Replacing My Topfield 5000 With A 2400 Or 2460

[Snake1503559538]

I've had a TF5000PVRt Masterpiece for about 5 years and am considering my options to replace it. The TF2460 is plan A.

I really like the PBK TAP on the 5000, especially the way I can easily "Trim to Start" or "Trim to End" simply by pushing the Stop button.

Is it true that the PBK TAP is not available for the 2400/2460 models? If so, how difficult is it to "Top and Tail" a recording on these models?

Secondly, if a recording has had its beginning or end trimmed, does the FF and REW still work on that recording? From what I've been reading on this forum, maybe not?

Thanks in advance.

Phil

[Paul55]

PBK not available for TMS Toppies. However, plenty of other useful TAPs.

Top and tailing doesn't work the same way as the 5000 from what I understand. The top/tail aren't actually cut from the file - I believe it stays the same size. Please noet that I don't top'n'tail on my Toppy 2400 because I don't see any point, but it does start from the 'last viewed' position. I do top'n'tail on my Beyonwizes because it's so easy.

Navigation of modified files may be an issue - but if you use the jdaskip TAP, I believe it overcomes the problems. Once again, I'm only reported what I recall from other's posts.

[Snake1503559538]

Thanks for that.

I go through my recordings "topping" them so that we're not searching for the start when we sit down to watch them.

I "tail" them too if disc space is getting a bit tight. It's also wise to check if the end credits are there before watching a movie. By tailing it, I'm doing that too. Wifey gets a bit miffed if we sit through a movie only to miss the last few minutes! Can't say I blame her.

It wouldn't be a deal breaker to lose the convenient top and tail feature though. Like you say, just make sure your HDD is big enough.

Sorry, I've been out of the techno' loop for a while. Does TMS refer to the 7000 and 2400 Toppies? What does TMS stand for?

Cheers

[Paul55]

Topfield Media Solution (from memory). It's the generic name for the current generation from the 7100plus onward - not the 7000/7100.

The 'play from last viewed' setting solves the delay in finding the start. The tailing doesn't matter unless you are short of HDD space and as you can use external HDDs and they are so cheap, that's less of a problem than it used to be. Anyway, if you fill up the terabyte in a 2460, I doubt you'll ever get round to watching it all. Most of your recordings will still be SD.

[CarlR]

I really like the PBK TAP on the 5000, especially the way I can easily "Trim to Start" or "Trim to End" simply by pushing the Stop button.

Is it true that the PBK TAP is not available for the 2400/2460 models? If so, how difficult is it to "Top and Tail" a recording on these models?

There is no PBK TAP for the TMS machines, but some of it's functions are built into the 2460, and some other TAPs make up most of the difference. Specifically, topping and tailing isn't onerous. Four clicks to top, and four to tail. A couple more clicks than using PBK I think, but not difficult.

Secondly, if a recording has had its beginning or end trimmed, does the FF and REW still work on that recording?

FF, RW, and Pause are all not available after a file edit, however, the RebuildNav TAP allows you to rebuild the nav file, which restores all three functions, once it has run on the file(s) in question.

Alternatively, the AutoPlay TAP fixes the inability to pause (but not FF and RW).

Additionally(as Paul said), JDASkip TAP can be installed. It makes skipping so good that you'll hardly even want to use FF and RW, and will therefore hardly miss it on edited files.

The top/tail aren't actually cut from the file - I believe it stays the same size.

This rumour keeps popping up. It isn't true. The file size is definitely reduced when you cut a section from a file with a 2400 or 2460

[deangelj]

This rumour keeps popping up. It isn't true. The file size is definitely reduced when you cut a section from a file with a 2400 or 2460

This comes from the fact that the older 7000/7100 used to trim like this, i.e. it didn't actually delete anything from the file, just put markers in the file so that you skipped over them when playing...

As you say CarlR, trimming on the newer boxes DOES reduce the size of the file, albeit with the side effects mentioned.

[Snake1503559538]

Thanks very much for the info' guys.

Looks like I'm going to order a TRF2400 online through the ICETV website. $584 including Wi-Fi USB dongle and delivery.

Cheers,

Phil

[Paul55]

Thanks Carl,

I am now (partly) educated - now to find out what those 4 clicks are.

To be honest, I thought it odd that the TMS toppies wouldn't be able to top/tail. Guess I should have tried it myself.

[mddawson]

I have a 2400 and I tail first as I find topping first sometimes prevents tailing - not sure why.

[CarlR]

...now to find out what those 4 clicks are.

I was a little bit "flexible" when I said four clicks. My counting goes like this; just call me a spin doctor!

* Navigate to the position in the file you want to cut from (or to). This may take any number of clicks depending on how diffficult it is to find/get to.

1. Click the play button (to display the progress bar).

2. Click the button on the remote which is on the bottom row, third from the left (second from the right). I don't know what it is called. A black vertical line will appear in the progress bar at the current point.

Then navigate to where you want to cut to (or from). The progress bar will darken in the area to be cut. If you are topping or tailing, then just hit the

3. Click the blue button (F4). Meesgae displays "Do you want to cut, save or cancel"

4. Select Cut (or save if you want to copy the cut bit to another file)

Carl

[Sounding]

PBK not available for TMS Toppies. However, plenty of other useful TAPs.

I don't suppose anyone is aware of a list of TAP's that work on a 2400? I have been searching all day and am struggling...

Thanks.

[pgdownload]

Its not that burried. If you google "topfield tap list" you'll get links to the consolidated tap list.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[dddp]

FF, RW, and Pause are all not available after a file edit, however, the RebuildNav TAP allows you to rebuild the nav file, which restores all three functions, once it has run on the file(s) in question.

do you think that perhaps the rebulding of the nav file might be enabled by the toppy itself via a firmware upgrade at sometime in the future?

[pgdownload]

do you think that perhaps the rebulding of the nav file might be enabled by the toppy itself via a firmware upgrade at sometime in the future?

If they haven't tried it by now then its quite unlikely IMO.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Sounding]

Its not that burried. If you google "topfield tap list" you'll get links to the consolidated tap list.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Following the link,

Error

Only members with sufficient permission can access this page.

I guess I need to join the Topfield forum...

Thanks for the link, I will persist.

[pgdownload]

Didn't realise Here's a cut and past anyway...

Full list (in German) of all TAPs available here

Seems your best bet is to get TAPtoDATE and the rest should be easy.

-------------------------------------------------

"TMS" is a generic way of referring to the HD Topfield models that support TAPs - e.g. Australia: 2400/2460/7100+/7160 and the European ones: 2100/2410. I think it stands for Topfield Media Series and refers to the fact that these play back other media files as well as their own. This list is therefore not for 5000/6000 series SD machines, which use different code and are thus incompatible. Many of the old 5000/6000 TAPs have been ported over to the new machines.

It is currently short, but I will edit it over time to cover as many of the ones we know as possible. Just because it isn't here doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile - just that we haven't gotten to adding it yet.

TAP for loading other taps

TAPtoDate - Download and info - Thread. I put this one first since it can be used to download many of the following taps, and also will list many other TAPs that may not be listed here. It should be noted that this TAP is by Firebird, one of our German friends, and some of the TAPs it provides access too may be in German. This page lists all the TAPs currently available (also in German). Download and install this TAP, and then if your toppy has access to the internet you can browse through a list of TAPs, and download them and install them, no PC required. Lets you get the latest versions easily.

TAPs listed here with the TAPtoDate logo are available for download and install via this TAP. Some TAPs may only be available from TAPtoDate, or we may not know a URL to get them another way.

TAPs that affect playback and file operations

jdaSkip - Download and info - Thread. Skipping TAP, which allows to configure the skipping keys to your own liking as the inbuilt firmware only allows you to adjust the Yellow button skip forward interval and has fixed -10 sec Blue back skip and Red 1min forward skip settings. This TAP allows you to configure any four keys for skipping. Also provides skipping for media files.

jumpit - Download - Thread. Another binary skipping tap with some enhanced features. Small and concisely programmed for the TMS HD PVRs. See the README.

QuickPlay TMS - Download and info - Thread. 1. Remembers the last 50 played recordings for faster restart, 2. Provides a delete dialog of current file during playback, 3. Provides a forced pause mode for (partly) scrambled/ cut recordings.

RescueRecs - Download. If a TMS type Topfield reboots for some reason when recording (loss of power or some othe issue) any current recordings are lost - this fixes this problem. When running, it sits in the background, and when recordings start it changes the linux group that the recordings are assigned to. Unless there was a problem with the file system, this should mean your recordings are not lost but are present when the machine comes back after a failure.

Lost+Found - Download. TAP moves all files from the lost-found folder to DataFiles/lost_and_found. That way they are accessible from the file list or standard ftp. So if you're missing your files but the disk space is not empty, start the TAP and check out the lost+found folder.

iBox - Download - Thread. Shows a better infobox with the current, second and third EPG event. A range of other information and features as well.

Media Aspect for TMS - Download - Thread. MediaAspect changes the aspect ratio of the picture during playback of Videofiles. For AVI-Files there is an automatic detection of the aspect ratio, for all other videofiles, just press the AR-Key continously, until you reach the correct aspect ratio for the video.

AutoMove for TMS - Download - Thread. Automove helps you organise your recordings into folders. It moves recordings to folders with similar names. It can also move recordings to folders, where it finds recordings with similar names. Also able to append dates and times to your recordings to make them unique and easy to arrange.

TimeShift Saver - Download - Thread. The TMS always saves the last Timeshift recording. When switching channels, the previous timeshift recording is lost. This TAPs saves these recordings and keeps them for a number of hours, specified by the user, before they are deleted. The recording can automatically be renamed with the show's name and/or channel name.

Rebuild NAV - Download - Thread This TAP will rebuild the .nav file which will restore fastforward/rewind to recordings that have been edited. Old versions only worked on Europen Toppies, but a new version is available that works on Australian ones.

dbfit - Download - Thread. This TAP can be used to set different volumes for different services - particularly useful for compensating for the volume differences between Dolby Digital and normal stereo sound tracks.

SkipIt - Download - Thread. A binary skipping mode for playback - a different way of skipping through files. Harder to explain than use - see the thread.

TAPs related to Timers or EPG (Electronic Program Guide)

TMSTimer - Download and info - Thread. Current Version 2.06, 24 July 2010. A replacement for the built in "Reservations" or Timer list screen. Allows you to filter and sort timers, includes timer edit, delete, and add ability. A useful feature as of July 2010 is the ability to export all timers to a text file, and to import timers. This enables you to do an export, do a fulll factory reset (which wipes your timers) and then do an import, and all your timers will be back. Nice for firmware upgrades.

Auto Sched TMS - Download and info - Thread. Current Version 1.05 27 July 2010. Searches the EPG for text strings and if a match is found, sets a timer. Can be used to do "series" records etc.

JustEPG for TMS - Download - Thread. A replacement for the built in EPG. Heaps of features - check out the thread. It also supports customisable skins - in fact you can customise almost anything in this TAP - see here for more. The main thread contains alternate downloads with extra fonts and skins setup etc.

TimerDiags - Download - Thread. This tap prints diagnostic information about timers and when they do/don't fire into a log file. The log is situated in the TAP folder. It also prints the diagnostic info to the telnet window.

iTiNa - Download - Thread. Contains UI replacements for many Topfield features and adds new features. iTiNa contains for example new EPG, possibility to create timers by search words, new timer management, new infobox and file list.

Miscellaneous / System

TMSCommander - Download and info - Thread. A TAP that controls your other TAPs. What this TAP does is once a TAP has the appropriate code in its event handler, TMSCommander can call it to tell it to display its menu (or perform other functions). It basically discovers at run time which TAPs it can talk to, then you scroll to that line and press Menu to call the menu of that TAP or press the red key to stop it.

Remote Switch_TMS - Download - Thread Allows you to change the remote codes on the Topfield - for example if you have two of the same model, change one set of remote codes so the one remote doesn't control them both.

TMSRemote - Download - Thread. You can now remotely control your PVR through a PC app/tap pair. Basically its a software remote control with a picture of a remote. You click the buttons and it controls the PVR. You can see the resulting OSD but not the background program. Allows you to take screen shots of the Toppy as well.

Telnet for Toppys - Download - Thread. Provides Telnet capability to the latest firmware. Useful if you know what telnet is and how to use it to dig around inside the workings of your PVR.

TMSDisplay - Download - Thread. This TAP manages your front panel display (aka the VFD).

RSSSRP - Download - Thread. The name of the TAP is a combination of RSS and SRP, which should be enough to tell you the function this TAP has. RSS Feeds are Newsfeeds and this TAP is able to receive them and to display them. It can handle up to 10 Feeds and 500 News. The titles are displayed in a ticker, the news itself are displayed in a bigger window.

NAS Mount - Download - Thread. Allows you to mount NAS (network attached storage) over NFS. Get access to those other media files.

TMSMount - Download. Allows you to set a mount point on the topfield - this way you can mount your external drives so they are able to be accessed over the network (FTP etc).

Little Clock - Thread. Shows a little configurable clock - was originally part of Jag's EPG.

AutoStandby - Download - Thread - a TAP that will put Topfield PVRs into standby after a period of inactivity.

Edited August 18, 2011 by pgdownload

[Sounding]

Didn't realise Here's a cut and past anyway...

<snip>

Thank you! And thanks for the message.

Cheers!