After spending several months in the Pronto/Marantz camp, and trying to add RF to IR, I finally gave up and converted to an RTI T2 system this weekend. Bill at
www.homeautomationnet.com gave me very speedy service. I used the shipping time and the battery charging time to start roughing out a configuration for my system.
After working with the Pronto/Marantz software, you feel like you are cheating to use the T2 stuff. The programming and remote learning worked the first time and had a fully functioning IR configuration within an hour of the batteries being charged.
The temptation to try the RF was too great and it only took 30 minutes to get the RF working.
Everything works beautifully and the system is under "real," precise, unambiguous control with the T2.
For Pronto owners or potential owners lurking, here is some advice: While the T2 is more expensive, it adds much more value. It is much more powerful, flexible, and easy to use. I would be money ahead if I had gone the T2 route first. Try the Pronto software and the T2 software before you buy! (Fighting with RCSetup did significantly decrease the learning curve for TheaterTouch Designer.)
And, with a T2, you are much less likely to fall into the eternal programming mode with the Pronto. You can set up your system quickly, make changes as you learn from experience, but you will not be tempted to keep adding bells and whistles for eternity.
All my Martanz stuff is now in a paper sack in the closet. The RTI T2 is really that good. And I was one of Bill's customers that had the charger transformer fail this weekend. Check it out!
