Hi There!

Just looking at having a Crestron DM System (DM-MD6x6) installed and Controlled with a Crestron MC3 Control System. The other pieces that I will be using are two MLX-3 Remotes and two DM-RMC-100-C Room Controllers since I am only installing TV’s at 2 Display Locations initially and I will be using 2 runs of the 6 runs of DM 8G+ wire that I have had installed in my walls during construction. But at each Display Location I also had 6 runs of Cat6 and 2 runs of RG6 installed on top of the DM 8G+ cable (Just In Case). So wire wise I think I’m good….

I believe that both of my TV’s are IP or RS-232 Controllable. I have a Pioneer Elite Pro-110FD which “I think” I will have to control via RS-232 since it doesn’t have IP Control (The Pro-101FD Does) and a Sharp LC-70LE734U which “I think” I can be controlled via IP or RS-232.

On the source side of things I have a Bell ExpressVu 9242 and 6131 which “I think” I will have to be controlled via IR because I don’t hear anyone in hear talking about controlling Dish Network via IP or RS-232 and since Bell ExpressVu uses the same Technology as Dish Network I assume the they are not IP or RS-232 Controllable either. But I’m sure someone can set me straight on that.

I also have a 1st Generation AppleTV and a Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD. I know the BDP-23FD is controllable via RS-232 (Not Sure About IP) but I’ve seen a few on here mention that controlling the AppleTV via IP (Since It Doesn’t Have A RS-232 Port) is a real pain in the A$$. Wondering what the current consensus is on that.

So my question is can any of you provide some advise on the best way to Control these Displays and Sources? I know everything is controllable via IR but since it is 1 way not always ideal. Perhaps some can provide some reassurance that IR is fairly stable. My biggest fear with IR is that things could get out of sync (i.e. When You Press The Watch TV Button It Turns On Your TV But Shuts Off Your Satellite Box Because The Satellite Box Did Not Turn Off Last Time You Switched Everything Off For Whatever Reason). My wife hates that with our dumb Harmony Remote. If you don’t point it at all your devices for a long enough time when your say powering off it will leave the TV on but turn the Satellite box off. The next time you Press Watch TV is turns the TV off and turns on the Satellite box. Thus things get out of Sync and you either need to manually turn the out of sync device on or off or use the Harmony Help screen to ask you the series of questions to get things back in sync.

I told her a MC3 / DM controlled system is much, much, much more powerful / smarter / efficient than a Harmony Remote. And I’m wanting to make sure I’m not talking out of my A$$.

Also do anyone in here know any DM installers in Calgary, Alberta, Canada?

Thanks
Marcus

All the major control systems out will accomplish what you are looking for provided they are engineered/programmed properly. Discrete ir codes with emitters attached to the display eliminate "out of sync" issues, for devices without discrete codes like your Bell receivers a person could use video sensors to determine that they are indeed turned on.

Crestron's website will have a listing of qualified DM installers for your area.

The DM RMC-100 room controllers have IR and RS232 control built right into them and I would recommend using the RS232 to control the displays. The bell boxes have to be controlled via IR (there is no other way). The good thing about these is that they never actually shut off they just go into a power save mode. To get them back into sync you just have to press Enter on your MLX-3 to turn on the box.

The DVD player will be controlled either RS232 or IP depending on the installer and Apple TV will be controlled via IR as there is no Power.

Looking on the Crestron website there are 5 listed elite partners but there will be many other dealers in the the area. Contact crestron and they will provide you with a list of dealers in the area as I don't think there are many (if any) on here.

Stick with IR control on AppleTV.
Autonomic Makes an IP module but ive had nothing but issues