Ok...it's late and I've had a drink but someone on another forum implied you could transfer recordings made on the Topfield via USB to a PC for editing and archieving....is that correct?

Sure is.

you do need altair software installed on your pc, software is freely available ton the net and then you can connect your topy to your pc and then you can view/copy all your recordings from toppy HD to the PC. Btw the pc connection work both ways, i.e. you can copy (MP3 for example) back to toppy HD.

What format do they come out in on the PC?

Is it easy to convert to DVD?

http://forum.toppy.org.uk/forum/view...opying&start=0

You will need about three programs to do it.

One to convert the .rec file you will get from the toppy to an .mpg file ( I use VideoRedo)

One to convert the .MPG file to .VOB files to put on DVD (I Use ConvertXtoDVD)

One to write the .VOB files to a blank DVD (I use Nero 7, you can use Nero Vision Express 4, which is part of Nero 7 Premium, instead of using ConvertXtoDVD, but the quality isn't as good and quite a few users have experienced sync problems.)

Another plug for DVR-Studio Pro here...Takes the transfered recordings from PVR as is and does the necessery for putting it on a DVD for you. Can edit file before burning to take out bits you dont want. Basic DVD menu structure/design inbuilt as well. 30 day free trial but a bit pricey thereafter if you chose to keep.

I agree. DVR-Studio Pro. One click and you're done.

Ok, I know nothing about this but I understand you can put a topfield onto a wireless network in the home? Is this correct? How would you do this? Can you also copy downloaded movies from a PC onto a topfield?

Yes and yes, but go and have a look on www.toppy.org.uk for explanations as that to the fiirst point is very long and complicated

Cheers rhubarbe, thanks for that!

De nada.

Continuing the theme of USB xfers I get the feeling reading the thread you cannot do this unless the toppy is physically cable connected to the PC - am I right?

Can't files be xferred to a USB device (I'm thinking USB pen here) plugged into the back of the toppy and then taken to a PC for processing?

No; the Toppy is itself a USB device, and you need a USB host (PC, Linux, etc) somewhere to control the transfer.

Nigel.

Hi Guys, I need some advice on transferring a recording to my pc. I have altair and it seemed to copy over ok. However, now that its transferred, it doesnt play. Its just showing that icon that indicates I dont have the right thing installed to open it with. Ive tried playing it in media player and power dvd and it didnt work.

Is there anything I have to download in order to play the transferred files on my pc?

Hi

The .rec file extension is unsupported by windows by default. Also it is a transport mpeg stream rather than a program mpeg stream.

This link should take you directly to a thread on the toppy forum.

Watching a .rec on a pc

The Toppy.org.uk website has alot of usefull information about various solutions...

http://www.toppy.org.uk

Hope that helps...

Thanks Hal, you're a star.

Hi Guys
I have a TF5800PVR and a iMac, which I succesfully transfer and convert .rec files via USB. Trouble is I keep my Mac upstairs and the Toppy downstairs, so I have to hump one up or tuther down to do it.
The Mac has a built in Ethernet port, SO! Is it possible to put an adapter cable from USB to Ethernet into the Toppy, and then run 15m of Ethernet upstairs and plug it into the Mac?

Any help would be gratefully recieved.

Cris

No, as mentioned here, and in the FAQs on the Toppy web site, you cannot plug anything except a computer into the Toppy's USB port. It does not have the necessary drivers to operate an ethernet adaptor, a memory card or anything else.

There are ways in which you can network it, but these involve adding a small computer, like a Linksys NSLU2, to your network, for about 60 quid, and plugging the Toppy into that.

The first few answers at http://www.toppy.org.uk/search.php?network will give you a good starting point.

Nigel.

Thanks for that reply Nigel, That saves me buying an adaptor.
Much appreciated.

Cris

I am using ConvertXtoDVD (trial) to give me the .VOB file, from a .mpg out of MPEGStreamclip1.0.1, then burning, again using ConvertXtoDVD, but the log file is owning up to a sinc delay, typically 1.5 ms, is there any way to correct this prior to the burn ? I have Nero but going that route involves a lengthy recode. What cost are we talking about using DVR Studio Pro ? The only site I've found is in German and I'm not sure enough to take the plunge.

As far as I was aware the product was about 70EUROs. But to help you decide there is a 30 day free trial you can use.

EDIT: If you choose the english version of their website and go to the donloads section you'll see the latest version is just released. By the looks of things there is also a transfer tool for the toppy without the need for altair Has anyone used this tool?
Last edited by marcdavis : 03-07-2006 at 21:38

Thank you for the information. I'll take a look.

Downloaded the trial and the transfer tool. Using the wizard, I was able to produce a very respectable DVD of tonight's Saxondale (30 mins) in a little under 13 minutes, start to finish. Pefect lip sinc - an impressive and powerful piece of software.
Last edited by Bonburton : 04-07-2006 at 00:45

Just spotted the ultimate piece of kit for networking a topfield. I have yet to persuade the wife on the extra cost, so am still PVRless, although I have in principle decided on the Toppy.

Here is what we need Belkin to bring to the UK

Belkin Wireless USB Hub