Need Twin-tuner Pvr Advice

[Steve B]

I have a hearing loss and make use of the captions encoded in the digital TV signal. I currently have two digital receivers and they function differently:

I have a Wintal PVR-X10 and, to view captions, I have to put it into teletext mode, and then select the caption channel (801). In Teletext mode, the buttons have different functions, and I can't change channels. To change channels, I have to exit teletext mode (thus disabling captions), change the channel and then (if I want captions on the new channel), put it into teletext mode again and select the caption channel. This is a PITA. In addition, the PVR-X10 struggles with the signal strength here (Centennial Park, Sydney).

I also have a Teac DVB-420. This has a dedicated 'Captions' button (labeled 'Sub-T') on the remote. I can turn on captions with a single press of this button and all other buttons retain their usual functions, so I can change channels (and the captions remain enabled on the new channel). Also, the Teac has much better reception than the Wintal.

Okay, now to the point: I want to buy a (proper, 2.0-spec) twin-tuner SD PVR, but it must have a dedicated button for the captions that functions like the one on my Teac DVB-420. It must also have better than average reception or, at least, better than the Wintal, and at least as good as the Teac.

What are my options, please?

Thanks in advance,

Steve = : ^ )

[tonymy01]

Topfield TF5000PVRt with May2005 firmware in it. Maybe September 2006 might be ok too. Feb2006 has a bug where captions aren't displayed on Seven (well, here in Sydney, others haven't experienced this issue in some other areas) unless you do the teletext801 trick, which as you have learnt is a real pain in the coit.

Regards

[Dave®]

I'll second the Topfield TF5000PVRt with May2005 firmware. With the May 2005 firmware you even get to see the subtitles while fast forwarding - handy for zipping through a 1hr program in 30 minutes.

[DaveMews]

the mediastar dt920pvr has a dedicated subtitles button as well... well at least my remote does., not sure about the new universal remote

[Steve B]

Topfield TF5000PVRt with May2005 firmware in it. Maybe September 2006 might be ok too. Feb2006 has a bug where captions aren't displayed on Seven (well, here in Sydney, others haven't experienced this issue in some other areas) unless you do the teletext801 trick, which as you have learnt is a real pain in the coit.

I assume, if i buy a new one, it'll have the latest firmware, or later than May 2005. Is it easy to find the older firmware, and to install it?

Thanks in advance,

Steve = : ^ )

[Dave®]

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QUOTE(Steve B @ Feb 26 2007, 07:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I assume, if i buy a new one, it'll have the latest firmware, or later than May 2005. Is it easy to find the older firmware, and to install it?

Patched firmware (with links to std firmware) http://toppytools.com/firmware.html

My Firmware Tool: http://toppytools.com/fwtool.html (requires Topfield USB driver already installed)

Topfield firmware upgrade tool and USB driver: http://www.topfield.co.kr/data/product/fir...tup%201.0.4.zip

[Steve B]

Thanks.

Anybody know the best place to buy one of these in Sydney?

Thanks in advance,

Steve = : ^ )

[smeg888]

Topfield TF5000PVRt with May2005 firmware in it. Maybe September 2006 might be ok too. Feb2006 has a bug where captions aren't displayed on Seven (well, here in Sydney, others haven't experienced this issue in some other areas) unless you do the teletext801 trick, which as you have learnt is a real pain in the coit.

Regards

Does anyone know if the Sept 06 Firmware fixes the Seven bug. My father in law is driving me mad to fix it. We don't want to go pre Feb 06 as it fixed a number of serious bugs.

Any help on this really appreciated.

regards

[Refidim]

the mediastar dt920pvr has a dedicated subtitles button as well... well at least my remote does., not sure about the new universal remote

The 920 with Universal remote also has the same blue button.

[pgdownload]

Does anyone know if the Sept 06 Firmware fixes the Seven bug. My father in law is driving me mad to fix it. We don't want to go pre Feb 06 as it fixed a number of serious bugs. Any help on this really appreciated. regards

FWIW the MAY 05 firmware is probably still the most reliable and bug free firmware for the 5000. AFAIK the only improvement later FWs make (while also introducing various additional bugs) is to reduce the number of times a playback is interupted by a timer starting or ending. If you don't mind that then I'd suggest May 05.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[malcolm1503559700]

I have being using my toppy with Mar2005 firmware it came with. What advanatge is there in trying to install the May2005 as suggested above.

malcolm

[pgdownload]

I have being using my toppy with Mar2005 firmware it came with. What advanatge is there in trying to install the May2005 as suggested above. malcolm

Not 100% sure but I don't believe March 2005 exists. Make sure you're looking at the Last Updated date in the Toppy menu (a 5000 I presume?) May 15 2005 simply handles all TAPs 100% as well as being completely stable. As a general rule though if it aint busted don't try fix it.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[smeg888]

FWIW the MAY 05 firmware is probably still the most reliable and bug free firmware for the 5000. AFAIK the only improvement later FWs make (while also introducing various additional bugs) is to reduce the number of times a playback is interupted by a timer starting or ending. If you don't mind that then I'd suggest May 05.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Thanks Peter.

Unfortaunately the May firmware is the one that fixed the problems but introduced the Channel 7 bug. Really like to know if Sept fixes it, guess there's one way to find out and that's to try it.

regards

[Dave®]

Unfortaunately the May firmware is the one that fixed the problems but introduced the Channel 7 bug. Really like to know if Sept fixes it, guess there's one way to find out and that's to try it.

There are 2 May '05 firmwares. May 10 2005 and May 12 2005. There was minor differences between the 2 - and the ch 7 bug may have been one of these differences (though generally the May 12 2005 is the preferred may f/w).

The May firmware was the first to support the Ice tap. I think the May f/w was also the first to support the current TAP API (and is the minimum firmware required by many TAPs). Or if the Mar '05 f/w was the first that supported the current API, it also had some TAP API related bugs.

[funblest]

Steve B

Did you purchase anything yet?

Thanks