Homecast HS 5101

[fortyniner]

Has anyone got any input on the Homecast HS 5101 HD Receiver please? I gather they have good reviews but seem not to be available in the UK. Available from Germany for less than the cost of a Humax.

[fortyniner]

How does everyone watch HD content then? Seems to me that FTA satellite is the way to go and it is shame not to watch BBC HD for free.
Have given up waiting and ordered one today. I will post an update when I have it up and running and have received the new HD set!

[markbigears]

Stainway used to have one, but has now switched over to a Toppy 7700. Give him a shout for advice.

[stainway]

Yes I had also Humax 2000.
Homecast was better then the Humax-very good upscale and fast zapping.

The reason I got the Topfield now is because Topfield has the great future to switch automatically between 576i and 1080i via HDMI. Homecast can't output 576i via HDMI, but all channels (SD and HD) looks very good at 1080i.

However it was great receiver and with the latest software updates is getting better and better. You can get the latest firmware here:
http://www.marcush.de/hdtv-receiver/

Have fun with it.

[nuku22]

Originally Posted by stainway

Yes I had also Humax 2000.
Homecast was better then the Humax-very good upscale and fast zapping.

The reason I got the Topfield now is because Topfield has the great future to switch automatically between 576i and 1080i via HDMI. Homecast can't output 576i via HDMI, but all channels (SD and HD) looks very good at 1080i.

However it was great receiver and with the latest software updates is getting better and better. You can get the latest firmware here:
http://www.marcush.de/hdtv-receiver/

Have fun with it.

WHICH RECEIVER HAS BETTER PICTURE QUALITY IN SD/HD,HOMECAST OR TOPFIELD? .THIS WILL HELP ME MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH HD RECEIVER TO BUY.

[nuku22]

stainway,where are you?

[stainway]

Originally Posted by nuku 22

WHICH RECEIVER HAS BETTER PICTURE QUALITY IN SD/HD,HOMECAST OR TOPFIELD? .THIS WILL HELP ME MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH HD RECEIVER TO BUY.

It depends on the screen you are using-if your plasma/LCD has good de-interlacer then I would say Topfield, because it can output 576i for SD channels.
Some screens are not good with this signal or are having problems-Panasonic PX/PV60 gives blue faces at 576i with the Topfield.
Homecast is better with upscale-at 1080i SD and HD channels looks very good.

Also Homecast can output RGB/HDM and component signal simultaneously-the Topfield can't.

For my needs Topfield perform better, but once again it depends on your screen.

[nuku22]

thanks for your reply mate,i have the panasonic 42px60, and based on your explanation i think i will be going for the homecast receiver.will be ordering it from germany sometimes next week.

[fortyniner]

I did order / receive mine from satfuchs. Speed of delivery was excellent (2 days!) and you can pay by Paypal, although they don't make this clear during the order process.

I am pleased so far but am still in the process of buying the 1080p TV! I have updated both firmware and Channel List with no issues. Also understand that this is a whole lot quicker than doing the same thing on a Humax. Can't comment on the Topfield but I think this is more expensive.

[stainway]

Originally Posted by fortyniner

I did order / receive mine from satfuchs. Speed of delivery was excellent (2 days!) and you can pay by Paypal, although they don't make this clear during the order process.

I am pleased so far but am still in the process of buying the 1080p TV! I have updated both firmware and Channel List with no issues. Also understand that this is a whole lot quicker than doing the same thing on a Humax. Can't comment on the Topfield but I think this is more expensive.

Yes the Homecast is very fast zapper too. Did you try the latest beta firmware? It should give even better pic then the 1.10.0A