Philips Streamium MCi500H

Cheers.
The friend i'm setting it up for doesn't have a wireless router yet so I think I'll kill two birds with one apple airport express, she uses itunes anyway.
The stremium could be an option for me though, i like the digital out and that one can select from the unit what to play, would be perfect for my kitchen...although I'd have to be convinced that it was easy enough to find the tracks to play and select them. Will do a little google on it to see how it goes with itunes stored music as I saw the review pointed out it was easy with windows media player. But could be real cool if/when I move to network stored music.

I bought a Philips MCi500H a couple of days ago. Setting it up was pretty simple, although the instructions don't remind you to switch off MAC filtering on your router to allow an IP to be assigned and the MAC to be displayed on the router's control panel! Fortunately I remembered this from a previous WLAN device set-up and now have the MCi500H also added as an approved wireless client.

I use the 'aux in' to improve my TV sound; the speakers were too big to fit where I wanted them, so a pair of Wharfedales were pressed back into service.

Yesterday I had no problems with Internet radio and saved a few 'Favourites'. But today most won't play and display 'Radio station cannot be reached. Please try again later'... This is very disappointing; I can listen to the stations using Windows Media Player 11 on my PC, but some don't seem to be available on the Philips MCi500H.

Why this should be, I do not know. But I cannot recommend this system if Internet radio connectivity is as flaky as this!

On the 'StreamiumCafe' web forum, another owner suggested that I shut the unit completely down using the 'Eco' button, then re-boot it.

Success!

It seems to be fine now, but I will be keeping a close eye on it.......

A month later and I'm still getting to grips with the MCi500H. My only real gripes are that the User Manual is abysmally inadequate and that Internet radio streams are less reliable than through www.reciva.com, it seems.

And the unit, though quite pretty, is a real dust magnet!