[Ninj]

Hi,

I appreciate this subject has been broached a lot but please bear with me with some specifics.

Im not overly happy with Sky+ at the moment for reasons various. So, Im loooking for an alternative to it, namely a twin receiver Freeview PVR.

Asside from the channel selection which will obviously vary from Sky, are there any good alternatives to it? Both in terms of PQ and functionality (pause live TV, playback, series link, OSD, EPG etc etc).

I note a lot is said about both Topfield and Humax PVRs, how do these compare to Sky+?

Lastly, how good is Top Up TV these days? I understand I need to use their PVR and they dont actually supply the full channel but programmes there of, but they look reasonably priced to me. Has anyone swapped?

In an ideal world, Id be looking at using a HTPC running media center to do the work of a PVR but not realy an option at the moment, perhaps a future idea though...............

Thanks for any advice, Ive read a lot of threads of late which is only convincing me to bin Sky.

Richie

edit: is there anyway to receive channels such as Living etc which arent currently available on freeview?

[Ninj]

Im looking at a Topfield 5800 as I fancy the idea of TAPs, couple of questions please.............

If you are watching a channel and wish to look ahead to see whats coming on the OSD, can you press an info buton to get information about that programme, without having to go into the EPG? This is something which my old cable used to do but Sky+ sadly doesnt.

Also, is there a button to skip back to the previously watched channel, ie, you watch chan1 then chan 6, can you skip back to 1 without having to either re type it or down chan 5 times?

Hope these make sense.

Rgds

Rich

[Lee_JTD]

if you press the info button, you just press the right arrow to get whats on next, and info again to get the decriprion.

And yes there is a button to skip back to the previous channel.

Ive had my 5800 a week and now wouldnt live without it!

[Ninj]

Thanks Lee,

Minor issues but they annoy me about Sky+. Was this your first or did you swap from Sky?

Im only paying 19quid a month for it but I think its days are numbered.

Anyone got any info about integrating the 5800 with a Harmony remote? Works nicely with Sky so no reason to doubt it wont go well with a Topfield.

Thanks again

Rich

[Lee_JTD]

first one.
With the TAPs if you dont like the way it functions the chances are theres a TAP available to change it to how you want.


Theres a thread on Toppy.org.uk about integation with harmony remotes. i assume they work from brief comments ive read in other threads, but dont have one so havent read it!

[Ninj]

Sorry forgot to ask, I read a review stating that if you are watching a programme and decide you actually wanted to record it, if you press record, it wont begin from the start, ie whats in the buffer.

Is this the case or was it addressed with a firmware/TAP update?

Cheers

Rich

[Lee_JTD]

assuming you have been on that channel since the program started (and within an hour) you go into timers an press the back button until is says 'current program' and then set the timer for the desired length.

If you just press record it records the next 2 hours of that channel, but doent automatically start from the beginning.

Im not on the latest firmware, but ive had no issues so far, and running without TAPs as i only want to install TAPs if theyre needed.

Can you tell i like reading manuals? lol

[Ninj]

Thanks again Lee.

Just having a play about with my in built Freeview and its actually not bad, prety certain a standalone PVr will be better in the PQ stakes.

Also certain the Toppy offers this but I assume you can stay watching a chan and look up and down chans/times to see whats on without leaving the channel?
The Samsung doesnt do this, you have to quit to the EPG.

Thanks
Rich

[Lee_JTD]

not exactly.

you have to go to the EPG, but sound continues and the picture is displayed in the top right corner. If you scroll down the channels in the EPG it still shows the current channel. Some reviews state the channel changes when you scroll though the EPG but this changed in a firmware update some time ago.

[Ninj]

Cheers Lee, I can live with that I reckon.

Rgds

Rich

[Off The Fence]

Just to add to the mix...

I have had Sky+ (upgraded to 160gb) for several years. About 3 weeks ago I picked up a (refurb) Humax 9600T (upgraded to freeview playback OTA) to complement the Sky+ box (it's currently sat underneath it).

I toyed with the idea of a Toppy, but I couldn't bring myself to pay the extra (I got the Humax for 129+delivery from humax direct). A colleague at work has the Toppy, toyed around with various TAPs, but ended up taking them off as the preloaded software works just fine (he's a *seriously* clued up applications software engineer himself, so I believe him).

As for the Humax, compared to Sky+, in summary, it's pretty good IMHO, not nearly as slick in the UI stakes (having to pull down the flap on the remote for single button access to the recorded program list, having to wait for the EPG to populate on power up, etc) but has some nice little touches (eg a dedicated 'skip forward 30 secs' button, decent search).

On the whole though, I'm happy with my purchase (especially at the price).

I think certain things would bug me coming from Sky+ if it was my *only* PVR though (but I'd wager that's true of any of the freeview PVRs).

Hope that helps

[Ninj]

Thanks OTF

Ive picked up a new 250gb Toppy so looking forward to trialling it.

I appreciate the point about the slickness of the Sky+, I suppose thats the product of many years of development but Im fairly peeved at them generally, I have a few minor irritations with it and £250 a year is still £250.

Ive picked up a couple of the more used TAPs to have a play with and see how I get on.

thanks again

Rich