Automatic Update for BDA Channel Mappings

[Joesboat]

I've been able to switch our GBPVR Server from analog to digital cable reception. The frequency mapping I figured out worked well for several days and then I found a TCM Move I recoreded ended up blank. Comcast had switched the frequency of that channel. I spent several hours figuring out that they had changed the mappings for about 12 channels. Then a few weeks later I had to again figure out which changes they made. Another lost recording and then 2 hours to fix. For long term practical use I will need an automated method of updating the GBPVR database.

I've began a study of the techniques needed for a program to automatically update the GBPVR SQLite 'Sourec_Channel_Mapping' table when Comcast makes changes to their frequencies. My thoughts are to monitor changes to a WEB site such as SiliconDust and initiate the update when a change is found.

I've resolved most issues, but have not yet found a method of calling the GBPVR Config routine to initiate a re-scan of the frequencies. I need help. Is there a method a program can to use?

Thanks for you help in advance. I'm new to GBPVR Interfacing. My goal is to create a functional program first, and then tackle the GBPVR interface to convert it to run as a GBPVR Utility.

JOESBOAT
GBPVR Server with two PC Clients. Replaced two MVP clients.

[Graham]

I'm the last person to offer suggestions to a developer (I stopped trying when i couldn't get Hello World working in VB).

This ...

http://www.quantexzone.com/downloads.htm

includes the source code for scanning DVB-T. Could it be enhanced to work with QAM (whatever that is!!)?

[martint123]

Ah, interesting. Anyone know a freeware tool that would compile this?
(my last projects were Z80 assembler and turbo pascal!).

[McBainUK]

It's a Visual Studio c++ 6.0 project. Could try Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition.

[Joesboat]

I'm posting the first draft of the BDA Mapping Utility I described in the original post. I’m naming the file 'CheckMapping.exe', as it’s current state allows the installed digital mappings (GBPVR.db3 Channel Mapping Table) to be compared against information from the the 'Silicon Dust' WEB site and a current scan-(x).cache file. Differences found are reported in a spreadsheet like grid to the user and may be printed.

As stated in the initial post the intent of the program is to track changes in frequency allocations. I’ve experienced several changes after successfully creating digital mappings. I missed several recordings when our Cable Provider ('Comcast') remapped many channels. This tool has helped me quickly find those changes without having to step through each available channel. I now just initiate a GBPVR scan to create a updated scan-(x).cache file and then execute the utility to find any change being reported by Silicon Dust. Once the list of changes are known, I then use the Config program to update the mappings.

This utility is in the alpha test stages. It works in my environment, and should be useful to GBPVR users where Silicon Dust reports the digital mappings. US, Australia, Canida, United Kingdom, New Zealand. I'm thus requesting help from the community to determine if 'CheckMapping.exe' has practical features, and to comment on future use of this type of utility. I list portential enhancements below. Please consider and comment. As with all first releases there are probably bugs. Contact me through this fourm with comments and questions. I hope to quickly make corrections as needed.

On first execution CheckMapping.exe will issue dialog boxes to accumulate information about the GBPVR environment. Each step is listed in the scenerio below. Entries are stored in the registry for future use. Should an incorrect entry be stored the user can execute the program with a parameter – any parameter – to repeat the diaglog boxes.

CheckMapping.exe will ask the following questions:
• Please Enter Base URL
o Default is http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineup_web
• Please enter the country code
o Default is - US
• Please enter postal code
o No default – enter your postal code

At this point CheckMapping.exe has the data needed to open a SiliconDust WEB page to obtain information on available service. The list of services will be displayed:

• Display Lineup List – Select your service.
o No default. In my neighborhood the following is displayed. Select one entry:
Digital Antenna: Gaithersburg MD, 20878
Comcast Cable: Gaithersburg MD, 20878
• Enter Folder Name – Enter Silicon Dust Storage Directory
o Default – c:\
o Enter a directory where .xml database files can be stored.
• Enter GBPVR Program Folder
o Default – c:\Program Files\devnz\GBPVR
• Enter Scan Cache Location
o Default - C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\BDA

At this time the main dialog form will be displayed. A Text Box will display the URL built to access the SiliconDust site.

Currently there is one major command button named ‘Get GBPVR Map Errors’. Activate to create the error matrix which will contain columns for:

Channel – the channel number from EPG Source
Call Sign – the Station ID from the EPG Source
Current Mappings from GBPVR.db3 database
Current Physical – Frequency ID (1 to 135?)
Current Program – Wide range of valuse
Current Video PID – typically a 4 digit number
Current Audio PID – typically a 4 digit number
Recommended Mappings from Silicon Dust or scan.cache
Physical - Frequency ID (1 to 135?)
Program – Wide Range of Values
New Video PID
New Audio PID

Logical ID – The composit string reported in the Config.ext mapping utility. May contain logical digital info emitted by broadcaster.

The program may report several lines for each error found. This often happens when there are several audio options, and thus each line will report a unique Audio PID.

Two additional features may be implemented.
1. The program can’t currently initiate a scan of frequencies. I’m still researching how to accomplish this. Help????
2. A reverse scan to list all available mappings listed in Silicon Dust and not currently activated in the GBPVR Channel Mapping table.
3. An automatic update to the GBPVR Channel Mapping table. May be useful to transfer mappings to a new recording source.

Again, I am asking for feedback on the practical aspects of this program. Please evaluate, test and advise.

Thank you

Joesboat

GBPVR Digital Recorder PC Server connected to Comcast Cable using Hauppauge HVR-1600
2 ea GBPVR Clients for playback through HDTV Screens.

[whurlston]

I think this is a great idea but you should contact Silicondust about using the lineup server API. While I have been known to scrape websites myself, the GBPVR community has an excellent relationship with Silicondust, one that I would not like to jeopordize. They even allow sub to use the lineup server for the GBPVR QAM channel scans. I'm sure they would allow you access to the API for this project.

View the source of the lineup page for the contact email. I would also remove your email from your post (or at least mask it) so that spambots don't scrape it.

[Joesboat]

Thanks whurlston! Will contact them.

[whurlston]

Make sure you tell them it is for a GBPVR specific project. If you have any trouble implementing the API, let me know and I'll try to help.

[Joesboat]

I'm in contact with them now. Yes, they know it's a specific GBPVR project.

The program is already fully functional. I don't really use their API, just the data which I temporarilly download into a .xml file for processing. The file is eventually discarded.

[Joesboat]

In my environment I execute this program each week to monitor the changes COMCAST has made. Most recently they have kept the Physical and Program values consistant (matching the values reported by SiliconDust) but have been changing the video and audio PID values. PID changes will change a mappings and I've lost several episodes of NCIS. Bummer.

This version update more accurately reports PID changes where there is no changes to the Physical and Program values, and also tracks the updates to scan-x.cache released in GBPVR Version 1.4.7.

This version is functional with GBPVR Versions 1.3.11 and 1.4.7