I am seriously thinking about getting a Topfield PVR. Due to the cost and my budget it will not be the latest one. I have read lots of postings on here and toppy.org but wondered if someone could answer a few questions I am still uncertain about.

1 (Forgetting the brand new version) apart from the Hard Drive size and appearance/colour is there any difference between the other Topfield versions out there?

2 I upload a lot of TV programs using Xvid/DivX format to other websites. Currently I use a PCI Digital TV Card. If I record something on BBC1 for an hour (approximately 1.8GB) on my PC it will take approximately an hour to convert from MPEG2 to Xvid using AutoGK. How easy/long will it take using the Topfield and PC

3 My PC will be in a different room from the Topfield. Do they have to be in the same room and connected, or is it just a case of transferring it on to a memory stick from the Topfield to the PC

4 Am I correct in thinking if I want to add Taps (the free ones) that I will have to bring the Topfield into the same room as the PC and connect them up.

I do have quite a few other questions that need clarifying, I am certain they have been mentioned numerous times, but please appreciate it can take ages reading all the old posts and they usually go off topic. My other questions will just be a yes or no answer

TIA

You'll find a lot of the answers at www.toppy.org.uk/faq.php

I know, but..........................

Just wondered if someone could confirm on here
Thanks anyway

No other differences between TF5800 models.

Same data so same amount of time to convert.

No to memory sticks or USB hard disks. You can use a few (hacked) bridges (Slug/Asus/...) to provide other options (wireless, Homeplug, or attach memory stick/USB hard disk to the bridge).

No, you can use the alternative connections as above.

Save you searching through toppy forums, see:

http://forum.toppy.org.uk/forum/view...highlight=5810

Just to add to this, my toppy is about 10 meters away from the PC and I've got a couple of usb2.0 extension leads.. From PC, 1 x 3mtr, 1 x 5mtr (with active repeater), 1 x3mtr into Toppy.
Never had a problem transfering files across.. Just whip it out and run it down the hall when I need it !

Wife has a Topfield TF5800. It is quirky, unreliable and expensive. It has failed to record a few times.

Cheapo Digihome from Tesco is easy to use and great for whizzing through adverts.

My experiences are the opposite. The Topfield 5800 has been very reliable over 18 months of heavy use. Both a cheap BUSH PVR from Tesco and an expensive Panasonic DVD/PVR have broken down with much lighter use.

The Topfield has proved very easy to use and never failed to record. It also copes very well with the adverts.

Very easy to connect via a USB lead my Mac portable and then manipulate the data into varying formats for use on a DVD or on an iPod, either video or audio.

David

The Toppy or the Wife?

K

They dont ship with the best firmware. All my problems were sorted by updating that. Also the native GUI isn't excellent, but the power of TAPs is unbeleivable. My Toppy once having MyStuff TAP installed, is unrecognisable and sooooo powerful.

Oh dear; having second thoughts now

Was going to get a new black TF 5800 250GB for £185 .....is that a good price

Great price, and great machine. Don't be misled though, to make the most of a Toppy you need to put in a bit of effort with regards to firmware upgrades and TAPs.

Glen.

Yep that's a pretty good price, especially if it includes delivery. As had been said numerous times, what sets the Toppy apart from other PVRs is the ability to install TAPs on it. If you don't like certain features of other PVRs you're stuck with them until an OTA update changes them (and even then, you may not get what you want). With the Toppy, you have a choice of 3 or 4 other EPG systems (I really like the "MyStuff family"). The authors of most of these packages provide excellent feedback and help and actually provide updates that fix problems (or just suggestions) that individual users have.

Not sure what caused the problems that "Pemblechook" or his wife were having. My wife has also lost some recordings, but (apart from one that seemed to be caused by having left the machine on continuously for 6 months!) most can be traced back to EPG population problems on particular channels.

You really won't regret getting a Toppy (provided you TAP it!).

K

I have taken a chance and ordered a new black 250GB TF5800 one £184.98 including delivery.

Also ordered a 5 metre USB2 cable to connect through wall to PC

Thanks for all your help; will probably be using Toppy forum now

Get yourself over to the toppy.org.uk forum, i'll see you over there.

Definitely venture in to the new firmware, and TAPs.

Digihome DTR0207 does all you want. Very easy to use. Cheap as £70 from such as Tesco. Buy 2 for the price of one Toppy.

The payback stops on the toppy all of a sudden when it starts a new recording...quirky.

There's now a firmware patch that fixes that bug, but it's a fair point about the 2 for 1 offer

Great price.
Very tempted.
Who is the supplier ?

Alan

It was Dixons £179.99 but I am afraid it has now gone up to £194.05 and they have sold out

Turbosat are selling some of their "Grade A" stock 250gb Black Panthers for about £160 on e-bay.

I reverted my machine from the latest Freeview Playback firmware version as it clashed with a TAP I'm fond of, and installed Mystuff - what a revelation. OK, it can't do Freeview Playback's serial timers but who cares when you've unleashed the power of "ControlTimers" instead?

Incidentally, I stick an aging laptop onto the USB of my Toppy, using the FTP Server software, and then access it over wi-fi from my main PC using nothing more complicated than Internet Explorer

I have found my topfield to be very reliable until the latest firmware. It's very buggy and Serial record/ Accurate Record does not work at all well often the fault of the broadcasters. Have gone back to the firmware that I was previously using (5.13.59) and now everything works fine. I will try the Freeview playback firmware when they work out the bugs and the broadcasters get their act together

Bah who needs series link, when you have mystuff control timers. At the end of the day if it turns out you dont like the toppy, sell it on, it holding its price quite well in the second hand market, wont lose much on it.

All pvrs have niggles, however most of the toppy ones are solvable by taps or patches, theres some clever bods on toppy.org.

""All pvrs have niggles, however most of the toppy ones are solvable by taps or patches, theres some clever bods on toppy.org""

Why should have to do all that though. ?? Most folks want to buy an item that works from day one without any complication.

If the cheapy machines had been available from such as Tesco when we bought our Toppy don't think we would have got it.

I agree that, if Freeview was a 'stable service', then the PVR manufacturers should be able to do a reasonable job "out of the box". However, things like SL/AR are still being worked on by everyone and I'd rather have something like a Toppy where many people can provide solutions and I can pick and choose the one I like (ie MyStuff CTs and ABM support) rather than depending on one supplier that may or may not get around to doing an OTA upgrade (once Matsui-ed, twice shy)...

K

You shouldn't. You could get a good price on ebay for a second hand Toppy and buy something more appropriate.

Glen.