|
||||||||
Toppy Newbie |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 111
|
Toppy Newbie
Hi,
Just stumbled across adverts for the toppy and thought it looks like an attractive system to replace my DigiHome PVR80 which died last week. Just scanning through this forum looks like there's a little work necessary to set the machine up. I don't mind that but not sure the wife is likely to understand that To appease her (I'm sure she'll come round eventually ) I guess my main question is whether the TF5800/5810 will let her record off the EPG out of the box? Makes it easier for me, then I can play with the TAPs etc. as and when (and start copying my MP3s ). Sorry for the long post! Stu |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Brighton
Posts: 4,796
|
If your talking about getting the tf5800 freeview one and wanting to use it straight out of the box with out installing any TAPS then I'd say no not if an easy EPG is essential.
Mine's a couple of years old now but its got all the updates in it so I dont think its changed yet. You dont get the full EPG up straight away just the individual channel and then you can change to getting all of it but it only shows about four at a time that you'll have to scroll down but the good thing is that you dont loose the picture of what youre watching as it stays in the top half of the screen along with the description of the program thts highlighed. The EPG is my only problem with it everything else is by far better than any of the other machines I've got. I've never managed to get the TAPS installed and working but then cos I have digiguide on the computer I dont need the EPG for seeing whats on TV just for setting up recordings so I know where I'm heading for. If i was having to find out what was on telly from it then I think I'd miss alot of programs. |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bristol
Posts: 447
|
But installing a better EPG takes around 5 minutes, and is totally customisable
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Brighton
Posts: 4,796
|
Quote:
But installing a better EPG takes around 5 minutes, and is totally customisable
![]() Anyway as I said I'm happy with using digiguide and then just setting the recordings on the toppy. Can you tell me though if when I do finally get round to getting the TAP's working as it was part of the reason I went for the toppy in the first place do you then need to leave it plugged into the computer permenantly to update the epg or once its installed does it then update throught the aerial. At the moment I've got the computer attatched to the telly so could leave it plugged in all the time, if the computer would recognise it, but I'll not have it there for much longer. Still wouldn't change it though as my main machine. The play back functions are far superior and easier to use than anything else I've come across so far. And thats from straight out of the box. Last edited by paddysu : 22-02-2009 at 17:56. Reason: correction |
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 111
|
Think I'm sold on it but then I enjoy messing about with tech
I guess echoing paddysu's question, which EPG should I download?Thanks, stu |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Brighton
Posts: 4,796
|
You can put digiguide on there which is what i was trying to do as at the moment on one side of the tv is the pc and the other side is the toppy and i was getting fed up keep turning the pc on just to see what was on to watch later.
It wasn't until just saying in the above post about how once its installed how does it get updated that it even occured to me. I hardly ever turn that pc on now so if to use digiguide or any of the EPG's via TAP's I'd have to keep turning on the computer it sort of defeats the object for me. The people who write those TAPS though are pretty good programers and I'm sure they must have over come it some how. If nothing else then the EPG that comes via the aerial gets turned into a proper one through what i think is the mystuff program. |
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 99
|
Quote:
Think I'm sold on it but then I enjoy messing about with tech
I guess echoing paddysu's question, which EPG should I download?Thanks, stu |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bristol
Posts: 447
|
Quote:
The couple of times I tried to do it the file was corrupt.
Anyway as I said I'm happy with using digiguide and then just setting the recordings on the toppy. Can you tell me though if when I do finally get round to getting the TAP's working as it was part of the reason I went for the toppy in the first place do you then need to leave it plugged into the computer permenantly to update the epg or once its installed does it then update throught the aerial. At the moment I've got the computer attatched to the telly so could leave it plugged in all the time, if the computer would recognise it, but I'll not have it there for much longer. Still wouldn't change it though as my main machine. The play back functions are far superior and easier to use than anything else I've come across so far. And thats from straight out of the box. It will update through the Aeriel. |
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 310
|
Once you've got MyStuff on your Toppy, there's no need for a connection to a PC to download an EPG, it receives the Freeview EPG just like most other boxes. If you do leave it connected though, you can have a 14 day EPG with longer programme descriptions downloaded from Radio Times.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 56
|
The native Toppy EPG is usable, and the firmware we had a couple of years back means that it populates fully in a minute or two. There is even a kind of half-screen grid EPG mode available out of the box. Having said that, it is worth trying out others - I tried a few different EPG's (including a very early MyStuff) I settled upon EPG Navigator and UK AutoScheduler as it suits all my needs.
The most important thing is that I don't think the latest batch of Firmwares are all that good, but you can find out more at http://www.toppy.org.uk |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Brighton
Posts: 4,796
|
Quote:
The native Toppy EPG is usable, and the firmware we had a couple of years back means that it populates fully in a minute or two. There is even a kind of half-screen grid EPG mode available out of the box. Having said that, it is worth trying out others - I tried a few different EPG's (including a very early MyStuff) I settled upon EPG Navigator and UK AutoScheduler as it suits all my needs.
The most important thing is that I don't think the latest batch of Firmwares are all that good, but you can find out more at http://www.toppy.org.uk I used to get emails from toppy every so often with the latest news but I've changed my email address and updated profile but dont seem to have got any since. Is it just that they aren't doing them any more, I dont see anywhere on the site any more to sign up for them. |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 56
|
Sounds like this issue with the splitting of the NIT into several parts (all a bit technical for me).
There is a patch, and a pre-patched firmware available at Toppy.org. Just follow the link near the top of the home page. I would suggest getting one of the pre-patched firmwares, the recommended ones are very stable and you should have no problems installing it. |
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SW London, Crystal Palace Tx
Posts: 2,769
|
Quote:
you can have a 14 day EPG with longer programme descriptions downloaded from Radio Times.
(2) Does it show series and episode numbers? (The Freeview EPG very often does not )(3) Does it mark programmes "Repeat" when appropriate? (The Freeview EPG never does )parthena |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 111
|
Well, bit the bullet last night and ordered my toppy - should be here tomorrow and I can't wait!
Should I be looking to upgrade (downgrade?) the firmware out of the box? Guess I'd better register with toppy.org as well
|
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,537
|
Quote:
(1) Would that work with "accurate recording" or would one have to stick with padding?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,537
|
Quote:
Should I be looking to upgrade (downgrade?) the firmware out of the box? Guess I'd better register with toppy.org as well
![]()
|
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London
Posts: 4,517
|
If you're not getting updates, check your account is still valid; we did have a bit of a hiatus with some of the announcements, for various reasons. But also, if you change your forum email, that doesn't change your email address for notifications about software updates - you do that in the 'Your tools' section of the site, which is accessed via the front page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 111
|
well after a long wait it finally arrived today! Out of the box I had trouble tuning in the channels (well I had the channels but they were all over the place). Downloaded the latest firmware from topfield.co.uk and it found the same number of channels (68) but put them all in the proper order. EPG looks OK actually, the wife managed to set 'enders & corrie OK so looks like I'm off the hook for now!
Gonna mooch about toppy.org and have a look for different EPGs to try though - can't help myself
|
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SW London, Crystal Palace Tx
Posts: 2,769
|
Quote:
Out of the box...EPG looks OK actually
My printer's on the blink, when I can print the MyStuff manual and take it to bed and have a good read, I'll be able to explore the skins, searches, recording options, etc. How are you getting on, Stu? parthena
|
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,537
|
You can of course skin the MyStuff one to anything you like. There are many skins other people have designed that you can use or you can make your own. And you can also adjust the number of channels shown and the font size used as well as many other parameters to tweak it to your own preferences.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 111
|
Typically, as soon as the toppy got plugged in, its no longer my toy! The wife has pretty much taken the remote off me, and finding time when there are no recordings scheduled to try installing taps is virtually impossible! Still its working well although seems to miss the odd recording. I'm just told 'enders hasn't recorded or such like-haven't had a chance to look into it. I'm itching to install mystuff for a play though
|
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 69,142
|
Hi, what are "TAPS"???
|
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: South Manchester.
Posts: 132
|
Quote:
Hi, what are "TAPS"???
These are what transform a good PVR into an OUTSTANDING PVR. There are many different TAPs. The most popular by far, if I may be so bold, is the MyStuff TAP. This is a UI (User Interface) enhancment. I strongly recommend you try it out, if you haven't done so already. Pop over to http://forum.toppy.org.uk/forum/ We are a friendly lot over there. |
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 69,142
|
Many thanks for the answer.
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:29.

To appease her (I'm sure she'll come round eventually
) I guess my main question is whether the TF5800/5810 will let her record off the EPG out of the box? Makes it easier for me, then I can play with the TAPs etc. as and when (and start copying my MP3s
). 
I guess echoing paddysu's question, which EPG should I download?
)