Frequently Asked Questions

To make it easy to find answers to your questions, we’ve divided the FAQs into categories. Just select the appropriate category from the menu to see all the solutions, or select All FAQs from the menu to see them all. The most popular questions are at the top of each category.

How do I control my Toppy via the web?

The Toppy.org.uk Remote Control service, provided via this web site, allows you to create timers and searches on your PVR by filling in web pages or sending text messages from your mobile phone. You could do lots of work to set a system up yourself, but with Toppy Remote Control, we've done it all for you, and made it as simple as we can.

Do I have to have my Toppy networked?

No; Toppy Remote Control has been designed to work with a standard USB connection to your PVR, and we provide scripts that will automatically send timer and search information to it from Windows and Macintosh systems that are connected via USB.

How much does it cost?

Creating timers and searches from the web site and retrieving them on your PVR is free, and there are no plans to change that. The only part of the service for which we charge is the SMS (text message) system.

Where can I find out more about TRC?

You can read the rest of the FAQs, or visit the web pages at www.toppy.org.uk/timers/. Most of the help pages can be accessed by anyone, but to actually use the system you will need to sign in with your Toppy.org.uk forum user name and password.

There are no options for my country / region / list of channels. What do I do?

We can add other countries and regions to the system, but it may take a little while. We need to know where you are, all the channel numbers available in your region, the proper names of the channels, and the names used by your EPG software, either Jag's EPG or EPG Uploader. With all this information, we can create options for people in your country or region.

What do I need to use Toppy Remote Control

The Toppy Remote Control system works with the EPG Uploader TAP and also with Jag's EPG and UK Auto Scheduler. You will also need software to retrieve timer and search messages from the web site, and transfer them to your Toppy. The TRC pages include wizards to help you configure your computer and PVR for the service, so it should be quite easy for you to get up and running. Our scripts will even configure and install the necessary TAPs on your Toppy for you, if you're a UK user with either Windows or Mac OS X.

We provide scripts for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux users, and you can connect to the Toppy via USB or via a network. Most of our scripts use the PHP script language; if you do not have it installed, the set up pages will explain how to do that for you.

Why do I have to sign in for TRC? Isn't logging on to the forums enough?

We've used a specific method of signing in for the TRC so that it can work without cookies; this means you should be able to access the pages from a wider range of mobile phone browsers. Additionally, if you want to set a timer from someone else's computer, once you quit the web browser, there won't be any information stored that could allow someone to access your account.

How do I retrieve timers and searches from the web site?

Timers and searches can be retrieved from the web site manually with a web browser, or automatically, using a script on a Windows, Macintosh or Linux system. To retrieve the timers, you need your Access key, which is shown on your account information page. The PC and PVR settings page will give you help with setting up your system, and create customised scripts and ini files that include your Access key, and explain how to install them so that they run automatically on your computer.

What happens if my Toppy isn't turned on?

If the PVR isn't turned on, we can't send information to it. The scripts we supply will keep your downloaded timers and searches until they have been transferred to the PVR, then delete them, and they won't download additional requests from the web site until the last batch has been sent to the PVR. Obviously, for best results, you should leave the PVR turned on. Alternatively, you may want to set a non-recording timer on the PVR for a few times a day, to coincide with the periods when you have scheduled the retrieval scripts to run.

What is my Access key? Can't I just use my forum name?

Your access key is the unique information that Remote Control uses to identify you when your computer requests the latest information from the web site; we use this instead of your forum user name, since it avoids problems caused by strange letters and spaces in names. And, since retrieving some types of information may send you a chargeable text message, it ensures - as long as you don't tell other people your access key - that no one can trick our server into running up your mobile phone bill.

Why are there different search options for different TAPs?

The TAPs that we support for creating programme searches on your Toppy provide a slightly different range of features, and the pages for creating and amending searches alter to reflect that. As a result, if you decide to change from one TAP to another, we recommend that you delete any searches that have not been sent to your PVR, and then re-create them after changing your settings.

Why can't I cancel a timer?

Although the screen shows an option to cancel a timer, for technical reasons, it's only possible for us to actually send the command to cancel when you use EPG Uploader to retrieve timers. Additionally, the start time has to be the same to cancel a timer; so, if you've changed the padding settings since creating a timer, you won't be able to cancel it, unless you edit it and adjust the start time accordingly.

Can I access the TRC web pages from my mobile?

Yes, you can, as long as your mobile phone network doesn't restrict access. The pages in that section of the site have been designed with slightly different navigation, which should be easier to use on a mobile phone browser. Additionally, images and javascripts are automatically switched off when you use a mobile browser, which should ensure you don't download too much data. You can see if we correctly detect your mobile browser at www.toppy.org.uk/timers/bt.php. Note that some mobile phone browsers are not compatible with certain pages in the service; the site will warn you if there will be difficulties.

Can I control my Toppy from two different mobiles?

You can access the mobile version of the TRC web pages from as many phones as you like, but you can't simultaneously use two or more mobiles to set timers by SMS. You can only have one mobile phone registered to your account at any time. You can swap between mobile phones as often as you like, but you will need to register each one before you use it, and you will receive a text message costing you £1.50 each time you register. Additionally, the mobile phone that's registered to your account will receive a confirmation text, costing 25 pence. The SMS service is really only designed to be used from one mobile phone per user.

What mobile phone browsers can I use?

We have tested the service using a Nokia 6230, Nokia N70, and SonyEricsson P910i and it works with no problems. If you use one of the Opera mobile browsers, you should experience no difficulties.
With A SonyEricsson K750 and other phones with a similar browser, you will not be able to amend timers or set them for than 2 weeks in the future, nor will you be able to create searches.
The Siemens S55 and Nokia 1101 do not work with the service.
If you experience problems with your mobile phone browser, please let us know, but we cannot guarantee to be able to make the site work with every one. Remember that even if the mobile browser does not work, you can still set timers using SMS.

Can I use the SMS service from a non-UK mobile?

No. The text message service is, at present, only available to UK mobile phone users who are able to text to the shortcode 60300. Since the service costs money to provide, we would not be able to offer it to overseas users without charging a subscription, since we cannot charge their mobile bills directly. If your mobile phone supports web access, you should be able to use the Toppy Remote Control web pages to manage timers.

How much does the text message timer service cost?

To use the text message service, you have to register a mobile phone number, for which we charge £1.50 via your mobile bill. When you send a message to register, set timers or searches, we don't charge you, but your network may charge a fee for sending an SMS. We will send you a confirmation message, costing you 25 pence, either when we receive your text message, or when your computer retrieves details that have been set by SMS, for which a charge of 25 pence will appear on your mobile bill.
You can choose whether to receive confirmation messages when we receive your text, or when your computer retrieves the details.
You will not be charged if your computer checks for messages and finds that there are none, or when timers and searches set via the web are retrieved.
If you have requested confirmation when your computer retrieves timers and searches, and you delete an SMS timer or search before it's retrieved, you won't be charged. Conversely, if an SMS timer or search has been retrieved by your computer, and you mark it as unretrieved, you may receive confirmation if it's retrieved again.
More details are provided on the SMS pricing page.

How much have I spent on SMS commands?

If you click the Account Info link from the main Remote Control page, and then SMS log, you will see a summary of messages we have received from you, and messages that we have sent or will be sending to the mobile phone currently registered to your account. At the bottom of the page, you will see a total showing the cost of messages sent, the cost of those still to be sent, and the total.

My text message timers didn't work. Can I have a refund?

Sorry, no. We can't guarantee that text message timers will be reliable, because there are too many links in the chain - your mobile network, our mobile gateway service, then the programs on your computer and the TAPs on your Toppy. We do the best we can, but we offer the service with no guarantees, as the agreement you had to click on before using it explained.

What commands do I use to program my Toppy by SMS?

The SMS help page explains the commands that you can use.

Why can't I use the SMS service without registering a mobile?

We ask that a mobile is registered before using the service to ensure that we have your up to date details, and that your timers are only set by someone who has your forum user name and password. By charging for registration, we discourage people from attempting to guess other users' details.

Why do I have to pay to set timers via text message?

We don't charge you for setting timers; your mobile network does. But we do charge you 25p for the confirmation message you receive when your computer fetches timer details that you set by text message - so if there are lots of timers set, you'll only pay for one confirmation message. We'd love to do this free, but it costs us money for the text message short code and delivery service.

Why does it take so long to receive confirmations?

Confirmation messages are sent asynchronously - that means that we don't automatically send a message as soon as something happens to trigger it. Instead, we check periodically for messages that need to be sent out, so you won't necessarily receive a confirmation the instant you register, or try to set a timer. We do this because it allows us to ensure that the SMS service, our server, and your computer can all work independently of each other, without having to wait for messages to be sent. Additionally, remember that mobile networks can sometimes be slow at delivering text messages, especially at busy times of year.

Why have I had more than one confirmation for the same timer?

If you have asked for confirmations when messages are retrieved, we send a confirmation when your computer retrieves a timer that was originally set by text message, and we then mark the timer as retrieved. However, if you use the web page and later mark the timer as not retrieved, or choose to cancel the recording, this will send the timer information to your PVR again, and another chargeable confirmation message will be sent to you.
If you request confirmations when we receive messages, and then after we have confirmed a message, but before it is sent to your PVR, you then request confirmation when messages are retrieved, you may also receive additional confirmations.

Still not found the answer?

If you’ve not found the information you’re after, why not ask in the Forums, or check to see if there’s a detailed guide to the topic you’re interested in? You can also use the site search box to search the text of all our FAQs and other information for keywords.

Thanks to everyone who helped compile the FAQs we use on this site. They come from a variety of sources, and we’ve tried to credit them where we can. If we’ve missed anything out, please let us know!