EPG Help Please

From EPG Centre:

* Ensure Windows Media Centre (WMC for short) is closed, and that there are no programs open that are actively using the TV tuner *
** Check that you have EPG Centre v3.1, you may also wish to acquire the latest fixpak to ensure the import-to-WMC-directly feature is bug-free **
http://sourceforge.net/projects/epgcollector/files/V3.1/
*** I will assume you are acquiring EPG data through Terrestrial Freeview and not other forms (ie. Satellite), and that you have all the compliant hardware (e.g. the right antenna for digital TV, TV tuner etc) ***

Creating the Collection Parameters
1) File > Create Collection Parameters
Select New Zealand - Terrestrial freeview - Auckland. Click Ok.
This will bring you to the 'Tuning' tab. If you have multiple TV tuners, check the TV tuner which you would like to retrieve EPG data from.

Under that, there should be the 'Delivery System'.

2) Use the following information:

Country: New Zealand
Area: Whatever area applies to you (Probably Christchurch - Sugarloaf, from what you have said)
Frequency: 682000
Collection Type: MHEG5

To the right there should be an 'Add' button. Click that once. It should add a new entry to the "Selected Scanning Frequencies" list at the bottom of the window, correlating to the information above. Ensure that that is the only entry so far (if there is more than one, just click the unwanted frequency to highlight it, and press delete on the bottom right).

3) Repeat the same "Adding" procedure (RE: Step 2), but change the frequency so that you add both 698000 AND 706000. *

* = Frequencies retrieved from HERE.

At this stage you should have three entries in the "Selected Scanning Frequencies" list, All with the same type, Collection type and Provider, but with varying Frequencies.

4) Go to the 'Output' tab, check the Output File path and see where you want to save the output. If you are fine with the default location then there's no need to change it. What's important is that you know where it is.
At 'Windows Media Centre Options', check the 'Import the data to Windows Media Centre directly' box.
If you use Big Screen EPG, you may want to check the box correlating to that instead of the WMC one.

5) Go to the 'Channels' tab, to the right it should list the frequencies that will be scanned: 682000, 698000 and 706000. Click 'Start Scan' on the bottom left, it should now scan for channels. Wait until the scan is completed (a window will pop up telling you how many channels were found).

6) Save the collection parameters
File > Save as
Save the .ini file somewhere where you won't forget where it would be.

Collecting EPG Data
1) Run > Collect EPG Data (or the globe icon under help, without the magnifying glasses)
Locate the .ini file that you just saved.
It should now retrieve the EPG data through your TV tuner.
Once complete you will have EPG Data either in the form of a .XML file or hopefully already imported in WMC. (Nows a good time to check :])

If you received the data in .XML, you'll need a program to import the data into WMC (such as Big Screen EPG). The .XML file will be saved as per wherever you set it from Step 4 of Creating the Collection Parameters. I won't be going through this route as from there it's mostly self explanatory through the set-up wizard of Big Screen EPG.

2) Otherwise... check your WMC guide to see if you now have a full 7-day listing available. If you do, congrats! If not....

Fixing WMC to show EPG Collector guide listings
From WMC:

* Assuming WMC has already gone through it's initial set up... *
Tasks > Settings > TV > Guide > Edit Channels
You should see all of the channels listed. Click one of them (TV ONE in my case).
Click on 'Edit Listings'.
Now scroll down this list until you find 'TV ONE-EPG Collector', and click that.
Click on 'Save', then click on 'Save' again.
Unfortunately, you have to repeat this process of 'Edit Listings', and finding the "EPG Collector" of every channel to get the 7-day listings for every channel (if you want them for every channel, if you're lazy you can just do it for the main ones).
When you are done with editing the listings, click on 'Save' one final time and go back to the Guide and check if you have the 7-day listings now.

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When you want to update your EPG data (since it is only a 7 day listing) just repeat the "Collecting EPG Data" section.

/end guide

steve181

Darquel

steve181

Asmodeus