fixed anchor no relation belay device
Description
In top-roping, the climber and their belayer (or "second"), arrange a fixed anchor at the top of the climb and then hang the rope down from this anchor at the rope's approximate mid-point (i.e. so that two parts of the rope are now hanging down the route). The climber is then tied to one end of the rope (using a figure-eight loop follow-through knot), and the belayer clips their belay device into the other side of the hanging rope.  As the climber ascends the route, the belayer can "take in" the "slack" in the rope, so that if the climber falls, they simply hang from the rope, unlike a lead climber who falls at least twice the distance to their last point of climbing protection.If the belayer takes-in all the slack on the rope, and maintains a high level of tautness in the rope, then they are giving the climber a source of artificial aid in ascending the route.  A physically strong belayer, or a belayer with a light climber (i.e. a child), can physically haul the climber up the route by pulling on the rope.  Because of this aid that the belayer can give the climber, top roping is not considered free climbing (and nor is it considered lead climbing), and a top rope ascent cannot be used to claim a first free ascent (FFA) of a new climb.Equipment
In common with lead climbing, top roping requires the standard equipment of a harness attached to one end of a dynamic kernmantle rope (usually via a figure-eight knot).  The second, who is belaying, will use a mechanical belay device that is clipped-into the rope, and which pays-out the rope as needed, but can grip the rope tightly to catch the climber in the event of a fall.Top roping requires a fixed anchor at the top of the climb, from which two sides of the rope can be hung back down to the base.  Because top roping is either done by novice climbers, or by experienced climbers attempting a route at the limit of their capabilities (why they need to practice it), there is a high probability that the anchor will experience a load, and it, therefore, needs to be strong.  Some climbing areas place fixed artificial anchors (i.e. iron rings or cement blocks) at the top of routes to assist top rope climbers in creating a strong fixed anchor.
no relation