Top Set, USB and Time Shift problems & Questions

[Kim Jespersen]

Hi all

I have just bought the TF7700HDPVR and I have 3 questions (problems) I'm hoping you can help me solve

1. I would like to use Top Set 2.0 but the USB connector is a type A (Master) and since my computer is also Type A, I'm wondering how to connect the computer to the receiver? A type A-B converter?
I have downloaded everything from the Top Set page and I have browsed this page for solutions but I can't find any solution for the dual Type A problem.

2. I wanted to update the firmware and formatted an extern HDD in ExFAT, my Vista 32 appearently only does NTFS or ExFAT, and the receiver seemed to recognise it but couldn't use/read it.
I then installed a partitioner (Paragon) and made it into regular FAT32 but now the receiver won't recognise the HDD at all.
I have no internal drive yet and I just wanted to update the firmware.

3. I read, on this board, about what I suspect is a bug in the Time Shift line as it should not be possible to record from the Time Shift feature.
This is one of the most used features by me on my Philips DVDR as I watch and record selected music videos, I'm wondering if this problem is something Topfield is looking to fix? or somebody fixed in other ways?

Hope you can help, TIA

Kim

[Julian]

Hi Kim, welcome on board!

Sorry I have to frustrate on your first question...

1. I would like to use Top Set 2.0 but the USB connector is a type A (Master) and since my computer is also Type A, I'm wondering how to connect the computer to the receiver? A type A-B converter?
I have downloaded everything from the Top Set page and I have browsed this page for solutions but I can't find any solution for the dual Type A problem.

As you realized, there is NO WAY to connect a 7700 to a PC using USB
(Do not try to use one of those so called Host-to-Host cables, it will not work!)

the only way is to use an old fashioned serial null-modem cable!
Topset works fine with that setup!

[Kim Jespersen]

Hi Kim, welcome on board!

Sorry I have to frustrate on your first question...

Hi Julian, thx

As you realized, there is NO WAY to connect a 7700 to a PC using USB
(Do not try to use one of those so called Host-to-Host cables, it will not work!)

the only way is to use an old fashioned serial null-modem cable!
Topset works fine with that setup!

I kind of suspected that with the Type A connector
I was just, in a way, hoping that there might be some solution because of the USB transfer rate. How is the transfer rate with the RS-232? (For file transfer)

I do have some external HDD's but I'm a little worried now since my receiver won't recognise my external HDD.

[Julian]

I kind of suspected that with the Type A connector
I was just, in a way, hoping that there might be some solution because of the USB transfer rate. How is the transfer rate with the RS-232?

I do have some external HDD's but I'm a little worried now since my receiver won't recognise my external HDD.

The transfer rate is ok to transfer settings, but do not use it to transfer movies! (I'm not sure if that is supported at all)

But, as soon you fixed the problem with the external disk, that is the way to go!
I can't help you there, I dont have a 7700!

But I remember, someone here recomended a freeware tool to format those disks on Windows, called h2format

And your last question, recording the time-shift-buffer: on a 7700: no way! at least not at the moment... maybe that will change in the future, but do not hold your breath until then...

[Kim Jespersen]

Thx a lot for the answers Julian

I'm just a little sad right now, I thought I had bought a great product but the two most important features of any PVR, a recordable Time Shift buffer and a transfer ready connection like the USB, are not working on the TF7700. Not satisfying at all

I just wonder why the receiver led up the dual screen icon in the display upon the first connection but couldn't read the HDD and afterwards won't even see my external HDD

Kim

[Julian]

In the old 5000-Days, people used to complain because the USB was only usefull to connect to a PC and not for connecting a disk. Now Topfield has changed that, and at the same time the group of complaining people has changed also...
And the USB-PC connection was quite slow, you are better of with an external disk!
On the other hand, to support that external disk, TF swithed from their propriatary filesystem to a standard one, FAT32 and that (my assumption!) killed the possibility to convert the blocks of a timeshift into a recorded file...

My private point of view: as long HDTV is not too popular, a TF5000PVR is still the better choice!

Concerning your problem with the external disk:
Many people report similar problems.
Often the solution was to delete ALL paritions on that disk and then have it formatted by the 7700 itself.
But for that, look around in the 7700 forums, as I said, I dont have one, so I will be no big help!

[Sirius]

1. I would like to use Top Set 2.0 ...[]

Like Julian said only with the serial port RS232. But it works fine to edit your channels on PC and to save your settings. You need a serial null-modem and maybe an additional serial-to-USB-converter for your PC.

2. I wanted to update the firmware ...[]

There are 3 ways to update the firmware on a 7700HDPVR:

- USB-stick / OTA / Network LAN-port
You surely have an USB-Stick?
Select the Installation > USB Firmware Upgrade menu (see manual chapter 8.2)

I do have some external HDD's but I'm a little worried now since my receiver won't recognise my external HDD.

The external HDD should only have one partition with FAT32.

[boomdijk]

Like Julian said only with the serial port RS232. But it works fine to edit your channels on PC and to save your settings. You need a serial null-modem and maybe an additional serial-to-USB-converter for your PC.


There are 3 ways to update the firmware on a 7700HDPVR:

- USB-stick / OTA / Network LAN-port
You surely have an USB-Stick?
Select the Installation > USB Firmware Upgrade menu (see manual chapter 8.2)

The external HDD should only have one partition with FAT32.

I have a 7700 with the newest firmware. I have a question about the lan connection. When i connect thru the browser with the topfield. The browser displays the topfield menustructure. When i select a submenu the topfield crashes en resets. After that the main menu comes back and the topfield crashes again... And so on and so forth...

Does anyone have the same problem or is it me?

Johan

[micha555]

[quote="boomdijk"]
Does anyone have the same problem or is it me?

Johan[/quote]

Yes, everybody has this problem. The navigation within sub-folders is not working since firmware 26 (i think)!

The best and fastest way to transfer recordings: connect the HD directly with your PC! Put it into the PC ore use an adapter USB--sATA.
All other ways are slow, unstable, buggy..... if you want to try it (but instable): LAN/FTP. You need to use FW >29 to have FTP.

[boomdijk]

[quote="micha555"]Yes, everybody has this problem. The navigation within sub-folders is not working since firmware 26 (i think)!

The best and fastest way to transfer recordings: connect the HD directly with your PC! Put it into the PC ore use an adapter USB--sATA.
All other ways are slow, unstable, buggy..... if you want to try it (but instable): LAN/FTP. You need to use FW >29 to have FTP.[/quote]

I am trying for a couple of weeks now to get a grip on my topfield...

Via LAN -> not working...
Via RS232 -> not working...


I have a sweex usb to rs 232 cable. I have put a gender changer on the rs232 end. Is this enough? Or do i need a special null modem cable?

Are there special settings for the Rs232 adapter?
Can i use topset 2.0 for communication?
Is reboot your topfield, just switch off and on or do i have to do something special?

What ever i try no connection... I just want to use topset to make a channellist and save my settings... I am getting very desperate here!

Can anyone answer my questions?

Thanks!!

Johan

[Roemer]

2. I wanted to update the firmware and formatted an extern HDD in ExFAT, my Vista 32 appearently only does NTFS or ExFAT, and the receiver seemed to recognise it but couldn't use/read it.
I then installed a partitioner (Paragon) and made it into regular FAT32 but now the receiver won't recognise the HDD at all.
I have no internal drive yet and I just wanted to update the firmware.

Without having an internal harddisk drive installed the USB-Port is not operational.

[micha555]

Danke Roemer! Wer lesen kann ist klar im Vorteil!

[Otherland]

I am trying for a couple of weeks now to get a grip on my topfield...

Via LAN -> not working...
Via RS232 -> not working...


I have a sweex usb to rs 232 cable. I have put a gender changer on the rs232 end. Is this enough? Or do i need a special null modem cable?

Are there special settings for the Rs232 adapter?
Can i use topset 2.0 for communication?
Is reboot your topfield, just switch off and on or do i have to do something special?

What ever i try no connection... I just want to use topset to make a channellist and save my settings... I am getting very desperate here!

Can anyone answer my questions?

Thanks!!

Johan

You need....

1. PC/Notebook with a COM Port (rs232) OR a USB to COM adapter.
2. A null-modem-cable (crossover).
3. Topset 2.0

Please note that you need the null-modem-cable (crossover) !

greetings
otherland