The TF6000PVRt is Topfield's first recorder with wifi, allowing you to connect it to your home network and the internet. The main advantage of this is it lets you automatically download the IceTV seven day program guide from the internet - an important feature for Australian PVRs because the television networks refuse to embedded a full guide in the broadcast signal. All they tell you is what's on now and what's on next, and even this is usually wrong. The IceTV guide lets you browse the television schedule on-screen and easily select programs to record. IceTV costs $AU3 per week but Topfield throws in a six month subscription

Wifi also allows for accessing the recorder remotely, from computers on your network or on the internet, so you can scheduling recordings and transferring files to and from the device. Apart from copying MP3 files to the recorder the file transfer is of limited use, as you can't play recorded television shows on your PC or burn them to DVD without a complicated multi-step conversion process - the software for which is not provided. Only the keenest of enthusiasts would bother, especially since it takes about 80 minutes to copy a one hour show from the recorder to your PC via HTTP or FTP. The recorder can't access files across the network, so you have copy them back to the unit before you can play them again.

The TF6000PVRt sports composite, component, s-video and SCART outputs as well as a SCART input  (but it can't record from this). The 200GB hard drive is good for around 50 hours of recordings and automatically buffers the last 59 minutes of whatever you're watching, but this resets when you change channel. If you get an hour into a movie and wish you'd recorded it, you can even rewind to the start of the movie, hit record and skip back to where you were up to. While it's recording, you can also watch a previous recording. If you pause a live broadcast to make a coffee and then resume watching five minutes later, unfortunately it doesn't warn you against changing the channel - which deletes the buffer (it sounds like a stupid mistake to make, but the channel surfing habit is hard to break).

While Topfield's range is pretty close to the perfect lounge room companion, it's desperately crying out for a DVD burner. The TF6000PVRt's other main shortcoming is it's only standard definition. Topfield is releasing the long overdue high definition TF7000PVRt in December, but it doesn't have wifi.

If you consider a seven day EPG an essential component of a PVR - but don't want a media centre computer in your lounge room - the Topfield range is the best option available in Australia today. The attraction of the high definition TF7000PVRt is strong, but if you consider wifi more important than HD then the TF6000PVRt should be on your Christmas list.

AT A GLANCE: Topfield TF6000PVRt personal video recorder

PRICE $AU1249

PROS can download IceTV guide via wifi

CONS not high definition

CONTACT Topfield Australia www.topfield.com.au{moscomment}

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Adam Turner  Digital TV  Gadgets  Hardware  Video