(slightly) expanded DVB-T OTA EPG

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shermanp

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#28204 22-Nov-2008 15:19

Hey guys, I noticed today in mediaportal that the few channels I was getting an epg for via EIT were suddenly showing more than just Now/Next data.

Somewhat intrigued by this, I turned off my XMLTV import and cleared the TV guide to see what was happening.
It would seem that the FreeviewHD platform has indeed relaxed the strictly Now/Next data that was previously. At the moment though it is still not really usable as the amount of data differs for each channel and no provider (so far) has expanded the data beyond the current day.

However it looks as though there is the capability for a full EPG now as instead of showing "No data available" where there isn't an entry, there is rather a placeholder period (.) - and THAT is expanded well beyond the current day....

Here's hoping that a full EPG will be provided by all channels sometime in the future over EIT... /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

burtz

152 posts

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#181064 29-Nov-2008 10:59

Thanks for this info, for the last two weeks with DVB Viewer I could not work out why all my epg plus listings were being overwritten by a full stop. I can't seem to stop DVB Viewer allowing the Terrestrial provided epg to overwrite my locally downloaed epg!! Anyone got any ideas, I might try the DVB Viewer forum...

burtz

152 posts

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#181065 29-Nov-2008 11:06

Okay, I'll answer my own question in case it helps any other frustrated DVB Viewer Users. You can turn off DVB EPG Downloads under the settings - Hardware tab. What I hadn't done is after turning off the DVB EPG is reimport the XMLTV file to DVB Viewer. Now it works again and no more full stops - I now have a weeks worth again !!

FreddyK

84 posts

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#181166 29-Nov-2008 19:41

Hey burtz, thanks for your efforts mate. If you take a look at mentalinc's EPG thread, you will see that this problem with DVBviewer left a few of us scratching our heads.

charley

183 posts

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#181173 29-Nov-2008 21:21

Good stuff burtz your fix worked for me too :)

Kelpi

30 posts

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#181203 30-Nov-2008 07:54

Yep spot on, thanks

burtz

152 posts

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#181206 30-Nov-2008 09:06

No worries all, glad I could assist.

Its been driving me nuts for two weeks trying to figure out the issue, didn't think the broadcaster had changed their epg format, but that is the life of an early technology adopter !!

sbiddle

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#181208 30-Nov-2008 09:29

burtz:
Its been driving me nuts for two weeks trying to figure out the issue, didn't think the broadcaster had changed their epg format, but that is the life of an early technology adopter !!

The format changed when the system changes were rolled out ~2 weeks ago for the Freeview|HD PVR.

FreddyK

84 posts

Master Geek

#181214 30-Nov-2008 10:12

Hi Steve

Do you know what exactly the changes are that they rolled out for freeview PVR? Like, do they intend on offering several days of EPG via the EIT?

sbiddle

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#181220 30-Nov-2008 12:16

FreddyK: Hi Steve

Do you know what exactly the changes are that they rolled out for freeview PVR? Like, do they intend on offering several days of EPG via the EIT?

I don't know about the exact changes that did occur. I do know however there are certainly no plans to either have a 7 day EIT EPG so don't go holding your breath expecting one.

mcraenz

1091 posts

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#181317 1-Dec-2008 10:56

It's a bit annoying really, as I said in the MP forums, it's drips and drabs, since they impliment that form of (EPG) technology why not just be done with it and do a full EPG?

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openmedia

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#181360 1-Dec-2008 13:52

mcraenz: It's a bit annoying really, as I said in the MP forums, it's drips and drabs, since they impliment that form of (EPG) technology why not just be done with it and do a full EPG?

THey have a full EPG, it just happens to use MHEG-5 rather than EIT.

The EIT data is needed for the PVR functionality but doesn't duplicate the important program data that is already present in the MHEG-5 stream.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

mcraenz

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#181456 1-Dec-2008 20:56

Well aware that the data exists in mheg5, I doubt that providing a full guide over EIT would have that much toll on bandwidth? Are you saying that the official Freeview DVB-T PVR will not do scheduling via HMEG5 epg? Only via EIT, then won't a full 7 day guide be required?

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openmedia

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#181458 1-Dec-2008 21:06

The official PVR sofware uses the MHEG-5 epg for the 8 day guide. The additional data in the EIT stream is part of the TV Anytime standard that the STB requires in addition for synchronisation.

Personally I'd prefer a 100% EIT based solution, but freeview have standardised on MHEG.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.