Which is best-TopfieldTF5800 or Digifusion FVRT200?

[ALIEN1X]

Hi,

Which is the best Freeview PVR - The Topfield TF5800 or Digifussion FVRT200?

Regards
Alien1x

[rhubarbe]

Topfield. No question.

[Lunar Humps]

The Digifusion has known quality issues. Mine packed up last week with similar symptoms to many others on this hallowed portal. No response yet received to my email sent to Fusion last week. Its now been replaced with a Humax which, so far, seems very good, although the manual is rubbish.

Whatever you get, avoid the Digifusion.

[LV426]

Topfield: Hardware robust, software pretty stable, features second to none, especially if you customise it with freely available add-on software (TAPs).

Fusion: Stable and forgiving software; hardware probably not very robust, but my suspicion is that many failures are overheat related due to installations with insufficient ventilation

Humax: Software is not as stable as Fusion and is lacking some fairly standard PVR features; fixes are promised, but are slow in coming

[BT@HOME]

If you have the ability to update it with taps then the topfiled is probably more flexible.

If you want something that works out of the box, then the fusion is probably a more friendly solution.

BTW: I have had a fusion for about 2 years now and its still working fine. A friend has a topfield and is very happy with it aswell.

[balders]

I don't think you can say that the Topfield is best "without question" (rhubarbe) - it really depends what the requirements are on the machine.

I've had a Digifusion FVRT150 for about 18 months now without any major problems - the odd lock up cured by restarting, but that's about it. Although it's not extensible in the same way as the Toppy, it's benefit is that it's very easy for the whole family to use.

I also bought a FVRT145 (? - the Argos one) for my grandparents recently after their video starting going wrong. Despite being almost 90, they're using it like pros now and haven't had any problems.

I've never used the Topfield, and don't know anyone with one, so can't really comment on it, but if you just want an easy-to-use, hassle-free, video replacement, the Digifusion is well worth considering.

Balders.

[Richard46]

The digifusion 200 (but not I believe the other fusions) has aspect ratio switching problems. A friend has one and have seen the problems myself; not on many channels but annoying. What is really annoying is that digifusion obviously have SoftWare cure but have not released it.

Richard

[LV426]

Is IS annoying, and the wait for a fix is frustrating. But, like the other "bugs" with the Fusion, it is fairly easily worked around and isn't fatal to the recording.

[Drd]

And as has been said a few times by others,at least the FVRT200 can be reasonably relied on to record a program in the first place

[awhb]

Originally Posted by Drd

And as has been said a few times by others,at least the FVRT200 can be reasonably relied on to record a program in the first place

True. However, other than failed hardware support, there have been no (that's zero, nada, rien, b* all) software updates for this model since it was released almost a year ago and it looks pretty certain now that there aren't going to be any (even the vague "soon" promisies we've been hearing almost monthly since last September have died away to silence now).

So whilst it sort of does what it says on the tin, the compressed/extended play doesn't work (crashes the machine) - which I'm surprised they can get away with under Advertising Standards regulations - the left/right audio is reversed and it can't display 14:9 - so forget about ITV3 & 4 and some BBC and C4/E4 programming unless you like your pictures squashed!

--awhb

[rhubarbe]

Originally Posted by balders

I don't think you can say that the Topfield is best "without question" (rhubarbe) - it really depends what the requirements are on the machine.

Sure, I know2 there are people who like the Fusion a lot. But the questiom was which is best.

My family can all use the Toppy like falling off a log (we don't run any TAPs and have never felt we needed to, so let's knock that old chestnut on the head).

If they want a film archiving to DVD I just move ot to the PC via USB and burn it.

Flexible, reliable, easy to use, rock solid hardware, frequent factory FW updates and third party software development: Nigel & co at www.toopy.org.uk.

Want more?

[ALIEN1X]

Hi,
Posted this question after being confused reading -reviews in various AV mags.The latest review gave the Digifussion top marks, but online forums give the Toppy good marks.

All I want is a freeview box that can record with plenty of options, the ability to transfer to DVD etc. But I rather by the best which will last for years to come and cope with changing technogy.

Its either a freeview PVR (the best) or Sony 910 HDD+DVD.

Regards
Alinex

[rhubarbe]

Doesn't that Sony:

1 Only have one digital tuner?

2 Cost a fortune?

I shouldn't take much notice of airy-fairy magazine reviews. Go rather with the opinions of the guys that actually have paid out their own hard cash. There's nowt like having spent some brass to concentrate the mind.

[BT@HOME]

Originally Posted by awhb

So whilst it sort of does what it says on the tin, the compressed/extended play doesn't work (crashes the machine)

Now thats simply not true. I've used compression before on the 200 and it didn;t crash the box. My other 150 has compression set to lots of recordings and has never crashed.

[LV426]

From what I read, use of compression CAN in some cases, cause corruption on the HDD which the Fusion reacts to by wiping the entire thing. However, it's easily worked around; just don't use it. For this reason, I never use EP or LP on mine.