Topfield TF5810PVR 500GB 500GB Storage PVR Reviews: 2 freeview tuners HDR with HDMI

+ Easy to use - had box operational and first series link set-up within 10 minutes of opening the box. Same functionality as Sky+ without the hefty monthly subscription.

- Interface not quite as intuitive as Sky+.

+ Being able to record two channels at once and watch something you recorded previously is amazing (and saves countless family arguments).

- The latest firmware isn't great but you can log onto toppy.org.uk at any time to download updates and new software that helps a lot.

+ easier to use and more convenient than VCR. looks the part

- does not always tape the I program I want to tape, but tapes programs I don't want to tape, sometimes for hours at a time. the last time I looked there was no firmware update which might sort out the software problems

+ Easy to install and use apart from trying to circuit in an an existing video recorder using the makers suggested lay-out. Far easer to put signal from topfield through it then to the television

- Brings on the T.V.when recording. Consider this a bad fault especially if goung away from home. Only answer seems to disconnect the T.V. from the pwer source.

+ A briilliant recording machine. Easy to set up, excellent features. Cannot fault it.
Fantastic price.

- None.

+ Can record two programmes at once; EPG and other features can be improved by adding TAPs (downloadable from third parties) - product includes this feature by design, no hacking required; PVR can be connected to a PC for data transfer. Many "Toppy" enthusiasts have websites providing advice and downloadable material. Product out of the box is good but techies will enjoy it most.

- Will only record from its built in tuners. Sometimes a slight delay responding to remote control.

+ Plenty of HDD space for recording programs, and two tuners if you have overlapping programs that you want to see. Great picture quality due to the upscaling function.

- The blue light on the standby button is too bright, when watching in a darkened room it is rather distracting.

+ Brillaint upscaling capability, twin tuners ae better than tv tuner. HDMI superb

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Brilliant and easy to use / setup

- Guide can be slow to load and sometimes no sound at startup

+ HAVING A LARGER HARD DRIVE THAN MOST OTHER PVR'S AND A HDMI SOCKET FOR BETTER PICTURE QUALITY

- ONLY USED THIS MACHINE FOR BASIC RECORDING OPERATIONS, HAVEN'T GOT INTO ANYTHING TOO TECHNICAL{EG: EDITING} YET SO I HAVE TO SAY NO BAD POINTS AS YET !

+ Good picture, good recording, potential to not become outdated too quickly.

- remote layout. Still have difficulty in finding how I did something the day before. There web site is a mess and we are still awaiting update to the programming. Standby light and lack of absolute on/off switch on unit.

+ Great PVR with upscaling and 500gb drive. Easy to set up and to use.

- No manual record setting, so it's all down to the tv company to send the start and stop signal at the right time, if they don't, you get part of the recording missing.
Blue light on the front of the machine is far too bright.

+ almost a perfect pvr

- lose sound at the end of a programme if watching paused tv or recorded tv when recording stops renote could be much improved with back lighting

+ Good Freeview reception. Excellent playback quality. Large storage capacity of hard-drive. Archive/backup functionality to PC via USB-connection. Twin-tuner allows recordings to be made on two channels, while watching a (limited selection) third. Very good user manual written in English by someone who understands users as much as consumer technology.

- Poor design of remote control; small keys emulate style of illuminated RC's without actually lighting up.
Very poor response from unit via remote control. even with fresh batteries at under 6 feet range.
Some user interface controls not entirely user-friendly, i.e. no problem for teenagers but your granny would be bemused!
Auto channel switches due to start/end of recording during normal live-air viewing can be annoying and need addressing in future firmware!
Would have been nice to have USB access at front.
Starting to look expensive compared to some devices from main-stream manufacturers.

+ Excellent for recording two programmes and watching a third all at the same time
Simple one button to record a programme or even a whole series
Very good playback quality at HD level
Massive HDD hours and hours of recording
Folder function helps organise your recordings

- Non standard output file if you wish to put programme onto a dvd
Some often used remote control buttons could be better placed

+ easy to use.Huge hard drive. rewind live tv is brilliant. recorded prog indexing is good. High quality recording/playback. Can connect directly to PC to upload recorded progs to PC as mpeg2 format via USB.

- EPG display could be a little wider to see more progs on screen

+ upgraded firmware and records everything I throw at it. Brilliant

- Nothing so far. ReplacedPVR with smaller capacity hard drive

+ Capable machine, with plenty of storage

- Fiddly remote and menus - more suited to technical people than ordinary users

+ Great product with loads of great features. Good if you like playing with setups and adding programs. There is a whole community of Toppy nerds to help you

- Needs a good signal and would be fantastic with a DVD burner included

+ Smooth operation. Programmable via TAPs. Can connect to computer via USB. HDMI output

- Setting up and adding extra funtions via computer is maybe a little complex for the less computer literate but this is a great product as it stands and doesn't actually need any extra tinkering.

+ Very pleased with the build quality, Also able to run customised software (Taps), HDMI upscaling, 320GB HDD, Excellent picture quality - Overall very impressed.

- Not very user friendly.

+ huge hard drive, easy to tape progs or series, stops me grazing tv!

- remote is not well designed, Toppy is a little slow to respond

+ The tv interface is intuitive, easy to set up, the upscaling works well and is really the reason I purchased it

- Takes a few seconds to come on line

+ Large HDD. MP3 Playback. USB PC Interface. Optical Audio Output. Looks Nice!

- Programme Guide / UI not nearly as good as Sky+ or my previous Thomson box (but I haven't tried any TAPs yet...)
Response to Remote Ctrl a bit slow

+ Update-able, TV Picture Improvement. Computer interactive. Good user interface.

- Quite pricey compared to other Freeview boxes. Slower start up.

+ Versatile, great features !

- Price,

+ Massive memory. Easy to use

- This product is not HD. Occasionally 'sticks' - so you have to unplug it.

+ Extensible

- Not really a finished product. Too many bugs in it.

+ Great being able to watch a programme and record two others at the same time.It changes the way you watch TV as i rarely watch anything live.This is my second Toppy

- Remote control could have been designed better and easier to read. Once i updated the box from the internet it has ironed out a few things.

+ Connection to PC. Massive HD. Customisation via TAP

- Out of the box software not that great.

+ Reviewer left no comment

- Very very slow user interface. Absolutely awful product.

+ 500GB disc size
upscaling to HD
PC connection
User website
Very configurable via TAPs

- To get best from need to understand TAPs - technical
EPG not the most user friendly

+ Easy to set up, easy to use dual recording good conecttivity not sure how it will handle true Hi Def

- Minor volume button on remote hand control could do with being the other way round as with the program select buttons

+ There are improvements to the previous version i had regarding veiwing other station program information without changing the station being viewed. Recording functions are vastly improved. The large memory means you have to be good at filing and organising films etc for viewing later.

- The hand set is not user friendly - the buttons are smaller than the old version and not in any logical order.
Those with limited eyesight or large fingers would realy struggle.

+ Good design, lots of useful features, easy to use.

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Excellent device, massive recording capacity, infinitely customizable!

- A few minor bugs

+ Huge hard drive.

- No HDMI cable supplied as standard.

+ Record and view at the same time

- Says it can't record a programme when it overlaps but there are two tuners, so think it is a software bug

+ easy bit of kit to use,loads of storage space,very happy with it

- none

+ An excellent hard disk freeview recorder with particularly good image quality, especially when using HD upgrade

- I found some of the menus a little unintuitive. Setting series recordings is occasionally unreliable, but this is probably due to the freeview system itself rather than the recorder.

+ relatively easy to use
plenty of options

- remote control not well designed and fiddly to use

+ works straight out of the box

- Remote buttons are a bit fiddely

+ Large storage. Good picture quality. Ease of recording

- Instructions need to read, so not very intuative

+ produces pictures briliantly sharp with its upscaling to 1080
programmer easy to use - Including series recording
HDMI - connection much better than any other
worth every penny

- I would have liked a better explanation about the USB connection( it being a printer type usb) and not a full USB.2
Also I would have liked the machine to have had a Wirless connection(which i thought the USB would have had) but it is just to connect to your PC for updates etc.
For all that its still a LOVELY machine

+ Excellent - does everything I expected.

- Reviewer left no comment

+ HDMI upscaling

- time to load tv guide

+ fab machine

- Reviewer left no comment