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pbb · 2008-05-31, 01:16

When scanning for channels during TV-Server setup, by default all channels with the same name are merged.

Exactly what are the implications of this? Does TVS just use the first channel out of a merge and forget about the others, or does it automatically use the one with the highest signal strength, or is there an interface where the user can choose one of the channels out of a merge?

While I can imagine the benefit with digital channels, channel merging is more of a nuisance with the analog cable here.

Firstly, only a minority of the channels send out a channel name, so the value of this function is limited.
Secondly, some channels manage to send out a channel name on channels with a horribly bad reception. I definitely don't want those channels to be merged in with the good ones.
Thirdly, some channels send out a channel name that apparently is too long and gets truncated, causing different channels to be merged together. (For example, "Sveriges Television 1" and "Sveriges Television 2" are both truncated to "Sveriges Television" and would therefor be merged.)

Now I don't know if my problems are common with analog signals. But if they are, would it be possible to change the default for analog cards to DON'T merge?

Also, the merge option in the TV-Server Setup is the wrong way around; it is considered bad UI design to have a negative options. The options should not be "Don't merge channels" and be unselected, but the option should be "Merge channels" and be selected. (Or actually not selected for analog tuners.)

Finally, I discovered that either the export or the import function always performs a merge, no matter what the user selected. Exporting an unmerged channel setup and then importing it, causes the channels to be merged.

2008-05-31, 01:16	#1 (permalink)
pbb Docs Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Trondheim Age: 36 Posts: 296 Thanks: 5 Thanked 20 Times in 9 Posts Country: My System	Merging channels When scanning for channels during TV-Server setup, by default all channels with the same name are merged. Exactly what are the implications of this? Does TVS just use the first channel out of a merge and forget about the others, or does it automatically use the one with the highest signal strength, or is there an interface where the user can choose one of the channels out of a merge? While I can imagine the benefit with digital channels, channel merging is more of a nuisance with the analog cable here. Firstly, only a minority of the channels send out a channel name, so the value of this function is limited. Secondly, some channels manage to send out a channel name on channels with a horribly bad reception. I definitely don't want those channels to be merged in with the good ones. Thirdly, some channels send out a channel name that apparently is too long and gets truncated, causing different channels to be merged together. (For example, "Sveriges Television 1" and "Sveriges Television 2" are both truncated to "Sveriges Television" and would therefor be merged.) Now I don't know if my problems are common with analog signals. But if they are, would it be possible to change the default for analog cards to DON'T merge? Also, the merge option in the TV-Server Setup is the wrong way around; it is considered bad UI design to have a negative options. The options should not be "Don't merge channels" and be unselected, but the option should be "Merge channels" and be selected. (Or actually not selected for analog tuners.) Finally, I discovered that either the export or the import function always performs a merge, no matter what the user selected. Exporting an unmerged channel setup and then importing it, causes the channels to be merged.