How to get the EPG at http://epg.pvr.geek.nz/epg/ going in Vista Media Center

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › How to get the EPG at http://epg.pvr.geek.nz/epg/ going in Vista Media Center

Satch

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#24450 24-Jul-2008 13:20

Hi,

I currently use xmlTVNZ to generate a guide for my VMC for Sky TV. I've been told that the guide available at http://epg.pvr.geek.nz/epg/ is much more reliable.

I've tried searching on here and all I've got is terribly confused! Is there an idiot's guide to setting up the http://epg.pvr.geek.nz/epg/ EPG in VMC anywhere?

Thanks for any help.

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#150940 24-Jul-2008 13:25

More reliable? I have not found reven's guide unreliable. It did once download empty channel data which then imported into the media centre resulting in a missed recording but I changed the script so that could not happen again.

Other then that has never let me down.

Have you been finding it unreliable?

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Satch

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#150942 24-Jul-2008 13:30

I'd rather this thread not turn into a "which is a more reliable EPG source" discussion, as I may never get the answer I'm after.

But to answer you question, I'm constantly getting channels with "no listings available" listed rather than the actual program listings. I can only assume that this has something to do with the websites the data is being scraped from either down or their formats changing. Sky 1 is one culprit, but this may have something to do with the name change to The Box. I haven't had time to look into this yet.

But Sky 1/The Box is not the only channel I experience the "no listings available' issue.

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#150964 24-Jul-2008 14:38

satch, hate to tell you think but I'm guessing that feed comes directly from the satellites and is converted to XML.

I myself get my feed directly from satellite, and still occasionally get the odd blank bit within a channel. Normally for a program or two. TV3 seems to be the worst for me.

So even that feed may occasionally suffer that problem - not helpful to your post I know....

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Satch

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#150967 24-Jul-2008 14:41

Thanks Psycik. If you hated telling me then why??

It's still got to be more reliable than web scrapings from multiple sites?

Nety - apologies if I came across harshly. I appreciated your feedback too.

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#150977 24-Jul-2008 15:18

ok, so to continue with want you wanted, xmltvnz produces valid XMLTV format XML doesn't it?? I used to use it and as far as I know it does.

And theoretically so is the stuff you're downloading from that site? It shoudl cos I remember I tried using this as well when I was on a MythTV syste,

Does the same process not work, you have to use bladerunner or something to get it in? Sorry I don't use VMC. And am just guessing until someone more useful comes along

Satch

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#150979 24-Jul-2008 15:23

In theory I guess it works along those lines, and there is another thread which explains the process albeit in a piece meal approach.

As I do not have a lot of understanding in this area, I was hoping that someone could either A) point me to a complete tutorial, or B) list the steps I need to take from A-Z.

I just don't want to stuff up what I currently have working. It is at least better than nothing at present...

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#151156 25-Jul-2008 06:36

You did not come accross as harsh I understand your concern.

Just one more question before I let you dump xmlTVNZ

Have you tried using a different source for the scrapes? Maybe try Telstra rather then Sky. I have heard that there synopsis's are not as good but if you are like me then the synopses are less important then the listing itself.

Satch

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#151255 25-Jul-2008 12:11

No I haven't tried changing the sources. I could give that a go and see how it works.

traderstu

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#151455 25-Jul-2008 22:19

Satch,

I am willing to work with you on this. I set my EPG up (using epg.pvr.geek.nz) about 6 months ago and it has worked 100% reliably since then. I too found the instructions in the other thread a bit hard to follow and I agree that a simple step by step set of instructions could benefit many people. (No offence to the posters in the original thread)

A couple of comments. I am using XP MCE and if my memory serves me correctly setting up the epg in VMC requires that you use the older version of BladeRunner Pro. Can anyone confirm this? I use my epg for freeview, but I am sure that if I sent you a copy of my ChannelInfo file, you would be able to edit it for Sky.

Could I suggest that we do this by email and then post a step by step after you are up and running?

stu

Satch

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#151570 26-Jul-2008 12:58

RustyGonad said he was going to write me up some instructions when he gets some time, so let's wait for that. He will probably make them public to everyone.

Just as a side note, I upgraded to the latest version of xmlTVNZ last night and the guide is working sweetly again. But I still prefer the idea of downloading something that has been pre compiled rather than having to go through and scrape data from websites myself each day. (by myself I mean by using xmlTVNZ to get my HTPC to go and do the scraping).

RustyGonad

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#151611 26-Jul-2008 16:21

Satch: RustyGonad said he was going to write me up some instructions when he gets some time, so let's wait for that. He will probably make them public to everyone.

Just as a side note, I upgraded to the latest version of xmlTVNZ last night and the guide is working sweetly again. But I still prefer the idea of downloading something that has been pre compiled rather than having to go through and scrape data from websites myself each day. (by myself I mean by using xmlTVNZ to get my HTPC to go and do the scraping).

Have sent the files through. Its a very simply process - nothing against Reven's product, but grabbing the prepackaged source is a 100 times faster and more reliable. Takes about 10 seconds a day to run.

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#151617 26-Jul-2008 16:37

You right that would be much better. The problem is that with the current attitude of TVNZ sites that do provide compiled data tend to get cease and desist letters from TVNZ's legal people

laurasaur

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#151685 26-Jul-2008 22:54

:o please can I get a look at these instructions im after the same thing :)
Cheers
Laura

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#151689 26-Jul-2008 23:18

i was using reven's app too for a while and it did a great job. i even donated to help keep it going. but since the freeview channels came on i've been using the epg.geek one as xmltvnz didnt scrape freeview data (maybe it does now, but i've had no reason to go back and look :)) the epg.geek one is 100% reliable for me, too, and takes seconds to run with a simple wget and gzip script. you still need bladerunner (or a quickguide derivitave) to get it into MCE though.

hopefully though, in a couple of months, i will be able to ditch that too and move to Vista MCE with DVBS and Guide all working without any extra effort.

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Regs

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#151691 26-Jul-2008 23:24

Nety:
You right that would be much better. The problem is that with the current attitude of TVNZ sites that do provide compiled data tend to get cease and desist letters from TVNZ's legal people

the aussies are having the same problem and they're doing something about it:
http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/community/media-center-news/30775-myepg-launches-campaign-unrestricted-program-guide.html

perhaps we should initiate a similar effort here too? (not volunteering myself though, sorry :p)

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