Topfield SRP2100 review

The SRP2100, flagged by maker Topfield as the 'Total Media Solution', is a well-specified twin-tuner 500GB HD satellite PVR that also boasts compatibility with online content like YouTube, Flickr and ShoutCast internet radio.

You can also transfer compatible multimedia files to it from a PC, again via a USB storage device, web interface or FTP (File Transfer Protocol). With appropriate network setup, remote control of the receiver from anywhere in the world with an internet connection is possible. Topfield even includes a wireless keyboard, and USB dongle. The SRP2100 redefines the luxury receiver.

Build and connectivity

A sophisticated receiver needs a sophisticated look, and the surprisingly compact SRP2100 is actually quite close to some cutting-edge Samsung products – maybe it's a Korean thing.

The front panel's most conspicuous feature is a bright-blue backlit circle that defines a somewhat fiddly touchpad. From here, you can select channel, adjust volume and access menus. To its left is a fluorescent display for channel indication, menu names and so on. On the right is a pull-down flap that conceals a pair of USB sockets and two CI slots. It looks as if Topfield was considering a built-in card reader – and thus CAM emulation – but no such luck; the slot is, alas, filled in. The accompanying handset may look good but its keys have a horrible plasticky feel and is disappointingly unresponsive on occasion. Thanks to pre-programmed codes it will operate some audio equipment, DVD players and TVs – but a button for favourites lists access is absent.

The rear panel hints at the SRP2100's potential. Each of the two DVB-S/S2 tuners has an input and loopthrough output – if you're using a single dish one tuner can be looped to the other. However, you'll lose much of the unit's viewing/recording flexibility. For HD (and upscaled standard-def) video, component and HDMI outputs are included. The HDMI output provides bitstream or decoded (PCM) digital audio. You also get coaxial and optical digital outputs. 'Legacy' Scarts for TV and VCR, plus a composite video and analogue stereo output are also present. The TV Scart supports RGB, but if you're using the component or HDMI outputs the best you can hope for is S-video. For attaching external storage devices, eSATA and USB ports are provided.

Finally, we have the Ethernet port that plays such an important role in the SRP2100's capabilities.

Setup

A wizard is responsible for basic settings. From here, languages are specified and you can specify an initial satellite for searching. For anything more advanced – motorised dishes, for example – manual configuration is required, courtesy of the pleasantly designed main menu's 'installation' option. Within this are various submenus for searching, transponder/satellite editing, LNB options and motorised dish (DiSEqC 1.2/USALS) setup. From these menus, a transponder and satellite can be selected – signal strength and quality bars (in large 'extended' form if desired) are displayed. You don't get the audible signal metering of previous Topfields, though.

For each tuner you must specify LNB details, whether DiSEqC 1.0/1.1 is used, and whether they're separated or 'looped through' with a jumper cable. You can then automatically search for channels – free-to-air only, encrypted only or all channels (network search is also possible). Unfortunately, blind search is not available in hardware or software form. Manual searches allow you to concentrate on single transponders, which can be edited or defined manually with an installation-menu 'sat/TP Edit' option. Polarity, frequency and symbol-rate can be entered here. In the third 'advanced' mode, you can also enter service PIDs. Such a feature can be useful for 'non-standard' channels like ITV HD; although this was found, the SRT2100 thought it was a radio channel. You can't alter the parameters of existing channels on the same transponder to facilitate reception, either.

Channel databases can be 'copied' between the two tuners – although such duplication eats into memory, it ensures that your viewing/recording options are unimpaired. DiSEqC motor settings, which are independent for each tuner, have separate installation menu options. In theory, you could have two different motorised dishes! If only one is motorised, this should be connected to the first LNB input. If you're using a USALS dish mount, site latitude and longitude can be entered for automatic determination of satellite positions. Here, a 'go-to' function will let you enter the orbital position of the bird you're after. Multi-satellite searches are, unfortunately, not catered for – some receivers, in contrast, will allow you to select several birds from a list.