Topfield PVRs?

[Ext User(Opus Condobalas)]

> I am a Topfield owner. It is one of those rare items in life for which
> the experience greatly surpasses your purchase expectations. The
> Topfield completely changes they way you watch FTA television. If I
> visit or stay anywhere now, without my Topfield, I can not accept the
> way I used to watch TV.
>

You are so right there. We were holidaying and my 5 y.o. could not
understand why we couldn't pause Play School while she went to the loo.

Opus

[Ext User(Kevin Hendrikssen)]

"Opus Condobalas" <scanscan@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:43eef98c$0$31300$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
>> I am a Topfield owner. It is one of those rare items in life for which
>> the experience greatly surpasses your purchase expectations. The
>> Topfield completely changes they way you watch FTA television. If I
>> visit or stay anywhere now, without my Topfield, I can not accept the
>> way I used to watch TV.
>
> You are so right there. We were holidaying and my 5 y.o. could not
> understand why we couldn't pause Play School while she went to the loo.

lol.

Imagine what plenty of young people would make of a dial telephone.

I also remember when I first heard about VCRs. I wondered how they worked,
and thought maybe you had to sit them on a table at point them at the TV to
record stuff.

First time I played with a microwave oven I tried to toast bread in it.

Of course once I had these things I would never be without them again.
Except for the VCR. The Toppy replaced that well and truly.

[Ext User(Anthony Horan)]

On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 14:29:07 +1000, mark wrote:

> On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 14:53:07 +1100, Anthony Horan wrote:
>> But as I said, they are artificially, MASSIVELY overpriced.
>
> Anthony, what is an artificial price? Everything that has ever been sold
> is subject to simple supply versus demand isn't it?

Well, yes, but for the price of the Topfield I can buy FOUR Digenius-clone
PVRs. That gives you some idea about the sheer mega-profit they're making
out of these things. The Topfield contains no "special" hardware.

> Obviously you will never buy a BMW.

Damn right. I don't drive :-P

[Ext User(wilburight@hotmail.com)]

Anthony Horan wrote:
> On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 14:29:07 +1000, mark wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 14:53:07 +1100, Anthony Horan wrote:
> >> But as I said, they are artificially, MASSIVELY overpriced.
> >
> > Anthony, what is an artificial price? Everything that has ever been sold
> > is subject to simple supply versus demand isn't it?
>
> Well, yes, but for the price of the Topfield I can buy FOUR Digenius-clone
> PVRs. That gives you some idea about the sheer mega-profit they're making
> out of these things. The Topfield contains no "special" hardware.
>
> > Obviously you will never buy a BMW.
>
> Damn right. I don't drive :-P

So you won't mind if many of us classify you as a penny-pinching,
opinionated pedestrian then? ;)

Anyway, whether the Topfield is clever engineering or not, it has stood
the test of time and heavy tweaking by many happy owners and no other
manufacturer seems to have figured out how to fully replicate this sort
of performance in their own unit. Maybe the TAPs swing it into a
category all its own. For that it enjoys a premium price I was willing
to pay and I'd do so again.

My bedroom TV has sat idle with the remote collecting dust for over a
year - I can't abide 'live' un-timeshifted TV anymore. I'd rather get
out of bed and watch glorious digital images via the Toppy.

[Ext User(Justin)]

wilburight@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> My bedroom TV has sat idle with the remote collecting dust for over a
> year - I can't abide 'live' un-timeshifted TV anymore. I'd rather get
> out of bed and watch glorious digital images via the Toppy.
>
Modulate the output back in to your antenna system, get a remote control
extender & your bedroom TV will be back in business. Or an AV sender if
you don't want to use RF.

Remote control extender:

www.jaycar.com.au cat no AR1810 or http://tinyurl.com/8qq6l

AV Sender with RC Extender:

AR1830 or http://tinyurl.com/de27j

Justin

[Ext User(Bill Donald)]

I have one of the original Topfield's (and paid $1000 for the bloody
thing) and it is very good, but it is way overpriced, even at the
$800-ish they are now. They're only 2 digital tuners and a hard drive
for gods sake. They are made in Korea, not Germany! $400 would be
reasonable.

One of the best features (which other brands don't have) is the
possibilty of a week's program guide downloaded from the Internet (via
your computer). So you can see the days programs, with descriptions of
shows, point at it and tell the Topfield 'record that' - set up the
days (or weeks) recodings. That is worth a few hundred extra (however
it's not Topfields doing).

[Ext User(mark)]

On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:23:18 +0000, Bill Donald wrote:
> One of the best features (which other brands don't have) is the
> possibilty of a week's program guide downloaded from the Internet (via
> your computer). So you can see the days programs, with descriptions of
> shows, point at it and tell the Topfield 'record that' - set up the
> days (or weeks) recodings. That is worth a few hundred extra (however
> it's not Topfields doing).

Actually, if you can get a standard ethernet cable near your toppy then
all you need is a Linksys NSLU2 which is $148. Installed a modded OS
yourself (or get somebody who knows how to do it, e.g. I could do it in
10 mins) and you then get a standard ftp interface to the toppy. My PC
automatically uploads a 7 day guide nightly to the toppy.

[Ext User(Glenn Dowling)]

"Psychonaut" <psychonaut@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:jL8Hf.4879$yK1.422@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> I am going to buy a STB shortly and want one with a PVR. In particular
> I've been checking out the Topfields. I like the look of the Topfield
> TF5000PVRtMP. Does anybody have experience with these? I have also been
> looking at the Strong STB PVRs as well.

I recently got myself a big mutha widescreen TV. I spent a long, long time
shopping for it and went to as many shops as I could find and spoke to a
zillion salesmen (yes, only men). In nearly all the cases where I mentioned to
the salesman that I already had the Topfield they said that it was what they
had at home too.

Now I don't ever need validation of my purchases from other people (which puts
me out of the running in a lot of Internet discussions!) but it was kinda nice
to know that the people who get to try out the different brands all seemed to
get a Toppy.

My only complaints about the unit are:

1) When you have the automatic time mode on, which syncs the time to the TV
stations, it gets really confused when the different networks send down
different times. I once noticed over 5 minutes difference between SBS and
Ch10. The big problem is that if the time goes forward and you have two
programs queued up to record that start at the same time, the clock can change
past the start time of the second program and it does not record it. I got
around this by setting the time to manual mode. There are programs that you
can download to fix this too, but I don't mind setting the clock myself.

2) Fast forward is too slow (6x). The 30 skip button gets around this. There
are also several programs that you can download that add configurable skip
buttons to your remote. I have a 3 minute and -10 second skip buttons on mine.

3) It would be nice to be able to record directly to a subfolder on the hard
drive, but (you guessed it) you can download a program to do this, albeit in a
more limited way that I would have liked.

I am trying to think of a forth complaint, but I can't. Damn it! I have a
tonne of good points that I could say about it, but I am sure that there are
enough other people out there willing to fill you in on the features.

I also got a Humax PVR (single tuner) for my mother for some rediculously
cheap price. The user interface sucks and you cannot rewind and watch a
program that is currently recording on timer (but you can if you manually hit
the record button). However the unit works fine and the recordings look as
good as the live TV (as a PVR should) so it suits her needs. It lacks a number
of features that I am used to (recordable subtitles, editable recordings,
downloadable recordings for burning to a DVD), but there is no point me
telling her that if she is happy with what she's got.

She raves about how good the Humax is to everyone like a rabid newsgroup
fanboy!

{GaD}

[Ext User(tonymy01)]

Glenn Dowling wrote:
> She raves about how good the Humax is to everyone like a rabid
> newsgroup fanboy!
>
LOL!

--
Tonymy01
--
http://tonyspage.abock.de for Topfield info

[Ext User(Tom N)]

bassett wrote:

> You say there over priced, but you don't say compaired to what ????
> name
> something that has a twin tuners, record two programs simultaneously
> while watching a third, Pause and rewind live TV, recordable captions,
> teletext. MP3, PIP.

two Wintals?

[Ext User(bassett)]

"Psychonaut" <psychonaut@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:ZpzHf.5983$yK1.2260@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> "Justin" <justin.nospam@dontspamme.com.au> wrote in message
> news:43eeb8ac$0$19770$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
>> "Psychonaut" <psychonaut@bigpond.com> wrote in message
>> news:jL8Hf.4879$yK1.422@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>> It may have already been a subject here, but I have come in late so
>>> excuse me if its already been discussed. I am going to buy a STB
>>> shortly and want one with a PVR. In particular I've been checking out
>>> the Topfields. I like the look of the Topfield TF5000PVRtMP. Does
>>> anybody have experience with these? I have also been looking at the
>>> Strong STB PVRs as well.
>>>
>>> Anybody able or willing to assist with some comments on these, or STBs
>>> with PVR in general?
>>>
>>
>> As everybody has given you feedback on the Topfields, I should probably
>> give you some on a Strong PVR. If you see a Strong PVR, run the other
>> way. I have the 5290 (previous model) & is a boat anchor compared to a
>> Topfield. Their service is very good though (& you need them). Still
>> better than a VCR any day though.
>>
>> I've tested the Nextwave twin tuner PVR (same manufacturer as Strong) &
>> while the picture is stunning, it's hopeless.
>>
>> Topfield have a number of models based around the same hardware (4400,
>> 5000 & MP), with variations in the chassis, hard drive & a few other
>> things. As said, they've stood the test of time.
>>
>> The only other brand that has a model that comes anywhere near what the
>> Topfield can do (though not as well) is Humax. Their dual tuner model is
>> competing at the 4400 level.
>>
>> Most of the other dual tuner PVRs are really 1.5 tuner PVRs (they
>> struggle or aren't designed to record 2 channels at once).
>>
>> Justin
>>
> Damn close. I had considered the Strong. And also once again Bassett
> thank you. I'm not interested in the price. I want something that is
> well featured and proven. Obviously the Topfield is this and more. I am
> not in favour of buying crap just to save a couple of hundred bucks. But
> some people let the price of things eat them up long after they've
> purchased it rather than enjoying quality.
>
Thanks mate,, but perhaps we should consider our friends statement,

Anthony Horan wrote,,,,,,
Well, yes, but for the price of the Topfield I can buy FOUR Digenius-clone
PVRs. That gives you some idea about the sheer mega-profit they're making
out of these things. The Topfield contains no "special" hardware.

let me tell you something about cheap Chinese clones, and I have a lot of
experience with satellite receivers..So I know about the Chinese clone
market..

Firstly, They will tell you whatever you want to hear, to make a sale.
Warranties are non existent, It's a well known fact that there are NO
software writes in China, They simply take established software, and modify
it slightly. There is never any up-dated of new software issued by clone
manufacturers.. But they will tell you that "brand XX" software will work
in there receivers // recorders. The facts are it might well work, But
genuine software writers are now installing traps in there software, as
soon as the software, works out that it's installed in a non genuine
receiver // recorder, you will get a sign on the screen stating,
"unauthorised software in use"
and you will not be able to get the receiver //recorder to remove it.. This
is happening now with genuine @metabox [metaware] satellite receivers [last
count was 80 odd clone [copies] receivers. Chinese clone manufactures will
not even offer the software they use as a download, web sites are rare.

Our friend tells us , that he can get 4 "brand" X, for the price of a
Topfield.. Sure he can, Simply because the workers are on Two dollars a
day, there is no development costs, testing costs, Software costs. Then
when the Clone shits itself, by way of the power supply failing, consider
the components of a clone and the genuine product, or the software goes
crazy.. Your left with a Door Stop.

At the end of the day,, You get what you pay for..
bassett

[Ext User(MJT)]

Anthony Horan wrote:

>> Obviously you will never buy a BMW.
>
> Damn right. I don't drive :-P

How do you get about then? PT, pushbike? And what if you want to travel
to the beach, go camping or whatever?

People go on about how they can't live without their PVR, me, I find it
difficult to understand how people can survive without transport.



--
First things first, but not necessarily in that order.

[Ext User(Kevin Hendrikssen)]

"MJT" <mjpt57@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:43f181df.000075da.bm000@yahoo.com.au...
> Anthony Horan wrote:
>
>>> Obviously you will never buy a BMW.
>>
>> Damn right. I don't drive :-P
>
> How do you get about then? PT, pushbike? And what if you want to travel
> to the beach, go camping or whatever?
>
> People go on about how they can't live without their PVR, me, I find it
> difficult to understand how people can survive without transport.

I can't speak for Anthony or anyone else, but I catch trains. Buses if
absolutely necessary. Occasionally a taxi. Not only does it save pollution
and waste, but I save a shitload of money not owning a car. Money I can
spend on cool things, such as a Topfield PVR.

[Ext User(Psychonaut)]

Thanks for that. The more I hear the more I like



"Glenn Dowling" <glenn@nospam.com.au> wrote in message
news:43f07ead$0$1796$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> "Psychonaut" <psychonaut@bigpond.com> wrote in message
> news:jL8Hf.4879$yK1.422@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> I am going to buy a STB shortly and want one with a PVR. In particular
>> I've been checking out the Topfields. I like the look of the Topfield
>> TF5000PVRtMP. Does anybody have experience with these? I have also been
>> looking at the Strong STB PVRs as well.
>
> I recently got myself a big mutha widescreen TV. I spent a long, long time
> shopping for it and went to as many shops as I could find and spoke to a
> zillion salesmen (yes, only men). In nearly all the cases where I
> mentioned to the salesman that I already had the Topfield they said that
> it was what they had at home too.
>
> Now I don't ever need validation of my purchases from other people (which
> puts me out of the running in a lot of Internet discussions!) but it was
> kinda nice to know that the people who get to try out the different brands
> all seemed to get a Toppy.
>
> My only complaints about the unit are:
>
> 1) When you have the automatic time mode on, which syncs the time to the
> TV stations, it gets really confused when the different networks send down
> different times. I once noticed over 5 minutes difference between SBS and
> Ch10. The big problem is that if the time goes forward and you have two
> programs queued up to record that start at the same time, the clock can
> change past the start time of the second program and it does not record
> it. I got around this by setting the time to manual mode. There are
> programs that you can download to fix this too, but I don't mind setting
> the clock myself.
>
> 2) Fast forward is too slow (6x). The 30 skip button gets around this.
> There are also several programs that you can download that add
> configurable skip buttons to your remote. I have a 3 minute and -10 second
> skip buttons on mine.
>
> 3) It would be nice to be able to record directly to a subfolder on the
> hard drive, but (you guessed it) you can download a program to do this,
> albeit in a more limited way that I would have liked.
>
> I am trying to think of a forth complaint, but I can't. Damn it! I have a
> tonne of good points that I could say about it, but I am sure that there
> are enough other people out there willing to fill you in on the features.
>
> I also got a Humax PVR (single tuner) for my mother for some rediculously
> cheap price. The user interface sucks and you cannot rewind and watch a
> program that is currently recording on timer (but you can if you manually
> hit the record button). However the unit works fine and the recordings
> look as good as the live TV (as a PVR should) so it suits her needs. It
> lacks a number of features that I am used to (recordable subtitles,
> editable recordings, downloadable recordings for burning to a DVD), but
> there is no point me telling her that if she is happy with what she's got.
>
> She raves about how good the Humax is to everyone like a rabid newsgroup
> fanboy!
>
> {GaD}
>
>

[Ext User(Judy Bednar)]

>
> My bedroom TV has sat idle with the remote collecting dust for over a
> year - I can't abide 'live' un-timeshifted TV anymore. I'd rather get
> out of bed and watch glorious digital images via the Toppy.

Well, I have a solution for you (not the digital part) When I get behind
watching the recorded programs on the Toppy and it is getting rather full, I
copy some of it onto VCR. I then watch that in bed :-)

--
Cheers,

Judy -- some quotes perceptive, some pedestrian, none mine :-)

Study reveals that studies reveal nothing.

[Ext User(Judy Bednar)]

Glenn Dowling <glenn@nospam.com.au> typed:
>
> I recently got myself a big mutha widescreen TV. I spent a long, long
> time shopping for it and went to as many shops as I could find and
> spoke to a zillion salesmen (yes, only men). In nearly all the cases
> where I mentioned to the salesman that I already had the Topfield
> they said that it was what they had at home too.

Not all salesmen will say that. I was in a shop looking at LCDs. There was
a couple looking to buy a Plasma or LCD (they were still deciding) I sort
of eavesdropped. The salesman told them that they will need a STB and made
a recommendation. They asked about ones that also have a hard drive and
mentioned that they have heard of the Toppy. The salesman told them that
the Toppy was no good, because it wasn't HD. (The store did *not* stock
Topfield <g>) I had a quiet chat to them when the salesman walked away :-)

>
> 1) When you have the automatic time mode on, which syncs the time to
> the TV stations, it gets really confused when the different networks
> send down different times. I once noticed over 5 minutes difference
> between SBS and Ch10. The big problem is that if the time goes
> forward and you have two programs queued up to record that start at
> the same time, the clock can change past the start time of the second
> program and it does not record it. I got around this by setting the
> time to manual mode. There are programs that you can download to fix
> this too, but I don't mind setting the clock myself.

The Toppy gurus reccomend using manual time. But, wouldn't you say that
this isn't a Toppy fault, but a TV station fault?

--
Cheers,

Judy -- some quotes perceptive, some pedestrian, none mine :-)

Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright
ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little
sign of breaking down in the near future.

[Ext User(Netmask)]

>
> The Toppy gurus reccomend using manual time. But, wouldn't you say that
> this isn't a Toppy fault, but a TV station fault?
>
> --
> Cheers,
>
> Judy -- some quotes perceptive, some pedestrian, none mine :-)
>
>

That's exactly the problem the stations in Oz just don't take enough care or
bother. We need better regulation and enforcement of standards. As they say
"pigs may..."

Manual time with PBK TAP running sorts out this problem.

[Ext User(bassett)]

"Netmask" <netmask56NOFLEAS@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:9e9Kf.11971$yK1.9926@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> >
>> The Toppy gurus reccomend using manual time. But, wouldn't you say that
>> this isn't a Toppy fault, but a TV station fault?
>>
>> --
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Judy -- some quotes perceptive, some pedestrian, none mine :-)
>>
>>
>
> That's exactly the problem the stations in Oz just don't take enough care
> or bother. We need better regulation and enforcement of standards. As
> they say "pigs may..."
>
> Manual time with PBK TAP running sorts out this problem.

You know with all the technicial advances, proclaimed over different
recording mediums,, you would think some bright bastard would design a
battery back-up supply for the recording timer,
Christ my little $5.95 alarm clock radio, in the kennel, has a battery
back-up,
bassett

[Ext User(Bernd Felsche)]

"bassett" <bassett@bassettskennel.com> writes:
>"Netmask" <netmask56NOFLEAS@geemail.com> wrote in message

>>> The Toppy gurus reccomend using manual time. But, wouldn't you say that
>>> this isn't a Toppy fault, but a TV station fault?

>> That's exactly the problem the stations in Oz just don't take enough care
>> or bother. We need better regulation and enforcement of standards. As
>> they say "pigs may..."

>> Manual time with PBK TAP running sorts out this problem.

>You know with all the technicial advances, proclaimed over different
>recording mediums,, you would think some bright bastard would design a
>battery back-up supply for the recording timer,

Digital TV is supposed to transmit proper, real time. Operators
screw up. Backing up a screwed time won't help.

If the TV stations transmit the correct time, and more appropriately
good EPG, then the recording time will always be right and the
desired programme will be recorded in full.

>Christ my little $5.95 alarm clock radio, in the kennel, has a battery
>back-up,

Your alarm clock probbaly isn't able to synch time to within
milliseconds of dead accurate.

It's more important for people that they record the entire required
programme, than you getting to the dole office 5 minutes late.
--
/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia
\ / ASCII ribbon campaign | "Laws do not persuade just because
X against HTML mail | they threaten."
/ \ and postings | Lucius Annaeus Seneca, c. 4BC - 65AD.

[Red Menace]

Can the Toppy record an external AV feed say Foxtel?