ZAP2XML no longer loading TV Guide Schedule

[skoonz_sr@hotmail.com]

It costs money now too, and also requires scrapping.  Schedules Direct just makes so much sense, I am amazed the hoops people go through avoiding it.

I joined specifically to comment on this and to ask a question.  My comment is that I think the reason some of us avoid it is that for a time Schedules Direct, or perhaps one of their most vocal supporters, was really aggressive about trying to get people to use their service, by saying or implying that we were doing something illegal or that we were just trash people for not wanting to subscribe to them.  It left a really bad taste in my mouth and I said right then that I'd schedule my recordings manually every week before I'd ever use their service.  The fact is, some of us are unashamed cheapskates, either by necessity or just because we refuse to be coerced into paying for something if we don't have to, and if you start throwing veiled threats around, ESPECIALLY if you have no legal standing to enforce those threats, it just doesn't sit well.

My question is this, I am seeing mentions of mc2xml in this thread, and I thought that was for use with Microsoft's guide service and had stopped working when Microsoft's guide was discontinued.  I used to use it, and if I recall correctly I only moved to sap2xml because it stopped working.  Has it been revived or something, and is it still a free program?

~Redlake, yes the mc2xml is free and working much better than zap2xml for me.
I use the following command in my UpdateEPG.bat:
mc2xml -1 -c us -g [Zipcode] -o tvguide.xml -d 240
and it works great!

[Redlake]

~Redlake, yes the mc2xml is free and working much better than zap2xml for me.
I use the following command in my UpdateEPG.bat:
mc2xml -1 -c us -g [Zipcode] -o tvguide.xml -d 240
and it works great!

Thank you, I am going to give it another try.  But when I go to the page at http://mc2xml.awardspace.info/ it immediately redirects me to an archived page at https://web.archive.org/web/202004260039....info/#chl and it won't get anything from TV Guide, which I need for accurate listings on a couple of channels. Does that mean it's no longer being maintained, or am I just finding an old link and there is a newer version somewhere?

[Redlake]

Technically using zap2xml is against the Terms of Service for zap2it.com so each user can decide on the legitimacy of scraping solution on their own.  Schedules Direct can also not be used legally with Plex or Emby,  just simply the SD license with TMS.  The supported apps are on the SD web site and user agree to that when they give SD money, so I am not sure why that is any issue for some people.  No one is forcing you to have guide data.

My point for NextPVR users is that I don't figure it's worth the support cost trying to get zap2xml running when there is a trouble-free alternative that just work and will continue to work through web site changes  This thread has been very helpful for me since users are helping users when it is not an NextPVR issue. 

I also don't like anything that might be the long term existence of SD into question, it is too important for many user NextPVR users, and I feel it is important the user respect licenses.  It does bother me is seeing the illegal IPTV guides services based on zap2xml or Schedules Direct, but with IPTV users know they are not respecting licenses.

Martin

Well I will just say that "technically" we all do things that are against various TOS documents from time to time, in fact that kind of goes with watching video on your computer using anything other than the "approved" software for some services.  But people are going to do what people are going to do, and as a person with no legal standing in the matter you are free to not like it and to express that dislike, but you are kind of spitting into the wind.  But I suspect you know that already.  Personally, I could not care less if SD lives or dies, because of the bad taste left in my mouth by their proponents (don't know if they were actual company representatives or not) in threads on other forums.

I realize that some people will pay money for convenience, but then some people have a lot more disposable funds to spend.  I am the type of person who in my entire life has never bought anything (other than gas or milk) at a convenience store because I refuse to pay their marked up prices - the only reason I made an exception for milk was that for a brief period they sold it cheaper than the local supermarket chains.  If everyone felt as I do those stores would all go out of business, and that would not bother me in the least, but I know it would bother a lot of other people who shop at them frequently.  Fortunately for them, there are more people like them than like me.  And that is why you probably don't have to worry about SD, because there are probably more people like you who are willing to pay for that convenience than people like me who would set up their schedules manually first.

So my suggestion to those who feel as you do is to keep your posts positive and sell whatever you feel are the benefits of the service.  Because then minute you start talking about legalities and terms of service you just cause people to roll their eyes and maybe look ever harder for alternatives.  I have always refused to buy from companies that attempt to paint you as a bad person if you don't use their products or service, it's why I will never buy life insurance and why I will probably never have a First Alert product in my home (due to a series of commercials they ran 20 or 30 years ago that laid it on really thick).

[Jean0987654321]

I have no problem getting zap2it data from mc2xml. I would recommend that. Once my usual zap2xml setup bricked, I switched over.

You could also use Schedules Direct (or pull unreliable PSIP data from EPG Collector )