This PVR basically uses Freeview terrestial signal to records your favourites channels and programmes. One signal feeds two tuners and allows you to watch one channels while recording another. Or, simply record two channels.

This is the 500GB model but there is also a 250GB model without HDMI Upscaling. The EPG isn’t too bad. It hasn’t been incorrect yet anyway. The picture quality is really good and the in-programme ‘skip and jump’ options are very useful. Although it doesn’t remember where you were if you STOP the programme for any reason.

One of the reasons for getting this model was the USB port, which allows you to store recorded programmes onto your computer to watch later. It all sounds a good idea but the copying process takes forever and I end up cancelling the process. The programme labelling is sometimes very irritating. With movies and one-offs it’s fine. But, I have a young son and recording Thomas and the Tank Engine everyday causing some problems for me. The first recording is fine ‘THOMAS’ and second saves as ‘THOMAS-2′ then ‘THOMAS-3′. No problem there, but try filing them into a folder of there own and the labelling resets itself. This creates duplicated file names and means you wont be able to save them in their own folder without overwriting the previous recordings. So I’m having to hook up the PVR to the PC and rename them using a keyboard. I could rename them using the remote but this takes forever.

To be honest, I really like it. It has it’s issues but then what gadget doesn’t. It’s saving me £50 a month by not paying for SkyTV.

Topfield Freeview+ Recorder (TF5810 – 500GB Black)