Hand-held remote personal communicator & controller

A system, comprising:

• a set top box routing signals to a remote control device;
• the set top box comprising a radio interface that wirelessly communicates television signals and telephone signals to the remote control device, the set top box communicating a first channel of the television signals and a second channel of the television signals, the second channel wirelessly communicated to the remote control device, and the set top box also wirelessly communicating the telephone signals to the remote control device;
• the remote control device comprising a processor, a remote transceiver, a display, and means for switching modes of operation, the remote transceiver receiving the second channel and the telephone signals, the processor processing the second channel for the display, the processor also processing the telephone signals as a telephone call, the remote control device sending a control signal to remotely control the set top box, and the means for switching modes of operation allowing a user to switch operation of the remote control device between i) a remote mode that controls operation of the set top box, ii) a monitor mode that displays the second channel of the television signals, and iii) a telephone mode that processes the telephone call.