22 replies to this topic

[loppy]

I am looking at purchasing and I  was wondering which one to get.  I was looking at either one of the toppys either:

http://www.itopfield...ail.asp?idx=237

http://www.itopfield....asp?idx=251opu

Now I have a couple of questions:

I was reading the manual for the 7150 but what I wanted to know was whether you can add extra time to the beginning and end for the timer recordings or does it have a padding feature.  Also would 500 g be enough disk space for recordings.  I mainly tape the odd high def recording  bit and a fair of sd.

Or would I be better off getting the 7160 or would this be overkill.  




Thanks in advance


Loppy

[loppy]

Sorry this link works.

http://www.itopfield...ail.asp?idx=251

[RussellOz]

loppy, on Sep 26 2011, 05:33 PM, said:

Sorry this link works.

http://www.itopfield...ail.asp?idx=251

Hi Loppy
I have a 7160 - it certainly has front-end and tail-end padding
and at $350 at Dick Smiths I find it an excellent purchase

[prl]

loppy, on Sep 26 2011, 05:30 PM, said:

... I wanted to know was whether you can add extra time to the beginning and end for the timer recordings or does it have a padding feature.  ...

That's what people usually mean by having a padding feature; adding extra time to the end (and sometimes the beginning) of all timer recordings. When I had a Topfield 7000, it could only pad the end, not the beginning. That may have changed, or there may be TAPs (user-programmed add-on features) that add padding at the start, but the 7050 can't be extended with TAPs.

The 7050 is a single-tuner PVR; the 7160 is dual tuner. I wouldn't have a single-tuner PVR as my only recorder (I have one dual-tuner and one single tuner, and occasionally that's not enough). The 7160 also has double the HDD capacity (500GB vs 250GB). Standard definition TV is about 2-3GB/hr; HD is about double that.

[loppy]

Hi again pri,


I actually meant the toppy 7150 and not the 7050.  But in any case I think I will get the 7160.



Thanks again



Loppy

[loppy]

RussellOz, on Sep 26 2011, 05:49 PM, said:

Hi Loppy
I have a 7160 - it certainly has front-end and tail-end padding
and at $350 at Dick Smiths I find it an excellent purchase w

Yes this looks the goods, but does the 7160 do chaseplay.

[prl]

loppy, on Sep 26 2011, 07:49 PM, said:

Hi again pri,


I actually meant the toppy 7150 and not the 7050.  But in any case I think I will get the 7160.

...

The 7150 is Freeview badged - no ad skip and you can't copy recordings off, so good choice IMO

[deangelj]

loppy, on Sep 26 2011, 09:00 PM, said:

Yes this looks the goods, but does the 7160 do chaseplay.

Yes it can

[loppy]

I was still thinking of getting the 7160.  Also does it automatically name the program from the epg?  Also I was thinking of getting the Panasonic dvd recorder.

http://www.jbhifionl...hd-tuner/666961.

Like do many people archive to dvd anymore?  I already have a sd dvd recorder and I was thinking of connecting the pvr (7160) to the dvd recorder and archiving the odd show.  I have read the manual for  the 7160 and it says that you can also offload recordings to usb.  

Is this way practical or would I be best to get the panasonic and get the all in one product?



Regards


Stephen

[100945]

Quote

Also does it automatically name the program from the epg?

Yes

You can also move recordings off a 7160 via a LAN as well as a USB drive.

[Puss in Books]

loppy, on 10 May 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

I was still thinking of getting the 7160.  Also does it automatically name the program from the epg?  Also I was thinking of getting the Panasonic dvd recorder.

Yes, it does name the program from the EPG.  However, it doesn't work properly when using the IR functionality.

loppy, on 10 May 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

Is this way practical or would I be best to get the panasonic and get the all in one product?

I copy via LAN to the PC, edit out adds with VideoRedo and then burn to DVD or just store on NAS.

[deangelj]

Puss in Books, on 11 May 2012 - 09:30 AM, said:

Yes, it does name the program from the EPG.  However, it doesn't work properly when using the IR functionality.

It will work with IR if you run my IRRename TAP.

[audiohobbs]

Since my lovely old Toppy 5000MP went unreliable on us, I went and picked up a Toppy 7160. Initially, I had hoped to be able to use it with IceTV which I already have for a Wiz DP-P1; alas that seems to not be an option - unless someone knows differently? No worries, I can make do with the FTA EPG and the IR function should help a bit, too.

And IR is good - for some things... One thing it isn't good for, though is the AFL season. Since every game is called something like "AFL: Team A v Team B" the IR constantly looks for that title specifically. If IR could be trained to look for "AFL:" only then I figure it should do what I need it to. Does anyone have some way of editing the title that IR looks for, perchance....?

Any information gratefully received.

Cheers


Other than that, the only slightly worrying thing is that the 7160 does not always switch off after a recording like the 5000 used to. I think this happens when switching off during a recording and answering "No" to the "Do you really want to switch off" prompt. My only

[Paul55]

Don't have a 7160, but have some suggestions based on my 2400.
When you get the ''do you want to switch off'' question - just leave it unanswered. The machine will shut down after recording.
The 7160 and 7170 Toppies aren't IceTV compatible. The 2400 and 2460 are the ''Ice'' models.
I assume you used TAPs on the 5000MP. There are plenty of TAPs available for the TMS models including one called TMSAutoschedule, which, according to users is a big improvement over the built in IR.
There is a mine of information about TAPs on the forum at www.itopfield.com.au - you will need to join the forum in order to read the entries, but they are a friendly bunch of contributors in my experience. Even if you don't want to install any TAPs, there are threads about how IR works.

[audiohobbs]

Hi, Paul,

Thanks for that, I will look up TMS autoschedule and see what it does. I did run TAPs on the 5000 MP and some of them were excellent, too. Hopefully this TAP will do what I want it to.

The other thing I have a problem with is the editing of files. I used PBK on the 5000 and it handled trimming files very nicely. Is there a similar file editing function for TMS machines? I have jdaSkip running and it does a good job of skipping through files a few mins at a time but it is set to use the colour buttons on the remote, just like the SD machine used to. Alas, these are also the editing keys and I cannot get to use them unless (I think) I re-assign some functions to some other keys.

I suppose I could look at assigning my Harmony remote to include some user-defined keys in order to perform editing functions. The downside to this is that I can only use the commands that Toppy have on their remote to do the edit - I would still have to re-assign keys, I think.

I am still getting to grips with this machine yet; any help or suggestions for setup gratefully received.

Cheers,

[Paul55]

I use jdaskip as well and it is configured to use the Red/Green/Yellow/Blue keys - a la 5000 - but can still top and tail recordings using the process described in the manual.
Though to be honest, it's been ages since I've bothered and I can't even remember the steps. I just skip through to find the start of the show and then hit stop. When I want to watch the program later I select it, press OK and it starts at the last watched position. Pressing the Play button starts from the beginning of the file. But I'm a watch and delete user.
Just be aware that FF/REW won't work on a trimmed file but jdaskip does. To do with the way recording info is stored in a separate file (instead of in the .rec file on the 5000).

[deangelj]

I have to agree with Paul - I no longer trim files - just watch and delete. With the big disks you can get these days you can store a lot...

As for using the standard keys for trimming, make sure you have the jdaSkip option "Reserve standard keys..." set to "yes" and make sure you're using v2.4f or later of jdaSkip.

[cwt]

audiohobbs, on 01 June 2012 - 02:31 PM, said:

I am still getting to grips with this machine yet; any help or suggestions for setup gratefully received.

I am in the habit of trimming files too mate [ hard habit to break and saves bringing up the continuing or beginning option when playing a file back ] and run jdaskip and autoscheduler ; great taps   The tmstimer tap works very well with  autoscheduler ;with the small font selected you can have an estimated 30+ timers  listed on 1 page . Not to mention identified as an intell record timer or an autoscheduler timer . The other must have tap imho is justepg ; to bring up 12 configurable channels covering all prime time shows and to skip to the next day with 2 button presses is the ducks guts ; the standard  epg cant come close..

Ive reassigned my jdaskip buttons right with the transport buttons[ << is now skip back and >> is skip forward on my harmony ] totally intuitive with the coloured buttons up the top out the way.Another very good tap is quickplay tms . Using it allows you to delete a trimmed file while its playing ;otherwise you have to stop it . It also lets you pause a trimmed file ; functionality the 2400 at least cant manage .. Many more taps to look at and you can download them using taptodate [some are in German though -_- ] Have fun

[audiohobbs]

Hi, folks,

I am starting to get to grips with my 7160 now, although it has chopped the start from some programmes for some reason. Still looking into that.

The TMS Schedule TAP, though, is very good overall. I have noticed, though, that if you specify a range of channels for a search - eg C7 -> 7 Mate - there are times when more than one schedule for the programme is picked up. This happens on C7 channels, but not C10 as far as I can tell to date;  it certainly does not happen on ABC. Does anyone else see this?

I have got to grips with editing sections from files, too, so thanks for that, folks.

Cheers.

[Megilu]

I am so disillusioned, I purchased a Topfield 7160 today, thinking I could record Foxtel on it, along with the FTA..My Foxtel(Austar) box is one labelled Austar Flinders..Disappointed is not the word..I was recording Austar on my DVDR which doesn't show FTA  HD  channels,One,7Mate,Gem etc..
Someone PLEASE tell this old lady IF there is something I can do to watch AND record Foxtel on my new Topfield 7160??

[Paul55]

Sorry Megilu, not good news. You can't record from your Fox box to the 7160. To do so requires a set of analog inputs - like you have on your DVR.
In my opinion, by far the best way to record Fox is to get the IQ. If you're determined not to, then you'll need a PVR with analog inputs. The Topfield models with this facility are the 2400 & 2460. The 2400 can be had for around $450. Still recommend the IQ as the simplest and quickest easy to record Fox. Likewise the PVR with free to air TV.

[Megilu]

Paul55, on 07 July 2012 - 05:20 PM, said:

Sorry Megilu, not good news. You can't record from your Fox box to the 7160. To do so requires a set of analog inputs - like you have on your DVR.
In my opinion, by far the best way to record Fox is to get the IQ. If you're determined not to, then you'll need a PVR with analog inputs. The Topfield models with this facility are the 2400 & 2460. The 2400 can be had for around $450. Still recommend the IQ as the simplest and quickest easy to record Fox. Likewise the PVR with free to air TV.

Thank you Paul, if they will let me return it, then I will keep what I have,(the LG for some time)the only thing I can't do with the LGDR386D,is record the HD channels..Looks like I will have to keep buying DVD's to record on :-(

Edited by Megilu, 07 July 2012 - 05:44 PM.

[prl]

Megilu, on 07 July 2012 - 04:10 PM, said:

I am so disillusioned, I purchased a Topfield 7160 today, thinking I could record Foxtel on it, along with the FTA..My Foxtel(Austar) box is one labelled Austar Flinders..Disappointed is not the word..I was recording Austar on my DVDR which doesn't show FTA  HD  channels,One,7Mate,Gem etc..
Someone PLEASE tell this old lady IF there is something I can do to watch AND record Foxtel on my new Topfield 7160??

Unfortunately, you can't record Foxtel from a standard Austar box to a 7160, or view Foxtel through it.

You need a PVR with an analog A/V input, like the Topfield 2400 or 2460, or the Beyonwiz DP-P2. PVRs that can do this are unusual, though Beyonwiz has an add-on (LiDiC) that allow models other than the DP-P2 to record from analog, but it only works with Beyonwiz products.

Did you ask the salesperson whether you could record Foxtel on it and were told it could? If you did, you probably have grounds to return or exchange it.

An alternative would be to get an Austar MyStar or MyStarHD box that is itself a recorder (for Foxtel only).

Edited by prl, 07 July 2012 - 06:17 PM.