Topfield PVRs?

[Ext User(Kevin Hendrikssen)]

"Red Menace" <Red.Menace.23ip5v@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote in message
news:Red.Menace.23ip5v@no-mx.phorums.com.au...
>
> Can the Toppy record an external AV feed say Foxtel?

Nope, they only record digital transport streams.

[Ext User(Michael Leefroth)]

In article <dt9r4u$p0m$1@possum.melbpc.org.au>,
jbednar@poqmelbpc.org.au.invalid says...
> The Toppy gurus reccomend using manual time. But, wouldn't you say that
> this isn't a Toppy fault, but a TV station fault?

Problem with previous Topfield STB's- the internal clock lost time.
The Topfield guys are blaming the Aussie TV stations. I blame Topfield
for their stupid design having the clock coded in Java.

I heard the new Topfield have real time.
Who knows...

[Ext User(Netmask)]

No only from it's 2 tuners.

"Red Menace" <Red.Menace.23ip5v@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote in message
news:Red.Menace.23ip5v@no-mx.phorums.com.au...
>
> Can the Toppy record an external AV feed say Foxtel?
>
>
> --
> Red Menace

[Ext User(Netmask)]

Referring to the model TF5000PVRt , the original silver case.

The problem is the stations - apparently doesn't occur in Germany or UK.
However a TAP (Topfield Application Program) called PBK (Progress Bar Keys)
can set the time automatically at a predetermined time every day. My time
adjustment takes place at 6:00 am every day, PBK switches on the Topfield
goes to the ABC and then resets the time if necessary, it then switches off.
So far I haven't missed a single event.
PBK has a number of other functions like creating a button to skip forward 3
minutes to miss commercials etc etc. A really good and well supported
program. The functionality of the TF5000PVRt having a program language makes
it a very flexible machine. You can download a week of EPG data and peruse
and mark your programs of choice to record either once only or weekly etc.
In a perfect world all these things would be built in but it really isn't a
problem when you can run a range of auxiliary programs in the start-up
folder or manually if you wish.



"Michael Leefroth" <gcaesar@gmx.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1e64631a80d3a16f9896da@news.vic.westnet.c om.au...
> In article <dt9r4u$p0m$1@possum.melbpc.org.au>,
> jbednar@poqmelbpc.org.au.invalid says...
>> The Toppy gurus reccomend using manual time. But, wouldn't you say that
>> this isn't a Toppy fault, but a TV station fault?
>
> Problem with previous Topfield STB's- the internal clock lost time.
> The Topfield guys are blaming the Aussie TV stations. I blame Topfield
> for their stupid design having the clock coded in Java.
>
> I heard the new Topfield have real time.
> Who knows...

[Ext User(Max Haltermann)]

"Tom N" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:Xns976A103C2910Cndt601946x@127.0.0.1...
> 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?

One DIGITEC?

[Ext User(Glenn Dowling)]

"Judy Bednar" <jbednar@poqmelbpc.org.au.invalid> wrote in message
news:dt9r4u$p0m$1@possum.melbpc.org.au...
> 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 :-)

I am glad that you could put them straight, Judy. I was quite lucky when I was
out shopping, as I only found two annoying salesmorons. One of them was so bad
that I just walked out of the store - he was just offensive.


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

I quite agree that the networks should not be sending down bad times, but if
the clock jumps ahead so that it is past the start time of programmed timer
but before the end then it should start recording it from that point on. It
should not just delete the event. That *is* the fault of the Topfield.

As you said, using manual time fixes this problem. I learnt that the hard way!

{GaD}

[Ext User(bassett)]

"Bernd Felsche" <bernie@innovative.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:e83oc3x3oc.ln2@innovative.iinet.net.au...
> "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.

And what happens to the timer when you get a power cut,, fuck-wit.

[Ext User(Ian)]

As it happens, our suburb had a power outage yesterday evening. I happened
to be standing near the Toppy when the power got restored. It turned itself
on, PBK took over and steered it over to channel 2, picked up the time
signal, set the timer back to manual, and went back to sleep. Problem
solved.

(Yes, I could have simulated the whole thing just by turning it off at the
wall, but it was strangely satisfying to see the whole thing played out for
real, complete the policemen directing traffic at the intersection with the
traffic lights out).

PBK is outstanding value at $20. Don't even bother thinking about it -- just
get it.

-- Wally


"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.
>
>

[Ext User(mark)]

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:35:19 +1100, Ian wrote:
> As it happens, our suburb had a power outage yesterday evening. I happened
> to be standing near the Toppy when the power got restored. It turned itself
> on, PBK took over and steered it over to channel 2, picked up the time
> signal, set the timer back to manual, and went back to sleep. Problem
> solved.

Wally, the problem is when the power outage occurs while the toppy is in
standby (which is most of the time after all). In that case, the toppy
loses its time but goes back to standby without syncing time. Thus, any
timers you have set beforehand do not fire.

This can be solved by using a patched firmware (so called "Firebird
power patch") which will turn the toppy on after power restore. A TAP
can switch the toppy off after this occurs (PBK can do it also since
v9.6).

[Ext User(Ian)]

Hi Mark,

What I described occurred when the Toppy *was* in standby mode.

To quote from the PBK features list:

* ProgressBarKeys Manual Time Sync after Power Failure with Topfield
switched on
* ProgressBarKeys Manual Time Sync after Power Failure with Topfield in
standby mode

What I am saying is that PBK works as described, and the time recovered from
a power failure when the unit was in standby mode. Hooray for PBK.

-- W


"mark" <mark@nospam.org> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.02.28.09.25.33.730245@nospam.org...
> On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:35:19 +1100, Ian wrote:
> > As it happens, our suburb had a power outage yesterday evening. I
happened
> > to be standing near the Toppy when the power got restored. It turned
itself
> > on, PBK took over and steered it over to channel 2, picked up the time
> > signal, set the timer back to manual, and went back to sleep. Problem
> > solved.
>
> Wally, the problem is when the power outage occurs while the toppy is in
> standby (which is most of the time after all). In that case, the toppy
> loses its time but goes back to standby without syncing time. Thus, any
> timers you have set beforehand do not fire.
>
> This can be solved by using a patched firmware (so called "Firebird
> power patch") which will turn the toppy on after power restore. A TAP
> can switch the toppy off after this occurs (PBK can do it also since
> v9.6).
>

[Ext User(mark)]

On Wed, 01 Mar 2006 09:16:35 +1100, Ian wrote:
> What I described occurred when the Toppy *was* in standby mode.
>
> To quote from the PBK features list:
>
> * ProgressBarKeys Manual Time Sync after Power Failure with Topfield
> switched on
> * ProgressBarKeys Manual Time Sync after Power Failure with Topfield in
> standby mode
>
> What I am saying is that PBK works as described, and the time
> recovered from a power failure when the unit was in standby mode.

Not sure exactly what you are thinking but the problem with the standard
toppy (with PBK loaded or not) is that, when in standby and a power
failure occurs, then the unit loses time and does not automatically
recover. Yes, if you manually turn the unit on then PBK will
automatically sync the time (that is the feature which your above second
item is about). Go and try it yourself.

As I said in my previous post there is now a patched firmware that can
overcome this problem.

[Ext User(pu)]

"bassett" <bassett@bassettskennel.com> wrote in message
news:44025fa9@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
>
> "Bernd Felsche" <bernie@innovative.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
> news:e83oc3x3oc.ln2@innovative.iinet.net.au...
> > "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,
[rest deleted]

This is why I run an UPS with my setup. But we still get the time problems
when in automatic. The next TopField should come out with ethernet instead
of USB so that the time can be gotten from true and tried time servers.

[Ext User(Bernd Felsche)]

"pu" <leejen666@hotmail.com> writes:
>"bassett" <bassett@bassettskennel.com> wrote in message
>> "Bernd Felsche" <bernie@innovative.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
>> > "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,

>This is why I run an UPS with my setup. But we still get the time
>problems when in automatic. The next TopField should come out with
>ethernet instead of USB so that the time can be gotten from true
>and tried time servers.

Alternatively mandate an accurate time signal on digital TV.
That'd work for everybody with a digital TV receiver; not just those
with access to a wired time server.

Makes one wonder how the ABC can get it right most of the time and
most of the commercials screw it up so badly, so often.
--
/"\ 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.

[Ext User(mark)]

On Wed, 17 May 2006 17:09:13 +0800, Bernd Felsche wrote:
> Makes one wonder how the ABC can get it right most of the time and
> most of the commercials screw it up so badly, so often.

Well the answer is obvious. Because they deliberately sabotage it (well
at least by conscious neglect). Having an accurate time signal
helps/encourages delayed viewing, i.e. add-skipping, which is the
anti-thesis of the "free to air" TV business model.

[Ext User(Fish! - THE Aristocrat.)]

In article <pan.2006.05.17.22.50.38.136353@nospam.org>, mark@nospam.org
says...
> On Wed, 17 May 2006 17:09:13 +0800, Bernd Felsche wrote:
> > Makes one wonder how the ABC can get it right most of the time and
> > most of the commercials screw it up so badly, so often.
>
> Well the answer is obvious. Because they deliberately sabotage it (well
> at least by conscious neglect). Having an accurate time signal
> helps/encourages delayed viewing, i.e. add-skipping, which is the
> anti-thesis of the "free to air" TV business model.
>
>


They did, now they don't. Stop complaining about crap.

[Ext User(mark)]

On Thu, 18 May 2006 13:10:39 +1000, Fish! - THE Aristocrat. wrote:
> In article <pan.2006.05.17.22.50.38.136353@nospam.org>, mark@nospam.org
> says...
>> On Wed, 17 May 2006 17:09:13 +0800, Bernd Felsche wrote:
>> > Makes one wonder how the ABC can get it right most of the time and
>> > most of the commercials screw it up so badly, so often.
>>
>> Well the answer is obvious. Because they deliberately sabotage it (well
>> at least by conscious neglect). Having an accurate time signal
>> helps/encourages delayed viewing, i.e. add-skipping, which is the
>> anti-thesis of the "free to air" TV business model.
>
> They did, now they don't. Stop complaining about crap.

Hey Fish, are you the timekeeper at Channel Nine? Explain yourself
you idiot.

[Ext User(Fish!)]

In article <pan.2006.05.18.23.02.09.668937@nospam.org>, mark@nospam.org
says...
> On Thu, 18 May 2006 13:10:39 +1000, Fish! - THE Aristocrat. wrote:
> > In article <pan.2006.05.17.22.50.38.136353@nospam.org>, mark@nospam.org
> > says...
> >> On Wed, 17 May 2006 17:09:13 +0800, Bernd Felsche wrote:
> >> > Makes one wonder how the ABC can get it right most of the time and
> >> > most of the commercials screw it up so badly, so often.
> >>
> >> Well the answer is obvious. Because they deliberately sabotage it (well
> >> at least by conscious neglect). Having an accurate time signal
> >> helps/encourages delayed viewing, i.e. add-skipping, which is the
> >> anti-thesis of the "free to air" TV business model.
> >
> > They did, now they don't. Stop complaining about crap.
>
> Hey Fish, are you the timekeeper at Channel Nine? Explain yourself
> you idiot.
>
>

You want an explanation from an idiot? As I said it's not a problem any
more, and if it was, then use a different channel to sync from.

You ARE using PBK right?

[Ext User(mark)]

On Fri, 19 May 2006 10:23:29 +1000, Fish! wrote:
> You want an explanation from an idiot?

You're right. I should have known better than to yell out at the idiot
running past with his underpants on his head.

> As I said it's not a problem any more, and if it was, then use a
> different channel to sync from.

Erm, all the stations stuff it up to varying degrees. And it is still a
problem.

> You ARE using PBK right?

Yes, but not for manual time sync. I used to, but the other problems
that are introduced are unbearable to me. Namely, that the toppy does
not use a configured GMT offset when operating in manual time so it
calculates it by subtracting broadcast time from manual time. It uses
this value to then bias the EPG data for display. Problem is, this calc
is out by the drift of your manual time clock - which results in times
like 7.28, 7.31 being displayed as program start times for example.

To the stations, please just fix the damn auto time!

[Ext User(Fish!)]

In article <pan.2006.05.19.04.18.41.252228@nospam.org>, mark@nospam.org
says...
> On Fri, 19 May 2006 10:23:29 +1000, Fish! wrote:
> > You want an explanation from an idiot?
>
> You're right. I should have known better than to yell out at the idiot
> running past with his underpants on his head.
>

Err you were the person who said it was sabotage.

> > As I said it's not a problem any more, and if it was, then use a
> > different channel to sync from.
>
> Erm, all the stations stuff it up to varying degrees. And it is still a
> problem.

Channel 2 rarely stuff it up, as in I can't remember when they stuffed
it up last.

The people on the forums at topfield would disagree.

> > You ARE using PBK right?
>
> Yes, but not for manual time sync. I used to, but the other problems
> that are introduced are unbearable to me. Namely, that the toppy does
> not use a configured GMT offset when operating in manual time so it
> calculates it by subtracting broadcast time from manual time. It uses
> this value to then bias the EPG data for display. Problem is, this calc
> is out by the drift of your manual time clock - which results in times
> like 7.28, 7.31 being displayed as program start times for example.
>

Try PBK auto on Channel 2, I used to use manual time but as you said it
drifts WAAAY to much.

> To the stations, please just fix the damn auto time!
>
>

[Ext User(mark)]

On Fri, 19 May 2006 15:24:19 +1000, Fish! wrote:
> Try PBK auto on Channel 2, I used to use manual time but as you said it
> drifts WAAAY to much.

I used to use channel 2.

So after all your debate, you actually agree with me!?