Topfield TF5800PVR front panelI have been using a hard disk based video recorder for a few months now and I have to report that it makes a huge difference to my TV viewing habits.

It means freedom from broadcast schedules. You watch what you want, when you want. If there are three programmes you want to watch on at the same time (which does happen), it’s usually not a problem.

The Topfield TF5800PVR is probably the best of the bunch. It works pretty well and despite being a little buggy at first until a firmware update was applied, it has now proved itself to be solid, clever, a revolution.

Some key features:

  • Two built-in Freeview tuners
  • 160Gb Hard disk stores about 100 hours of TV, 250Gb option
  • 7-day programme guide
  • One-button timer/record
  • Ability to record two channels simultaneously whilst watching one other or something previously recorded
  • Chase play: start watching a recording even before it has finished recording
  • Pause and ‘rewind’ live TV
  • Organise recordings into folders
  • Much more!

Setting a record timer is an absolute doddle – just browse the 7-day programme guide and press a button to mark the programmes you want recorded.

It’s very much like Sky+ for Freeview, with the bonus of greater storage capacity and no subscription. This is a massive leap forward from ye olde mechanical VHS tape recorder.