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Topfield TF5800 PVR 250GB - Black finish | 
 enlarge | Brand: Topfield
Category: CE
Buy New: £188.00
New (3) Used (1) from £188.00
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 5883
Model: TF5800PVR 250GB BLACK
EAN: 5060160580182
ASIN: B000TSEOGE
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Digital Terrestial Receiver with 250gb Hard Drive. Black finish | | • | 2 Integral Digital Tuners | | • | Simultaneously play and record. Record 2 channels | | • | USB2.0 support for fast PC interface | | • | 2 years warranty included |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
# Topfield TF5800 PVR # Digital Terrestial Receiver with Hard Drive # Choice of 2 hard drive sizes # MPEG-2 digital and fully DVB compliant # 2 Digtial Tuners # Simultaneously play and record. Record 2 channels # Dual Decoding - Picture in Picture # USB2.0 support for fast PC interface # Time shift feature # Digital audio or Dolby AC-3 output via S/PDIF # Electronic Programme Guide # Smart card capable-card or cam not included # RGB and S-video output via scart. Composite out, S-video # Modulated RF output # Approx. 88 hours record time (160Gb) # WHD:340 x 60 x 265mm
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Not with a bargepole December 31, 2008
Conan Doyle (London, UK)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Although it has a reputation as a box which 'can be as complicated as you want', frankly it's just complicated.
Just getting BBC 1, 2 and Channels 4&5 to show in the logical places on the EPG (i.e. 1,2,4,5!) took a couple of hours and several firmware downloads from a geek site. It's a total pain.
If you like the idea of playing around with some little open source plug-in that someone on a set-top box fansite (!!) has built then this is the box for you - there are plenty of these gizmos around on the web although you have to get into 'Toppy' language too... they're called 'TAPs'.
If you just want to record programmes with a user-friendly device then look for something else!
 If you can work a PC, this is the best PVR on the market December 21, 2008
sarev_of_aona (UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Out of the box, this probably isn't a PVR to compete with the best of the rest because the UI and feature set is decidedly below par. BUT (and that's a big but) you can replace the UI, replace the firmware and add all sorts of features - just by connecting it to your PC and downloading stuff.
If you're still reading, then you clearly already understand the concept of downloading firmware updates for your consumer electronics. The Topfield (or Toppy) box has an open API for people to write not only new user interfaces for it, but they can write custom add-ons (called TAPs) which give you every feature you could ever dream of.
Because of this, the Toppy has a cult following of enthusiastic developers and a huge selection of user interfaces and cool features which no other PVR on the market can hope to emulate.
The only reasons I don't give this five stars are:
1. unless you can also work a PC with a little confidence, this isn't the best
2. there are still times when this box will crash
However, having designed and built digital set-top boxes and PVRs for years myself, I can safely say there isn't a single box on the market which doesn't crash occasionally or have the odd bug.
 Poor software December 16, 2008
Daniel (Devon, England)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Topfield has a bug which wipes and/or corrupts program recordings at random. This bug has been reported by other users since at least March 2005 but so far Topfield have done nothing to fix it. If you've saved a complete series be warned that you could lose it without warning - the recording will still be there but it could be missing the last five minutes or only contain the start of the program (in my case, the entire recent series of "Derren Brown" was lost).
The software also seems to be based on existing Freeview technology, as it shares some of the problems I've experienced with other, much cheaper set top boxes bought from Argos. For example, the Topfield freezes completely when turned to a radio channel - the only way to recover is rebooting.
It also freezes for around ten seconds after using text or tuning to certain channels (Sky News & Sports News at the moment). It very occasionally fails to record for no apparent reason - i.e. a regularly scheduled recording will work fine for four days, then fail on the fifth day (aka "Neighbours"). It also crashes about once a week.
I couldn't recommend the Topfield and would certainly never purchase one again.
 Enter the Rolls Royce of PVR November 8, 2008
Mrs. Carol A. Tutton
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
What can I say? Well, it's very expensive (come on man, it is). But you get what you pay for in this world. Not only does this thing work amazingly well, it also looks classy and just, well, works. It does everything it's supposed to do without a hitch. Picture quality is stunning (it slaughters my horrible Sky box) and build quality and features are just astounding. The TAP programs are an excellent thing too, I recently installed an Advent calender and my toppy is counting down the days to christmas lmao. Sure, it doesn't record Sky, but then you dont have to send freeview back and have a useless door stop sitting in your TV cabinet. I love how it can decode TUTV recordings too, up yours setanta !
However, be warned. I phoned TUTV to subscribe to a film channel and when they asked me what model PVR I had I said "Topfield 5800" at which point they became very cagey and refused to sell me a card. Next time I'll lie and tell them I have an inferior model that protects their precious recordings /rolls eyes. They gave me every excuse under the sun from - "your recorder's hard drive is different to others, so this card won't work" - BS. And then "your card slot is different to other PVR's" - BS.
A fantastic unit, and the addition of TAPs and MP3 support (and everything else it can do via the 3rd party apps) make this worth every single penny.
Well I did like it July 30, 2008
Cod (UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have owned my topfield for about 2 years. Read all the reviews and liked the idea of being able to record 2 programmes while watching a third. (I also own one of the old Paces really good but only 10 hours recording tv space) Someone said that it fundementally changes the way you watch TV and it does. however tonight It died. (dont know why and I will keep you up to date) it is swiching on off on off changing to run and back again. I cannot get it to do anything and cannot access any of my cherished recordings including both series of Heroes - I am gutted. I do think that this is a great and simple toy (I dont understand the stuff about TAP's) but if it cannot be repaired I think it is expensive for only 2 years wear (the pace is 6 years + and still going strong).
I am going to contact the supplier tomorrow but if anyone has any helpful suggestions I will be very gratful
Update Dec 08 - the good news is that it started working again and seems to be fine. dont know what the problem was.
I am thinking about investing in the new 50gb set for upstairs but have to admit I dont understand the reviews what are Taps? and are they essentail?? this one seems to have worked fine without as far as i can tell
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