Specifications
Crestron ST-1700C  1-Way Wireless RF Touchpanel 
Indirect text on a button is entered in VT Pro-e and the actual string to be displayed  
is entered in SIMPL Windows. You must use VT Pro-e 3.0 or later to guarantee that 
the full set of characters in the font is stored on the touchpanel. You must use SIMPL 
Windows 2.03.11 or later to enter Chinese characters directly. As of this publication 
date, only completely single-byte or completely multibyte strings may be entered or 
they will not be compiled correctly in SIMPL Windows. In other words, you cannot 
enter Chinese character interspersed with numbers. You can enter Chinese characters 
or numbers in separate strings. Crestron is scheduling time to fix this in the near 
future and the release notes for SIMPL Windows will mention it. 
Of course, you can always use the workaround of showing a graphic that displays the 
string, but it is not dynamic. 
Uploading and Upgrading 
Assuming a PC is properly connected to the entire system, Crestron programming 
software allows the programmer to upload programs and projects after their 
development to the system and network devices. However, there are times when the 
files for the program and projects are compiled and not uploaded. Instead, compiled 
files may be distributed from programmers to installers, from Crestron to dealers, 
etc. Even firmware upgrades are available from the Crestron website as new features 
are developed after product releases. In those instances, one has the option to upload 
via the programming software or to upload and upgrade via the Crestron Viewport. 
NOTE: The Crestron Viewport utility performs multiple system tasks, primarily via 
an RS-232 or TCP/IP connection between the control system and a PC. It is used to 
observe system processes, upload new operating systems and firmware, change 
system and network parameters, and communicate with network device consoles and 
touchpanels, among many other tasks. Viewport can also function as a terminal 
emulator for generic file transfer. All of these functions are accessed through the 
commands and options in the Viewport menus. Therefore, for its effectiveness as a 
support and diagnostic tool, the Crestron Viewport may be preferred over 
development tools when uploading programs and projects. 
The following sections define how one would upload a VT Pro-e project or upgrade 
the firmware of the ST-1700C. However, before attempting to upload or upgrade, it 
is necessary to establish communications. 
Communication Settings 
NOTE: For laptops and other PCs without a built-in RS-232 port, Crestron 
recommends the use of PCMCIA cards, rather than USB-to-serial adapters. If a 
USB-to-serial adapter must be used, Crestron has tested the following devices with 
good results: 
  Belkin (large model) F5U103 
  I/O Gear GUC232A (discontinued) 
  Keyspan USA-19QW (discontinued) 
Other models, even from the same manufacturer, may not yield the same results. 
The procedure in this section provides details for RS-232 communication between 
the PC and the control system. If TCP/IP communication is preferred, consult the 
latest version of the Crestron e-Control Reference Guide (Doc. 6052) or the 
Operations Guide – DOC. 6225A  1-Way Wireless RF Touchpanel: ST-1700C • 23 










