I have Topfield Masterpiece TRF-2400 and generally I think its great. This is our second Topfield PVR, which was only purchased to provide the high definition capability, that the previous model didn't support.
We had a problem with the signal breaking up, making some channels completely unwatchable.
The inbuilt signal strength and signal quality meter, that appears with the information on each channel, was showing full signal strength, but low signal quality.
On channels that were marginal, the signal quality gauge would vary from about 0% to about 30%.
Our TV antenna was quite old and was made up of two antennas feeding a coax combiner. One antenna was an old VHF antenna, and one a newer UHF model.
So we decide to invest in a new antenna, installed by a professional installer. He suggested that we use a masthead amplifier, and that seemed like a good idea, so we agreed.
The result of the new antenna and masthead amplifier was worse than before.
The marginal channels were even more marginal.
I read an article on a forum discussing a Topfield PVR with a similar problem (in a block of flats with a communal antenna with an amplifier). It appeared that the Topfield PVR was suffering from excessive signal strength, causing distortion in the signals and hence reduced signal quality. Their solution was to use an attenuator to reduce the signal strength, there by allowing the Topfield to behave properly.
I decided to try this, and prepared an attenuator with a value of about 10dB, using scrap cable and resistors. As soon as it was inserted in the antenna cable feeding the Topfield, there was instant improvement.
The signal strength was still full scale on all channels, but now the signal quality gauge was full scale on all channels as well.
In summary: the Topfield Masterpiece TRF-2400 PVR seems to suffer from RF signal overload quite easily. So if the signal strength appears good, but signal quality is low, it could be that the RF front end is saturated and distorting the signal.
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