Connecting DVD Recorder to Topfield 5810?

Sab · 26-02-2009, 9:06 PM

I have recently bought a Topfield 5810 PVR. I already own a Pioneer DVD recorder that is nearly five years old and produces poor quality recordings.

The Toppy is big upgrade for picture and ease of use.

My question is: how do I connect the Toppy to my Pioneer 420 DVD recorder to archive recordings onto DVD?

The salesman said it was possible.

I am sorry if this question has been asked before.

**Gavtech** · 26-02-2009, 9:41 PM

The convention is to connect a [fully wired] scart from the TV scart output of the PVR [ because this is the only socket that outputs RGB ] ... and feed it into the the secondary scart of the DVDR - which is conventionally AV2.

Select AV2 as the source on the DVDR and record.

creddish · 27-02-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavtech

The convention is to connect a [fully wired] scart from the TV scart output of the PVR [ because this is the only socket that outputs RGB ] ... and feed it into the the secondary scart of the DVDR - which is conventionally AV2.

Select AV2 as the source on the DVDR and record.

You would of course need another Scart lead from the TV output of the DVDR to the TV in order to monitor the recording and at other times feed the output of the PVR to the TV.

Colin

aekostas · 27-02-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creddish

You would of course need another Scart lead from the TV output of the DVDR to the TV in order to monitor the recording and at other times feed the output of the PVR to the TV.

I presume they may already have the DVDR conected to the TV; there is no change required to this connection.

Gavtech, I started writing all that you wrote but realised that the TF5810 also has HDMI out. If one is using this connection to the TV, does the TF5810 also output to SCART?

**Gavtech** · 27-02-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aekostas

Gavtech, I started writing all that you wrote but realised that the TF5810 also has HDMI out. If one is using this connection to the TV, does the TF5810 also output to SCART?

It is certainly something that would require consideration.
I cannot check this point because a manual does not seem to be available for download yet for this model.

It has been found with some other equipment, that switching the TV away from the HDMI input for any given HDMI input, releases the HDMI interface for that piece of equipment, and thereafter it allows the RGB signal, [ that would otherwise be used to feed into the HDMI transmission system] to be free again to feed to the scart output.

So if a user was monitoring the output of the recorder [ either via another HDMI or scart input ] then hopefully the HDMI interface of the source device would be free and would deliver the RGB out via scart.

If not, then it may require some menu switching ... or even [ surely not!] disconnection of the HDMI lead.

grahamlthompson · 27-02-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aekostas

I presume they may already have the DVDR conected to the TV; there is no change required to this connection.

Gavtech, I started writing all that you wrote but realised that the TF5810 also has HDMI out. If one is using this connection to the TV, does the TF5810 also output to SCART?

Pretty sure that I read somewhere it does but for some reason it's not recommended to connect both hdmi and scart to the same TV. In this case that's clearly not an issue. Some poorly screened hdmi leads have been known to cause interference with scart leads though, may be that's the source of the advice. In any case it's questionable whether the hdmi will give a better picture than RGB scart with a TV with a decent scaler. In the case of the OP I would try using a RGB scart rather than hdmi and given the same (or better) picture use the rgb scart chain as posted.

aekostas · 27-02-2009, 4:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavtech

It is certainly something that would require consideration.
I cannot check this point because a manual does not seem to be available for download yet for this model.

Incredible!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavtech

It has been found with some other equipment, that switching the TV away from the HDMI input for any given HDMI input, releases the HDMI interface for that piece of equipment, and thereafter it allows the RGB signal, [ that would otherwise be used to feed into the HDMI transmission system] to be free again to feed to the scart output.

So this means that, potentially, if one switches accidentally the TV to the HDMI input, the recording through the SCART will be interrupted, wasting (or even worse spoiling) the recording?

Wonderful.

Sab · 28-02-2009, 8:53 AM

I have connected the Toppy via HDMI to my Octavia HDMI switch box and the switch box is connected to the TV. My DVD recorder only has scart connections.

Am I right in thinking that the Toppy cannot output HDMI and scart at the same time?

I think that is what you have all been saying.

If so, how can I record?

Will the recording - if successful - go the DVD recorder's hard disk?

grahamlthompson · 28-02-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sab

I have connected the Toppy via HDMI to my Octavia HDMI switch box and the switch box is connected to the TV. My DVD recorder only has scart connections.

Am I right in thinking that the Toppy cannot output HDMI and scart at the same time?

I think that is what you have all been saying.

If so, how can I record?

Will the recording - if successful - go the DVD recorder's hard disk?

I think it can, why not just try it ?

Hal_loe · 28-02-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavtech

It is certainly something that would require consideration.
I cannot check this point because a manual does not seem to be available for download yet for this model.

A pre-release copy of the manual has been available for download in the documents section of the Toppy.org.uk website since before release.

See HERE for documents section of Toppy.org.uk website.

Hope that helps.

**Gavtech** · 28-02-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal_loe

A pre-release copy of the manual has been available for download in the documents section of the Toppy.org.uk website since before release.

See HERE for documents section of Toppy.org.uk website.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Phil

I'll have a look at that.
I had looked on the Topfield site where it is not yet listed.

Sab · 28-02-2009, 2:02 PM

I have connected the way as described but no Freeview is running on my DVDR.However I can play back stuff recorded on the DVDR's hard disk.

I have connected RF loop output from the Toppy to the DVDR but still no Freeview via DVDR.

Is this meant to happen or is there something wrong?

grahamlthompson · 28-02-2009, 2:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sab

I have connected the way as described but no Freeview is running on my DVDR.However I can play back stuff recorded on the DVDR's hard disk.

I have connected RF loop output from the Toppy to the DVDR but still no Freeview via DVDR.

Is this meant to happen or is there something wrong?

To access the Toppys RF output you need to tune the DVDR's analogue tuner on a spare channel to the Toppy's modulator uhf channel nos. It's not going to give you a very good picture and only mono sound though. Don't you get a recording with a scart connection from the 5810 using AV as the recording source on the DVDR ?

In any case the best way to make dvd backups is to connect the Toppy to a computer using USB and copy the recorded data straight to the computer to make dvd's. This way the data remains digital throughout and does not get degraded by multiple conversions. (Digital to analogue in the Toppy, Analogue to digital and back to mpeg2 in the DVDR)

aekostas · 01-03-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sab

I have connected the way as described but no Freeview is running on my DVDR.However I can play back stuff recorded on the DVDR's hard disk.

Not sure what you mean by "no Freeview is running". Connecting via SCART will not provide a Freeview tuner for the DVDR. It will provide it with an additional input on AV2.

So after connecting via SCART, switch on the Toppy and the DVDR and tune the DVDR to AV2. Set your TV to watch the DVDR; do you see it?

If that doesn't work, switch everything off, remove the HDMI cable from the Toppy (not the SCART) and try again. Do you see it?

Sab · 01-03-2009, 12:42 PM

Thanks for your help.

A forum member had , I think, given incorrect advice.

After I had connected the VCR scart output from the Toppy - rather than the TV scart output as wrongly advised- everything was fine. I can now ' see ' the Freeeview channels on my DVDR.

I am going to buy a new 5m USB cable from Maplins. As I have been advised this is the best way of transferring the recordings in the Toppy's hard disk to DVD.

Also can I do all software and hardware updates via USB with the help of a laptop?

grahamlthompson · 01-03-2009, 2:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sab

Thanks for your help.

A forum member had , I think, given incorrect advice.

After I had connected the VCR scart output from the Toppy - rather than the TV scart output as wrongly advised- everything was fine. I can now ' see ' the Freeeview channels on my DVDR.

Also can I do all software and hardware updates via USB with the help of a laptop?

The advice you were given was correct if your DVD recorder can record RGB then this is the best signal and is only available on the TV scart. The vcr scart can only output s-video or composite both inferior to RGB with S-video being the best. To use S-video you have to change the vcr scart output in the menus. You can update the firmware over usb. Puzzled how you might think you can update the hardware over USB, it's very difficult to send actual components over a piece of wire

For firmware upgrades and TAPs see here

Welcome to Toppy.org.uk

5m might be pushing it a bit for a reliable usb transfer, by all means try it but if you get unreliable transfers it's lilkely the usb lead is to long.

Tip for faster usb transfers put your Toppy in games mode before transferring.

Sab · 01-03-2009, 4:49 PM

Would a 3m USB A to B cable be better for transfers?

I am not really an expert with computers - I just know how to use one!

grahamlthompson · 01-03-2009, 5:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sab

Would a 3m USB A to B cable be better for transfers?

I am not really an expert with computers - I just know how to use one!

Can't really tell without trying it. I use a laptop and a 1M cable with my Toppy and that works flawlessly. Sure if you join Toppy.org someone who has tried it will let you know.

aekostas · 01-03-2009, 8:56 PM

My vote too for RGB, as available only from the TV scart out. HDMI offers you nothing on an SD device like the Toppy; disconnect it, check the manual in case menus need set so as to favour SCART over HDMI and enjoy!

**Gavtech** · 02-03-2009, 6:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sab

After I had connected the VCR scart output from the Toppy - rather than the TV scart output as wrongly advised- everything was fine. I can now ' see ' the Freeeview channels on my DVDR.

This suggests you are either not using a fully wired scart or your DVDR is not configured for RGB input.

Can you specify your DVDR model number?

aekostas · 02-03-2009, 9:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavtech

Can you specify your DVDR model number?

(Sab's first posting says "Pioneer" and "420"; is it sufficient to define the model?)

**Gavtech** · 02-03-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aekostas

(Sab's first posting says "Pioneer" and "420"; is it sufficient to define the model?)

Thanks aekostas... Yes it is.

Sab: You need to set the input of your DVD recorder to accept RGB.

You will find the detail of the setting you need to change [ AV2/L1 In] on page 102 Column 2 of your manual. [ Then connect scart to the TV output of Sky ]

Changing this setting will give you a considerable improvement in recording quality.

Sab · 02-03-2009, 7:52 PM

I am pretty sure that the DVDR: Pioneer DVR-420H was already set to RGB.

I can now ' see ' all the Freeview channels but I will use the USB cable to transfer recordings onto DVDs as advised.

**Gavtech** · 02-03-2009, 9:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sab

I am pretty sure that the DVDR: Pioneer DVR-420H was already set to RGB.

It may be ... but you will not get RGB from the VCR scart ...as was explained earlier. So if you get no signal by that route ... and the machine is set to accept RGB , then the conclusion is that you are not using a fully wired scart.

aekostas · 03-03-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavtech

It may be ... but you will not get RGB from the VCR scart ...as was explained earlier. So if you get no signal by that route ... and the machine is set to accept RGB , then the conclusion is that you are not using a fully wired scart.

...or that the HDMI connection interferes?