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TF5800 manual: menu reference
This section of the manual provides a brief guide to all the system menu options, to help you find the settings and choices you need. The first column of the table shows the main menu, the second the options available by choosing from the first, and so on.
Remember that in the menu system, pressing Menu
returns you
to the previous menu screen. The up and down keys highlight a menu option,
and OK 
selects a sub menu. Left and right arrow keys can be used to change
the setting of a highlighted menu option.
System setting |
Time setting |
Mode |
Censorship |
||
Menu language |
||
TV type |
||
Organizing favorites |
||
Recording |
Record no |
|
Installation |
Service search |
Antenna supply 5v |
Information |
IRD Status |
|
Common Interface |
Slot 1 |
Module information |
Game |
ExBlock |
System setting
The system setting menu allows you to configure the Topfield PVR to work with your television and other equipment, and to customise some aspects of the way the system operates.
Time setting
The time setting menu allows you to choose whether to set the clock manually or, in auto mode, using the time signal carried as part of the digital TV broadcast.
You can also set the offset from GMT, if you are in a different time zone, and the local time if you have chosen to set the time manually.
We recommend that users in the UK set both the mode and the GMT offset options to Auto.
Timer setting
This menu option displays a list of all the timers that have been set, allowing you to amend or delete them, or manually add a new timer. This option is described in section 3, Recording and playing, Viewing your recording schedule.
Parental control
The parental control menu allows you to restrict access to some areas of the PVR using a PIN. The default PIN code is 0000. The Access control menu available via this screen allows you to control access to the Time setting, Language Setting, A/V Output setting, Organising favourites, Installation and IRD screens. Use of parental controls is described in section 4, Extra features, Parental lock.
Language setting
The language settings can be used to change the language of the on-screen displays, and the default language for both subtitles and audio tracks. The 2nd subtitle option on this menu is only available when the first subtitle language has been set to an option other than Off.
If a 1st subtitle language is chosen on this menu, then subtitles in the chosen language will, when available, be displayed each time the PVR is turned on.
A/V output setting
The A/V output setting menu is one of the most important, to ensure that you can obtain the best performance from your TF5800 with your television set or display, so we will describe each of the options.
TV Type
This setting determines what type of television your PVR is connected to; it should normally be set to PAL, which is the standard used in the UK and Europe. NTSC is used by American television sets and in some other countries. The Multi option is for televisions that can understand both types of TV signal, and will work with most modern sets.
Video output
Your PVR can output video signals in a range of different formats, ensuring you can connect it easily to a wide range of displays. The available options are CVBS, RGB, RGB and YUV.
CVBS is also known as Composite video, and found mainly on older equipment now.
RGB is supported by most newer television sets, and commonly used with SCART connectors. If you are using a conventional television set, it is probably the best option.
S-Video is used by some AV amplifiers and projectors. It provides a better picture quality than CVBS, but not as good as RGB.
YUV is also known as Component video, or Y Pr Pb, and is most often found on flat panel plasma and LCD displays. Your PVR can send a YUV signal through its SCART connector, and you will need an appropriate cable to link it to your TV or display panel.
Note that if you change the setting on this option to one that your display does not support, you may see a blank screen. Use the left and right arrows on the remote control to change to another option, and wait until the picture reappears.
VCR Scart type
The VCR Scart type is used to tell the PVR what sort of device has been connected to the second Scart socket on the rear panel.
When set to External A/V, the Satellite button
will switch
the TV display between the PVR and the external device (for example, a DVD
player). When set to standard, switching will be done automatically, for
example when Play is pressed on a video recorder.
TV Aspect ratio
If you have a widescreen television, set this option to 16:9; for a conventional set, it should be 4:3. When set to 16:9, the display format option below is not available, as the PVR automatically controls the picture using information included in the broadcast.
16:9 display format
This setting provides two options for the display of widescreen (16:9) programmes on a conventional television set. The Letterbox mode will present widescreen pictures with a black bar above and below them, showing the whole picture, while Centre extract will fill the screen, losing some information from the edges of the picture.
Sound mode
You can choose to have the sound output from the PVR in stereo or mono, or just either the left or the right hand channel.
RF Output
This setting controls the format that will be used for the RF output connector on the rear panel. For compatibility with UK television sets, this should be set to PAL I. Other options include PAL G, PAL K and NTSC M, and are for use with foreign television sets.
RF channel
The RF channel is the UHF channel number that a television set connected to the PVR’s RF Out connector must be tuned to, in order to view the PVR’s output. It should be set to a channel number that does not conflict with those used for analogue or digital television transmissions in your area.
The following items are the remaining options on the main System Setting menu.
OSD transparency
This option controls how much of the TV programme you can see behind on-screen displays such as the channel list. You can set it to a value between 0 and 50%. The higher the number, the more visible the TV programme will be behind the on screen display.
Info box display time
The information box is displayed automatically when you change channels. This option allows you to disable the box, change the amount of time for which it appears, or choose to have it remain on screen until you close it by pressing Exit.
Info box position
Using this option, you can move the position of the information box up and down the screen.
Time shifting
Time shifting is the ability to rewind TV; when this option
is set to Enable, the PVR will automatically record what you are watching,
up to the last hour of viewing. If you set this option to Disable, you will
not be able to rewind live TV, unless you first press the Pause button
,
and you will not be able to rewind beyond the point at which you first paused
TV.
Interactive service
When this option is set to Enable, interactive services such as BBCi will be available. When set to Disable, they will not be available, and you will not see reminders such as ‘Press red’ appearing on screen.
Organizing favourites
This menu option allows you to create groups of favourite channels, and is described in section 4, Extra features, Organising channels.
Recording
The recording menu allows you to create a recording, or stop a currently running recording.
To create a recording, choose a service and a start time and duration; if you choose Current Event, the programme currently being broadcast on the selected channel will be recorded automatically. More details are explained in section 3, Recording and playing.
Timer setting
The Timer Setting option on the recording menu displays the list of currently scheduled recordings, and is the same list you see when you select Timer Setting from the System Setting menu.
Installation
The installation menu is normally only needed when initially configuring your PVR, or if you need to add extra channels.
Service search
The Service search option allows you to scan automatically for channels, as described in section 1, Installation and setup, Searching for TV and Radio channels, or manually, as described in section 7, Troubleshooting and How to, Adding a new channel.
The service search menu includes an option Antenna supply 5V, which can be used to supply power via your aerial cable to a signal amplifier, provided that the amplifier runs from a 5 volt supply.
Factory Setting
The Factory setting option resets all the options on your PVR to their default state. You will be asked to confirm that you want to reset the PVR.
Choosing this option will delete all stored channels, favourites groups, timers and settings, including A/V output settings. It will not delete programmes recorded on your hard disk.
Format Hard Disk
This option initialises a hard disk for use with your PVR. It is not needed in normal use; you may need to use it if you upgrade the hard disk in the PVR. You will be asked to confirm that you want to format the disk.
Upgrading the hard disk in your PVR will invalidate the warranty. Using the Format Hard disk option will destroy any recordings you have saved on the hard disk, but will not alter other system settings.
Transfer firmware
The Transfer firmware option is used to transfer the software that controls your PVR – the Firmware – to another TF5800 PVR, using a cable to link the two units via their serial ports. It is intended for advanced users only, and the recommended way to update the firmware on a PVR is via a USB connection to your computer or an over the air broadcast, as described in section 6, Advanced Features, Firmware updates.
System Software Upgrade
This option is used to tell your PVR to start looking for a software update broadcast. It is explained in full in section 6, Advanced Features, Installing a firmware update over the air.
Information
The information menu provides details of the system software.
IRD status
The IRD status option shows a screen giving the full details of the hardware and software of your PVR. The most useful information is commonly referred to as the firmware version, which is indicated by the Application Version and Last Update information on the screen.
Calendar
The calendar provides a simple on-screen calendar. You can move a year at a time by using the left and right arrows on the remote control, and a month at a time by using the up and down arrows.
Common interface
This menu provides information about CAMs that have been added to your system for compatibility with PayTV. It provides two options, one for each of the CI slots behind the panel at the right hand side of the PVR. If a slot is not empty, selecting it and pressing OK on the remote control will provide an additional menu with the following options:
Module information
This option provides information about the manufacturer of the CAM and the software that it contains. If you have difficulties with your Pay TV service, you may be asked for this information by the Pay TV support team.
Smart card information
The smart card information usually indicates the date on which your subscription ceases to be valid, and may have other details, depending on the Pay TV provider.
Language
This provides language options for the Pay TV service or CAM.
Software download
If your Pay TV operator provides software updates for their subscription modules (CAMs), this option will allow you to search for and download them.
Game
The game menu provides access to the three games in the PVR, Ex Block, Bomb Hex and Bug Man.