Topfield TF5810PVRt

Paulbett10 August 2009

Had one of these for a year. Good machine.........but it keeps missing recordings. For some reason it decides not to record some programmes, sometimes it show it has recorded but when you try to playback nothing is there, other times the programme is missing.

Gilly Rawlinson18 October 2009

I bought my Toppy last month to replace the unreliable TVOnics, which I only had for 3 weeks & which was in turn a replacement for my 7 year old & much loved Tivo which ceased to download programme data. Tivo was easily the most reliable (until it died), easy to use, & the search function was great. Also, in contrast to Toppy, in didn't record the same episode several times when repeated during the week, and always explained why a show wasn't recorded. Surely the now old software in Tivo should not outstrip modern machines, but it does. My search for a completely reliable and easy to use Freeview+ Box continues.....

John Gaytor21 October 2009

I've owned a Topfield like this for 18 months. Really my overall impression is that the software is really buggy, the remote is usually very unresponsive, you are always sat waiting for it to do something after pressing a button. It has failed again this morning so will be on it's 3rd hard drive when I buy a new one today. I really couldn't recommend this and I think topfield need to raise their game quite a bit. I shall be buying a Humax or LG later today, the toppy will be going on ebay!

Peter Scott-Jones11 January 2010

Our current Hard Drive TV Digital recorder, a Sony SVR-S500, keeps stopping recording the selected film or program just before the end, you just cannot imagine how FRUSTRATING ths is, GRRRRR! I am researching a new purchase and may get something other than a Sony, so how scary is that? Sony blame the BBC. The BBC blame Sony, they send out the start / stop signals but... The guys at the Sony Centre say ' my Panasonic is just as bad and Sky is no better. I say 'GREAT' do these things work AT ALL ? EVER ? Not that I'm CROSS. Is there one that does what it says on the in, I would like two channel freeview recording built in because we can't always do the Plus 1 Hour Channel thing as we mostly watch the BBC and as yet haven't plumbed in to i Player etc?

Gadgetman100102 February 2010

Ive had my toppy box now for nearly two years, with no problems. I down loaded and added the TAP called ' My Stuff ' which makes the topfield pvr box very customisable, to which you can change many settings, on the screen and on the remote control, and yes there is a ' My Stuff ' manual to guide you. My toppy box has crashed a couple of times but mini computers do every now and then, its no big deal, I just switch off at the socket and on again, and all is well. The Topfield TF5810PVRt delivers a crisp sound picture that can record two seperate channels and let me play back a recording all at the same time with no problem. The choice of being able to add TAP's (adding software programs to your PVR box) means you have a lot more choice than the boring manufactures cut down menu and look. Through the 'My Stuff' TAP I can press one button in the EPG (Electronic program guide) and record the whole series, its very easy to use, even my six year old is setting up his own recordings, and yes the Topfield box even has parental control built in, which will lock those higher age programs in the archive automatically. If you want more than just a PVR box, then I would recommend the Topfield.

Dave26 April 2010

The power supply on these boxes, like the predecessor 5800, are not well engineered. After a while they fail. I had a 5800 which died in 18 months. Hoping it would be better I got a 5810, and that also died in under two years.

L A MCGILLIGAN09 June 2010

Had one of these, it was buggy, unreliable and died in less than 3 years. Rubbish.

t littleboy25 October 2010

had my toppy 5810t just over 2 years now and must say its been a nightmare been in for repair 3 times 1st a debug 2nd and 3rd for new psu and its now started playing up again when trying to watch recorded programs it freezes and stops playback. im tempted to just write it off but surely a £300 unit should last longer than 2 years

Gee23 December 2010

Dont buy this over two year old model, even with the £100+ price drops on offer. This model is a typical example of "What HiFi" highly recommending a model but not actually living with it and so never giving a potential buyer the real strory. I have experienced similar issues as the other comments posted. I am now giving up and spending another £300, but it won't be a Topfield. My latest problem, it thinks the HD is full so won't record, very, very poor. Ask Topfield for help or comment.....sorry sir we are not investing time and money to correct the bugs, we have moved on. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

keith lloyd31 January 2011

would you please tell me the best PVR to get but in its basics form i just wont a unit to record a program simply and a hand set easy to under stand.

Chris K27 April 2011

Most of the Topfield problems are down to the power supply electroletic capacitors. Take the PSB board out and replace the lot with a higher voltage ESR type. My-stuff some times crashes because of timer buffer overun. Just press restore factory settings then retune as instructed. Also clear excess stations off the reciever at the 5801 gets a little short on memory. A great little PVR for those who understand them.

Tracy13 March 2012

I have had this box now 4yrs with hardly any problems except the rubbish remote however the last month its going totally wrong with all above mentioned problems....I have absolutely no idea where to take it for repair any suggestions would be gratefully recieved Thanks in advance Tracy