IGLOO closing down

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24 posts

Geek

#1715089 3-Feb-2017 17:25

freitasm:

wazzageek: Would you have a link to the announcement that would turn the boxes into standard freeview boxes?

Cheers

Here (as in "Did you read the whole first post?")

Oddly when I started the whole post wasn't visible

Jasonsbx

24 posts

Geek

#1715092 3-Feb-2017 17:29

mattwnz:

wazzageek:
freitasm:

wazzageek: Would you have a link to the announcement that would turn the boxes into standard freeview boxes?

Cheers

Here (as in "Did you read the whole first post?")

Ermmm - bumble. I guess I read the comment as an official freeview box. I wonder what the software patch will contain. I was looking at putting out the igloo box to pasture, but it works well for SWMBO.

/humble

Will be interesting if it will be able to pull the freeview EPG from the TV signal, as I believe it currently gets it over the internet, like the tivo.

Igloo guide works without internet and I assume update will be an over the air one.

wazzageek

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#1715104 3-Feb-2017 17:35

Jasonsbx:
mattwnz:

Will be interesting if it will be able to pull the freeview EPG from the TV signal, as I believe it currently gets it over the internet, like the tivo.

Igloo guide works without internet and I assume update will be an over the air one.

I was under the impression it came via the internet too ... We've quite often had it not deliver any results for some channels. A reboot sometimes fixed it, but it took so long to reboot, that I just ignored the guide.

Jasonsbx

24 posts

Geek

#1715105 3-Feb-2017 17:39

wazzageek:
Jasonsbx:

mattwnz:

Will be interesting if it will be able to pull the freeview EPG from the TV signal, as I believe it currently gets it over the internet, like the tivo.

Igloo guide works without internet and I assume update will be an over the air one.

I was under the impression it came via the internet too ... We've quite often had it not deliver any results for some channels. A reboot sometimes fixed it, but it took so long to reboot, that I just ignored the guide.

Ours was never on internet which I think may only have been to enable pay per view movies.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1715112 3-Feb-2017 18:25

Jasonsbx:

wazzageek:
Jasonsbx:

mattwnz:

Will be interesting if it will be able to pull the freeview EPG from the TV signal, as I believe it currently gets it over the internet, like the tivo.

Igloo guide works without internet and I assume update will be an over the air one.

I was under the impression it came via the internet too ... We've quite often had it not deliver any results for some channels. A reboot sometimes fixed it, but it took so long to reboot, that I just ignored the guide.

Ours was never on internet which I think may only have been to enable pay per view movies.

TV will work without the internet, but the EPG I believe comes in over wifi. I recall when I had one, it didn't display the EPG when it wasn't connected to the internet, it was just blank. Also I am not sure how it will be able to get the EPG if it wasn't via the online system, if it is not an approved freeview box. Not unless the update does this. I do recall reading somewhere when the closure was first announced , that the EPG would stop working, which is one reason I returned mine to the retailer. The other reason was it just kept freezing and crashing.

mm1352000

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#1715122 3-Feb-2017 19:27

I can confirm that Igloo STBs can download at least some EPG data via the internet. Whether they can get all data (ie. Igloo channels + Freeview channels) or just a subset via that mechanism is a separate question that I can't answer at this point. Ditto for the question of whether the internet is the only available mechanism for them to acquire EPG data. What I can say is that IFF EPG data is broadcast over-the-air in the Igloo broadcast, it must be broadcast using a proprietary format. There's no DVB-standard EPG data (EIT) in the Igloo transport stream.

P.S. I managed to get a transport stream dump myself.

mm1352000

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#1715225 4-Feb-2017 01:56

At the moment it's looking like:

Igloo only provides EPG data for their channels
EPG data for the next ~8 days is broadcast in a proprietary format in the Igloo transport stream
EPG data for additional days is downloadable from the internet if an internet connection is available

This being the case, I assume the Igloo STB must support grabbing Freeview's MHEG 5 or EIT EPG data. It would need to tune to one of the Freeview transport streams in order to collect that data because Freeview's EPG data is not present in the Igloo transport stream.

I'm not able to say whether it has always been this way.

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mm1352000

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#1718659 11-Feb-2017 14:27

Well, I happened to check the proprietary EPG again today. Discovered that it covers Freeview channels as well as Igloo channels. I seem to recall that when I checked it last time, the guide on Igloo's website didn't contain data for the Freeview channels. Now that guide does have data for Freeview channels. I assume there's some kind of linkage there (ie. when the proprietary EPG contains Freeview data, the website EPG will also contain Freeview data... and vice versa). This throws further doubt over whether or not the Igloo box will be capable of pulling in Freeview EPG data when the Igloo organisation goes away.

wingbat45

233 posts

Master Geek

#1720167 14-Feb-2017 19:29

igloo boxes will have an over the air update sent to them after then end of the month, the epg issue should be covered in this.

wazzageek

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#1720199 14-Feb-2017 20:53

This page here https://www.sky.co.nz/igloo-offer states that the unit will still receive the Freeview Channels, "but without any tech support or the on-screen TV guide".

Might be time to rip the unit open and see what could be put in the enclosure instead (raspberry pi perhaps)?

mm1352000

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#1720321 14-Feb-2017 23:39

wingbat45: ...the epg issue should be covered in this.

What's your source for this information?

As wazzageek has pointed out, your statement contradicts the information pushed out via official Igloo communication channels.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1720330 15-Feb-2017 00:40

mm1352000:

wingbat45: ...the epg issue should be covered in this.

What's your source for this information?

As wazzageek has pointed out, your statement contradicts the information pushed out via official Igloo communication channels.

I also recall last year when they announced it, that there would be no EPG on the boxes after it is turned off, which is why I returned mine. So I would be really surprised if there is. Although I would guess the boxes are possibly capable of it, but it would probably require a lot of work for them to do in an update. So I can't see then doing that.

mm1352000

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#1720597 15-Feb-2017 13:12

If it becomes clear that the software update at the end of the month doesn't enable the Igloo boxes to pull in Freeview's EPG data automatically, there's a slim possibility that an alternative solution could be developed.

As I've previously said, it appears that the box currently receives the next 8 days of EPG data in a proprietary format via in-band (ie. part of the Igloo RF/over-the-air transmission) data streams. Data for additional days is downloaded (same proprietary format). Based on my investigations, I'm fairly confident it would be possible to translate Freeview's EPG data into the proprietary format that the box requires. I'm also fairly confident that the box would be capable of downloading all it's EPG data (as opposed to only downloading data that's for 9 or more days in the future). The real problem would be getting the box to ingest the data.

The download capability depends on the box receiving "instructions" describing where to download the EPG data. Those instructions are currently delivered in-band. It won't be practical to replicate in-band signalling, so unless the box is configured with a default download location, all options are immediately off the table.
The software update may disable the download capability.

If the Igloo team could configure the box to look for EPG data at some specific location (eg. http://www.iglooepg.co.nz/data.gz) as part of the final software update, that would be enough to make a solution possible.

manaia

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1723705 21-Feb-2017 13:32

Email from IGLOO today:

IMPORTANT INFO: IGLOO CLOSES NEXT WEEK

We just want to remind you, IGLOO will be closing down from 1st March. We’ve got some important information on using your IGLOO box after this date we wanted to share.

WATCHING FREEVIEW CHANNELS THROUGH YOUR IGLOO BOX

When IGLOO closes on the 1st March, your box will get an automatic update that should let you use the box to watch Freeview channels. Once this update happens, you won’t have the EPG guide and technical support you normally get from IGLOO but you should be able to watch Freeview channels through your box.

What do you need to do?

Just make sure your IGLOO box is plugged in and turned on from 1st until 15th March.

If you’ve got any questions, jump on a call to our customer service team on 0800 2 44566.

Thanks

Team IGLOO

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1723753 21-Feb-2017 14:33

So freeview 'should' work? Shouldn't it say it 'will' work? Without the EPG it is pretty much a door stop. I returned mine to the retailer and got a property freeview box, when I knew that it wouldn't have the EPG, when they announced this last year.

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