Beovision Avant CTV just delivered!

I just bought a Blue one and had it delivered.  It's so beautiful!  What I want to know is, if I buy the DVD player, and VCR player from the external sources list, will they be able to function without having to use thier original remotes?

I have looked up a couple, and they are available used on Ebay for a good price.  However, when I look at their hook ups pictures, I don't see the "control mini jack", that I assume you need for that special function.

Am I missing something?  Can anyone suggest a DVD and VCR that I could look for that would enable me to use that function?

Thanks for all suggestions!

Guy

Since you posted here I assume you bought a US spec Avant. If that's the case you'll need ir emitters which will transmit the ir from the Avant to your external sources. You. Will need to find the right models for DVD and VCR for your Avant to work properly. This will depend on the version of the PUC that you have. Congrats.

Hello,

Yes, it is a North American model.  What is a PUC?  As for IR transmitters, the cables that came with the Avant include male minijacks.  I read in the manual that you plug these into the connection panel (for the appropriate device) and plug the other end into the device.  But I don't see in the pictures of these devices (DVD and VCR) where you would plug the mini jack. 

Guy

I think PUC stands for Peripheral Unit Controller. No matter, it is software that allows the Avant to receive commands from a Beo4, and converts those commands to Infrared commands that can be understood by your cable box, VCR, DVD, Tivo, etc. The Avant has a certain number of connections to external devices, and on each only controls a certain number of devices. For example, its VCR connection supports certain Panasonic VCRs, and the same for the DVD, etc.

The specific devices that are controlled by your Avant are determined by the version of the PUC controller that your particular set has. For example, you may have an old one that controls devices that existed back in the late 90s. But a newer one, will have more devices from the mid-2000s for example. You will have to see the list  of controllable devices under the External Sources menu.

Finally, IR emitters. The mini jack goes into the Avant, but the other end should be a little black square that houses the IR emitter itself. This is placed over the IR window of the device that you want to control. I find the best solution is to tape it over the IR receiver with a small strip of black electrical tape. Emitters look like this. Finding the IR window is sometimes more art than science, but the IR receivers are almost always on the from of the device behind some dark plastic piece.

Thanks for the information!  I have gone ahead and bought one of the Panasonic DVD players that list on the tv "external sources" menu.  I have also bought a couple of the emitters that you provided the link to.

A lot of the compatible DVD players and VCRs are indeed Panasonic branded.

Thanks for your help Peria.

Guy

I also have just picked up an Avant, but it's didn't come with the IR emitters. I assume they are standard and available from many sources. I take it I will not be able to control more recent devices like my FiOS STB due to the age difference. I would love to be able to control this STB and perhaps a Bluray player on my Avant with my Beo4. Is that possible?

Xantech makes cheap and reliable IR emitters with a minijack plug on one end. Additionally, if you haven't already done so, look for B&O "Multicables"

There are a few on eBay right now, in fact, I have 2 for sale on there

I used to own a Black Beovision Avant before we moved, and I absolutely loved it. What a conversation piece, as well as one of the best televisions ever made Hands Down!

Also, if you're going to have the Avant for a long time, you may want to ask your local B&O Store to arrange for a software / module update, to ensure that you have the latest SW (still vintage), and updated PUC tables, so you don't have to fiddle with things like Lintronic.

Sal