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By: Chase Bouchard

I am back again with another blog post to highlight features within Crestron Home that I find dealers are sometimes unaware of. As a Solutions engineer for the Crestron Residential team, it is my job to know everything and anything about Crestron Home, and I am still learning new things about Crestron Home every day. Due to the fast paced nature of updates to the platform, I hope that these tips can help with deployments, provide additional value to end users, and help you all sell more Crestron Home.

1.  Easily Convert a Crestron PYNG® System to a Crestron Home System

For clients that have an existing Crestron PYNG system, the process of upgrading them to Crestron Home is quite simple. Using the MyCrestron Remote Monitoring Service and a Deployment code from the existing PYNG-HUB, all programming and work previously done can be transferred to the new Crestron Home processor. Even acquired  infiNET EX® devices can be associated to the new gateway, meaning that these loads will not need to be re-acquired. This can greatly decrease the time required to upgrade an existing system! For more information on this process, reference the following link in our manual: https://docs.crestron.com/en-us/8525/Content/CP4R/Appendix/Upgrade-Processors.htm

2.  Display Commands

Thanks to the new July update to Crestron Home, we now provide a new feature that allows you to make commands for your displays, lifts, screens, AVRs, and quick actions accessibility directly on the Crestron Home app interface. The addition of display commands also provides a better tool to test drivers for displays and projectors. This feature is accessible in the Pair Devices section within the configurator. Highlight the display and select what commands you would like to make visible.



You can re-name the commands, changing how they will appear for the client, as well as test your commands. In the app you will see a new icon once a video source is selected next to the Sleep Mode icon. If hit, a subpage populates with the commands.





This is just another tool in the toolbox to provide additional power to the end user and help with troubleshooting!

3.  Change the Theme of Crestron TSW Panels to Dark Mode

With this update we can now put the TSW panels in dark mode for the first time. This is great for spaces such as bedrooms and theaters. Or if you are a dark mode nut like me you will change it for all your panels. This change can be made by navigating to More on the Crestron Home app and scrolling to Change Color Mode.



4.  Programming Multiple Button Models on Crestron Keypads and Remotes

Within the configuration tool, we provide you with the ability to program the same button to function differently based on different button press types. The options depend on what device you are programming, but the options consist of Tap, Double Tap, Press and Hold, and Multi-Press. When programming a button press, these options are available if you are using Modes = Quick Action or Media function. See following picture for reference:



One example where this may be helpful is if you want “Tap” to shut the room off, but “Press and Hold” to turn off the whole house.

5.  Lights Tile Press is Tied to All On and All Off Scenes

When in a room with integrated control for lighting, the Crestron Home interface gives you the ability to tap the tile to toggle all the lights in the room on and off.



These tile presses are triggering the “ALL ON” and “ALL OFF” scenes that are generated automatically when a load is added to the room. If there is a load, for example a fan, that we do not want to have a part of this press we can easily modify the “ALL ON” scene to no longer control this load. While this may be a small thing, it may come in handy on an upcoming deployment.

Bonus Tip:

• •Sleep Mode on the TSR Remotes: access by holding down the power button

 
Make sure to check out my first blog, 5 Things you didn’t know you could do with Crestron Home, if you want to learn even more about what Crestron Home can do for you. 

I hope I was able to provide insight and teach you more about what you can do with Crestron Home. To learn more about the details and features mentioned today, please review the Crestron Home Product Manual, https://docs.crestron.com/en-us/8525/Content/Topics/Home.htm and visit www.crestron.com/home.