Converting Cable Box EPG to XML EPG Schedules for NPVR?

[jksmurf]

I'm still using TVxB to "scrape" EPG data from websites with schedules, except for one channel DVB (FTA) which seems to work using the inbuilt collector in NVPR. I only watch 6 channels, so it's manageable, just, but requires a lot of maintenance.

HK doesn't have dedicated sites like schedulesdirect for TV Schedules, the websites are getting harder to find, or rather they are moving to Java or something that TVxB, which uses mainly html, cannot read.

However my cable box has an EPG, and I was wondering if I could somehow download this to html, but I have no idea how to get NPVR to access it.

I have read about various formats, and EPGCollector has EIT, MHEG5 etc etc but I am not sure what format the cable box EPG is in.

Would anyone be able to point me to a way to (a) finding out the format and (b) what tools I should be looking at to try to extract the EPG info?

k.

[Reddwarf]

If you can get your hands on a cheap dvb-c tuner card (I know ASUS made some primitive ones in the past, the 7131 hybrid dvb-c/analog was one) and just try it with dvbguide or epgcollector I think it's worth a try.

[jksmurf]

Thanks! So I do get the correct card, how do I found it what format the cable box is (I am not in the US) i.e. it is encrypted (I think but there is no cable card). i.e. DVB-C or DVB something else. This is the box http://nowtv.now.com/upload_data/file/1369757.pdf

I think they use"SD/HD over DSL, MPEG2 and MPEG4 AVC HD" sorry a bit techy for me!

[Graham]

It appears that you are using IPTV ...

http://www.pccw.com/Consumer/now+TV?language=en_US

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_TV

NextPVR has/had experimental support for IPTV. If you look in Settings --> Devices you may see an IPTV device. I have looked for but did not find examples of the values (e.g. IP Address) that you might put in the device setup. You might have more luck.

Alternatively, you can add a device to your 'puter and connect the Now box to the 'puter. I have no idea how to connect a STB to a TV (or to a computer) in the UK let alone HK. How is the Now box connected to the TV?

[jksmurf]

If you look in Settings --> Devices you may see an IPTV device. I have looked for but did not find examples of the values (e.g. IP Address) that you might put in the device setup. ....How is the Now box connected to the TV?

Hmmm I have no idea either! The NowTV BB set-top-box works like this.

The Phone Socket (DSL) goes to a Modem and
The Modem goes to the Cable STB and
The Cable STB goes via RCA (or HDMI) into my PC using a Hauppauge PVR-150
(and separately - the Modem ALSO goes to My Router for Broadband Intenert, then into the PC (my NPVR Server).

IPTV shows up but not as present?

k.

[Reddwarf]

Is there a smartcard to insert in the box, or is it all inside? Whar brand is the STB?

[Graham]

Is there a smartcard to insert in the box, or is it all inside? Whar brand is the STB?

Sit up straight and pay attention.

This is the box http://nowtv.now.com/upload_data/file/1369757.pdf

I think they use"SD/HD over DSL, MPEG2 and MPEG4 AVC HD" sorry a bit techy for me!

[Graham]

Having re-read your original post, I now realise that I am missing the point. I am trying to help you connect the STB to the computer which you have already done so I apologise for going nowhere useful.

I have never heard of any any rules or standards or wotnot for EPG data in IPTV. I have no idea how you would extract the data from the stream. Plus, it may be that the STB is reading the EPG data from some website or other Internet source using something other than IPTV.

[Reddwarf]

Sit up straight and pay attention.

Sorry, I missed that. It does not seem to be a smartcard involved so the conclution probably is that it is an iptv box, and extracting epg data is not twice as simple :o. Does the isp site have a tv-guide? If so you might be able to use a scraped like WG+ to get the data.

[jksmurf]

Sorry, I missed that. It does not seem to be a smartcard involved so the conclution probably is that it is an iptv box, and extracting epg data is not twice as simple :o. Does the isp site have a tv-guide? If so you might be able to use a scraped like WG+ to get the data.

That's exactly what I am doing now - with TVxB. But more of the schedules are becoming Java based as per my post #1.
Thanks all the same !

k