Topfield TF7000HT - Anyone got their hands on one yet?

[BGonaSTICK]

If someone out there has one, let us know what you think.

Topfield have a good name in the satellite receiver market, and it could prove to be a popular STB.

There aren't very many HD boxes out there right now, so these are pretty exotic beasts!



STICK

[BilboBoggins]

Hiya STICK

I read your post today about the BBC's FTA HD transmission and thought... right I must start looking a HD receivers as I've Sony Bravia TV and all set to watch the world cup but I'm struggling to find much info or reviews out there ! are they really that exotic ! and are there any that are available at the moment that are sitting on the shelf ready to buy ?

As you seem to be in the know whats your thoughts ?



Bilbo

[BGonaSTICK]

TBH m8, I'm struggling to find much information either, and I'm scouring the Internet every day!

I think that the safest bet is probably either one of the Sky HD boxes (booo!) or better value and independent is the Humax HDCI-2000 HD

For an example of an in-stock item:

_http://www.tracsat.co.uk/catalog/humax-hdci2000-p-242.html

I'm guessing that the Sky HD boxes will be crippled like the standard digiboxes and Sky+ boxes.

I also think that when Joe Public wakes up to just how little time there is left, what little choice, and just how little stock, that the shelves will be empty before you can sniff at the opportunity.

I'm sure that the Humax is an OK box, but you're buying blind, as I don't know any bu99er that has one!

[BilboBoggins]

Looked at the spec and seems OK* (need the HDMI interface as a must)....I'll give them a call tomorrow (Friday) to see if they actually have any in stock or not.... if they have then its decision time !* *I don't like being at the bleeding edge as theres always something better just around the corner* :

I'll keep you posted... perhaps I can do the virgin HD receiver review*

Bilbo

[BGonaSTICK]

Yeah, I'm not exactly a trailblazer when it comes to spending my own cash either!

I think though that if you want to watch the World Cup in HD, then you have no real choice. The Pace is the only other real option, but that's in the same boat at the Humax as far as I'm concerned.

Still, if it's anything like the Xbox 360 stock fiasco, you'll be able to resell it for twice the price after the World Cup has finished! 8)

[BGonaSTICK]

There is also the Quali TV box around in the UK, but anything with a name as embarrassing as that, that looks like a cornflake packet laid on its side and with only DiSEqC 1.0 out of the crate (http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...hp?topic=243.0) I don't think I'd lash out the readies on one.

[BGonaSTICK]

Just read a post from JD on the Den that the Humax HD-CI2000 is not currently able to correctly decode the new BBC HD transmissions!

Apparently it requires a tweak to the firmware, but neither the BBC nor Humax will comment on whether or not it'll be available for the World Cup

He did say that whilst it was a pig to set up initially, it did support the Dragon CAM OK and the picture quality was top notch, but... NO BBC!!!

I'm going to move this thread over to the HDTV section now, which seems more appropriate

STICK

[Edit]

I also just read this posted by nala

Hi guy's I can confirm that Premier HD can be watched using a T Rex/Dragon Cam and Cerebro card, I was watching it today via the new Humax MPEG 4 Sat receiver and it decoded ALL the Premier HD channels, I also understand the software update to allow viewing of BBC Hi Def via 28.2 will be available tomorrow via the Humax web site if not already available.

You do need to ensure you have the latest Dragon cam update or it will not work

I also heard that the 2000 fix will be available OTA on 28.2E, and that a similar OTA update will be available for the 1000 Premiere box (same as the 2000, but has Nagra built-in and less language options as it's aimed at the German market specifically) via 19.2E next week.

[BilboBoggins]

wow* ** *That certainly puts a fly in the ointment !!, I guess then it's a 'watch this space' as I'm deffo not buying one until I know that a patch has been released and is working.

and talking of the Xbox 360 it's does look good on a HD TV



back to searching the net !

Bilbo

[BGonaSTICK]

That's exactly the reason I'm a bit humpy with the timing of all this. The World Cup has come 6 months too early!

Mind you, it's not like anybody could have predicted it :

I know that the BBC trials are just that, trials, but it was pretty bl00dy obvious to me that a sizeable percentage of the British public would go crazy for HD (like those that have had a redundant HD TV for months already!) and the Sky HD signup figures certainly bear that out.

Of course the timing of the WC occurs coincidentally around the time of the BBC HD trial launch proper. Like the very same day... >

I know the BBC are not really making a big song and dance about HD at the moment, but that's just it. THEY SHOULD BE, and they should have been ready MONTHS ago with all the transmission protocols ironed out and ready well in advance of June 9th!

That would have given the hardware and firware guys plenty of time to sort their shit out too!

Whoa! Rant OVER! :roflmao:

[BilboBoggins]

Good rant and needed to be said !* agree 100% ! mind you I reckon there's* prolly a few manufacturing plants in asia working 24/7 to try and get something out to meet the world cup deadline..... I guess there's the big screen down the pub if all else fails



Bilbo