Hi

At the moment I have got a Humax 9200T which I have returned once already. but both boxes have locked up every 3 to 5 hours

I like the look of the Humax mainly because I could connect it to my laptop via USB and it had a large hardisk.

I don’t know if I have just been unlucky with it, but I am taking it back tomorrow for a refund.

The only other box I can see with similar features to the Humax is the Topfield, I have glanced through the mega threads of 148 pages but find it very hard to follow.

As far as I can see the Topfield does not seem to have the same lock up problems is this true? Does it have other problems?

Is the TF5800PVR the latest model? Is there a retail shop that sells the box so I can walk in and buy it from rather than buying online.

Sorry if these questions have already been answered but as I said I find the mega threads hard to follow.

Thanks for your help

Hi,

The Topfield does not have the dreaded lock-up bug the Humax is suffering, and is pretty stable. The only notable bug is throwing you to live when a chase-played recording ends, but since the Humax doesn't do chase-play it's less relevant. Various TAPs can get around it (a TAP is a small program you load on via USB to add features). Other bugs are listed at http://www.toppy.org.uk/bugs.php , but there's nothing too major.

As for High Street shops, there's a list based on your location at http://www.toppy.org.uk/shops.php . It's the only twin-tuner Freeview Topfield, so in effect is the latest model.

The only other downside compared to the Humax IMO is the built-in program guide (though I don't rate the Humax too highly on this front either). It slow to load, and the small picture window changes as you view the listing for different channels. Luckily TAPs can overcome this to a large extent, with ones displaying more information, and storing the listings to disc overnight so there's no loading time. If you're feeling ambitious you can load two weeks worth of listings from the Radio Times, again with the help of TAPs.

If you've got the money go for the Topfield, you won't be disappointed. I am running about three 3 TAPS.

MyStuff: this gives you a much better EPG than the one built in, it also provides you with intelligent timers that can search for new episodes of shows that you set to record and automatically set them to record, the Topfield can also handle a lot more timer events than the Humax! Mystuff also gives you improved now and next, user configurable quick jump buttons to allow quick advert skipping and other features I can't remember.

eit2mei: This gathers EPG data from the freeview guide and stores it in a file for MyStuff to read from. It can be either on a schedule (say 3am every day), as a background scan whilst you're watching telly or both.

Remote Extender: this just patches the firmware in some sort of way to allow you to use certain buttons within MyStuff that otherwise wouldn't work.

These TAPS they make the Topfield very easy to use and intuitive. They are stable as well. I have had no issues at all with them on my box, the standard 160gb silver model.
(£243 delivered from Empire Direct).

Cheers
Burundi.

Stano. I dont want to stand in your way. I am pretty sure you will enjoy the Topfield. But if you look at the humax section on DS you will find it is not because you have just been unlucky. Not at all - it has been a problem experienced by a great many owners. The only way to stop the lockups that occur every 3 to 4 hours is to have the latest software that cures that one. Getting a new machine and then another new one will not sort it because none of them are coming off the shelves with the new software yet being a newly released fix. The next software update should be available around the 15th of this month which includes a fix to stop lockups occuring on ITV/Chan4 that some people are reporting on the thread. You gave the impression of not really knowing this so hopefully this will be of interest to you but if you do already know all this and have made your mind up then enjoy toppy.

Some places on the highstreet sell toppys - (i think superfi do, and some house of fraiser shops) but not many. if you go to http://www.toppy.org.uk you can find out more info, if you state your location, someone may be able to help with a high street retail shop near to you.

If buying a toppy, and want to choose a model there are two things to think off.


160Gb or 250GB HDD. About £20 difference, so go for the big one !

Colour Black or Silver