I need to invest in a new PVR because my current, adored, Vestels aren't fit for switchover & don't do Series Link, and I don't rate the newer models. Money says I can't buy new so I'm looking at a used Toppy, either from Turbosat or other eBay sellers.

There's one eBayer saying "I have updated it with the most stable Topfield firmware - 5.13.65N which accomodates all the latest Freeview transmitter changes so all channels are correctly assigned to the recorder." But from what I've read this firmware doesn't provide Freeview Playback, right?

If MyStuff has been installed already but the firmware is "old", do you have to remove MyStuff before updating and then put it back again?

Is there anything else to watch out for?

parthena

Hi Parthena,
As you know mystuff is an alternative EPG system for the toppy, but its better than Topfields own one. When you get your toppy you can carry out a mystuff installation that includes everything you need firmware wise. So instead of using freeview+ features, you'll use the toppy with autopadding and control timers (timers that deal with your recordings that are part of a series).

If you head over to toppy.org.uk you can start picking up a mystuff manual and ask questions that experts and fellow newbies can help and perhaps reassure you about.

That's where I came from - the draw of my bosom buddies in Digital Spy is irresistible

So I can't have MyStuff and "accurate recording"? It woud have to be auto-padding?

I will go back to Toppy.org now, but there's a helluva lot there for my tiny mind I'll look for a User Guide with MyStuff already installed, the one I found assumes "no MyStuff".

parthena

You can do something like have the machine add 2 minutes pre padding to all recordings and 5 mintes post padding, to deal with a programme moving slightly out of schedule. Its configuarable. But yes, you can add a patch to a mystuff toppy to monitor the running status of a programme, like accurate recording on freeview+ does.


Yes its a bit shocking at first and it can be a lot of homework to get through in trying to decide what you will need to do and how to do it. But you can always ask on their forums questions and 'how to' stuff, and let people help you directly. The forums have a dedicated mystuff section - take note there are some stickies at the top of that subsection which are useful.

When you have the toppy, you can always load the latest freeview+ firmware with latest patches if you are interested; read about some of the remaining bugs and see if they make much of an impact in practice.

Thank you Marc I am swapping between Toppy.org and the eBay listings. If I were sensible, instead of being an old lady trying to save a bob or two, I'd go with Turbosat, wouldn't I?!

parthena

I think you are probably doing the right thing buying second hand. If you get bored of it or really dont like it you can sell it on again for similar amounts

I've ordered a refurbed 5800 from Turbosat. I'm quaking 'n sweating, I spent more time on Toppy.org this morning and saw that a lady got told "RTFM" kinda thing

Whilst I'm awaiting delivery, I'm going to thicken up my skin

I've decided I'll run it "as is" while I'm learning Toppyish

parthena

If you're a Vestel lover, you can run a minimalist Toppy that's similar to a Vestel only much better (imo) - which is what I do!

If you install the EPG Navigator TAP, then add the UK Auto Scheduler TAP, you have a PVR that I (and others) think is better and more reliable than series link, and oh so simple and straightforward.

I really admire My Stuff but I do think it's quite difficult to get to grips with. Then again it might be for you.

But the real beauty of the Topfield is, if you have strong feelings about what you want, it can almost certainly be achieved. And the people at Toppy.org are extremely helpful.

You will love your Toppy - guaranteed!

Thank you, Norm. I'm really nervous about having shelled out what is quite a significant sum of money to me, so your encouragement is very welcome

Your suggestions sound good!

parthena

My Toppy "Black Panther Edition" arrived at 10.15 this morning. I've unpacked it. It's sitting on the end of my bed. I haven't got anywhere to put it

Even Digital Spy can't help me with this one

parthena

Dunnit Slowly but surely, it's in situ and up & running

The interface is not nearly as "awkward" as I expected it to be, if fact it's not awkward at all. I've set umpteen series to record, just to see what happens

The first thing I'd like to mod is the Opt button, so that it automatically switches subtitles on and off instead of giving me a menu (I'm not hard of hearing, but could never have watched some bits of The Wire without subs )

Well, I'd been thinking about getting a Toppy on and off for over a year, and so far I'm glad I've got it.

parthena

UKSubtitle will do the single key subtitle toggle.

There's a lot of water under the bridge since my last post, Simon, and I've got myself in a right pickle. This creature is not for the foggy-headed (which I am ).

I've been and gone and installed MyStuff on it It'll be the death of me.

parthena

My Stuff seems terribly complicated when you read the manual, or at least it did for me. I have gotten used to it now and it is a big improvement over the native EPG etc. I find most of the options are quite intuative and after a month I guess you do too?

My only gripe is the add padding feature. I am sure it is terribly clever software but I find it is more trouble than it is worth and will delete it (once I have figured out how to )

I wouldn't say it's my only gripe but it's certainly a nuisance. However, as Toppy with MyStuff doesn't do Accurate Recording, I think it's a necessary evil.

Did I say 'thank you, Simon' for the link to UK Subtitle? Thank you, Simon! I've just downloaded it.

Now, though, I've totally forgotten how to attack putting stuff on Toppy, there are no learning curves in my world these days Back to Square One but I'll be OK in the end.

parthena

What is this patch?

cheers

The Ab patch.

Accurate bookmarking? Oh, I find this not very reliable. Never mind. Thanks for the reply.

It reliably marks the points at which the broadcaster sends the event transition signal which Freeview+ relies on for Accurate Recording. Not all broadcasters at not all times can be depended to send it at the right time. But combined with auto-padding and auto-extending it gives you an almost foolproof way of making sure you never miss a thing.

Yes I agree, I don't blame the Toppy or the patch!

Could you explain a bit further? Does it record with the usual padding + an extension and put bookmarks within the recording to show where the programme actually starts and ends?

If so, does one end up with even more padding to interfere with other scheduled recordings?

(I've really must study my manual, I've been wondering why I'm swamped with recordings of, for example, Desperate Housewives - have been setting Controlled Timers with no restrictions so it's recording all occurrences on all channels.)

parthena

Not all by itself. Many of the alternative timer-setting TAPs including MyStuff (which it looks like you use) let you set auto-padding. I use -2/+4 minutes. And it is the Extend TAP which dynamically extends a recording until it see the end of programme event or by two hours which is shorter.


Preference is given to new timers starting if need be. I spread my timers across two PVRs to eliminate or limit the effect that can have.

Aha, I think I need this one!