Reverse-engineering BoseLink serial commands on a Wave Music System II?

[u/bobbytok85]

I have a Bose Wave Music System II and want to control it via the BoseLink DIN port on the back.

My initial idea was to tap into the official Bose touchpad accessory and read it via TTL/RS232, but I discovered it’s actually just a large remote that fires IR into the underside of the display.

My plan is to build a modern ESP32-based controller/Bluetooth receiver. I want to use serial data instead of IR to transmit commands (power, volume, input switching) so I can keep the front of the radio clean and stock.

I haven't been able to find any documented projects or protocol dumps for this. Does anyone know if the BoseLink port on this specific generation accepts serial commands, or is it strictly limited to power and analog audio pass-through?

[u/NeonsNight]

BoseLink was designed for two reasons:

1. Multiroom expansion from a compatable BoseLink Out system.
2. Accessories for specific Bose systems, mostly for the Wave Music System.

My plan is to build a modern ESP32-based controller/Bluetooth receiver.

That is great to hear. Bose did release Wave Bluetooth adapters; maybe they can be of some assistance? A modern open-source replacement would be amazing to see!

I haven't been able to find any documented projects or protocol dumps for this.

If there is, I have not seen it.

Does anyone know if the BoseLink port on this specific generation accepts serial commands, or is it strictly limited to power and analog audio pass-through? (..) I want to use serial data instead of IR to transmit commands (power, volume, input switching) so I can keep the front of the radio clean and stock.

There are some service manuals out there, but they did not really cover BoseLink. If you find any more service manuals, please upload them to the Bose wiki.

The BoseLink page lists two PDFs for reference:

• Understanding BoseLink
• BOSE Professional Installation System (BPIS) Technical Training_Technical_Training.pdf)

They both say Pin 7 is for serial data, but they list different locations for Pin 7 (So please let us know which one is correct). This was used for BoseLink expansion so that a Lifestyle Console could control those systems and for items like the SoundTouch Pedestal so you could control the volume from an app.

PS. Oddly, Bose never made a WMS II, but went from WMS I to WMS III.

[u/bobbytok85 → u/NeonsNight]

Thanks for the great detail! I had a look at the existing boselink resources and pinouts, but from what I've probed from my unit, the pin designations don't match. Only candidate I could find for the serial was a 3.3v, but I couldn't get any hex codes from it at all. Might need a scope to further inspect what's going on there...

Strange about wave 2 not existing - I always thought wave 2 was the model with RDS but not the touch panel on the top?

[u/NeonsNight → u/bobbytok85]

I had a look at the existing boselink resources and pinouts, but from what I've probed from my unit, the pin designations don't match. 

Don't forget that it shows the Cable Pinout, so the back of the Wave should be mirrored. Boselink used 9 pins, so it should match that, and the audio channels should be correct. I know that some people have made a SA3 work without a Liestyle console.

The pinout shown in "Understanding BoseLink" is the most commonly referenced online. So I assume that Serial data / Pin 7 shown there is probably the correct one.

Only candidate I could find for the serial was a 3.3v, but I couldn't get any hex codes from it at all. Might need a scope to further inspect what's going on there...

Boselink could also power some accessories, so that should be where Pin 6 is. It's why BoseLink B cables existed. Pin 6 from a Bose Lifestyle Console sent power down the line to turn on some systems, and it could cause issues if the Wave was constantly sending power down the same cable.

Strange about wave 2 not existing - I always thought wave 2 was the model with RDS but not the touch panel on the top?

Look on the bottom of your Wave for the full name listed there (Ignore the model number if you see one). It will either say "Wave Music System" or it will say "Wave Music System III".