Device firmware version:
Update: The EPG on my device has stopped working, a common complaint I've heard. I'm using the free-to-air EPG, not IceTV. I've tried a full rescan of the channels. I don't actually need it (I'm happy to manually set the device with the timer) but I liked knowing what was coming up next.
I've tested on my old SD set top box and the EPG is working there.
Hopefully a new official firmware will come soon. All the new versions seemed to have been pulled from the website and they're now officially at the version I downloaded.
Maybe it's a Freeview thing...
I recently purchased a new HD set top box, the Topfield TF7100.
It has two HD tuners and a 320Gb hard drive which translates to many tens of hours of TV. The menu is dead simple to use and it uses the standard free-to-air electronic program guide.
The main reason I bought it is that it has similar features to the Australia Tivo but does not have to be connected to the internet 24/7. It does not need to be connected to the internet at all.
Post purchase, I jumped on the official website and downloaded the latest firmware and installed it as per the instructions provided with the box.
So far, it's been fantastic.
While downloading the latest firmware I discovered the Topfield Australia forums and found many a dissatisfied customer. Many had been trying the product for a long time, and apparently only the most recent firmware was solid enough. In fact, the firmware after the version I downloaded and installed also has issues.
I suppose I just got lucky (the firmware version I'm using is detailed at the end of this post).
Most have issue with the device's IceTV (online EPG service) integration and most speculate that almost all the other issues the device has stem from the internet and IceTV features.
Personally I'm not using IceTV so this is not a problem. I don't have the wireless internet connected or set up. You can download IceTV's EPG to a USB key then upload it weekly to the Topfield, but I don't see the point.
I suppose I should clarify, the main reasons I bought the device were:
Everything else is a bonus. As such, as these features work, I'm happy. If I had bought it for the IceTV integration, or the internet connectivity, or any of the other features, perhaps I'd be less happy. I don't know.
Some of the very useful awesome bonus features include ad skipping (which in reality just skips forward 30 seconds, it's no cleverer than that but that is all you need), fantastic fast-forward, the ability to bookmark recordings, the ability to record two programs at once and automatic naming of recorded program files using the EPG information.
The product does the following things that I have yet to use and may never use:
I have no intention of keeping anything I record. I record, I watch, I delete. As such, 320Gb is a massive amount of space that I'll probably never get close to using. IceTV integration might be nice, as the standard free-to-air EPG is flaky at best, but I'm perfectly capable of looking up the programs I want to watch online and setting a timer manually, which I have done.
The product also allows you to timeshift live TV. You can pause and rewind live TV to the limits set in the menu. When turned on, the device effectively records continuously just in case you wish to rewind to catch the joke you missed while laughing at the previous one.
I turned it off. The thought of the product constantly writing to the hard drive 24/7 just in case I wanted to rewind seemed like a very short road to a worn out device.
Even with time shifting turned off you can still pause TV (it turns on shifting when you push the pause button). All you lose by turning off the time shifting by default is the ability to rewind at a second's notice. Big deal.
I have only two problems worth mentioning.
Using the channel up and down buttons (P+ and P-) is slow and often hangs for a few seconds. Using the OK button to access the list of channels then browsing to the desired channel then clicking OK again is much quicker. I'm told the latest firmware fixes this issue, but after reading all the angst in the forums, I'm not prepared to potentially break a working product for such a small problem.
Also, although the device is clever enough to turn on from stand by to record timer programs and then turn itself off again when done, it isn't clever enough to do this when you're using it. If a program is recording when you want to turn off and go to bed, you must leave the box on and it will remain on. It won't turn off when the program is finished because it thinks you're still watching. A "turn off when finished recording" option would be nice.
Two of the issues frequently complained about in the forums do weigh slightly on my mind. They are:
I believe the EPG problem is only when IceTV is used, so I don't expect that to be a problem. The IceTV problems seem to be many and varied.
However, every time I turn it on I am vaguely anxious that today will be the day my device gets the dreaded "RUN" problem and I have to send it back to Sydney for repairs.
Without any inside knowledge or solid research, I'm of the opinion the "RUN" problem is a combination of frequent firmware upgrades, frequent hard drive use (as per the timeshifting) and possibly the wireless connection. None of which I'm using.
I suppose in time I'll find out.
Beyond vague paranoid fear based on the problems of a few, I'm perfectly happy. It does what I wanted and does it extremely well.
If only the TV channels could run their programs regularly and on time.
Google bait
Device firmware version:
A spokesman for Freeview Australia said that all high-definition TVs or set-top boxes would display the 15 channels, but would not access the program guide or other features carried by Freeview-branded appliances.
Way to alienate your entire audience. Freeview have successfully pissed-off the millions of trusting customers who have purchased TVs with in built tuners and set top boxes assuming that the digital TV standard would remain standard.
Deliberately creating a new standard that your audience cannot use without purchasing a new product is very very uncool.
But this could all be a big misunderstanding.
It is still remotely possible that the existing digital TV electronic program guide will still be updated and available to those with "old non-Freeview compatible hardware" and that the Freeview spokesman is merely speaking on some new guide that will run on top of the existing standard.
I also assume that the Freeview standard won't be locked behind some commercial wall of death and that set top box users will be able to use a firmware upgrade to access the new features where possible.
Or not.
I fail to see how advertising "Freeview" before any products are available has helped anyone.
Those without digital TV are effectively being told not to purchase anything until Freeview is clarified and becomes available.
Existing free-to-air customers who have recently purchased expensive equipment are left feeling their brand new piece of technology is already out of date.
Good job.
[BTW, the article infers there will be 15 new channels. This is not true. There will be 15 channels in total. All five main broadcasters will have 2 SD and 1 HD channel each.]