Help me set this up...

[mi1stormilst]

please... I am new here and I don't understand the channel setup, what is this XML file that is required and why do I have to pay $20.00 for it? I own Beyond TV and I am looking for an open source alternative but the setup on this product is far more complex then about every other PVR software I have used to date. I would like to try it out but the documentation has me confused on this point and I don't appear to be able to scan for channels anywhere?

Hauppauge 1800, Windows XP Pro, Over the Air HD

Thanks

[sub]

GB-PVR doesnt cost anything, so I'm obvious in a position to pay for listings in the same way BeyondTV does. In stead users supply their own tv listings. There are serveral ways they can do this. Many north american users use the Schedules Direct service which is $20 per year (since its reliable and really easy to setup), but there are plenty of other alternatives. One of the popular free alternatives for north american listings is mc2xml. Google it.

...and I am looking for an open source alternative...

BTW, GB-PVR is not open source.

[dennit]

I don't understand the channel setup, what is this XML file that is required and why do I have to pay $20.00 for it? I own Beyond TV and I am looking for an open source alternative but the setup on this product is far more complex then about every other PVR software I have used to date.

There is always a tradeoff between complexity and flexibility. GBPVR is very flexible in allowing you to choose your EPG TV guide data source, but that flexibility means you have to configure it. You have to tell GBPVR what data source to use. Configuration is not hard, particularly for the Schedules Direct option, and those who want that ease of use and reliable guide data usually use that data source.

I think it's great that GBPVR let's me choose a paid source or a free source of data (offhand, I can think of 4 free sources and one paid one in North America). I currently use the popular mc2xml (as sub said - google "mc2xml gbpvr" for instructions on how to use it.) I don't mind the extra steps involved in configuring that are needed to gain that flexibility. It's particularly impressive that sub manages to do this for a free app (and provide the fastest support I've ever seen for any app - paid or free). If you want a one step paid solution, there are several choices, with Beyond TV being one, but if you want a very flexible solution, that's free, you can't beat GBPVR.

The support community here is fantastic, so even if it seems complex, just ask for help and you will get answers.