i am on the fence about this. Within the past few months i have been catapulted into jobs that are now requiring much more control and capability then what i have access to and my customer base can now support these kind of systems.

For my medium to larger systems I am probably looking at going the Vantage Route as my rep has one installed and i absolutely fell in love with the system.

For my smaller systems I am seriously looking into going the prodigy route. I have a few brief questions that crestron didn't care to tell me as the guy was pretty rude and the guy that services my area was on vacation.

Can Prodigy support Radio Ra2? (i know crestron and lutron are not on speaking terms)

Can Prodigy support a 2 room location IE Dual purpose media room with projector and motorized screen and 46in. TV with Denon receiver. and another room with one TV and denon surround sound receiver?

I forgot to ask him how many TSTAT's it can support. possibly 2?

currently they left a bad taste in my mouth, but i am waiting to give them another shot when my areas rep is available.

Thanks All!

I wondered, but in America you have the ability to use two processors in the same plant?
Roby

As far as I know, Prodigy can still only use one PMC2 in a project, but they are working on having more. As for lighting Using Crestron lighting, prodigy can support about 60-70 loads using the new EX dimmers......do you need bigger than this? While i'm sure you may, the majority won't. I've been in plenty of 2500-3000 sq ft homes that only have 30-35 loads throughout the entire house, inside and out.

A PMC2 has 5 IR ports (they claim up to 3 emitters per port, but even at 2 that's 10 devices), 2 Com 232 ports and IP control....I know there are some limits on the IP control, but I don't fully understand that yet. 

I think up to 3 tstats, if I remember right.

PMC2 also has one or two contact closures, but so should your Denon and/or PJ.

I don't know enough about Ra2 to answer questions. i know you could easily trigger scenes through a 232 interface, just not sure on the feedback. I just use the Crestron lighitng and its been fine.

Then of course, you can step up from Prodigy and do absolutely anything and everything.

There is a learning curve, but there are also programers and CAIP's for hire.

Thanks man for posting!

could I possibly use an ipad for the second zone control?

Can you tie more then one PMC2 together?

I am meeting with my rep wednesday afternoon to discuss Prodigy and Adagio. My rep compared Vantage with Adagio and said that Adagio is a crazy powerful system still at a relative "affordable" price. so I still have ALOT of decision making to do on which route I want to go, but I think im going to get my self a prodigy dealer demo kit.

I cannot program for the life of me, so a CAIP is an absolute necessity.

You definitely could use an iPad. Keep in mind, the app (Mobile Pro G) is $100. Not bad, you just can't use the free version on iTunes.

They have promised multi-processor (PMC2) capabilities this year. I'd imagine it will be demoed at CEDIA. They're also coming out with a nice new processor with on screen display and they have video distribution on the way as well.

In theory, yes, but I suspect as a practical matter no, assumig you're using the Crestron app. You have to load the graphics file into the processor so for a project with lots of graphics it'll be a large file and probably too large to load.

If you can find a way to host the graphics outside the processor, that would be a different story


Using what programming tool? Are you using macros you or someone wrote or trying to use what Crestron permits in Systembuilder. At any rate, you can only have one processor in a job. You can link to mulitple processors using an ESIC symbol. For Prodigy composer this is not currently supported. There are ways around this but you're flying solo. You break it and you'll have to fix it on your own.


I have spent the last 2 weeks coding Adagio systems in Simpl using the example program. Look and feel to the program is Systermbuilder and the macros in the demo program are the same or just about the same that are used with Systembuilder. But Systembuilder is inefficient and wastes a lot of memory.

I have one AES with a 6x, 3 6Ls, 1 TPS4L, 4 APADs and 3 ML600s. ESIC to a PAC2 controlling 120 loads. I'm controlling each of them. Security, pool control, and CCTV cameras. You are not going to do this with an AES or Prodigy and Systembuilder. Too much overhead and not enough memory for this many sub-systems using Systembuilder.

The system is close to being max'ed out but it's still a fairly large system that does just about everything you'd want.

Alan

A few weeks ago, Crestron released a much improved version of the tools and the iPad app. The graphics are using much less space now.

However, for other reasons, I would not spec an iPad as primary control. It's great as additional control and has a very high 'cool' factor, but loading up an application every time the customer wants to change the volume is not very convenient. Also some risk the customer goes updating by himself and breaks the control app.

What tools and where can these new programs be found? Is there a new version of the iPad/iPhone server module?

The example touch panel in the demo program typically compiles ( in my edited version ) to about 18 meg. It's never been able to load into any processor that doesn't support compact flash.

iPhone with free app? Or just a a basic iPhone app? It's a very small file and has been no problem.

But to repeat, what tools and where can they be found?

Alan

If RA2 uses a similar 232 protocol to Homeworks then yes, you just need to do some digging to find the exact commands.


Yes, I have a system with 1 PMC2+ and 3 PTX3s Controlling 4 Rooms. 2 AVRs, 1 set for stereo the other for 5.1. I am using the zone 2 out on each for the 3rd and 4th rooms. Oh and both are controlled using 232 with 2 way feedback.

There is however a VERY big BUT, the programming was done in SIMPL. Now if you are VERY comfortable you can use SystemBuilder to create such a system as well, but as far as I know you'd kill yourself trying in Composer.

I am considering installing a system with lutron hw 8 Series, home theater area, 4 zones + multiroom HD video, IP cameras, temperature control thermostats 6 KNX EIB interface with Crestron, and burglary
I think with you it is too tight, what you think
ipad use as a control
the two processors would be ideal in my opinion

I just updated Prodigy Composer and I see a new interface called a C2N-UNI810. What is this?

Depends... While using full custom graphics, there is probably no easy way around a CF capable processor.

When the Crestron standard Mobile Pro graphics are acceptable to the client, Crestron made a bunch of stock graphics focused on System Builder for iPod / iPhone and iPad projects. These graphics are partly integrated into the Mobile Pro app from version 2.00.09 onwards. Projects build with these graphics now can get as small as 200k.

Requires Crestron Device Database, 29.00.008.00 and the Destiny templates version 3.09.020.00 / Crestron Database, version 22.01.009.01

This only works with the paid (Pro / Pro G) version of the apps, not with the free version. No requirement to use System Builder, can use VTpro to open the Mobile Pro (G) templates. If the backgrounds from the template are used and only a limited amount of additional custom icons, the project will fit into a Prodigy processor.

Maybe useful for smaller projects.

Well I met with the rep from Crestron today and all i can say is I am coming to the blue-side! ;) I finally have the client base and installations to support Crestron prodigy and Adagio

training is in a few weeks and am looking forward to it, he also said keep a close eye on Cedia and what will be releasing for Prodigy/ Adagio?

There is one thing I completely forgot to ask him, are the IR outputs assignable on prodigy and do you have triggers to drop a screen?

ohh btw: he said that this week Crestron released the RA2 module. so yes Crestron can support RA2 and later september they will release the ra2 module that will support the shading solutions too.

IR Outputs are assignable and in my experience can be doubled and tripled up. There are relays for screens/shades as well.

|  There are relays for screens/shades as well.


only 2.