Philips E-Box NTSC Receiver/Router for Philips Plasma TVs (FTR9964)
Just OK Product with a serious Useability design flaw
First of all, I'm NOT an Electronics Fan, I'm a Broadcast Professional with over 25 years in Network Engineering and Broadcasting. Here's the deal on the E-box:<br />After $8000 for an FD9955 and a FTR-9964 E-Box, we have come to find that if you want to purchase or integrate this e-box into your system, AND have one button access to your input sources, YOU CAN'T.<br />Let's say you want to watch your HD DBS (Direct TV-HD), and then switch to a DVD. A High-End aftermarket remote with Macro features would allow you to press ONE button and have the Receiver change sources, and modes, then switch the E-Box to the right source. Not here! There is NO direct button to do this. You have to toggle through the various VIDEO inputs until you get to the right one. How do you train a remote control to figure out what Video source your're on, and which one you want to go to next? There is no Lexicon, Crestron, or RTI remote that can accomplish this. Oh, and every time you turn off the E-Box and TV, the Default Video Input is Video 1, not where you left it. So you have to toggle through 3 Sources before you get to the HD input. (Think about it. It's like a wristwatch that you have to wind through 24 hours &amp; 18 days to get the date you want, rather than a function to take you right there. It's a loose correlation but I hope you get the idea) One Button -One Source - and One IR code will solve the issue for each input.<br />We are in discussions with Philips about this, and I believe that they will do NOTHING, and don't care. I am the consulting installer, and the client is livid. He has had roughly the same response that I have been given. The company line, &quot;That's the way it is&quot;. Quite arrogant in my opinion. I hope to be proven wrong, AND if I am, I WILL RE-POST a conclusion to this VERY POOR DESIGN FLAW with the outcome. I am rooting for Philips but so far, I'm NOT impressed to the tune of $8000.