EPG not found for some channels via DVB-T2

[latenighter]

Breaking news, the Channel 5 listings have been captured by this morning's scheduled EPG update - well 6 of the 7 days requested anyway.  This is after more than a week of it not happening for this channel.  All other channels have full listings (I have a read-only SQLite3 project that contains SQL I can run to check on gaps in the EPG).  To my mind that gives the following options:

1) There was some sort of temporary Channel ID mismatch between what was being transmitted and the NPVR database.
2) The listings were not in the mux.  This does not jive with the "...340 listings..." in the log but this may highlight a logging issue.  As it's a LG smart TV there is a possibility the TV used the internet to get listings it couldn't get OTA.
3) In combination with 1), if there are multiple channel identifiers in the stream maybe NPVR uses one to identify the listings and another to add to the database.  If this is the case then maybe the logic can be updated to be consistent and maybe try to use any/all of the identifiers at each stage.

To aid any investigation thought to be worthwhile I have taken a second full mux capture this morning, after the scheduled EPG update, that has been stored in https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bJYBFq7...sp=sharing.

Cheers,

[mvallevand]

The week long issue you saw is typical with EPG data issues. There can be a character NextPVR doesn't decode properly from the title, subtitle or description text and when the show or shows are no longer in the data, the EPG loads properly.

The only solution is to grab that full mux as soon as you see the problem is happening so sub can investigate.

Martin

[latenighter]

Hi Martin,

Many thanks for your rapid response. I'm familiar with the problem of non-printing characters of various persuasions affecting the EPG update and scheduling recordings but this one seemed different. As I said, this occurred for more for than a week so any original blocking event should have dropped from the EPG data in the mux some days before. And if it was an issue with a daily program then it may still not have allowed the updates to recommence even now.

I'll check tomorrow morning's EPG update and see if any events get added beyond the current point when they finish for the channel (first program that finishes after 00:01 UK time on 9th November). I'll report back and, as necessary, take a new full mux capture.

As you say, it probably needs an analysis of the before and after mux extracts to determine what the block really was.

Cheers,

[Kotoka]

Note, that if the above is the case, then the problem of @latenighter appears different from mine. I still have no EPG listings at all for the channels mentioned in the original post in a timeframe of >2 months. In that case it might be worthwhile having a separate thread for @latenighter's issue (?).

[latenighter]

Hi Martin/Kotoka,

Please accept my apologies if I have incorrectly identified that this thread and my issue could be related. I did check out the forum extensively for issues similar to mine as I know duplicating items is as much as a problem for the forums as is linking items that are not related. I did consider the following points in this item as displaying similarities with what I am experiencing:

1) One or a small number of channels are not having EPG events visible in the NPVR guide;
2) Only "now and next" events actually seem to be present in the guide for the affected channels;
3) The problem persisted for much more than a week. I had discounted the non-printing character in EPG event title/description/etc. issues seen before as the persistence of missing EPG entries seemed to go beyond the 7-day period I use for my OTA EPG updates. Also the fact that the Channel 5 HD and Channel 5 +1 listings were always complete, when they would have the same events and it would be reasonable to assume the events have been formatted/etc. the same way, made it seem less likely it was a non-printing character issue.

If you think it appropriate to have a separate thread for my issue please feel free to move to a more appropriate thread or let me know to create a new thread.

That having been said this morning's scheduled EPG update did not add any new events to the guide for the affected channel. The last event shown for Channel 5 is still "Shoplifters & Scammers..." that ends at 00:25 UK time on 09-NOV-2022. This is hinting that it may be a non-printing character issue. However the Channel 5 HD and Channel 5 +1 listings are complete as before. In any event I have taken a new full mux capture this morning and it is saved at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HodvBMA...sp=sharing to help investigations. If it's any help, according to the Channel 5 HD listings, the next event is supposed to be "Cause of Death..." running from 00:25 to 01:15 UK time on 09-NOV-2022.

I'm happy to try and look at this myself for everyone's benefit though can't guarantee the results. For me to do so, would anyone be able to provide a link to a reference layout/etc. used by NPVR for a DVB-T mux that I could use to look at the captured streams in a hex editor? Also if there is a way to get, or find, more detailed logging of what's happening when the "...saving nnn listings for channel..." debug entry appears in the current logs and around the EPG capture process itself just before and after that would help too.

Cheers,

[latenighter]

Hi Martin,

I've created a new thread as requested - https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.ph...#pid576436.  It contains a response to your post.

Cheers,

[Kotoka]

The issue as described in the first post of this thread persists in the current version v6.1.1.221106 of NextPVR. Current logfiles are attached and a current .ts-stream can be downloaded here:

https://app.box.com/s/zv7di8jp77sz58dfy4cw4lm4sn3elk3u

[mvallevand]

There was no real change in 6.1.1 for Windows OTA EPG, but your sample is definitely working in Linux times EDT

Martin

[Kotoka]

Hi Martin,

thanks - so that indicates that the issue is restricted to the Windows version. That might help in elucidating the problem!

[Kotoka]

Just a reminder that this problem persists.