Windows 7 Media Center and EPG

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timwelch

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Topic # 29560 11-Jan-2009 19:44

Evening all,

I just had great success in installing Windows 7 on my old HP P4 MediaCenter PC. It just worked... and runs on it better than XP did.

Now to the challenging part; getting an EPG working. Has anyone played with this yet?

I'm led to believe that it's different to Vista but it appears that an XML file can be loaded directly into Windows 7 MCE using loadmxf.exe http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/311782.aspx

Anyone had any luck?
Cheers, Tim

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Biddle Corp

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Reply # 188840 11-Jan-2009 20:10

There is currently no way to load an EPG into Windows7. If you are using DVB-T you will have to use a DVB-S source as your EPG and map the channels.

People are buying trying to work out the xmf file format (which is not the same as XMLTV) and load data in. There is more information available here.

timwelch

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Reply # 188850 11-Jan-2009 21:01

Yeah, I'd seen that discussion and it appears that they're not close to getting a solution any day soon...

timwelch

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Reply # 189093 12-Jan-2009 22:14

Have just installed a Hauppauge Nova-S DVB-S card and am now getting the EPG into Windows 7 Media Centre via that.

Works a treat.

Windows 7 MC EPG

freitasm

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Reply # 189129 13-Jan-2009 08:23

I had it working on my laptop, but not on my HTPC - both using the same USB DVB-T stick.

The only difference for me was the laptop is running 64 bit and the preview version and the HTPC is running the official beta 32 bit. I will update the laptop to the official beta 64 bit later this weekend...

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sbiddle

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Reply # 189131 13-Jan-2009 08:35

Just for the record the Freeview DVB-S flatform sends an 8 day EPG as part of the DVB EIT tables. This is referred to as the "DVG EPG".

On the Freeview|HD DVB-T platform the EIT tables only contain full EPG information for the current show, next show and several shows in advance. The full EPG data is contained in the MHEG5 middleware and there are no plans to ever transmit full 8 day EPG data in the EIT tables.

Unofficially I've heard that there are no plans to ever officially support NZ's MHEG5 middleware. Any official EPG source for New Zealand would be a downloadable EPG but there is no official word on whether this will happen or not.

Antzzz

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Reply # 189329 13-Jan-2009 19:49

freitasm: I had it working on my laptop, but not on my HTPC - both using the same USB DVB-T stick.

The only difference for me was the laptop is running 64 bit and the preview version and the HTPC is running the official beta 32 bit. I will update the laptop to the official beta 64 bit later this weekend...

So just to clarify - you had the MHEG5 guide coming down via the DVB-T stick and loading into the MCE Guide in the 64bit build? Might try the 64 bit build on my machine if that is the case...

Steve - I thought our implementation of MHEG5 was the same as that used by Freeview UK? Or is this yet another case of Freeview NZ being just that little bit different again?

freitasm

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Reply # 189339 13-Jan-2009 20:24

Correct. Also there's is a problem with an Add-in and Microsoft already released a fix for that. It's the same Hotfix for the MP3 problem.

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Antzzz

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Reply # 189402 14-Jan-2009 00:17

freitasm: Correct. Also there's is a problem with an Add-in and Microsoft already released a fix for that. It's the same Hotfix for the MP3 problem.

Thanks for that.

Downloaded and installed W7 64bit on the same box and patched with the hotfix. Initially no guide, then after leaving it for a bit and flipping thru the channels a few channels (Freeview HD, TVNZ Sports, Maori TV) started to get populated - but only stuff in the next 12hrs or so.

Need to play with it a bit more - also had audio issues on TV3 which weren't there in the 32bit build - suspect a driver issue there...

BigRWellington

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Reply # 189430 14-Jan-2009 08:28

I have 64-bit windows 7 (with MP3 Patch) installed with DVB-T only and I don't seem to be able to get any EPG whether the full 7-8 day EPG or the now and next EPG entries.

Any tips or hints that might help me out seeing as others have had success?

freitasm

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Reply # 189543 14-Jan-2009 15:05

The extended EPG is not available yet. To get the Now and Next EPG just watch a channel for a couple of minutes and it will grab it from the Freeview stream automatically.

Make sure you have the hotfix 961367 installed for this to work ok.

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BigRWellington

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Reply # 189545 14-Jan-2009 15:08

I'm going to ask a dumb question now as I don't seem to be able to get the now and next epg.

When the Guide is first set up in Media Center and asks for a post code, did you enter anything in this screen?

Please bear with me on this one.

freitasm

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Reply # 189553 14-Jan-2009 15:21

Yes, but that had no influence on the outcome.

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cranz

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Reply # 189625 14-Jan-2009 19:53

freitasm: The extended EPG is not available yet. To get the Now and Next EPG just watch a channel for a couple of minutes and it will grab it from the Freeview stream automatically.

Make sure you have the hotfix 961367 installed for this to work ok.

Hmm I can't even get EIT to show up now/next in 7000, with MHEG disabled and enabled.. Any tricks to this? (DVB-T)

BigRWellington

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Reply # 189693 15-Jan-2009 09:06

I'm in the same boat as you cranz. I am hoping there is something that I am missing from the process as I can't figure this one out.

A working now/next epg in Media Center would be great.

I wonder if the problem is that there has been a change between the preview version and the official beta. I note that freitasm had it working on the preview version on his laptop.

Freitasm, have you had a chance to update your laptop with the official beta? Just want to rule that out as being the issue.

Antzzz

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Reply # 189865 15-Jan-2009 21:24

Looks like the Aussies are making good progress on loading in 3rd party xml guide data.

(how do I insert URLs properly - must figure this out?!)

And they've uncovered a way to load channel icons as well... :)

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