On the mx-3000, proto, or even the Mx-500--do Crestron and AMX have their own editting tools??? Or, do they use the editting tools like ProntoEdit, or the MX-series tools.

I'm trying to decide who to work with and if I can use Pronto Edit this makes things worlds easier.

Despite their using what looks like a Pronto, Crestron simply took the OEM chassis and made it their own remote control.

Crestron, like AMX, requires that you program two files: a file for the touch panel and a file for the control processor. With Crestron, touch panels are programmed in Vision Tools Pro-e and control processors are programmed in Simpl Windows but don't get your hopes up, it's not that simple.

The Crestron "Pronto" won't do anything unless there is a Crestron processor for it to talk to.

If you work for a CE company, then you can start selling Crestron by contacting your local sales representative and getting signed up for training. Crestron offers an amazing amount of versatility over basic remote controls and even Prontos.

Thanks, this is really helpful. I thought Crestron was proprietary and closed on all their touch screens--now I know.

Another question: on the ML-500, this product is from Universal Remote Control...do you know did they develop Crestron Vision Pro editting tools for this as well, or did Crestron use Universal Remote Control's editting tools????

Thanks again for the smart and insight knowledge.

The Crestron ML-500 is also programmed through Vision Tools Pro-e. It has great RF range - I wish the regular MX-800 would work as well as it does!

JW

They dropped the URC GUI into TV-Pro. The unit is a URC with a Crestron RF engine. Programming it has all of the problems of the MX-700 ( certain lap top's serial com ports do not work with it. Only 5 ASCII characters on the LCD and only 1 font and point size. ) and a few Crestron added, like no page flips from the source pages.

Alan

So, on the ML-500, Crestron has basically taking the mx-500 editor from Universal Remote Control, inc. and slapped a Crestron logo on the editting tools?

Not only the editing tools but the upload issues as well. It has a Crestron RF engine but in all other respects is a ML-500, including the software programming tools. If you are trying to determine if you can use the Universal software you cannot. You need to assign a RF ID to the unit and you can only do this with Vistion Tools.

Alan

(This might get me in trouble...)

Is that the same proprietary RF engine they installed into the Pron....er MT-500?

I wonder why they use the same Crowded unreliable(Comparitively) frequency of 418Mhz in these 2 remotes instead of the 433Mhz they've used in all their other RF products over the past 10 years.....

Good question and as I work in New York where 418 is a harmonic of microwave transmitters and there are tons of these transmitters criss crossing Central Park and anywhere there is a hospital it is a real PIA.

In Great Britain 433 was a restricted frequancy. Crestron decided not to sell 2 units but one and the decision came down to Great Britain-New York; Great Britain....New York and New York lost. Ironically just as the unit started shipping the British army who had 433 restricted released the freqancy. The first half is the story some of the Crstron's back room boys told and the situation in Britain came from my requesting it from the British contributors to the Yahoo group.

And unlike the Philips pronto which did not have a propritary engine ( as the Philips branded pronto worked with the 418 gateway ) the URC RF products do not work. Now I suppose you could adjust the frequancy but is it worth the soldering?


Alan

Alan,

I actually only use the MX-800 with the 418 gateway. I like be able to use local ir as well the rf. I use the one way ccf file imported into an MX-800.

Brad

Then you are using a CNIRGW and not a CNRFGWA. You can use any learning remote with a Crestron system---a nice feature -- but you cannot use the MX 800 with Crestron's 418 gateway. Universal also uses 418 MHz but I know many who have tried ( including moi ) but no one to my knowledge has been successuful using URC remote with a Crestron system. Rebroadcasting the hex codes is not the same as going directly through the gateway to Cresnet.

Alan

I have plenty of installations using th RF gateway none with the ir gateway. I can email you a MX-800 file that will work. All I did is take the ccf file that can be used with the pronto and imported it into the 800. It absolutly does work.

Brad

Then you have done what most of us could not. Please do e-mail me the file.

Alan