[Archived]

I agree with Jon. I look at the Crestron system like I have come to look at the OTR Carrier A/C compressor and refrigerator. When I started to have trouble with the OTR not being cold, I “heard” that the Carrier A/C compressor could last 25 to 30 or more years. Ours lasted 16. I saw that some owners had the same Amana refrigerator I had in coaches four or five years old than ours. I also some who had changed out the Amana in ten years or less.

When the Crestron does eventually start to give me problems, then I’ll spend the money with Jeff and Andrew with confidence. At that point, who knows what will be available to upgrade the coach. I wouldn’t mine having an iPad to replace the Crestron screens. I had to replace my trusty, easy to use flip-phone last fall when I dropped it and the hinge broke (I should have called you, you probably know a guy who fixes broken hinges on vintage flip-phones). Replaced it with an iPhone.

The dash radio is a good example. Ours was apparently replaced in about 2007 or 2008. I don’t like it. Coach might get a third one!

At some point the compass/altimeter that Liberty likely put in the dash was removed. I would sure like to find one of those to reinstall.

[Archived]

Learn something every day, never knew Liberty used Crestron back in 1998..

[Archived]

I forgot to mention, credit where credit is due, it was Jeff Rowe who put me in touch with his Crestron Guru

Andrew Davidson and Andrew used his magic wand to bring our Crestron system into the 21st century and this included adding and or correcting functionality that the original system did not have or it had stopped working.

The key point and argument here is, something that has been mentioned repeatedly in this thread and in other posts in the past, SOURCE CODE.

Mr. Teschner was kind enough to include a copy of the source code with all the other documentation that came with our bus and that was the literal key to open-up the system.

If I had not had the source code, then Andrew would not have been able to help.

And that applies to all the other converters, too. Unless, you, the owner, has the key or the converter is willing to give it to you, you are out of luck.

As much as I am an electronics junkie, I kind of agree mostly with Jon, that nothing is wrong with a simple switch on the wall which could be replaced by just about anyone after picking one up at Home Depot.

However, that is not what the converters are selling us. Consider the fact, that somebody is presently hitting the button to spend more than a zillion Dollars on a new bus. Do you believe that person cares about what will be in 10 years? I doubt it. Mr. and Mrs. New Prevost Owners care about the looks, the layout and all the amenities that the converter will add to the bus. The sales argument is, holding that iPad panel in your hands, you can do just about anything inside and outside of the bus. Even if you are a thousand miles away.

Being the electronics junkie that I am, I changed quite a few things in the bus and along with Andrew’s assistance on the software side, I am happy to say, our bus is fairly future proof. But that meant spending many weeks on my knees tracing wires, rewiring and doing many other things that make me independent of Crestron, if I want to be.

I will finish this with one important remark, you may want to confirm with Jeff. I do believe that they do have an agreement with Liberty and with Marathon that allows them access to the source code.

In that case, all you have to do is write Jeff another check while he is doing your oil change.

Cheers,

Ronald

[Archived]

Truckster:The 97 elegant Lady I use to own had touch screens in it. Don’t recall if they were crestron brand or not.

[Archived]

Jon…

Ronald is correct about the Crestron …. I think if you operated an ipad in your bus you would be impressed it has changed the system characteristics from “crap” to “awesome” all our frustrations were due to those “stupid” old remotes not the system itself… they would become so unresponsive… can’t tell you how many time they nearly went out the window !! Andrew makes it all new !!

The new programming used is up to date and so responsive you wouldn’t believe it.

Jeff :

You need to talk to Jon… he has all the latest tech stuff at his house now… so it’s the bus’s turn for an upgrade ….. you will wonder why you waited so long I promise !!

Plus you can still keep your flip phone !!

Cheers, Diane

[Tim]

Ronald…

I talked to a Crestron VIP 2 years ago and was informed that the programming used by Liberty, Marathon or anyone else is not to be kept a secret… It is written in the Crestron agreement that all programming will be made available to anyone who has paid for the system whether in an office … a coach…or anything else… they are NOT permitted to keep it from you.

I thought that was interesting.

Cheers,

Diane

[Tim]

Forget the flip phone Diane,

I could only get Jon on the “bat-phone”, a.k.a. the “bus-phone.”

Jon,

My bus is still in the dark ages with no ipad or creston … just TV remotes and swithes on the walls, but it’s not hard to program ….

[Fred F.]

Diane

Did
Andrew changed your Crestron to accommodate the I-pad system, or was your
Crestron up to date when he add the I-pad programming.

[Archived]

When the time comes that everyone is walking around their house with an IPad to operate their stuff…I’ll want ’em in the bus also. Geo.

[Larry & Diane]

Hish…

Yes the program is written for the ipads I used the mini ipads as they are light and bright and I have magnetic stands that also charge the units.Andrew had to make adjustments to fit the mini screen.

You can customize yours the way you want it with Andrew… he charges you pretty much a flat rate to upgrade then anything you add is an extra charge to you.

I use another min ipad for peronal use and it will also connect to the system so if I’m sitting at the dinette I can use it there. There was an extra charge for that… and a few extra buttons I added like a 90 min. sleep timer for the bedroom TV.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Diane

[Archived]

I had the program files for my Legendary, and was able to get a Gold Level guy in Minneapolis to a bunch of upgrades for me a couple of years before I traded it in. Jeff and Andrew did some more, and I left the USB stick with the updates and original code in the coach for the next owner. He was able to get his iPads setup easy that way, and is good to go if he wants to make more changes.

I had Jeff and Andrew do some minimal work on my Liberty Crestron stuff last year, and I am working with them to get some more done this coming April. Liberty, until just lately, has been far behind the curve for things like HDMI and if all goes well, we will get that out of the way.

I was also told that the program files were supposed to be supplied to a customer, but it appears that doesn’t happen all the time….

[Archived]

if you still have the old Crestron system like I do, Its not a bad idea to troll ebay for Crestron components that people are pulling out of their homes. They are pennies on the dollar and this way you always have a backup if something fails. I had to replace one of those large “switches”, I emded up buying a few as they were less than $20 as compared to over $1200 new.

[Corey]

Jon just needs to try it before he condemns the iPads in a coach. It changes much of the ease of use. Just a FYI. We have done marathons, Libertys,Royales, Legendarys and country coach. We can modify the system to personal use of the coach. Changing out the processor is only needed typically when they are the oldest crestron systems.

Adding the backup camera to iPads at the dash also increases the size of the screen and the clarity of the picture.

[Tim]

Let me be clear……….I am not showing a reluctance to ipads or anything else to control my coach Crestron system as opposed to the Crestron devices. I am opposed to the entire concept of using a remote control device to control almost every single system on my coach. I don’t care how bright a display is, I don’t care if it is smaller than the big heavy Crestron remote is. I just want switches, dials or knobs to control lights, shades, A/C units, webasto, pocket doors, located conveniently and where the switches make sense.

My rants about the multiple steps I need to go through just to open a pocket door from the kitchen side will not be addressed by replacing the Crestron controller with an ipad. I will still have to open a plexiglass door, poke the remote to wake it up, poke the remote to get on the right page, then look through about 20 “buttons” on the display to find the one that when poked will cause the door to open. The entire concept of using a Crestron remote, and ipad with a docking station or a cell phone to open a pocket door, or unlock bay doors, or move a table in or out seems silly.

But my bus is based on a Crestron system which works and has been reliable. So far so good. I am used to the fact I can only turn on the Webasto at only two of the five Crestron remotes. I am used to the fact it is easier to open the door for the washer and dryer to provide privacy in the rear of the coach rather than using the Crestron. I am used to and actually like the fact the Crestron controls all the audio visual functions, something the Crestron is ideal for.

I will at some point change my rear camera display with some device that I can actually see in daylight. And that will probably be an ipad because the rear camera display is also a Crestron controller and one of the only two spots where I can operate the A/C units so I do need to upgrade.

[Peter]

Yippee, I finally figured out what Jon really needs/wants and it’s a 2002 non Crestron Marathon!

Well lit functional switch panels and a single remote to handle all AV needs.

We don’t need no stinking Crestron….