freesat setup query

[Mr Whippy]

It's funny as despite many hours trying to get this all working with Media Portal a few years back, I went with web grabbers and got very close to a system that was wife friendly.

It seems to get full wife friendly system I'll be going XMLTV like you.

Well that's my evening wasted again. Sitting resetting this so it works. Then trying again.

Then if no joy, another evening swizzling to XMLTV.


Just out of interest, do Freesat channels/frequencies change? I know they might very occasionally if a channel is dropped etc. Just wondering if I'm wasting my time trying to order the channels into something sensible rather than the default mess?

It looks like using sqlite db browser is an easier way to edit things, but I have a feeling that's how I've broken my EPG by setting EPG setting there (in bulk)

[Mr Whippy]

The Freesat Transponder is 11428 V 27500 2/3

I download using EPG Collector and import the XMLTV file into NextPVR. That has the added advantage that I can set Channel 4 HD to use Channel 4 EPG as the source.

It's weird.

The Freesat UK option for EPG was working if I just set all channels to it. Now it's not with just a few discrete channels set using it.

The frequency doesn't appear in the EPG settings either. I forget now which frequency was used when Freesat EPG was set for all the channels.


I've just quickly tried the XML approach. That seems nice and fast.

But then getting all the channels set up with it in NextPVR's web interface? It's going to take me hours.

And I can't even test it quickly because every time I set the guide EPG options unticked for all the frequencies (so shouldn't scan), when I go back to the screen they're all ticked again.

Is it a bug?

If I set the scan time to anything other than 60s, then go back to check, it says what you set it to. Then if you do a scan it runs 60s. Then when you check the setting it says 60s.

Now when I set the EPG frequency tick boxes, they're the same. Tick specific ones, save. Great. Leave that screen, go back. All ticked again.


I quickly tried applying Freesat UK EPG to all the channels again (via sqlite db edit) and the EPG updater won't work, no frequencies are available.

Somehow, first time round, I managed to get a Freesat UK EPG entry in the frequency list in the guide settings, and that was scanned and the data captured/applied.

[Mr Whippy]

Well I'm stumped now.

Earlier today I had every field set to Freesat UK for the EPG, and when I'd update the EPG it filled as many channels as it could for a week. Though there were some weird issues... it was generally working.
Now if I add Freesat UK setting to all channels (I've just done the first two frequency ranges for simplicity/speed) then the Guide EPG settings has no frequencies present, and so the update does nothing...

I'm certain when it was working, there was a Freesat UK frequency in there, and it specifically scanned that one frequency when updating and really chugged through from 60s > 50s as it grabbed all the data.

So I'm unsure how that Freesat UK frequency is actually set in the Guide screen where you can see the frequencies that'll get scanned.

Even if I set all channels EPG source to the default, and set one channel to use Freesat UK EPG, the frequency/Freesat UK option isn't present in the Guide EPG frequency options tick boxes.


However one thing I did note that was wonky with my database file was that I had old entries in the EPG mapping field under the CHANNEL table, and I'd just altered the epg_source field to read Freesat (UK) without clearing the EPG mapping fields.


Either way, it'd be nice to know how to properly invoke the Freesat (UK) EPG scan by setting appropriate channels to use the Freesat UK EPG source... so far it looks like I just stumbled upon a way to make it use the Freesat (UK) frequency.
Trying to actually set it on purpose looks to be impossible if you follow a logical setup route.

[Mr Whippy]

Arghghghghghhhhhh!

If you use the XML, the XML mapping picker is a joke. Is it random ordering haha? It'll take me days to set all the channels and re-order them etc, using this.


I think I'm going to go back to using NextPVR to grab data for me.

Just figuring out how.

[sub]

Ultimately, you've got to remember this is hobby project, which I'm doing in my spare time, while holding down a day job, and looking after a family. NextPVR is not perfect, and oddities about the UK TV systems and their EPG are not the same here in New Zealand, so some of this stuff is developed by guess work. That said, I'm a pretty helpful guy, and if stuff is reported concisely by users, and they're able to test stuff out for me, then I'm always happy to improve stuff for all users.

[sub]

Arghghghghghhhhhh!

If you use the XML, the XML mapping picker is a joke. Is it random ordering haha? It'll take me days to set all the channels and re-order them etc, using this.


I think I'm going to go back to using NextPVR to grab data for me.

Just figuring out how.

Assuming your XMLTV file has channel numbers and names that generally match your broadcast channels, on Settings->Channels, try clicking Advanced Tools -> Automap. With any luck this will do the mappings for your automatically.

[sub]

Is there any way to use the EPG from "Channel 4" (freesat source) and dump it on "Channel 4 HD" (no EPG on freesat)

Not currently.

I'm trying to be mindful of creating an application that has the mix right of being easy of use and understanding, versus the ability to control absolutely everything. I fear making an application that looks like this...which one or two advanced users would love, and the bulk of users would never be seen dead in...

[Mr Whippy]

Hey Sub,

Sorry if I'm getting ranty. I just got so close to the holy grail of a working EPG grab and being able to just enjoy remote telly and recording from the sofa!
That is something I've been aiming for for years, and I'd finally migrated to it and was just fine tuning.


Now somehow I've broken it and now I'm having to contemplate running that old Humax Freesat box again (it works but it's a pain in the arse in the days of Apple TV etc)

I didn't document or backup what I'd done, because I'd assumed it was all a functioning feature as somehow it just worked first time (kinda)


At this stage I just need to understand if this Freesat scan capability is a completed feature?

Clearly NextPVR can scan for it, and can populate channels with the data.

How is it invoked?

I'd assumed just setting any channel in the channel setup to use Freesat UK would be sufficient for it to go into the Guide - DVB/ATSC EPG setup list, and get scanned during an EPG update. But that doesn't seem to work now.



I do appreciate the hard work you've put in.

If you can help me get back to where I was, with Freesat EPG just scanning in (I can live with doing Channel 4 HD via XML haha), then I'll donate £50.


For now I've got this feeling that I could just invoke it through some hard-coded setting in some config file to fudge what the UI isn't setting properly... but I'm never going to find it haha.

Thanks

Dave

[mvallevand]

Of course donate to sub, but for your advanced EPG requirements you should really consider Schedules Direct. More meta data, great artwork, and much faster than OTA too.

Martin

[sub]

At this stage I just need to understand if this Freesat scan capability is a completed feature?

Yes, as far as I know, it works fine.

If it's not working for you, your best bet is to restart NextPVR (to reset the logs), hit the 'Update EPG' button, let it complete, then post the logs, along with a brief description of what happened, and I'll take a look. I'm sure it'll be pretty straight forward to get you back to where you were.