Topfield 5810 or HUMAX PVR9300T

[raddo]

Hello there,

Could someone advise me whether there is any point going after the more expensive PVR (Topfiels5810) or I should just stick with HUMAX 9300?

Do I get anything extra apart from the brand name?

And also are there on the market PVRS with twin tuners receiving HD?

Thanks

Rado

 

[grahamlthompson]

The Topfield pvr gives you the option of making it work how you want by using free add ons called TAPS. In addition it can archive recordings via usb to a PC to allow you to watch programes on a PC and convert them to other formats (mp4 for example for mobile devices) and burn dvds in the original quality they were transmitted in.

THere are no commercially available non recording Freeview HD boxes avaliable yet (pvrs are some months away). The first non recording Freeview HD box is likely to be the £170.00 pound one from Humax due very shortly.

If you want a twin tuner HD pvr without a subscription then Freesat+ is the only choice at the moment. (BBC HD and ITV 1 HD)

 

[raddo]

I prefer to have the ability to download films to my PC, therefore the option would be Topfiels5810. I did not spot that USB difference earlier. Thanks for the info.

Rado

 

[Tatra-Man]

I prefer the Topfield because of the ability to load alternative software (TAPs) and hence better EPGs for instance.

It used to be true that the Topfield was quieter but whether Humax have quieter fans now I don't know.

 

[grahamlthompson]

I prefer the Topfield because of the ability to load alternative software (TAPs) and hence better EPGs for instance.

It used to be true that the Topfield was quieter but whether Humax have quieter fans now I don't know.

The latest Humax boxes have a mod that only runs the fan if it's actually needed. Under normal usage conditions in practice that means the fans only run for a few seconds at boot up. My Toppy 5800 (an early one) does not have a fan.