looking at your products, it seems like an MLGW would be a good decision since most of them are indeed masterlink products. MLGWs are relatively cheap now. BLGW is the current box and netlink is what is going to be developed on for the long haul.
That being said, initially maybe an MLGW, but as you grow and maybe begin to replace your products with those with netlink you'll have to think about integration and compatibility / support issues and upgrading to the Beolink Gateway.
Both MLGW and BLGW fully support BOTH MasterLInk and NetLink. The BLGW has built-in drivers to control Philips Hue, but the control is quite limited as it does not support Scenes. I can help you fully control Philips Hue Scenes with the MLGW. It's actually quite easy. Integrating the lighting with MLGW makes your lighting easily controlled with your B&O remotes. Philips Hue is great because you just replace the lightbulb. Another great lighting system that MLGW can control is Lutron RadioRa 2. However, RadioRa 2 requires replacing the light switches or dimmers and can be more costly.
Thanks for the info Jeff!
It is mainly lightning I am after and Phillips Hue seems to be a neat solution for this as it is hidden, not like the LC2s. In the future it would be nice to also control curtains etc. which I have understood the MLGW is capable off. Let's see if I can find a used MLGW to reasonable price.
Rivenflush: Thanks for the info Jeff! It is mainly lightning I am after and Phillips Hue seems to be a neat solution for this as it is hidden, not like the LC2s. In the future it would be nice to also control curtains etc. which I have understood the MLGW is capable off. Let's see if I can find a used MLGW to reasonable price.
I think you'll like not having to get the IR from your remote to your LC2s. In the past, I used LC1 units throughout the room. I found it rather annoying needing to waive my remote in all directions to control all of the LC1 units.
The price and ease of use of the Philips Hue are great. If you need help interfacing the Hue with a MLGW, hit me up. I can make them interface quite well.
You can pick up a mlgw very cheap now, I managed to get one for £150.
Just need to learn how it works with a lutron grx system once my extension is actually finished.
@badgersurf: Where can you get a MLGW for such a cheap price??@rivenflush: The MLGW is a luxury add-on for your setup. You should see it that way and decide whether you need it or not. Do I need it? No. Do I want it? Yes! I've integrated the MLGW with Philips HUE thanks to the help of this lovely forum. Especially our MLGW-HUE-Guro Beojeff! Not everything works like intended and programming the custom strings for the Philips HUE system takes time and effort.In my bedroom everything works as I wished (Yes, I'm still talking about the MLGW) and I have no programming issues. Same goes for the childroom. But in my livingroom it does NOT work as I would like and I'm still figuring out what's wrong with the custom strings, or the network router or whatever reason it is. I need to sort that out.Unleaving the full potential of the MLGW needs time and work but I like it. I have a tabletop Essence remote on the bedsite table. When I go to sleep I just push one button on the remote and the lights turn off. When I watched e.g. TV in the living room or read a book and didn't turn of those devices: No problem, Essence remote is programmed for long standby = good night = everything in every room switches off. Need light in the darkness of the early morning or night? I just grab the Essence remote and turn the wheel clockwhise and a small light in the bedroom switches on. Using the wheel is great because you don't need any sight. you just grab the wheel and everything works.There are many many possibilities and if you have the wish to try it out: Don't ask us, just buy it. Then you can come back and we are happy to help to find the desired solutions.
TWG: @badgersurf: Where can you get a MLGW for such a cheap price??@rivenflush: The MLGW is a luxury add-on for your setup. You should see it that way and decide whether you need it or not. Do I need it? No. Do I want it? Yes! I've integrated the MLGW with Philips HUE thanks to the help of this lovely forum. Especially our MLGW-HUE-Guro Beojeff! Not everything works like intended and programming the custom strings for the Philips HUE system takes time and effort.In my bedroom everything works as I wished (Yes, I'm still talking about the MLGW) and I have no programming issues. Same goes for the childroom. But in my livingroom it does NOT work as I would like and I'm still figuring out what's wrong with the custom strings, or the network router or whatever reason it is. I need to sort that out.Unleaving the full potential of the MLGW needs time and work but I like it. I have a tabletop Essence remote on the bedsite table. When I go to sleep I just push one button on the remote and the lights turn off. When I watched e.g. TV in the living room or read a book and didn't turn of those devices: No problem, Essence remote is programmed for long standby = good night = everything in every room switches off. Need light in the darkness of the early morning or night? I just grab the Essence remote and turn the wheel clockwhise and a small light in the bedroom switches on. Using the wheel is great because you don't need any sight. you just grab the wheel and everything works.There are many many possibilities and if you have the wish to try it out: Don't ask us, just buy it. Then you can come back and we are happy to help to find the desired solutions.
@TWG- I'd be happy to be an extra set of eyes to look over your Hue custom strings to try to sort out what's wrong. Do feel free to email me anytime.
I managed to find a bargain on eBay.
The Mlgw have been popping up quiet often
beojeff: Both MLGW and BLGW fully support BOTH MasterLInk and NetLink. The BLGW has built-in drivers to control Philips Hue, but the control is quite limited as it does not support Scenes. I can help you fully control Philips Hue Scenes with the MLGW. It's actually quite easy. Integrating the lighting with MLGW makes your lighting easily controlled with your B&O remotes. Philips Hue is great because you just replace the lightbulb. Another great lighting system that MLGW can control is Lutron RadioRa 2. However, RadioRa 2 requires replacing the light switches or dimmers and can be more costly.
Hi Beojeff, I am a newbee in home automation. I just bought a MLGW and I have it running for my BM 5 an BV7-32. I would like to add some simper light control. In the living room I need two on / off controls to switch on when I am not at home on a time schedule. I do this now with simpel timer switches that plug in the wall socket. When they switch off when I am at home I have to wait 15 minutes before I can switch them on again. Would be nice if to control these lamps via the MLGW and switch them on and off with a time schedue an via app or Beoremote 4 or 5 or 1 if needed. What parts do I need to add and is this possible with a MLGW?