BEGINNER’S SECTION
Topfield PC Software
The Wide World of Extra Features:
PC Software for Topfield Receivers by Thomas Haring
Without doubt South Korean company Topfield is one of the most innovative manufacturers of satellite receivers in the world. Owners of Topfield products not only get a receiver, but a masterpiece of state-of-the-art technology with a whole range of extra features that extend far into the PC realm. We want to take you on a journey to the wide world of Topfield bonus features:
Creating a DVD If you already own a PVR receiver you certainly had moments when you wished it were possible to save a recorded event on DVD for archiving in a quick and easy way. In actual fact, Topfield receivers save the transport stream they receive via satellite, cable or digital terrestrial TV without any changes or reformatting. Depending on the actual receiver model in Topfield’s comprehensive product range the individual stages you have to go through for creating a DVD differ slightly. What is the same for all models is step 1: transferring the recorded event from the receiver’s internal hard disk to the PC. Topfield provides three procedures to accomplish that task:
• data transfer between receiver and PC using a USB 2.0 connection • data transfer between receiver and PC using a LAN or WLAN connection • direct access from the PC to contents stored by the receiver on a hard disk Direct access from the PC is supported for all receiver types that do not come with a built-in hard disk, such as the TF7700HSCI. Thanks to USB 2.0 these boxes are able to record events on an external hard disk and whenever you need to transfer files all you are required to do is unplug the external hard disk from the receiver and connect it to the PC. MS Windows Explorer will recognise
16 TELE-satellite & Broadband — 04-05/2009 — www.TELE-satellite.com
it as a removable disk drive after a few moments and then you’re all set for copying files to the local disk. Data access via LAN or WLAN has also turned out to be a very convenient solution and that is why Topfield has equipped a number of its premium products with LAN or WLAN connectivity. The current top-of-the-range receivers TF7700HDPVR or TF6000PVR, for example, offer this feature. Luckily, Topfield has not only looked at the hardware aspects but also made sure the software includes functions such as DHCP so that a network connection between the receiver and the PC can easily be set up. Cat-5 cables are needed for a physical connection, in cases where the two devices are linked directly you have to go for a crossover cable, while a straight-through cable must be used if a router or Internet gateway provides access to the network. Without exception, Topfield receivers with network connectivity come with both a web and an FTP server. This allows