Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian 565 Surround Configuration To

Hi, I have the 565 surround processor and I’d like to try to set it up using the configuration tool rather than the front panel. Does anyone have the software used to do it. All I can find is the rs232 codes but I’m guessing there was an installation service tool at some point?

I have serial adapters I’ve used in live sound application but it’s my first go at trying to use them for HiFi

If no one does I’ll probably have a go at making a python application to emulate a remote via the rs232 connection at some point in the future and I’ll share it once it’s ready.

Legacy mconfig, can be found over here

Make sure you manually select legacy mconfig, which is not selected by default, as far as I can remember..

The legacy configuration tool only works with 561 and 568 according to the installation on my pc.

Yeah I’ve loaded it up and it doesn’t seem to be in the options and it can’t fetch the device either. Bit annoying really because my 5200s and 3200s can’t be picked up by it either even in the more modern one because it wants a controller in the middle that’s 800 or G series

565 massively pre-dates any batch configuration tool, so there's no way it's going to respond to Mconfig. You'll struggle to batch process any config updates because it needs to be put into at least 3 configuration modes via the front panel and power switch before you can make the relevant settings - there's no global config receiving mode. It also has a rather restricted RS232 command set and no documentation as to the status of RS232 during any config mode, so it's going to be a bit of a lottery.
That said, just hook it up and do the power switch thing and try using the MSR emulator in Mconfig just to see how far you get. If you're lucky it will respond to the right keys and give you screen feedback.
I've not had a 565 for at least 10 years, but I don't remember config via the front panel as being more than a 10 minute job provided you had the planning worksheets in the manual filled in - at least in your head...

DSP3300, 3200 and DSW don't have any configuration settings at all, so there's no point in them having access to Mconfig. They have NV settings which are intended to be set by the SpeakerLink controller but which can be set via the terminal emulator in Mconfig. Hook one up and type NV? to get the status and make updates. Not sure about 5200 but there's no real reason for them to be different.

Julian

Thanks that’s helpful information! That’s a shame there aren’t any existing tools for it. I like its features. Well I’ll have a look at seeing where I get with making my own tool.

I’ll try to record if it outputs anything during setup and try to work back from that or sending some modified commands that the 861 sends to see if there is anyway to do it then as a curiosity investigation.

Curious to hear how you get on.

The 565 Z3 7.1 was my first Meridian piece and intro to Meridian. I never got serial to work with the config program and as others said, the legacy config program came after the 565, so from the earlier 861s and 568s onward.

I bet you might have success feeding it commands from an older computer with a native serial port. As I don't think a USB to serial cable with the built in adapter chip would work but don't quote me on that. It works for products that use the config program, just that from experience on products from that era pushing firmware. Like the old ML Proceed line or the old ADA stuff.

Manual on the 565 was really good though. It explained everything in great detail for the setup on the unit and resetting etc.
Meridian kept the same letter coded conventions for speaker/size layout and I always found referring back to the 565 manual helpful as a reminder to explain what each type was again.

Good luck.

I used to have a 565 and could only ever get the config software to run properly on a laptop with a built-in serial port. I went through quote a few USB-to-serial converters and none of them worked.

In the end, the only thing that did the job was an old laptop with a native RS-232 port. From memory, the Intel 486 machines were ideal as they had the proper hardware. Once I used one of those, it just worked.

If you can get hold of an old 486 laptop (or at least something with a genuine onboard serial port rather than a converter), you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration.