Windows 7 Media Center DVB-T EPG

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mattyboy2

83 posts

Master Geek

#41288 13-Sep-2009 20:21

What's the best way for getting an 8 day EPG over DVB-T when using 7mc?

Is it still xmltvnz (or other) and Big Screen EPG or is there an easier way?

I setup Big Screen EPG a while ago but recently re-scanned my channels and lost everything and can't figure out how to set the damn thing up again. Every time I try and import it says it has imported OK but then when I go into MC's guide it just says "No info available" for all channels. BSE has an unintuitive UI especially around the channels setup page...

Like, on the Manage Channels page, there's a datagrid with like 15 columns, with such wonderful column headers like "E", #, .#, Call Sign, Display Name, etc, what do these mean? Which column is the channel name from my xml file? Which column represents the channel in 7MC? #?? .#? Alt#? Call Sign? Display Name?

The documentation provided is quite thorough but not thorough enough on the Manage Channels page. 4 hours of trial and error so far tonight and counting...

-Matt

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225 posts

Master Geek

#255531 14-Sep-2009 09:58

Have you updated to the latest version of BSE? Same happened to me as my version expired (seem to last only a few months) and once expired some of the features are turned off. The current version will last til November I think.

Shane

Mighty Ape

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mattyboy2

83 posts

Master Geek

#255541 14-Sep-2009 10:49

Hi Shane, yes I've got the 0.4 which I think is the latest version. Could you maybe a screenshot of your Manage Channels page so I know how it's supposed to look?

-Matt

smac

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255549 14-Sep-2009 11:19

I have a current version and I'd say it's "patchy at best". Currently have no info for TV1, TVNZ6, and TVNZ7 but that seems to vary. Not even now/next. I've checked the DJKXML XML file and the info is there.

I'm the first to say I really don't get how it all hangs together. The fact that media centre shows me stuff from my imported XML file, as well as stuff that's NOT in my xml (eg channels I haven't selected in DJKXML) would seem to indicate that media centre is happy to read XML from multiple files? That is, from my imported XML plus from whatever it strips out of the EIT feed. Either that or BSE is combining the two feeds?

Either way, it's not doing it properly I guess. Pain in the bum.

berrys

225 posts

Master Geek

#255555 14-Sep-2009 11:31

mattyboy2: Hi Shane, yes I've got the 0.4 which I think is the latest version. Could you maybe a screenshot of your Manage Channels page so I know how it's supposed to look?

Make sure its version 0.4E. I'll have to check when I get home but everything seemed to work after instaling the latest version.

Shane

mikehayton

45 posts

Geek

Trusted

Microsoft

#255654 14-Sep-2009 17:00

Win7 is combining two feeds: the BSE EPG and the EPG present inband in the DVB-T transmission.

Win7 Media Center has the ability to read in the EPG data from the DVB-T transmission (its present in the EIT tables). However only data is transmitted in the now/next programs and sometimes up to 4 hours or so.

Media Center is combining this with the data that is loaded in via BSE. The general rule is that the inband data (i.e. the EPG transmitted inband in the EIT tables) is considered more accurate than the loaded in (i.e. BSE) data.

If you want to turn off the inband EPG loading for a channel, you can do this from the tasks->settings->tv->guide->edit channels->select the channel from the list on the right->edit listings then toggle the button on the left that talks about ignoring inband.

As I said above, the inband EPG on DVB-T is pretty sparse generally either only about 4 hours or so of data with titles. There is often EIT schedule data transmitted past the 4 hours, but the data doesnt have any program titles in it. (it has a "." for a title and is identified by a url like id called a CRID).

While the DVB-T EIT data is limited, if you have a dish (say you have sky) and set up Win7 Media Center for DVB-S, then the EPG data on the DVB-S EIT tables is very good and a weeks worth (I think) is transmitted. And you can combine the DVB-S and DVB-T channels together, or just apply the EPG (aka listings) from the DVB-S onto the DVB-T channels.

There is also EPG data being transmitted on the MHEG DSM-CC but Win7 Media Center wont extract it and use it. This MHEG application (i.e. the freeview guide) doesnt work in Win7 media center due to it using extensions in the MHEG profile that arent standard (and arent supported by Win7 Media Center). A great tool someone in the community might be able to write would be something to extract the MHEG guide data from the DSM-CC and then either pipe it into BSE or load it directly into Media Center. Then you'd have good EPG data for DVB-T without having to download anything from the internet.

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

smac

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255687 14-Sep-2009 18:35

Thanks Mike, that certainly helped clarify in my head what's happening. I had a bit of a fiddle around and it's now consistently TV1, TVNZ6, TVNZ7, tvCentral and TV3+1 that are failing to appear in the guide. Not sure if mattyboy is seeing this same problem or something else?

I'm guessing (to put it mildly) that this is some kind of naming issue - the channels aren't being recognised in some way or another....I'll continue to fiddle.

One thing - I am using the xml feed from DJKXML - is this likely to be a problem? Anyone else using it with Win7 MC? I guess I could cough up the donation and try the xmltvnz one, but wouldn't want to do so if it turns out to be an issue with BSE.

mikehayton

45 posts

Geek

Trusted

Microsoft

#255780 15-Sep-2009 03:56

I think from memory, if you disable the inband loading then it doesnt extract any existing inband from the current combined schedule, so if you loaded in EPG data for that period (i.e. probably only 4 or so hours) its likely that it would ignore it and continue to leave the existing inband data in place.

Still since that's only likely 4 hours worth, then its not likely that its the problem you're seeing. When you say that the channels are failing to appear in the guide. Does that mean that:
1. they are failing to appear with EPG data (i.e. the row's there with a "no data available" being shown), or
2. do they not even show as a row in the guide grid?

If 1) do they show in the list displayed in tasks->settings->tv->guide->edit channels->select the channel in the list on the right->edit listings? If so, you should be able to choose the listings from there and map them onto the channel.

If 2) do the channels show in the list displayed in tasks->settings->tv->guide->edit channels? Is the check box checked (so the channel is enabled). If not present at all, that indicates that the tuner scan for services didnt find the channel (aka service) at all. If the channel is present and checked, but not in the guide grid (dont think that's possible), then select the channel in the Edit Channels page to go to its Edit Channel page and choose the Edit Sources button. This will show you a list of the tuning information that can be used to tune to the service.

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

tanivula

965 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#255803 15-Sep-2009 09:00

I've had a very hit and miss expereince with BSE, but once it's set up it seems to be fine. I've used two EPG sources (haventech and pvr.geek). I have never changed channel ID's within MC or BSE.

The first experience:
The first time, I rescanned in MC then went into BSE and imported the pvr.geek listing. BSE said everything worked ok but when in MC, no listings or only a few channels had it. Then I went back into BSE and changed to the haventech source, this time BSE spat the dummy and died half way through. Checked in MC and there was no change. Back to BSE and back to pvr.geek source, BSE worked again and then this time there were listings in MC! Hoorah!

The second experience:
After a few weeks of EPG goodness, I moved my HTPC to a different local to see if a friends place could get Freeview HD, scanned and scanned but no dice. So went home not thinking that EPG data would be lost (which it was). After scanning again, I tried to be smart and start BSE with the haventech listings to reduce the number of steps. This time BSE worked and didn't spit the dummy. In MC however, there were no listings. Back to BSE, swap for pvr.geek yadda yadda - this time no listings in MC. I was cursing my friend for convincing me to take the computer over!! Back to MCE and tried haventech again - success, this time it worked and has kept working.

The pvr.geek solution was better for me because it only had the freeview data and not every other channel meaning the file download is a lot smaller. But now that it's working, I don't want to go through the rigmarole of trying and failing till something decides to work that I've stuck with the haventech source.

smac

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255805 15-Sep-2009 09:02

Sorry should have explained.....getting the channels listed ok, but 'no info available' same as Mattyboy above.

Following the instructions above and bingo....the system was choosing the wrong source. I think I was on track....I think it's where the name is slightly different (eg TV ONE instead of TV One).

Think it's all sorted, thanks very much. Just wait to see if it sticks after an EPG update.

mattyboy2

83 posts

Master Geek

#255806 15-Sep-2009 09:09

Tanivula: I can relate, I lost my EPG when I rescanned my channels to add in Triangle, so that I could record something on Triangle for a friend :-(

I somehow got it going the first time but can't figure it out again.

I just can't make head or tail of the crap Manage Channels screen, that's what gets my goat. It should be a simple screen which says "OK, these are the channel names in your EPG source (e.g. the xml file), and these are the channel names within Media Center, please match them up. Instead we get this unintuitive undocumented grid to work with.

Smac, now that yours is working could you please post a screenshot of your Manage Channels page in BSE? There's an "upload an image file" link just above the Post Reply button.

-Matt

smac

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255810 15-Sep-2009 09:34

Will do in a bit, gotta get some work done first :)

From memory I didn't change anything in the BSE screens. As of following Mike's advice above, any translations are now being done in MC - this suits me far better as my htpc doesn't normally have a mouse or keyboard attached so every time I have to make a tweak outside of the MC it's a nuisance.

smac

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255826 15-Sep-2009 11:22

smac

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255827 15-Sep-2009 11:25

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/blogb7bf3e6b01b814da15c91859f321f9c2.jpg

(in case that's not clear)

berrys

225 posts

Master Geek

#255829 15-Sep-2009 11:34

Ahh smac - beat me to it. As Mike has mentioned above, its probably the individual channel settings selecting the EIT data which you need to go in and change to the imported BSE stuff. I've been using the haventech data too.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255888 15-Sep-2009 15:34

mattyboy2: I just can't make head or tail of the crap Manage Channels screen, that's what gets my goat. It should be a simple screen which says "OK, these are the channel names in your EPG source (e.g. the xml file), and these are the channel names within Media Center, please match them up. Instead we get this unintuitive undocumented grid to work with.

Smac, now that yours is working could you please post a screenshot of your Manage Channels page in BSE? There's an "upload an image file" link just above the Post Reply button.

-Matt

I think you need to also look at the data you are receiving in your XML file. None of the NZ xml providers (as great as they are for providing mostly free options to us) are Freeview HD (DVB-T) specific and most try to cater for Sky, Freeview DVB-S, and HD. This causes the problems with display names , numbers, and callsigns.

To setup BSE you need to change the callsign, display name, and channel number for Media Center to pull this info straight into the EPG.

XML Providers would need to use the following call signs and identical display names to get their data setup for Freeview HD out of the box.

TV ONE, TV 2, TV 3, C4, Maori Television, TVNZ 6, TVNZ 7, TV 3 PLUS1, PRIME, Stratos, , Cue, TeReo, tvCentral, Parliament TV, ChineseTV, Radio NZ National, Radio NZ Concert, BaseFM, Freeview | HD.

Caps and spaces are important in the above list.

Channel numbers can be found here http://www.freeviewnz.tv/whats_on_freeview/channels

If you want a Freeview only source, that I haven't tested yet but will do so soon, then you could try this tool. http://vangelder.orcon.net.nz/files/FreeviewToXMLTV.zip It pulls the Freeview data from tvnz listings and merges each channel in a properly formated XMLTV file. The only thing missing of course is the genre (category info) and some program descriptions.

cheers
db

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