Before I get into my problems, I figured I would introduce myself: I'm both the programmer and end user of my own Crestron system. My system consists of a ST-1500C touch screen, a ST-CP control processor, 1 ST-CS (current sensor), 1 ST-PC (power controller), a couple of ST-SPL's (IR splitters), and a bunch of ST-IRP's. The system currently is only used to control my home theater system, but will eventually be expanded to control lighting and other items in the house. I'm using the current version of VisionTools Pro (version 1.2.4) to program my system, as my system is pretty simple for now. SIMPL Windows isn't a reasonable option for me - mostly because proper documentation and/or training isn't available to me as an end user (and it would be overkill for my current needs). My day job is software development, primarily writing C++ Windows applications using Microsoft's Visual C++. I've been doing this full time since graduating from college around 9 years ago. Enough with the introduction and on to my problems that will hopefully generate some discussion on this list (and help solve my problem if I'm lucky). The problems are listed in order of decreasing importance to me. 1) I sometimes have trouble getting my touch panel and ST-CP to communicate properly. The symptom when this happens is that the RF light on the ST-CP will blink rather than stay on constantly if I press and hold a button on the touch screen. For most purposes, this isn't a big problem, but some functions on my devices require an extended press. Example 1: One of my VCR's has 2 fast forward / rewind speeds. Press the button once and the VCR will go into a "slow" fast forward mode. Press and hold the button for a few seconds, and the VCR will go into a "fast" fast forward mode. However, when the communication between the touch panel and the ST-CP is not working properly, the VCR gets multiple "slow" fast forward commands which will usually put the VCR back into play mode. Example 2: The volume control for my preamp accelerates after it has been held down for a few seconds. When the communications aren't working properly, the ST-CP will think that it received a bunch of individual volume up commands and continue to raise the volume for several seconds after I release the button. This case has the potential to damage my speakers, as the volume control can go crazy when this happens. The ST-CP and the touch panel have been sent to Crestron for testing and they were unable to reproduce the problem. The dealer that sent the equipment to Crestron also checked the units with me present after they came back from Crestron and they worked fine. The only conclusion we have collectively been able to come up with is RF interference from something in the neighborhood. Does anyone know what would be on a frequency that would interfere with the Crestron equipment? This problem only happens occasionally, but often enough to be very annoying. I don't have a clue how to track down the source of RF interference, and neither does the dealer (who is not the dealer I purchased the equipment from - that's another story...). 2) I have a series of macros defined in my VT Pro project that will do things such as turn my system on configured for a given device (VCR1, VCR2, DVD, LD, etc.), turn my entire system off, and select various cable TV channels. Aside from the macros being very limited in VT Pro, my biggest problem with these is that the system off macro behaves strangely sometimes. Most of my devices have discrete power on and power off commands available, so that my need for current sensors is pretty minimal. However, my TV is one of the devices that doesn't have discrete commands. If the TV_OFF command is in the middle of the macro, the TV will shut off in the appropriate order. However, it will come back on a few seconds later and then shut back off in another few seconds. It's as though the ST-CP or ST-CS is getting confused. If I move the TV_OFF command to the end of the macro, the TV shuts off and stays off. This problem has been relayed to Crestron support through emai

Hi all I guess I'm going to use this group, so I will make a short introduction and then ask some questions. I'm the programmer and end-user of a Crestron system consisting of one CNMSX-PRO (for all panels), one CNMSX-AV (for light control), one VT3500 (main panel in livingroom), one ST-1550C (kitchen), two CNPI-48I (interface to lighting relays) and soon one CT-1600 (bedroom). This system is controlling ALL my house, and when I will be finished, it will control all audio and video with two 16x16 switch matrix. The CNMSX is going to control my home theater too. I could talk long about this, but my biggest problem is the CNPI-48s. They are SLOW! All the low power buttons for controlling the lights are routed to the CNPI-48s and then back to the relays. When pressing a button, you can easily feel a delay (my guess is between 150ms and 300ms) before the light changes. This is long, because the controller should be transparent to the user (myself!). I think it is the communication between CNPI and CNMSX-AV. Somehow the CNPI must be the master, because there is no communication on the CRESNET before pressing a buttom. I will try to measure the delay if I instead use one of the digital input (this should tell the processing time), but I really don't know what to do about it. Another question is regarding Crestron prices in the USA. Living in Denmark, Crestron is very expensive, and I saw an interview with a Crestron guy saying CNMSX-AV cost $1000. That is half the price and we have to pay 25% in VAT! I was looking for price on CT-1600 and perhaps VT-3500. Also I need a CNX Gateway. Do someone know a dealer willing to ship overseas? That's it for know. Kind regards Claus Lok Mortensen

To: greynols The only portion of your problems I can think of a solution to is the one regarding your volume ruining your speakers. Make sure you have percentages in your analog scaler. This will make sure that, even when the bar on the touch panel shows volume at the maximum or minimum, the ACTUAL volume on the unit being controlled is not maxed out. This will at least save your speakers. (I suggest 33% & 51%) As for the multiple signals being shot to the controller, I have no suggestions. Limiting the scaler should help until you have the problem corrected.

My name is Chris Stephens. One of my many hats that I ware is VT-Pro programmer. We do 2-3 crestron system a month. Mostly its ST-CP & stuff with the ST-1500, 1500C 1550 & 1550C's. Ive been doing Crestron STS for 3+ years. Ive done ALOT of systems. I feel ive seen about everything. Ive noticed a problem today thats really frustrating. I purchased a new laptop in july. A Toshiba Satellite 2595XDVD. 400Mhz + DVD rom. 192 Meg of ram with a 12Gig HD. I couldn't get a second hard disk right away and was stuck using windows 98. This worked fairly well. This last weekend i got a second hard disk and am now able to get onto NT rather then 98. I was very happy, much \ faster and more stable. However... I started working hard on a STS system using VT Pro 1.24. Bessides the usall graphics bug on the radius buttons, i noticed that when i brought up the system part of a project copied over from 98 that the window under the system devices where you assign the project to the system the place where it should say which touch panel the project is it was garbled. Every time i bring up the system it will be garbled in a different way. EVERY SINGLE aspect of the NT install works correctly. This didn't really bother me UNTIL.. I could draw a button, assign a function to it and although the RF lite would lite the IR lite never would. All of the work in the project before this works ok. I went back to our shop where i had a backup copy from when it was on 98, upon opening in the NT machine at the office the same corruption would occur the the file. Because this happend on two seperate machines, it cant be the machine. Im wondering if anyone else has had a problem where you can clearly assign a button an IR command and it doesn't lite up the corresponding port IR led ? Anyone else using NT and VT PRO out there ??..

Hello, I just got started programming Crestron systems fairly recently, and have completed one job using a SmartTouch system (ST-CP, ST-1500, ST-IO, ST-VS). Now I've been asked to learn how to program the "big" systems, and have been given the following two pieces as my platform to learn with: 1) Cresnet IIP Media Control System 2) CTP-1000DST2 Command Center My employer had these pieces laying around, and they appear to be fairly old. Neither seems to be supported in the latest versions of Vision Tools Pro and SIMPL Windows. I was able to find the CNP in an old DOS version of Cresnet Workshop, but not the other piece. The CNP seems to be essentially an older version of the CNMS, and the Command Center is some sort of in-wall, wired touchpanel. Does anybody have any ideas how I can use these pieces, or am I stuck with some new paper weights? - Cody Christensen __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com

Hi Crestron users Does someone know the speed and technical specification of the Cresnet II RS485 communication? I think it is a seriel connection running at 38400 baud but I'm not sure. I know it is a multimaster system but what about collisions? If I use a two-way seriel driver, there is a "break" input. What is this for? I was thinking about connecting the Cresnet II to a one of the seriel ports on a CNMSX-PRO and then use a seriel debugger to see what is going on. The reason for asking is because I need to make a multichannel DAC that is compatible to one of the modules Crestron is offering. It is a 20 channel 0-10V DAC for driving all my dimmers. Happy New Year from Denmark. regards Claus

Anybody know of a good humidity sensor, preferrably with documentation, that I can connect to a CNMSX-Pro. Thanks in advance, Tony Golden

I have 2 Sony devices that I'm trying to control using the Control S input jacks on the rear, a VCR and a DVD player. Using some of Crestron's drivers, I'm able to get some level of control, but have a few problems: 1) I need some functions that are available on my units that aren't in the Crestron database. I used a CNXLIR to learn these functions from the remote and then used the Control S utility in WinDeal to convert them to Control S codes (or at least that's my understanding of how this should work). None of the codes learned in this manner work reliably - they usually require many attempts to get the DVD player to respond (haven't tried this method with the VCR yet). 2) Some functions on the DVD player don't respond until I press the button on the touchpanel twice. Changing the repeat count in the driver doesn't seem to improve this. 3) Some functions on the VCR behave like I pressed the button on the touchpanel twice. For example, pressing channel down causes the VCR to go down 2 channels rather than 1. Again, changing the repeat count in the driver doesn't seem to improve this. The VCR is a Sony SLV-R1000 and the DVD player is a DVP-S330. Any of you guys have any ideas where to go here? The last resort is to go back to using IR emitters... -- Geoffrey Reynolds

Hello, I am contemplating getting a Crestron system and have a quick question to this group... Does Crestron's new systems (CNMSX-PRO or CNMSX-AV and CNX-PAD8) have power sensing? Meaning is it smart enough to know when a component is already on... Thanks, Christopher Walton

Dear ALL, I was very happy when i found this eGroup, it's very usefull since we are a very small group of programmers. I started programming for Crestron back in 1998 and i worked in Crestron Workshop and Simpl for Windows I program AMX too, but I think this is not the right pleace to talk about AMX, Right? I have a website please visit it and tell me what you think of it. thisi is the address: http://cthomepage.8m.com Thanks

Enter your vote today! Check out the new poll for the Crestron group: What is your favored application for Crestron programming? o SIMPLE-C o SIMPLE-I o SIMPLE for Windows o SIMPLE+ To vote, please visit the following web page: http://www.egroups.com/polls/Crestron Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the eGroups web site listed above. Thanks!

I edited the poll to change "Simple" to "SIMPL" and the thing reset! So guys will you kindly vote again? MrGx

I am having trouble with the clock not updating on a CT-3000B. I thought I could just draw a clock, and make sure that I have the clock driver in the SIMPL code. The last time I used the symbols; System(clock), SDPM, and Date$ to display it on a LC-1000 in a text box. Is this complex conversion still necessary? Thanks, Kml -- =================================================== K.M.Lijewski If you think 716-645-5910 education is Lijewski@... expensive . . . University at Buffalo 24 Capen Hall wait 'til you see Amherst, NY 14260 what ignorance costs! ===================================================

Has any one used wired or RS-232 to control a Sony SAT A4? Thanks, kml. -- =================================================== K.M.Lijewski If you think 716-645-5910 education is Lijewski@... expensive . . . University at Buffalo 24 Capen Hall wait 'til you see Amherst, NY 14260 what ignorance costs! ===================================================

Sorry for the shameless plug...(I promise to be an active member of this group) I have the following items for sale: Cresnet I system ---------------- CMU CFC-8(Relay) CFC-16 EIRI Infrared controller (Sony and Barco EPROMs) CNMS (Cresnet II) ----- CNVCP-3 CNTELI-1 50 button front panel (w/bargraphs) (seperate items) CNWRFGW VT-3000 (Video Touch Panel) CTP-3000CLR (Color touch panel) Axcent I -------- 2 RS-232 4 IR 5 IO 16 Relay 2 channel volume (built in!) (seperate items) AX-EL+ touch panel (gold & black display) SX-EL+ (RS-232 control only) Mix and match the items you are interested in, and I will give you a price... Thanks, johnr91468@...

I plan on doing my own wiring for installation of crestron system in future (6 months). The house is under construction right now with sheet rock coming up in few weeks.. Ligting System: Centralite Security: Gemini (ran cat5 bo basement) Audio: ran wires to media cabinet Video: ran wires to basement Windows/Blinds: ran cat5 from each window to basement Temp Sensors/Dampers ran cat5 from each window to basement Please let me know if i'm missing something for HA Should I ran cat5 to each location where I plan on putting a Crestron Touchpanel to control this stuff. Thanks -Bikesh-

The following Crestron poll is now closed. Here are the final results: POLL QUESTION: What is your favorite application for Crestron programming? CHOICES AND RESULTS - SIMPL-C, 0 votes, 0.00% - SIMPL-I, 0 votes, 0.00% - SIMPL for Windows, 4 votes, 80.00% - SIMPL+, 1 votes, 20.00% For more information about this group, please visit http://www.egroups.com/group/Crestron For help with eGroups, please visit http://www.egroups.com/help

Enter your vote today! Check out the new poll for the Crestron group: You are a Crestron programmer, but do you program AMX systems? o Yes o No To vote, please visit the following web page: http://www.egroups.com/polls/Crestron Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the eGroups web site listed above. Thanks!

I'm new to this group, new to home automation and a new owner of a STS 1500C & ST-CP. I need to obtain IR emitters to control my A/V equipment. Do I need to stay with Crestron IR emmitters or will any vendor's product work, e.g. Xantech makes a plug compatible emitter? Are there other issues to consider? I've been in the computer business for 30 years and spent many years programming. How hard will it be to program this unit? Does programming documentation exist and is it decent? thanks in advance $

This was originally sent early this morning, but I gues it got lost...