yep, its annoying, why do they not want us to know whats on TV? why would anyone want to copyright a guide? it truely makes no sense... its actually rather stupid... if we don't know whats on, we don't watch it, we don't see the ads they want us to see...
i wish their was a easy way to get an xmltv guide.
Well, seeing as Haventech didn't reply to our previous posts when the data went missing, I have buggered around tonight using the EPG Collector as referred to in the sticky for this forum.
I say "buggered around" as despite there being a fairly extensive readme with the program, I still spent some time trying to find a .ini file that I thought would have been installed when the EPG Collector program is installed. Turns out you have to configure the program first and THEN it creates the .ini file. It doesn't help that the program is installed in two separate locations either.
Long story short, I did manage to create an XML file, using a stream from Sugarloaf (the terrestrial source here in Chch), loaded it with BigscreenEPG and I now have an EPG again. I just have to work on getting it automated now.
So there are alternatives available if Haven doesn't fix this.
I have been using Haven's files for about 4 - 5 years now and have put off changing that source and associated programs as I don't like buggering around with something that works. (Computers can be temperamental things as we all know - let alone EPG's!)
Good luck - I hope he fixes this soon or at least advises the forum that the service is no longer being provided.
do you mind uploading the file somewhere or emailing it to me? I can't do what you did as I don't have a satellite tv tuner, I use a set top box connected to an analog tuner in my mce pc.. I would buy a satellite tuner but don't have the money!!!
At least your guide will get me through another week until hopefully Haventech gets his up and running again, I'm hoping he is just away on holiday or something :)
Up until now anyway, Haventech has usually restarted the service albeit well after 7 days sometimes when the EPG has stopped.
After the previous hiccup, I sent a message 8 May asking if he was aware the data was out of date. That message has still not been read or responded to.
So reluctantly, I suggest that we maybe shouldn't hold our breath too much and consider looking at the other options. At least that way everyone will have control over their own EPG's and avoid what is becoming an ongoing issue.
I have had two HVR2200's installed, so 4 tuners in total, for about 4 years and they have run without a hitch using a digital terrestrial signal. They cost around $150 each although there are single tuner models available which are cheaper.
Those are DVB-T tuners. If you can watch Freeview on your pc (via your DVB-T tuner card) then it's easy to just use EPG Collector to grab the Freeview epg, but it's the Sky epg which is the issue if you only have a sky stb and no satellite tuner card.
yep, I have one of those tuners too but it does nothing for me as im not in a major center and only have satellite tv. we dont get a digital signal here, I used to use my digital tuner when I lived in Australia and was brilliant but tv's not so good in these south island towns.
if I had digital tv here from antenna I wouldn't need haventech's guide but my situation makes me require it.
I have a Blackgold quad tuner card but the dvb-s side of it seems to have given up the ghost so I've been using haventechs xml to do my sky epg while I justify replacing it. I have no slots left in my htpc for another card....
Unless you get a DVB-S card in which case you can download the epg data from that. It is going to look a million times better then what you are doing now anyway and they can be got fairly cheaply. + you then can watch a different channel on the STB while you record on the MC.
Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64
phrunt: yep, I have one of those tuners too but it does nothing for me as im not in a major center and only have satellite tv. we dont get a digital signal here, I used to use my digital tuner when I lived in Australia and was brilliant but tv's not so good in these south island towns.
if I had digital tv here from antenna I wouldn't need haventech's guide but my situation makes me require it.
There are nearly always one or two cheap DVB-S tuners on TradeMe.
Split the cable from your sat dish into your stb and a (cheap) DVB-S card and you can collect the EPG.
phrunt: ....I can't do what you did as I don't have a satellite tv tuner, I use a set top box connected to an analog tuner in my mce pc.. I would buy a satellite tuner .....
...Sorry Phrunt, my bad. I didn't realise you didn't have access to a terrestrial signal. Sounds like you have been given some good options in the meantime though for Satellite. Hope the file helps too.
As an aside, it still amazes me how many people in and around Christchurch aren't aware of the availability of a Terrestrial signal and only seem to be aware of Satellite. Likewise alot still confuse a Digital signal with HD and assume they are the same. Maybe they should subscribe to Geekzone...!!
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