TEST REPORT Satellite Receiver

Topfield TF6000PVR
The Future is Wireless
At first glance you can only tell by looking at the introduced two issues ago. Topfield decided to titude of DiSEqC protocols such
front panel that we are dealing with the TF6000PVR stick with the elegant design of their original Mas- as DiSEqC 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3
since this new box is almost identical in appear- terpiece; a design that allows this box to easily (USALS). Multiple parameters
ance to the popular TF5000 Masterpiece that we blend in with any TV entertainment system. can be set individually for both
tuners and for each satellite.
field did not include an Installa- In our tests, for example, we
tion Assistant in their software. were able to set up a multifeed
This takes the user directly to antenna on tuner #1 while a
the main menu the first time the DiSEqC motor was operated on
receiver is turned on. Thanks tuner #2. Once the receiver
to the logically designed OSD, has been properly set up for the
the user should have no trouble existing antenna system, the
getting used to the menu struc- next logical step would be the
ture. Basic receiver settings are automatic channel scan. Our
handled in the System Settings test scan of an 80-transponder
menu. In addition to CVBS and satellite was completed in just
RGB, S-video and YUV are also over five minutes.
available. This should make A Network scan yielded an
owners of flat screen TV’s and additional 23 channels but also
projection systems especially required an extra 90 seconds

The front panel sports a set ture: Topfield is one of the first happy. The automatic switching to be completed. As with all of
of five buttons for control of the manufacturers to recognize that between PAL and NTSC signals the previous models, there was
receiver without a remote con- although the USB interface is – just like with all the other Top- only enough room provided to
trol. A large, easy-to-read VFD perfect for transferring record- field models – is also handled store 5000 TV and radio chan-
display is in the center while a ings back and forth between by the TF6000PVR without any nels. Considering all of the
pair of CI slots that can accept the receiver and PC, how many problems. The receiver comes features and capabilities of
a variety of conditional access of you really have your PC sit- from the factory loaded with this box, we feel that this is
modules can be found hidden ting next to your TV in the living numerous European and Asian not quite enough. The channel
behind a flap on the right side. room? Topfield understood this satellites although the list is switching speed is, as expected
All of the typical encryption and opted to include WLAN in unfortunately not all that up to from Topfield, excellent. Less
modes - Irdeto, Seca Media- the TF6000PVR. To make room date and there are some satel- than one second was needed
guard, Viaccess, Nagravision, for this feature, Topfield elimi- lites that are missing entirely. for the audio and video of the
Conax, Cryptoworks, etc. – are nated the RF modulator. new channel to be properly pre-
thereby supported. The Topfield supports a mul- sented. Up to two programs can
The workmanship of this
In contrast, it is the rear panel receiver is – as expected from
of this box that has been changed. Topfield – very good. Even the
TEST
RESULT

Features
In addition to the expected con- included remote control is logi-
nections such as the IF input and cally designed and sits comfort-
Channel Memory
looped-through outputs for both ably in your hand. The included
Channel
tuners, the three RCA jacks for user manual comes with detailed
Scan Speed
video and stereo audio outputs, descriptions of the receiver’s
SATELLITE

the S-Video output, the USB 2.0 functions. Even the more-com- Channel
INTERNATIONAL

Switching Speed
connection, the RS-232 interface plicated WLAN setup should be
and the digital audio output, you no problem for beginners.
Video Quality
will also find another set of three
RCA jacks for YUV outputs as
well as a connection for a WLAN Everyday Use Audio Quality

antenna. And this takes us right Contrary to many other TELE

to this receiver’s newest fea- receiver manufacturers, Top- Tuner Sensitivity

TELE-satellite International — www.TELE-satellite.com

be recorded at the same time
via the two tuners while a third WLAN unnoticed in the background, the
longer transfer times are really
the receiver can continue
to be used without any
program can be viewed live or Thanks to the detailed user not all that bothersome in that restrictions.
played back from the hard drive.
Our test unit was delivered to us
with an extremely quiet 160 GB
hard drive; larger hard drives
are of course available as an
option.
The OSD and the general
operation of the receiver are a
direct 1:1 copy of the Topfield
Masterpiece – a smart decision
in our opinion since this concept
had already proven itself in pre- manual, it should take no time to
vious tests. set up this receiver with a WLAN TECHNIC Manufacturer Topfield, Seongnam, Korea
router or with Access Point. Vari- DATA Fax +82-31-778-0802
Recording functions and Timer ous standards such as ETSI, FCC E-mail inquiry@topfield.co.kr
settings are easy to follow. Up or MKK are supported as are
Model TF6000PVR
to 64 entries can be made into transmission rates from 1 to 54
Function Digital Satellite Receiver
the receiver and should more Mbps. If necessary, the WEP
with PVR and WLAN
than two recordings be inadvert- protocol can be used for reliable
Channel Memory 5000
ently set up for the same time, encryption.
Symbolrate 1-45 Ms/sec.
the receiver will warn you of this
oversight. If you don’t want to With all the settings taken SCPC Compatible ●

miss any of your daily soaps or care of, the user can access the USALS ●
other favorite TV series, you receiver via a Web interface as DiSEqC 1.0/1.1/1.2/1.3
should take great pleasure in the well as through FTP. The so- Scart Connectors 2
daily and weekly timer functions. called “Hermes” web interface
Video/Audio Outputs 3 x RCA plus 3 x RCA YUV
To round out this perfect picture, makes it possible to control the
UHF Modulator –
the receiver also comes with an more important functions of the
0/12-Volt Output –
integrated teletext decoder as TF6000PVR via your favorite web
well as a truly well-thought-out browser from practically any- Digital Audio Output ●

and easy to follow menu struc- where in the world (whether it’s WLAN ●
ture. your own work room or an Inter- EPG ●
net café while on vacation). In C/Ku-band Compatible ●
As with any receiver that we addition to critical status infor-
Power Supply 90-250 VAC, 50/60Hz
test, the TF6000PVR also had mation such as remaining hard
SatcoDX Compatible –
to prove its reception capabili- drive space, it is possible to pro-
ties. Our SCPC test transpond- gram and activate recordings
ers on Pas12 at 45° east with a directly via Hermes. Even the
symbolrate of 1.325 Ms/sec. and upload or download of recordings
on NSS7 at 22° west with 1.020 or MP3 files is possible.
Ms/sec. were recognized, proc-
essed and displayed without any Alone the transferring of data
problems. The receiver also had back and forth suggests the use
no difficulties mastering weaker of the integrated FTP program.
signals. Tests on BBC from Astra It allows you to easily copy data
2D in Munich and also from Arab- to and from the TF6000PVR Hermes (Timer) Time Setup
sat 2D in Vienna were success- although the transfer rate at 350
ful. Unfortunately, the signal to 500 kb/sec isn’t all that fast.
strength and signal quality dis- Hopefully Topfield will consider
plays appeared to occasionally some improvement here. Since a
show inaccurate values. download runs for the most part

Expert conclusion
+ Satellite Scan Main Menu
Topfield is once again one of the first manufactur-
ers to take a giant step towards the future with their
TF6000PVR. Thanks to the WLAN interface, this
receiver can easily be connected and controlled from
any PC. The TF5000PVR made for a perfect founda- Thomas Haring
TELE-satellite
tion for this receiver. Test Center
Austria

-
The WLAN transfer rate is not all that impressive as yet. The manu-
facturer should make some improvements here.
Info Bar EPG

TELE-satellite International — www.TELE-satellite.com