TF5800PVR
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The TF5800PVR and similar TF5800PVRt is the UK Freeview version of Topfield's TF5000PVRt, which is a personal video recorder (PVR) with twin tuners; it is possible to record two programs and view a third so long as all programs do not use more than two multiplexes. Firmware upgrades are distributed over-the-air using the normal FreeView distribution method, and also as downloadable files.
Topfield devices are often referred to as “Toppys”.
The device has the features expected from a dual-tuner PVR, but also allows extensive software customisation by the use of TAPs (described below). Files (TV programmes, MP3 files, and operating files) can be transferred over USB between the PVR and a computer.
The TF5800PVR[t] has been replaced by the TF5810PVRt with similar functionality, but which also supports HDMI output (from standard, but not HD, broadcasts—reception of Freeview HD channels requires a DVB-T2 receiver, which the TF5810PVRt is not). The latest factory firmware versions for both models incorporate some features equivalent to Freeview+.
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[edit] File transfer between PVR and computer
The USB 2.0 socket (compatible, but slower, with USB 1) allows files to be transported both ways between the device and a computer running transfer software written for this purpose. Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and some versions of Linux/Unix are supported. Files of any kind can be moved in both directions but the feature is mainly used
- to move a recording to a computer for viewing with media-playing software or burning to a DVD
- to move MP3 audio files to the PVR
- to move TAPs to the PVR
- to move new versions of firmware to the PVR
- to load EPG data to the PVR (although the PVR normally downloads a 7-day EPG from the Freeview broadcast without the need for a computer connection)
USB file transfer is rather slow. It can be accelerated to some extent by running the transfer software in Turbo mode, which disables the remote control for the duration of the transfer. TAPs are available from the Toppy website which accelerate USB file transfer further (one tap for transferring from PVR to computer, another for the opposite direction); they work by eliminating unnecessary transfer of handshaking signals.
[edit] Topfield Application Programs (TAPs) and firmware
The functionality of the TF5800PVR can be enhanced via the use of Topfield Application Programs (TAP). TAPs are C programs, developed by users for users. They can be developed under Microsoft Windows using a Topfield platform cross-compiler (GCC for TAP) or the Cygwin GCC compiler.
TAPs are applications written using an API available free from the manufacturer. The API provides access to almost all features of the device: TAPs can access EPG information, change channels, start or stop a recording session, change pre-set recording timers, write text and draw graphics to the screen, and react to buttons pressed on the remote control. It is possible to write a useful program, adding useful functionality, in ten lines of C code.
TAPs have been written to provide many enhancements to the Toppy, most are available as freeware. Although some technical users consider TAPs to be the best thing about the device, most users are perfectly happy using one with no TAPs loaded at all.
Firmware can be downloaded to a computer and transferred via USB to the PVR. Unlike the majority of electronics devices, many users do not recommend always updating to the manufacturer's latest firmware. Versions of firmware are available that have been debugged and enhanced by users. As of July 2010[update] the Toppy website recommends for the TF5800PVR/PVRt firmware 5.13.65T, which is a modified version of August 2007 factory firmware 5.13.65[1]. As of the same date the latest firmware released by the manufacturer is July 2008 5.14.09Plus. Different releases apply to the TF5810PVRt.
Patches to the firmware can be downloaded to a computer and transferred to the PVR, but is not possible to completely re-write the device's operating system using TAPs.
[edit] External links
- Turbosat, the UK importer and distributor
- toppy.org.uk: a busy site for users of the TF58x0PVR
- TAPWorld: another source of pre-compiled TAPs
