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Alternative to high-end automation
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Control4 - it does require dealer software but for a quick home theater it’s pretty inexpensive. On Wed, Apr 13, 2022 at 8:58 AM Brad Wykoff via <bradwykoff=[email protected]> wrote: To begin, I have a Crestron System in my house, but I have a friend that I am installing a small theater, but he can't afford Crestron. Any suggestions for an alternative to Crestron due to budget, but needs the capability of either RF or WiFi handheld remote with IP or serial controlled devices. |
开云体育AFAIK any control system that can do IP and serial communications is going to be sold by a dealer. A used 3-series processor and an HR-150 would be a more budget friendly solution.?Ryan Cunningham? On Apr 13, 2022, at 7:07 AM, Brad Wykoff via groups.io <bradwykoff@...> wrote:
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开云体育I?m both a Crestron and Control4 and don?t find the Control4 significantly cheaper compared to Crestron. Programming of C4 is much simpler than SIMPL, it?s more configuring than programming and the GUI is fixed – comparable to Crestron Home. There?s a limited version of the C4 programming environment that can be sold to the client for a small fee. You can do 95% of what the dealer version can do. For instance, new drivers for new equipment can only be added by the dealer version. The rest is more of less the same. ? Cheers, Thorsten ? Von: [email protected] <[email protected]> Im Auftrag von Brad Wykoff via groups.io ? So far, I am finding that it is requiring a dealer. I have programmed about every system out there but don't have access to software anymore. I have looked into Control4 and URC Total Control but requires dealer to program. |
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Have a look at Home Assistant, I have programmed and setup bunch of AMX systems and more recentrly Crestron ones but now I'm over with these oldies that suffer too much of their history ! I have switched at Home Assistant (everything so much easier, intuitive and adapted at modern needs both in terms of control and UI not even speaking of hardware that is just so generic :-) and even have some system with a Crestron processor just for the DM and a simple program in it to communicate with a basic protocol in IP with Home Assistant to receive commands and sends back feedback !
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开云体育If a touchscreen is not required, you could go for the HR-310 which is much cheaper. And i?d also go for a used RMC3 as it was already suggested by somebody else. ? Cheers, Thorsten ? Von: [email protected] <[email protected]> Im Auftrag von Brad Wykoff via groups.io ? Thanks all for the quick responses. This is for older folks that would require a handheld remote over an ipad or any other flat surface interface. May just need to have them bite the bullet for a RMC4 and TSR-310. |
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An HR-310 or HR-150 would be a lot easier to use than a TSR-310, especially for older users. It would also be lower cost.
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--- Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 11:15 AM, Brad Wykoff wrote: |
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Being a dinosaur I still use an ML-600 for my main TV room.? It is just so frigging reliable I've never found the headaches with Crestron's newer remotes worth the effort to migrate to a new remote.? After all these years my original remote is starting to have issues but I have a few spares I purchased on eBay put aside just in case.? Especially for an older person on a budget an ML-600 could be a reliable, cheap, solution that they would feel very comfortable operating.
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Hope this helps Jay On 4/13/2022 9:24 AM, Tony Golden wrote:
An HR-310 or HR-150 would be a lot easier to use than a TSR-310, especially for older users. It would also be lower cost.--- Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 11:15 AM, Brad Wykoff wrote: |
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A solution that pretty much only works with smartphones or iOS/Android tablets for the user interface isn't a good solution, IMHO.? Dedicated remotes with buttons are needed in many cases.? Will Home Assistant be around in 2, 5, 10 years or disappear like Girder (I realize it wasn't free or open source, but it did support the DIY market) did?? My guess is that Crestron will be around for years.? It's a real dilemma though as the best solutions, like Crestron, don't support the DIY enthusiast market and the DIY enthusiast options (like Home Assistant) have too many compromises.? I get the whole thing about Crestron not wanting their brand name slighted by a sloppy DIY install or their dealers to lose programming business, but the only thing preventing Crestron from being a great solution for the DIY market is unlocking access to the software with the caveat that people are on their own to figure out how to get a system working.? I'm surprised that no really good DIY option has ever really materialized / survived - the Philips Pronto was probably the closest to a really good option, but left the market years ago. Geoff On Wed, Apr 13, 2022 at 10:37 AM Vincen PUJOL via <vincegre=[email protected]> wrote: Have a look at Home Assistant, I have programmed and setup bunch of AMX systems and more recentrly Crestron ones but now I'm over with these oldies that suffer too much of their history ! I have switched at Home Assistant (everything so much easier, intuitive and adapted at modern needs both in terms of control and UI not even speaking of hardware that is just so generic :-) and even have some system with a Crestron processor just for the DM and a simple program in it to communicate with a basic protocol in IP with Home Assistant to receive commands and sends back feedback ! |
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I set up a system with a ML-600 for my parents probably 10 years ago now.? The original remote failed after a while, so we found one on ebay.? Other than that, the system works great for their simple system. Geoff On Wed, Apr 13, 2022 at 11:39 AM jbasen <jay.m.basen@...> wrote: Being a dinosaur I still use an ML-600 for my main TV room.? It is just |
开云体育?Pro Control products are sold and serviced exclusively by a network of qualified dealers.“ ? AFAIK, the programming software is dealers-only, same as the others. I know that many dealers give away the programming software for RTI/ProControl, but IMHO that?s against their dealer agreements. ? Cheers, Thorsten ? Von: [email protected] <[email protected]> Im Auftrag von Brian Matson ? I’d recommend ProControl. ?It’s made by RTI, but it has the volume and channel buttons on the proper sides. Good luck, |
开云体育A Raspberry Pi4 with a generic 10” touch panel from Sunfounder can be made to do anything with basic Python programming and a Tkinter GUI. Any hardware IO device you could ever need can be bought from Sparkfun or Adafruit. Ethernet, serial, I2C, IR, take your pick. You really need to be into tinkering and coming up with your own equipment enclosures though. Not for the faint of heart, but the ultimate in customization, and my personal favorite DIY solution too. Probably just as reliable if not more so than anything else out there. |
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"AFAIK any control system that can do IP and serial communications is going to be sold by a dealer. A used 3-series processor and an HR-150 would be a more budget friendly solution. "
I agree with Ryan!? (And also with Thorsten - C4 not that different $$$) Though used Crestron stuff on eBay is more expensive then it used to be, It would likely be simpler and fairly similar cost, and you'd have all the control and it is familiar with the support you are used to... I learned the hard way years ago, that dealing with and supporting a one-off solution is not a great deal... |
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I agree you can do many? things on a Raspberry Pi that Crestron can do and in some cases better.? In particular, an HTML5 interface is much easier and cheaper implement than the Crestron solution IMHO.? Combined with one of the many Kiosk apps out there, makes for readily easy to use interface on an iPad without have to use Safari and going to an IP address.
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But I have not found a good off the shelf product for doing IR on the Pi.?? All the solutions for IR I have seen just have a single IR port via the Raspberry Pi's single PWM and using LIRC library which at least with the latest hardware/software I have not gotten t it to work.? What have you found that works with IR?? A much better solution that I have done myself at home is to purchase a used Crestron Series2 processor for it's IR output. Likewise having a good off the shelf handhold remote is also also lacking.? For but RS232, off the shelf FTDI USB adapters are easy to integrate.? And creating TCP/IP or UDP interfaces are a lot more stable that I have found with Crestron. ?But like you said, it is not for the faint of heart. bryanga@...
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If you need to add IR or RS232 ports to a RaspPi custom system, you could look into using Global Cache expanders.? They make Ethernet to IR and Ethernet to Serial bridge devices.? Would probably be the best way, as I believe the GLobal Cache handles the IR files itself, and you send a command to send the specific IR function (similar to native Crestron).
-- Jason Mussetter Control Systems Designer Mussetter Programming Services |
Ryan Cunningham