Ion basic phone remote socket.

Just to clarify,  the phone remote feature is activated in software.  Any console running software version 1.7 or above will support the phone remote.

As for the Dual-DVI connectors - That is a change that we had been working on for a long time. The changeover line had to be drawn somewhere, and it just so happened to fall in June/July.  Sorry for the mismatch!

Now I'll have to see if our new Ion has dvi ports instead of the y-cable. What will it be?!?

I'll also have to see if I can find an old cordless phone somewhere.

ajblanck said:

Now I'll have to see if our new Ion has dvi ports instead of the y-cable. What will it be?!?

I'll also have to see if I can find an old cordless phone somewhere.

We just got our new Ion on the 12th of August, and it came with dual DVI ports.  Also, I just tried the phone remote today with a junker cordless, and it works a treat.  Now to get a newer, nicer phone that goes with the colour scheme of the Ion.

I found several wireless phones at Best Buy for under $20.

I picked one that included a display and speed dials. The speed dials work great for functions like channel and dimmer check.

Is the dual DVI thing an expansion card? If so is it possible to order the dual DVI video card from ETC and replace the current video card in my ION?

I only ask because I've seen 2 students so far try to put the board away with the adaptor on still and almost rip it off, so I would like to know what my options are when someone eventually breaks it on me.

No, the dual DVI is now on the motherboard along with the VGA. They are using a completely different motherboard for the console now.

The Y-Cable display uses a video card. The new Dual-DVI consoles do not.  The only good thing about the card is that it's not expensive, and ETC repair shops can change it out quickly. Keeping a spare Y-Cable around couldn't hurt either, they're cheap as well.

If it does break, you still have the VGA port available, and most DVI monitor still accept VGA as well.

We know it's not ideal to have two different flavors of rear I/O out there, but I think most can agree that  the dual DVI connectors are a huge improvement. And we can now stick to this hardware platform for years to come.

The Y-Cable display uses a video card. The new Dual-DVI consoles do not.  The only good thing about the card is that it's not expensive, and ETC repair shops can change it out quickly. Keeping a spare Y-Cable around couldn't hurt either, they're cheap as well.

If it does break, you still have the VGA port available, and most DVI monitor still accept VGA as well.

We know it's not ideal to have two different flavors of rear I/O out there, but I think most can agree that  the dual DVI connectors are a huge improvement. And we can now stick to this hardware platform for years to come.

Just curious: does the Element support the Phone Remote without external hardware as well?  And what kind of video does it support?

derekleffew said:

Just curious: does the Element support the Phone Remote without external hardware as well?  And what kind of video does it support?

The Element supports the phone remote, but as for external hardware, you're going to need a cordless phone!

The Element also supports dual monitors DVI 1280 X 1042 with touchscreen support or a single VGA monitor.