I took the AV*D training a couple of months ago for Prodigy and I am starting to get into replacing our RTI offerings.

Some questions persist and any help/guidance would be appreciated.

1) For multi-room retro installs with no wire between (individual TV,BD, etc.), in the RTI world, I would install individual XP6, XP8, etc. Is the Crestron way to put multiple PMC2 in each individual room and map each remote to the PMC2 in that room?

2) If this is true, what happens to MobilePro? Can 1 mobilepro install/device control separate rooms? In other words, can they move between rooms, connect to that processor, and use their iDevice?

3) Does anyone have any leads on custom GUI for the PTX3? The stock really is awful.

4) I looked through Prodigy Composer and was surprised by the lack of a good device database. In RTI, we had the mega user databases -- is there an equivalent for Crestron or are we forced to buy the learner?

I am not a prdigy dealer so am not 100% sure as to how it works but I will give you the answers that I can.



I would have to say yes. Ideally you should try to sell the customer on getting wires run as it will eliminate the need for all the processors


Not sure with the prodigy composer but Adagio composer you are able to create something called an RSD (Remote System Definition) which allows for each processor to communicate with each other via the network. The more remote processors you have to more programming time you use as you have to connect each RSD file to the "Main" processor (the one that you are attaching MobilePro to). You could also create a MobilePro design for each processor but that will encorporate a lot of port forwarding on the customers network.


Sorry can't help you there. I am sure there are GUIs around that use the same resolution as the PTX3


Again I am not 100% sure but if you have a .CCF editor you are likely to find the codes you need without having to purchase the learner. Since we are a full Crestron dealer I get their full database (not sure if this is true for A**D dealers).

This is how I've done. Soon there will be the PMC3 which will allow processors to work together as a single network.


You can have multiple systems on your app, so they would just have to change which system they connected to. I would suggest keeping as much as the lighting as possible to just a single processor.


Use your favorite. Guifx, NTdesigns, blackman custom. BUT Destiny template is more than just graphics, there is a lot of template data that goes into it as well. The easiest fix to have a slightly more custom layout without breaking anything is to change the back ground. Make sure you size it accordingly and use a JPEG. I have tried a couple different and paired with the Destiny black buttons, you can get a decent looking panel.

YOu can change button graphic and retain the template data as well, which I've been working on, but its time consuming.


Once you get to SystemBuilder, the data-base is a little better. I use the RTI Mega list and RTI learner then just copy and paste the pronto ccf/hex commands over to the DEAL and create crestron modules.

AS of now, NO, processors can not talk to each other in a Prodigy system. From what I understand when the new release of system builder comes out there should be an option for RSD's in a Prodigy system. The PMC3 will also do this as well.

This is only a limitation in Prodigy Composer and System Builder. It CAN be done if the system is programmed in Simpl, but it's not an entry-level exercise... :-)

Programming a Prodigy system in Simpl defeats the purpose of what Prodigy was designed for. Most of the people who use Prodigy only use System builder. Yes, it can be done in Simpl but lets KEEP IT SIMPLE!!

I know LOTS of guys who program Prodigy in Simpl, and produce much more versatile systems because of it. And to them (and me), that IS "keeping it simple" :-)

I am merely informing anyone reading this thread of ALL the facts - not just a little subset of facts. It's possible someone may be attracted to Prodigy, by knowing the feature-set can be expanded should they decide to learn Simpl at some time in the future...

The inability to have multiple processors and being limited to 6 routable IR ports on each one is the biggest reason we havent sold much prodigy. The last RTI job I sold used an XP8 and i think 6 PCM-8 modules.

The prodigy is great and very flexible with even system builder, but I still find it to be a little lacking in expandability and find anything more than the basic programming to be much more time consuming and difficult than RTI.

Oh and their IR library is useless. They don't even have samsung TV discretes. I find myself learning in discretes from the RTI library on every job Ive sold...

A job that big wouldn't be right for Prodigy. Prodigy wasn't designed to compete with projects of this size. Crestron does have teh CP2E (I think that's right) that is more similiar in control ports and I think the same price as a XP8, but even more powerful. Plus Crestron has MANY more options both above and below that in terms of price and control options.


That's because you're new at it. I'm sure RTI was slow at first to but SB can do a hell of a lot more so it will take longer to learn. Yes Prodigy is somewhat limited, but again, where it doesnt' fit, Crestron has MANY other options.

You definitely can't add lighting and climate control as easily or as inexpensively with RTI. The comparable remotes cost as much as the prodigy control AND processor. If you are selling RTI XP8 systems with T2C or better, you can easily sell full line Crestron.


The library is bigger in SB, plus there are a TON of modules you can download and add to your library fromt he Crestron Yahoo Group. I've found almost everything I need there and have only had to copy a few over from the Mega List

I'd have to disagree buddy... you forget programming costs on both systems.. on hardware fair enough but total project cost... not too sure..

Programming a Crestron system is much more complex then RTI. Therefore your cost will be quite a bit more for the complete package. Even if you are doing it with system builder.

"You definitely can't add lighting and climate control as easily or as inexpensively with RTI. The comparable remotes cost as much as the prodigy control AND processor. If you are selling RTI XP8 systems with T2C or better, you can easily sell full line Crestron."

RTI has drivers for Radio Ra and they work great, same with Vantage. Heck, you can buy a Lutron Rear IR Dimmer for 40 bucks and control with RTI.

If you are serous about Crestron and want to be successful with it I would reccomend purchasing the IR learner. There is no way you can survive on other sources of IR data. More importantly, who would want to? Do yourself a big favor and pick it up.

"Simply" not true. Prodigy was designed to provide a cost effective solution to products that installers were going up against in estimates. The entire "point" of Crestron technology is it's bag of tricks and power. While it has been marketed as a wizard it can be a very effective system with a much higher celing for customization than what it says on the box. Crestron needed a system in this price category and this is it. What you do with it is limited only to your resources.

SystemBuilder 3.10 allows for multiple PMC2 or PMC3 processors in one system. The software is currently in beta.