freesat setup query

[Mr Whippy]

Looks like I owe you £50 haha.

For some reason it wasn't scanning that frequency.

I just auto-mapped the XML, but the one or two channels I'd set to Freesat didn't change.

So I changed those channels manually to default setting. Then decided I could try auto-map using the Freesat (UK) source.

I did that, and now the Guide Update EPG scanner is checking the "11425/H/27500 SID:100000" Freesat frequency and populating the EPG.

However, in Guide - EPG Sources - DVB/ATSC EPG Setup, there are no frequencies set... just the 60s timer setting is present.

So I'm not sure what is different between automapping the Freesat to the channels, and setting it manually.


From my perspective it seems like setting a channel's EPG source to Freesat (UK), is essentially just ticking a box for the Freesat (UK) frequency to be scanned.
If that happens then great.
But clearly just setting a channel to Freesat (UK) isn't doing that. Something else is ticking that box?

[Mr Whippy]

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

I'll take a look at that.

It appears Freesat (UK) is only 7 days. So anything that could get a bit more time ahead would be useful. And also avoid the random gaps and stuff that is still present via EPG OTA (I assume this is just scan time related, would be nice to let it run on that one frequency for longer for Freesat scans, maybe 120s instead of 60s)

Somehow on my Humax Freesat box you get at least 2 weeks. Maybe they augment the data with web served information... or have hidden even more EPG data elsewhere?

[Graham]

... would be nice to let it run on that one frequency for longer for Freesat scans, maybe 120s instead of 60s)

You can try increasing the value of ... <EPGScanSeconds> ... in config.xml ... https://github.com/sub3/NextPVR/wiki/components

[Graham]

Somehow on my Humax Freesat box you get at least 2 weeks. Maybe they augment the data with web served information... or have hidden even more EPG data elsewhere?

I use mc2xml to obtain EPG data from Schedules Direct (SD) and create an xmltv file.  I also use WebGrab++ (WG) to create an xmltv file from Radio Times data.  Customising the configuration of WG allows me to obtain the show and film reviews from Radio Times in addition to the bare bones description of one or two sentences.  I merge the description from SD with the description from WG before I load the data into NextPVR.

I mention all this to make the point that there is much that can be done if time and patience are available ... And, if not, setting the EPG souce as SD in NextPVR works very well and should Auto Map for most channels ... https://github.com/sub3/NextPVR/wiki/Setup-EPG

[Mr Whippy]

I'm trialling Schedules Direct and it's nice because it just works and is fully populating everything.

However I've noticed some naming inconsistencies between programs (even things like film names)... and the metadata descriptions don't have basic info in them (like year and so on), and instead store it in specific metadata areas... which is great, but I notice that for NextPVR on the web client and Apple TV client, just clicking on a film to get the description won't show these extra metadata (only in the schedule view if you set to record, oddly), so sometimes it's hard to figure out exactly which film (remake in this case) you're looking at.
Even more so if the art that is grabbed is wrong haha.

It seems though the Freesat EPG data is a more 'what you need to do the job' kind of data set, while the Schedules Direct is nicer for better descriptions and nicely formatted metadata.


I'm definitely going to test getting the Freesat EPG data sync'd and working 100% correctly too, because for my needs it's going to be perfectly good enough for day to day viewing and finding stuff to record. I can create my own channel icon art.

Then all the stuff I record eventually just get's filed away, transcoded for the media server, and nfo metadata managed accordingly... so the long-term 'appearance' is managed.


But yes, the SD 'just works' with nice region selections and the drop-down XML list is even ordered properly for the Freesat range, so you can use that as a guide for managing your channel ordering!
And the price is very reasonable... this will certainly be my fall-back if I can't get the OTA working nicely.

Indeed, if I could tweak the styles of the NextPVR view a bit (to show the extra meta-data that Freesat EPG data bakes into the basic description), I'd probably stick with SD now.
I might have a dig around to see what's possible in that regard.


Thanks again for advising SD. It's got me up and running again with a reliable PVR for Christmas recording of all the kids favourites!

[Graham]

... the metadata descriptions don't have basic info in them (like year and so on), and instead store it in specific metadata areas... which is great, but I notice that for NextPVR on the web client and Apple TV client, just clicking on a film to get the description won't show these extra metadata

... I can create my own channel icon art.

There is this ... https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.ph...pid=421578 ... It copies stuff like dates and actor info into the description.  I probably have the xslt file somewhere if you are interested (and pBS does not object).

There is also this ... https://github.com/sub3/NextPVR/wiki/UK-Channel-Icons ... and this ... https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.ph...#pid545078

[mvallevand]

Kodi Matrix pretty much shows all the metadata from Schedules Direct includin year, season/episode, cast/crew, star rating. Another change is it is not all lumped together in details and there is the potential for subtitle meta data.

Also poster/landscape art for every show will be available in all clients.

Martin

[bionicman]

Only had a quick scoot through this thread. I don't know if this is any help.
SKY UK Bouquets https://www.satellite-calculations.com/D...Number.php
Freesat UK Bouquets https://www.satellite-calculations.com/D...Number.php
Main Site https://www.satellite-calculations.com/

As of Mythtv 31 UK Users can pick their region HD or SD either Freesat or SKY.
It has been a Godsend.
For example my region on Freesat HD I chose Bouquet 272 Region 35.
https://www.satellite-calculations.com/D...php?272/35