Channel tuning problem - Australia (Bendigo)

[tamxir]

Hi there

I'm having a problem with NextPVR Version 3.2.9

I want to apologize as I seem to remember getting a bit angry in the past on here. I'm not sure. Let's move on shall we? I am also visually impaired, so I hope this is the right place for this post and it hasn't already ben reported. I'm not good at forum navigation due to my poor vision.

I'm located in Bendigo, Australia and the Device setup is not detecting all available channels correctly. This is occurring on a windows 7 PC with a DVICO USB Tuner with the device listed as Bluebird BDA Tuner. The same inability to tune all channels also occurs on a Toshiba Satellite laptop with a built-in tuner.

The household has a distribution amp for the TV signals to 3 antenna outlets. The TV has no trouble receiving all available channels.

The notable part is that Windows media Center on both the PC and laptop has no trouble tuning all available channels. My digital recorder settings are:-

CI/CAM: None
Country: Australia
Region: Bendigo
Scan Offset Frequrncy (required by some devices in UK and Australia): Checked

After a scan, all channels show in the program interface such as TV listings and channels window. An attempt to select a channel that didn't appear in the scan window creates an exception shown in the attached screenshot and attached report text file.

If it's any help, the problem has existed since version 3.1.1 at least which I just rolled back to so I could test. A proper full uninstall was done. I have no earlier versions remaining on my system but I know I had it all working on one of those.

All channels are DVB-T and EPG is DVB/ATSC EPG

The fact that this problem occurs on two separate computers with different tuners and that Windows Media Center runs fine on both machines indicates that it is an issue with the NPVR software. Can you advise please? I'm happy to provide further information if need be.

Regards

tamxir

[ACTCMS]

Try doing a scan for Australia/All Regions - some of the individual frequency lists are out of date.

Alex

[tamxir]

Thanks Alex

Yes, that was the problem. Australia had a 'Retune' so the frequencies are all wrong in areas all over the country. "All Regions' tuning didn't work. Here is a reference link…

http://retune.digitalready.gov.au/

I used info from this site
http://ozdigitaltv.com/ to redo my particular tuning .ini file and all worked.

Here is before and after to give you an idea of the extent of the frequency changes in just my location…

Before

[TERTYPE]
1=Australia
2=Bendigo

[DVB]
0=5
1=1,529500,0,0,7
2=2,550500,0,0,7
3=3,669500,0,0,7
4=4,690500,0,0,7
5=5,711500,0,0,7


After

[TERTYPE]
1=Australia
2=Bendigo

[DVB]
0=5
1=1,529500,0,0,7
2=2,536500,0,0,7
3=3,543500,0,0,7
4=4,550500,0,0,7
5=5,564500,0,0,7

I'd be willing to take on the task of correcting the Australian frequencies per location but it may take me a bit of time. That's if no one else wants to take it on. The site above is a reliable source of frequency info and all I'd need to do is compile a spreadsheet then generate the individual tuning .ini files.

Getting the 'All Regions' list accurate would be a logical starting point so people can at least use that to get up and running.

Regards
tamxir

[Graham]

... all I'd need to do is compile a spreadsheet

Attached is one that I prepared earlier for the UK ... it's yours to use or to bin.

[sub]

I'd be willing to take on the task of correcting the Australian frequencies per location but it may take me a bit of time. That's if no one else wants to take it on. The site above is a reliable source of frequency info and all I'd need to do is compile a spreadsheet then generate the individual tuning .ini files.

That'd be great. Thanks.

[tamxir]

Thanks Graham. I'll have a look at your spreadsheet. I already swiped a government media authority one with a trusty Google 'filetype:xls' search

EDIT: Ahh! Nice. My next thing I was planning was scripting or macros to speed up the process. Your spreadsheet will help me a lot. Thanks!

To Administrator: I've already made a start. The retune is an ongoing complete reallocation of frequencies to free up spectrum here. This is due to continue throughout 2014. The most effective starting point I think is to add the new frequencies to the existing 'All Regions' .ini file for Australia. This will cater for those who are already on the new frequencies and also those who aren't.

As for existing individual locations .ini files, I'm yet to find a list of where has retuned but I can conclude that by subtraction of upcoming retunes from the full list. I'll figure out an easy way.

Once the Australia-wide retune is finished later this year, all the .ini files can be tidied up.

Where should I post the messages with the attched tuning ,ini file? In this thread or somewhere else?

Regards
tamxir

[sub]

Anything will help, even if it's just the All Regions.

Just zip and attach it here and I'll update the master files for the next release.

[tamxir]

Anything will help, even if it's just the All Regions.

Just zip and attach it here and I'll update the master files for the next release.

OK, I'll do that. Thanks.

I'll put together the 'All Regions' file shortly and post it here. The others I'll do in batches as I get time. I've got my local project folder already set up

Regard
tamxir

[tamxir]

Hi sub & all

I've attached a file "Australia All Regions as at 20140621.zip".

It contains a file intended to be in the path C:\Users\Public\NPVR\Tuning\DVB-T\Australia - All Regions.ini

I've tested it in NPVR V 3.2.9 and it successfully tunes all frequencies in my region when the all regions file included with that NPVR version failed to tune any channels at all.

You will notice six (6) additional frequencies which have been added as part of an ongoing 'retune' in Australia due to be completed in September 2014. After that date, frequencies in the range of 690.5 - 816.5 Mhz will be no longer available for TV broadcast use and will be auctioned off to the highest bidder as new mobile broadband data spectrum, Presumably for billions of dollars. I hope they realize that this has annoyed the NPVR community no end. The audacity!

So, the bottom line is an "All Regions" tune will get everyone in Australia up and running now. I'll tidy up the file when the retune is finished in September, and in the meantime, I'll get to work on the individual location .ini files. I now have a spreadsheet from the Government listing frequency changeover dates for all regions, so that will help.

Leave it with me and I'll have a batch ready in the coming weeks.

Rregards
tamxir

[sub]

Thanks - I've updated the master files to include this.