Prodigy is the hottest thing in residential and commercial systems integration. Why? Because it's affordable and because it comes from the world leader in automation products, Crestron. Start off your system with the PMC3 PAK system for $1200. With this system you get the powerful 3 series Prodigy processor with flash expansion port and built-in EX radio frequency gateway. You also get the PLX3 remote with scrolling wheel control of the color screen. For $1700, the package substitutes the PLX3 remote for the PTX3 handheld with color touchscreen. Most people will use this system to control their primary surround sound and television system. It makes control of these types of systems so simple that everyone in the house is guaranteed to be able to use it. If you have music distribution, you can easily control that from the remote as well. As you will see, there are many additional things this control system can do for you.

Comparing Remotes The PLX3 (shown above) and the PTX3 (left) have some basic differences. The main difference is the size and functionality of the color screen. On the PLX3, the screen is a display only. The PLX3 uses a wheel to scroll through options. The PTX3 uses a color touchscreen. This allows you to touch the icons for control and its larger screen allows for more information to be displayed at one time. From a simplicity standpoint, the PTX3 is king. Also, the PLX3 uses alkaline batteries whereas the PTX3 comes with a rechargeable base. We like alkaline batteries because we know they will be available as a replacement part forever. That's never a guarantee with rechargeables but we feel pretty good about Crestron's ability to offer these down the road through the factory and through battery wholesalers. Bear in mind a color screen loves to eat batteries, so the rechargeable may be a better option for most people.  

More Control... Some people will rarely, if ever, use the handheld controller. In fact, for only $800, you can get the PMC3 processor without the handheld controller. We recommend this for people who would like to use an iPad as their primary controller instead. The iPad makes an awesome controller with customized graphics and a large, clean display. Use your 3G iPad or iPhone for control outside the house, but we recommend smaller interfaces like the iPhone or iPod be used for external control only. Changing TV channels on the diminutive iPod can be frustrating. Your PC or Mac can also act as a controller allowing you to monitor the home via the internet. Other Crestron interfaces are available such as the PTL4 (left) In-Wall touchpanel for $699. Perfect in a kitchen or master suite, the PTL4 provides quick reliable operation of the Prodigy system without tearing the couch apart.

Integraton Options While the Prodigy system makes a killer TV and music remote, you can do some additional things with it you just can't do with most "universal" remotes:

Two-Way Feedback Let's explain this one real quick: With an infrared remote (like your cable or factory TV remote), you SEND commands only. With 2-way feedback, you send and RECEIVE commands. This opens up a world of possibilities to control products that wouldn't be practical to control just by sending commands only. An good example is an iPod. We can set our iPod or iPhone in a dock and take our PTX3 remote out on the back porch to relax while listening to our favorite music. Because the Prodigy provides us with 2-way feedback, we can search our artists, albums, and songs from the remote just like we were holding the iPod in our hand. We like to use the Crestron P-IDOC-V or the iPort IW/FS 22 for the iPod and either one runs $450.

Climate Control OK, we're talking about INSIDE the house here- the Prodigy is cool but it can't change the weather! You can control all the thermostats around the house though. On the practical side, this allows you to control all zones of HVAC from a single interface- no more running all around the house to see what all the stats are set to. You can see everything in one shot on the Prodigy remote and control each zone independently with ease. You can easily do this when away from home as well since the control extends to your iPhone, iPad, and PC. From an energy management aspect, this pays for itself quickly not to mention it's pretty cool, literally. You're sitting there watching a great movie and you're hot. Just bump up the air on your Prodigy remote! Thermostats run $250 each.

Lighting Control Just swap out your standard light switch with the Prodigy 750-watt dimmer and you now have control over that light via your Prodigy system. Add as many lights as you want to create scenes that activate with a single button. Monitor lights in all parts of the house to save energy whether you are in the house or out of town. Trigger your lights when your security alarm goes off to scare away criminals effectively in a way your siren alone cannot. While you're at it, use the vacation mode to "play" back typical lighting operations at night while you are out of town so would-be robbers will think someone is home. Or, just put a button on your Prodigy so you can turn on every light 100% when you're home alone and you hear that mysterious bump in the night. The possibilities are endless and it's only $135 per American-made switch.

See the Prodigy system for yourself at the AVA Design Studio. Our special Prodigy Room will help you to envision how this system will work in your own home and how easy it is to use. Appointments are best but walk-ins are welcome. Call 373-2444 today!