Our VCR finally died and I think its the perfect time to replace it with a PVR for my wife's birthday.
We have a HD STB already hooked up to our plasma, so I don't want to replace that for normal viewing. So I think a single tuner SD PVR should provide all I need.
Do all the single tuner PVRs have basically all the same features. I've done a search and they all seem pretty much the same.
Any thoughts?
Full Version: Finally, the VCR died
QUOTE (Zac @ May 26 2005, 11:38 AM)
Our VCR finally died and I think its the perfect time to replace it with a PVR for my wife's birthday.
We have a HD STB already hooked up to our plasma, so I don't want to replace that for normal viewing. So I think a single tuner SD PVR should provide all I need.
Do all the single tuner PVRs have basically all the same features. I've done a search and they all seem pretty much the same.
Any thoughts?
We have a HD STB already hooked up to our plasma, so I don't want to replace that for normal viewing. So I think a single tuner SD PVR should provide all I need.
Do all the single tuner PVRs have basically all the same features. I've done a search and they all seem pretty much the same.
Any thoughts?
Get a Topfield
Yeah, I'm thinking I wish I had a wife that was into electronics 
if u only want/need a single tuner I would recommend a digicrystal or wintel very good for the $
QUOTE (bobster05 @ May 26 2005, 12:22 PM)
if u only want/need a single tuner I would recommed a digicrstal or wintel very good for the $
So the stop playback bug isn't that bad? Don't really have a feeling for how problematic it is from the other topics. Interested as have some friends wanting a budget PVR.
If your wife records a lot of TV then a PVR will get them into electronics. Bought a Topfield for my GF (didn't know what to get her and I wanted one
) and she loves it. I knew she would as she records HEAPS of stuff and was forever mucking around with Tapes.VCR is new and in good condition but hasn't been used since she finished watching her taped recordings and hasn't been plugged in for a year! If you can pay the extra go the Toppy. My 2c
Rob
Another vote for the Toppy.
Few bucks more, but money well spent - I doubt you'd regret it.
Black Panther edition can't be too far away (due in June?) Might be some bargains to be had on the older model.
Cliff
Few bucks more, but money well spent - I doubt you'd regret it.
Black Panther edition can't be too far away (due in June?) Might be some bargains to be had on the older model.
Cliff
Hi Zac, Have a read of the All Questions Answered for some thoughts on buying a Toppy and Toppy issues.
My Dad has a similar setup to yours and I ended up recommending the cheapest Wintal box ($about 300 I think) It has one tuner but is pretty simple to record and playback stuff - you just definately need a second tuner (ie your HD STB box) to be able to watch something (live) while recording something else.
Would probably recommend you go down this route in the short term as its relatively cheap and in a few years you can get a reasonably priced HiDef PVR (what else but the Toppy 7000?)
The only thing you should be aware of is that PVRs (Any but especially the Toppy) change the way you view TV. Not just when but how. So you might find yourself watching shows on the PVR to make use of the PAUSE LIVE TV or ADD SKIP or WATCH WHILE STILL RECORDING functionality. The HiDef STB may become very underused - My TV is HiDef but everything I watch is via the Toppy SD.
Good Luck
Peter Gillespie
My Dad has a similar setup to yours and I ended up recommending the cheapest Wintal box ($about 300 I think) It has one tuner but is pretty simple to record and playback stuff - you just definately need a second tuner (ie your HD STB box) to be able to watch something (live) while recording something else.
Would probably recommend you go down this route in the short term as its relatively cheap and in a few years you can get a reasonably priced HiDef PVR (what else but the Toppy 7000?)
The only thing you should be aware of is that PVRs (Any but especially the Toppy) change the way you view TV. Not just when but how. So you might find yourself watching shows on the PVR to make use of the PAUSE LIVE TV or ADD SKIP or WATCH WHILE STILL RECORDING functionality. The HiDef STB may become very underused - My TV is HiDef but everything I watch is via the Toppy SD.
Good Luck
Peter Gillespie
QUOTE (BigBobOz @ May 26 2005, 12:51 PM)
QUOTE (bobster05 @ May 26 2005, 12:22 PM)
if u only want/need a single tuner I would recommed a digicrstal or wintel very good for the $
So the stop playback bug isn't that bad? Don't really have a feeling for how problematic it is from the other topics. Interested as have some friends wanting a budget PVR.
Rob
me personally the stop playback bug doesnt happen that often although can be a bit anoying at times but if wintal will get off their arses and put out a new firmware I'm sure this could be fixed without too much trouble.
QUOTE (pgdownload @ May 26 2005, 01:59 PM)
Hi Zac, Have a read of the All Questions Answered for some thoughts on buying a Toppy and Toppy issues.
My Dad has a similar setup to yours and I ended up recommending the cheapest Wintal box ($about 300 I think) It has one tuner but is pretty simple to record and playback stuff - you just definately need a second tuner (ie your HD STB box) to be able to watch something (live) while recording something else.
Would probably recommend you go down this route in the short term as its relatively cheap and in a few years you can get a reasonably priced HiDef PVR (what else but the Toppy 7000?)
The only thing you should be aware of is that PVRs (Any but especially the Toppy) change the way you view TV. Not just when but how. So you might find yourself watching shows on the PVR to make use of the PAUSE LIVE TV or ADD SKIP or WATCH WHILE STILL RECORDING functionality. The HiDef STB may become very underused - My TV is HiDef but everything I watch is via the Toppy SD.
Good Luck
Peter Gillespie
My Dad has a similar setup to yours and I ended up recommending the cheapest Wintal box ($about 300 I think) It has one tuner but is pretty simple to record and playback stuff - you just definately need a second tuner (ie your HD STB box) to be able to watch something (live) while recording something else.
Would probably recommend you go down this route in the short term as its relatively cheap and in a few years you can get a reasonably priced HiDef PVR (what else but the Toppy 7000?)
The only thing you should be aware of is that PVRs (Any but especially the Toppy) change the way you view TV. Not just when but how. So you might find yourself watching shows on the PVR to make use of the PAUSE LIVE TV or ADD SKIP or WATCH WHILE STILL RECORDING functionality. The HiDef STB may become very underused - My TV is HiDef but everything I watch is via the Toppy SD.
Good Luck
Peter Gillespie
So even the single tuners will allow pause live tv, watch while recording etc?
QUOTE (Zac @ May 26 2005, 02:42 PM)
So even the single tuners will allow pause live tv, watch while recording etc?
You can watch what your are recording but you can't watch something else while it's recording.
Your advantage here is that you already have another STB so you merely have to switch inputs.
On a single tuner box you can watch a previous recording while recording or the recording itself while recording. You just can't look at another channel. So you can't tape channel 9 and watch channel 10. (Note: we're talking digital here. It is possible to switch back to analogue in this situation and watch TV while somethings taping which is what most single tuner PVR owners do)
Another drawback is you can't have overlapping recordings which can be useful if you want to tape stuff thats on two channels one after the other. That is. On the Toppy (for example) you can tape Ch9 from 8:25 to 9:35 and Channel10 from 9:15 to 10:00 at the same time - usefull because shows don't start/stop at the scheduled time. On a single tuner PVR you'd have to tape Ch9 from 8:25 to 9:35 and Ch10 from 9:36 to 10:00 or some similar variation.
As Bob mentions if you're not taping dozens of things at once then you can always switch to the HD box and watch another channel live while taping something.
Regards
Peter Gillespie
Another drawback is you can't have overlapping recordings which can be useful if you want to tape stuff thats on two channels one after the other. That is. On the Toppy (for example) you can tape Ch9 from 8:25 to 9:35 and Channel10 from 9:15 to 10:00 at the same time - usefull because shows don't start/stop at the scheduled time. On a single tuner PVR you'd have to tape Ch9 from 8:25 to 9:35 and Ch10 from 9:36 to 10:00 or some similar variation.
As Bob mentions if you're not taping dozens of things at once then you can always switch to the HD box and watch another channel live while taping something.
Regards
Peter Gillespie
A much cheaper alternative to the Toppy is the Strong 5390 PVR. I'm not knocking Toppy, but IMO they are over priced at the moment and if twin tuners or feeding a PC is not an issue, the Strong would be fine.
Picture quality is excellent, it has an adequate 120 gb drive, is as sensitive as anything available and should do the job you require.
It is not perfect - what is? My biggest beef is the clunky software which takes you away from viewing a pre recorded program when it starts a new recording - only a problem if you want to view something old at the same time you are recording something new. Not fatal, but you need to plough back through a couple of menus to resume where you were so rudely interrupted. However you need to be patient and allow a few seconds for it to settle down to record. If you try to resume viewing too soon you can corrupt the recording & shut the whole machine down :-(
Like most manuals, the one with the Strong takes awhile to decypher and I translated it into a 4 page WORD document which is easier to follow - I can email it to anyone interested.
John
Picture quality is excellent, it has an adequate 120 gb drive, is as sensitive as anything available and should do the job you require.
It is not perfect - what is? My biggest beef is the clunky software which takes you away from viewing a pre recorded program when it starts a new recording - only a problem if you want to view something old at the same time you are recording something new. Not fatal, but you need to plough back through a couple of menus to resume where you were so rudely interrupted. However you need to be patient and allow a few seconds for it to settle down to record. If you try to resume viewing too soon you can corrupt the recording & shut the whole machine down :-(
Like most manuals, the one with the Strong takes awhile to decypher and I translated it into a 4 page WORD document which is easier to follow - I can email it to anyone interested.
John
QUOTE (Tassie Devil @ May 27 2005, 08:37 AM)
A much cheaper alternative to the Toppy is the Strong 5390 PVR. I'm not knocking Toppy, but IMO they are over priced at the moment and if twin tuners or feeding a PC is not an issue, the Strong would be fine.
Picture quality is excellent, it has an adequate 120 gb drive, is as sensitive as anything available and should do the job you require.
It is not perfect - what is? My biggest beef is the clunky software which takes you away from viewing a pre recorded program when it starts a new recording - only a problem if you want to view something old at the same time you are recording something new. Not fatal, but you need to plough back through a couple of menus to resume where you were so rudely interrupted. However you need to be patient and allow a few seconds for it to settle down to record. If you try to resume viewing too soon you can corrupt the recording & shut the whole machine down :-(
Like most manuals, the one with the Strong takes awhile to decypher and I translated it into a 4 page WORD document which is easier to follow - I can email it to anyone interested.
John
Picture quality is excellent, it has an adequate 120 gb drive, is as sensitive as anything available and should do the job you require.
It is not perfect - what is? My biggest beef is the clunky software which takes you away from viewing a pre recorded program when it starts a new recording - only a problem if you want to view something old at the same time you are recording something new. Not fatal, but you need to plough back through a couple of menus to resume where you were so rudely interrupted. However you need to be patient and allow a few seconds for it to settle down to record. If you try to resume viewing too soon you can corrupt the recording & shut the whole machine down :-(
Like most manuals, the one with the Strong takes awhile to decypher and I translated it into a 4 page WORD document which is easier to follow - I can email it to anyone interested.
John
Yep, the 5390 can be purchased for under $400 if you shop around, easy to use, cr*p manual and you CAN feed a PC (via S-Video etc.). It does have some annoyances and I too have written a manual for some friends (in Publisher 2000 format) who are not too cluey. Available to anyone who is interested.
I reckon I'll be getting a dual-tuner model next (if/when HD PVRs arrive and work properly) probably a Toppy.
Cheers,
David.
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