Does anyone have one of these yet?
Not easy to locate at this stage & would really like to have a good look at one before committing $700 & find out a bit more info - no manual available at Nextwave yet.
I would assume that VCR scart could be connected to a DVD recorder (Panasonic DMR-E85H) - I have had some problems in the past with SCART outputs to DVD recorder, seems to activate copy protection?
What format is the capture to the hard disk? Presumably it will be a format that will be compatible with Windows to allow transfer to PC via USB?

A couple of big assumptions there. Basically the obvious competing product is a Toppy 5000. Main advantage appears to be NextWave has a full USB 2.0 connection. However if it will be used for anything other than FW upgrades is unknown. Its quite possible the NextWave harddrive won't be compatible with a PC (neither is the Toppy's) and will need some software to translate the connection.

The big limitation (dare I say deceptive labelling) of the Nextwave seems to its not a 'real' twin tuner model: From the brochure,

ONE CHANNEL RECORDING AND WATCHING SIMULTANEOUSLY (INCLUDING TIME SHIFT FUNCTION)

While you can say taping shows on at the same time rarely happens a less known drawback (of one recording tuner) is taping shows one after the other on different channels - you need some overlap which you can't do on the 360.

Anyway, unless the USB 2.0 is a big drawcard I'd suggest going the extra $50 and getting a 5000.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Thanks for the response.
I've been a fan of Nextwave since entering the digital TV world and already have a 3190 and 3200. The PVR seems the logical step up but not if it won't do what I want (hope?).
The brochure also says "2 tuners for recording & watching simultaneously" but I gather it would not be possible to say record 1 prog on the PVR and 1 on another channel to the DVD recorder at the same time, BUT it is possible to record 1 on the PVR and watch another channel? So there is no way to record 2 different progs at the same time? Is it possible with the Topfield 5000?

Found this comment from TheAntennaMan in the SD Set Top Box Receivers Forum:
"I picked up 2 of the next generation from Nextwave just yesterday, the long awaited TERPVR3690. Thats right, FINALLY their Dual Tuner with the option of 80 or 120GB HDD. So far So good. SO much easier to use than the P.O.S. Strong box that I trialed. A few little things that could be improved on, but altogether a promising unit.
This new box supports all of the good stuff, Composite, S'Video, RGB, Component and Optical. (sorry, no COAX), OH, and we can't forget USB2.0! for transfer of saved files to a PC. I'm currently searching for codecs to play these files on PC."
This would seem to indicate that the USB port can transfer files to PC but codecs may be unknown. I think I will follow this up with TheAntennaMan to see if he managed to play the files.

I'd imagine the NW will end up with some way to transfer and play files on the PC - might be provided by NW or someone will workout how to do it. But the NW will only allow you record one thing at a time (this in my mind does not make it a "Twin Tuner" but if it is then the Toppy is a tripple Tuner.) Its hard to simply explain how much more intuitive a PVR can be when you can just hit PLAY or REC without worrying about is something being/about to be recorded. But for $50 as I said, it might be time to switch brands.

Regards

Peter Gillespie