Surprised the Topfield TF5800 PVR isn't reviewed here. I've had mine a while now; it has 250GB drive so tons of storage space. When it is full you can archive to your own pc or other hard drive as it has USB connectivity; also the software used in it is open access, so you can download lots of extra functionality if this is your sort of thing. You can also record two channels simultaneously and watch a third. It also has 2 CAM slots for setanta/freeview, 2 scarts (1 RGB) and also has an optical digital output. Also, unlike my subsequently acquired BT Vision box, it will upscale 4:3 pics to 16:9 automatically so no annoying gaps. Simple to use. Picture quality is fine; no obvious motion smears or pixellation even when viewed on a 50in Plasma from 10 feet, and good scale/colour depth with both live broadcast and recordings. Well worth a look out for.

Hmmm, I've had my Topfield TF5800 for almost 2 years now and, although the image was fine on my old 32" standard def TV, when I upgraded to a 42" plasma, it's fair to say the picture quality is ok at best and downright poor at worst. Compared to the picture output by my TVs inbuilt tuner, it's very poor and grainy (and yes I am using the RGB scart output).

In my mind, you're much better off going with one of Panasonic's DVD / HDD recorders with HDMI output. I've seen my friends and, compared to my Toppy, the picture quality is fantastic.

I had my goodmans 160 twin tuner that won your test, for ten weeks and not enjoyed the experience. The machine was very slow to respond to requests from the remote and would freeze if you skipped too quickly thru the fast forward mode. It also would not record two programmes at once  and eventually it completely froze. I tried the usual trick of switching off at the mains and waiting thirty seconds , this worked the first two times that it froze but on the last occasion it wouldnt even switch off via the button on the box. I subsequently returned the box to currys today and received a full refund. I have previously owned a single tuner humax pvr which was excellent but unfortunately sold it when I got sky+.

I like my BT vision box major bargain for £30 beats by Evesham PVR which often freezes and wont respond at times to the remote control

I like Mark Rodgers, have a Topfield 5800, and it is the best, bar none, kit I have ever bought. I appreciate things can only get better as time goes on, but I have bought a few things lately, and still the toppy is king.
I bought my mother a digifusion pvr, twin tuner job etc, and I am ashamed I bought her it after the joy I have from my Toppy.
I also bought myself a cable twin tuner pvr from skywonder.. and it is shyt. certain things work ok, but there is no reliability in the recording function, so days it does, some it don't.
The Toppy does it all, and in fine style. I know it is (was) a hundred quid more than a humax 9200, but in my eyes, it is money very well spent.
can i ask Mark Rodgers, how do you archaive to external hard disc? I am very intersted, rob
xant14 at gmail.com