Topfield 7000 Series Trade-in Program?

[lameboyadvance]

Last night my TF7000HT did its usual thing of getting stuck on a channel, except this time when I turn it off & on again first few tries the power icon would rapidly pulsate, then finally it totally went dead.

I haven't really been happy with it since the day I bought it. As I said it'll randomly get stuck on a channel and require a reboot, and also rarely lock up entirely and require removing/replacing the power. There are also various bugs with it (most I've found in the timer recording).

That said, I was going to take to take my business elsewhere, but while looking for a what would be a decent replacement I came across a few posts mentioning a Topfield trade-in program for the 7000 series.

Can anyone tell me more about this? I've seen it stated that I can trade in my 7000 for a TF7100HD+ for $300 or a 2400 for $450. I'd consider giving them another chance if thats the case, heard that the 7000s were made by another company hence their inferiority.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. does anyone know if the TF7100HD+ can be recording a show on one tuner while using the other tuner to output to my VCR/TV (like a normal STB)

EDIT: When I plugged my Topfield back in again this morning it was still dead, decided to leave it plugged in anyway.

When I walked into the room just now I noticed the front panel was showing activity, hooked it back up again and it appears to be working fine.

Was this just a hiccup or is my Toppy on its way out? Its never happened before...

Edited May 25, 2010 by lameboyadvance

[mikeathome]

P.S. does anyone know if the TF7100HD+ can be recording a show on one tuner while using the other tuner to output to my VCR/TV (like a normal STB)

Yes it can.

[pgdownload]

Can anyone tell me more about this? I've seen it stated that I can trade in my 7000 for a TF7100HD+ for $300 or a 2400 for $450.

The 7000 should never have been put on sale IMO. But it was years over due and I believe the company just decided to suck it and see. I've never heard of a trade in option, possibly a few individuals were offered it personally when talking to Topfield about a certain unit. I think you'd be best ringing Topfield direct and asking.

does anyone know if the TF7100HD+ can be recording a show on one tuner while using the other tuner to output to my VCR/TV (like a normal STB)

If you mean can you record one channel on a PVR with one tuner and somehow send the other tuner then sort of. But what I suspect you really mean is can you send a single recording both to a VCR and to the internal harddrive (nothing to do with tuners really?)

Was this just a hiccup or is my Toppy on its way out? Its never happened before...

Sounds strange. Possibly just a loose power cord. Only way to see if its a glitch is see if it happens again.

FWIW the 2400 and 7100+ series are much better (and more reliable) units than the 7000.

Regards

[DAB-]

The trade in option was mentioned in the other thread,i've sent off several Emails without a reply.Next visit to Sydney i'm going to drop in to see them with the 7000 under my arm.

[lameboyadvance]

If you mean can you record one channel on a PVR with one tuner and somehow send the other tuner then sort of. But what I suspect you really mean is can you send a single recording both to a VCR and to the internal harddrive (nothing to do with tuners really?)

I'm not up to date with how devices such as PVRs work. What I meant was that since I currently use my STB to record on my VCR/watch TV I'd still like to do that. Since it has 2 tuners does that mean I can be recording one tuner to HDD while sending the second tuner to video/comp out for my VCR/TV.

...A silly question now that I think about it. Obviously it would have some method of outputting video, just didnt know if it could only do stuff its recorded or if you can watch in realtime.

[betty boop]

Last night my TF7000HT did its usual thing of getting stuck on a channel, except this time when I turn it off & on again first few tries the power icon would rapidly pulsate, then finally it totally went dead.

I haven't really been happy with it since the day I bought it. As I said it'll randomly get stuck on a channel and require a reboot, and also rarely lock up entirely and require removing/replacing the power. There are also various bugs with it (most I've found in the timer recording).

That said, I was going to take to take my business elsewhere, but while looking for a what would be a decent replacement I came across a few posts mentioning a Topfield trade-in program for the 7000 series.

Can anyone tell me more about this? I've seen it stated that I can trade in my 7000 for a TF7100HD+ for $300 or a 2400 for $450. I'd consider giving them another chance if thats the case, heard that the 7000s were made by another company hence their inferiority.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. does anyone know if the TF7100HD+ can be recording a show on one tuner while using the other tuner to output to my VCR/TV (like a normal STB)

EDIT: When I plugged my Topfield back in again this morning it was still dead, decided to leave it plugged in anyway.

When I walked into the room just now I noticed the front panel was showing activity, hooked it back up again and it appears to be working fine.

Was this just a hiccup or is my Toppy on its way out? Its never happened before...

for what its worth, I do beleive the 7000 and the 7100 are a much of a much ness. exactly the same. We have both a 7000 and 7100 still chugging along, in the wider family which I phone support . they can be as reliable or as notorius. in build and fit and finish they are the same, they can be as flaky and run as hot as each other, and their hard drives grind along the same as each other.

perhaps the 2400 is a better unit, but after owning a toppy for quite some years I do think there are better made more reliable units out there. my suggestion...move on. rather than throw good money after bad with a trade in on another toppy, grab something like a tivo instead and you'll never look back !

[lapworth]

I'm not up to date with how devices such as PVRs work. What I meant was that since I currently use my STB to record on my VCR/watch TV I'd still like to do that. Since it has 2 tuners does that mean I can be recording one tuner to HDD while sending the second tuner to video/comp out for my VCR/TV.

...A silly question now that I think about it. Obviously it would have some method of outputting video, just didnt know if it could only do stuff its recorded or if you can watch in realtime.

Actually you can record up to two different things, or 4 apparently with the new firmware on the 2400 as long as the 4 LCN's are on only 2 program streams, and watch either of the recording shows live via the video output or you can switch your VCR/TV to a 3rd/5th channel and watch that instead.

[JaffaMan]

for what its worth, I do beleive the 7000 and the 7100 are a much of a much ness. exactly the same. We have both a 7000 and 7100 still chugging along, in the wider family which I phone support . they can be as reliable or as notorius. in build and fit and finish they are the same, they can be as flaky and run as hot as each other, and their hard drives grind along the same as each other.

perhaps the 2400 is a better unit, but after owning a toppy for quite some years I do think there are better made more reliable units out there. my suggestion...move on. rather than throw good money after bad with a trade in on another toppy, grab something like a tivo instead and you'll never look back !

Be careful not to get the 7100 and 7100+ confused.

The 7000 and 7100 are essentially the same machine, the 7100 with network, and 7000 without, and run the same basic firmware.

The 7100+ is actually a totally different machine to the 7100, and is much improved in capability and reliability - it has mpeg4 tuners instead of mpeg2 only, supports quad recording, supports taps and runs the same firmware code as the 2400 series (less a few features). Reliability wise it is streets ahead of the 7000/7100. I have both a 7000 and a 7100+, and they are like chalk and cheese - 7100+ is a very worthwhile replacement for the old machines.

[JaffaMan]

for what its worth, I do beleive the 7000 and the 7100 are a much of a much ness. exactly the same. We have both a 7000 and 7100 still chugging along, in the wider family which I phone support . they can be as reliable or as notorius. in build and fit and finish they are the same, they can be as flaky and run as hot as each other, and their hard drives grind along the same as each other.

perhaps the 2400 is a better unit, but after owning a toppy for quite some years I do think there are better made more reliable units out there. my suggestion...move on. rather than throw good money after bad with a trade in on another toppy, grab something like a tivo instead and you'll never look back !

Be careful not to get the 7100 and 7100+ confused.

The 7000 and 7100 are essentially the same machine, the 7100 with network, and 7000 without, and run the same basic firmware.

The 7100+ is actually a totally different machine to the 7100, and is much improved in capability and reliability - it has mpeg4 tuners instead of mpeg2 only, supports quad recording, supports taps and runs the same firmware code as the 2400 series (less a few features). Reliability wise it is streets ahead of the 7000/7100. I have both a 7000 and a 7100+, and they are like chalk and cheese - 7100+ is a very worthwhile replacement for the old machines.

[mikeathome]

I have owned a number of 7000s and 7100s and currently have a 7100+. The latest unit is not perfect but I can rely on it to record what I want recorded and to store and playback without issue. Getting the recordings off the unit using FTP or an external HDD is simple and quick and the recordings can be used on my PC and my media player without any problems. If I still had a 7000 to trade in I would jump at the chance to replace it for $300.

[pgdownload]

...A silly question now that I think about it. Obviously it would have some method of outputting video, just didnt know if it could only do stuff its recorded or if you can watch in realtime.

Understood. You're getting confused on how the "tuners" work. Basically in a twin tuner unit 1 tuner is always dedicated to displaying a channel on TV. The PVR can also record this displayed channel to its harddrive at the same time. Whatever is being displayed by this tuner is being outputted to every plug on the back of the PVR at the same time. Same as with your STB as basically you just plug your composite leads between the STB and VCR and you can "send" what ever is being shown on the TV to the VCR. Note you don't have to do this live as you currently do with your STB. You can always just record something on the PVR. Latter on if you decide you want to make a copy on the VCR then you can just PLAY it on the PVR and press record on the VCR.

Think of the second tuner as a bonus. A one tuner PVR is basically exactly like your STB. The second tuner is able to record another channel while the first tuner does its work. This second tuner only send the recording to the harddrive of the PVR, not out any ports.

Hope that makes sense.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[diesel]

If I still had a 7000 to trade in I would jump at the chance to replace it for $300.

So there is a trade-in program?

[arc888]

So there is a trade-in program?

Not officially but the option to trade in was offered 'over the phone' to some 7000 owners suffering from the 'loss of services' problem. Some 7000 owners had their 7000 motherboard replaced with 7100 motherboard as a 'free' fix.

Your best bet is to ring them up and ask.

[lameboyadvance]

Your best bet is to ring them up and ask.

Anyone that does please let me/us know? Since my box seems to have revived itself, and I just bought a cheapo HD box I may yet return, I might be putting off my search for a new box for a while.