All channels show up "Unknown" after scan (1 Viewer)

[CTB1972]

Hello,

New to MediaPortal, and am probably one of many that will be using MP to replace WMP after upgrading to Windows 10. That said, I'm still running 7 but want to be proactive.

I am just starting this transition but have run into an issue: After scanning channels on my Hauppauge 2250, all of the unscrambled channels show up as "unknown" as opposed to having the channel info as have read is supposed to happen.. Am I missing something? I haven't found a place to enter a cable provider or zip code or does that matter?

Anyhow, would love it if someone could help. I would hate to enter it all manually then have to battle with the EPG settings!

 

[RonD]

don't have cable so not sure what might be causing your problem, but to understand your problem you will need to upload log files showing what happened when you scanned your channels. Are you using MP1 or MP2? What sort of cable option do you have? Since you are using a Hauppauge 2250 I'm guessing this is clear QAM, not encrypted cable?

this forum message gives some new user info
https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...mers-forum-please-read-before-posting.131764/

this has a link to uploading log files, you should use option #3 "Export All logs"
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/Forum/How_to_post_logs

 

[CTB1972]

Thank you for looking at this!
Sorry, I should have provided a little more info:

I'm hooked up to cable without a STB or cable card, it is a regular Clear QAM signal. Most of the basic channels are unencrypted. I am running MP1 and exported all logs, please see attached. I'm guessing that my cable provider (WAVE Broadband, zip 98223) may not be broadcasting a channel signal so I may have to set this up manually... which is fine considering I only watch maybe 5 channels at the most. The issue may come up tying it to an EPG to set up recordings, but I'll jump off that bridge when I come to it.

Thank you again for you time and help!

 

[RonD]

the real expert on MP TV server, channel scan is @mm1352000 hopefully he can look at the logs and offer some help.

I have a 2250 that I use for antenna/ATSC, so I have no experience with QAM. Looking at your log files, tvserver_TVService.3.log I see channel names when you did a scan at

[2015-08-21 07:27:23,892] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - 0) 0x1009 0x0 0xD 0x0 CSPAN 4105 type:2
[2015-08-21 07:27:23,897] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - atsc:Found: ATSC:tv:Cable CSPAN 4105 Freq:739250 ONID:4105 TSID:0 SID:13 PMT:0x0 FTA:False LCN:22 phys:115 maj:22 min:0 mod:Mod256Qam
[2015-08-21 07:27:23,902] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - 1) 0x100A 0x0 0xF 0x0 CSPAN2 4106 type:2
[2015-08-21 07:27:23,909] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - atsc:Found: ATSC:tv:Cable CSPAN2 4106 Freq:517250 ONID:4106 TSID:0 SID:15 PMT:0x0 FTA:False LCN:139 phys:73 maj:139 min:0 mod:Mod256Qam
[2015-08-21 07:27:23,914] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - 2) 0x100D 0x0 0x2 0x0 CNBC type:2
[2015-08-21 07:27:23,917] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - atsc:Found: ATSC:tv:Cable CNBC Freq:529250 ONID:4109 TSID:0 SID:2 PMT:0x0 FTA:False LCN:59 phys:75 maj:59 min:0 mod:Mod256Qam

this continues until
[2015-08-21 07:27:26,292] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - 320) 0xF41B 0x0 0x1 0x0 CBUT HD 62491 type:2
[2015-08-21 07:27:26,297] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - atsc:Found: ATSC:tv:Cable CBUT HD 62491 Freq:529250 ONID:62491 TSID:0 SID:1 PMT:0x0 FTA:False LCN:202 phys:75 maj:202 min:0 mod:Mod256Qam
[2015-08-21 07:27:26,299] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - 321) 0xF61B 0x0 0x7 0x0 DISCOVERY EN ESPANOL 63003 type:2
[2015-08-21 07:27:26,304] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - atsc:Found: ATSC:tv:Cable DISCOVERY EN ESPANOL 63003 Freq:565250 ONID:63003 TSID:0 SID:7 PMT:0x0 FTA:False LCN:155 phys:81 maj:155 min:0 mod:Mod256Qam
[2015-08-21 07:27:26,307] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - Scan Got 322 from 322 channels
[2015-08-21 07:27:31,102] [Log ] [21 ] [INFO ] - atsc:Tune:ATSC:tv: Freq:517250 ONID:-1 TSID:-1 SID:-1 PMT:0xFFFFFFFF FTA:False LCN:10000 phys:73 maj:-1 min:-1 mod:Mod256Qam

but there are other scans that only show "unknown" were you trying different QAM channel options? not sure what to suggest, but it looks like you should be able to get the channel names. Can you view any of the channels even though they don't show names?

the following is a link to a July 2014 QAM scan problem thread in the forums
https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/threads/hdhomerun-twc-and-scanning-channels.126955/#post-1093439

link to ATSC/QAM scanning wiki
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_...rver_Configuration/02_TV_Servers/7b_Scan_ATSC

 

[CTB1972]

I do receive the channels that aren't scrambled but after looking through them, it looks like I'm missing a lot. It's been a while since I set up WMC but I do remember having to add a few manually. I'll try a few of the other QAM scans available then try adding a few manually and see what transpires.

It is interesting that some of the channel names showed up in the logs but not in the channel listings. I had tried a few different scans... I had set up MP2 at first, uninstalled it figuring it was the issue, then tried MP1. I think I'm close and just need to play around with it some more.

Again, thanks for your help and I'll post my findings.

 

[mm1352000]

@CTB1972

I'll try a few of the other QAM scans available then try adding a few manually and see what transpires.

From these kinds of comments, I have the impression that you're going about this the wrong way.

Some cable providers simply don't broadcast channel details (names and numbers) for clear QAM channels. They don't have to. You should consider it a bonus if you get any at all. And you can't compare WMC with MP in this regard. Microsoft has paid for access to additional information for WMC which MP does not have access to.

Have you found the advice in the wiki?
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_...V_Servers/7b_Scan_ATSC#QAM_tuning_frequencies

When scanning with tuning mode Clear QAM Cable, you need to select the frequency plan used by your cable provider.

I can't emphasize this enough. There is one right option. Choosing the scan type should not be trial and error. If you have to guess (ie. after you've called your cable provider and they can't give you a straight answer):

If you're not sure what frequency plan your cable provider uses, we recommend you try QAM Standard first.

Most providers use QAM standard. In fact I'd go so far as to say that you should not try the other options unless you're certain that your provider is using one of them (which is very unlikely).

It is interesting that some of the channel names showed up in the logs but not in the channel listings.

Please be aware that MP will not update the channel names after you scan them in. So, if you're rescanning in the hope that names will be fixed, you would need to delete existing channels before starting the new scan. If you don't do that, rescanning won't help you.

 

[CTB1972]

Well, latest findings: I noticed that the channel listings do show up for the encrypted channels, just not for the unencrypted ones. Among the unencrypted channels, only a handful work and those are barely worth adding... mostly home shopping channels, infomercial, preview and other garbage.

The local channels are available, just without any channel info and therefore will not show up in the guide with program information. I think if I want to pursue this further, I would have to look at a cablecard which means one of the Silicon Dust tuners... I just don't watch enough TV to justify it.

I was basically just using WMC to record local channels anyhow, most of which is available online, which may be my best option. The other solution would be to use an antenna but I don't get reception where I live. If there is a way to map the local channels to the programming guide without having channel info, that may work for me as a solution.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[mm1352000]

Well, latest findings: I noticed that the channel listings do show up for the encrypted channels, just not for the unencrypted ones.

It is pretty easy to rename and renumber channels in TV Server configuration, so this shouldn't be a big deal.

Among the unencrypted channels, only a handful work and those are barely worth adding... mostly home shopping channels, infomercial, preview and other garbage.

Okay. The set of channels shown in the guide is completely configurable, so you can hide such channels.

The local channels are available, just without any channel info and therefore will not show up in the guide with program information.

No channels - local or not; unencrypted or not; shopping or HBO - will show with program information unless you go to the effort of acquiring program information. Again, Microsoft pays for a guide data service for WMC; MP survives on donations and can't afford to do that. You have to BYO (bring your own). There are various options for acquiring guide data (program information), some of which are free.

I think if I want to pursue this further, I would have to look at a cablecard

For what reason? The primary benefit of getting a CableCARD is that you get access to the encrypted channels that you're subscribed to. Well, that's the theory anyway. In practice the channels you can access will depend on your cable provider. Getting a CableCARD does not change the situation with program information.

If there is a way to map the local channels to the programming guide without having channel info, that may work for me as a solution.

Yes, you control the mapping of program information to channels.

To summarise:

1. You're not stuck with no channel info, because you can manually fix the naming and numbering of channels.
2. No matter what TV source you have - CableCARD, clear QAM, antenna (ATSC), satellite - in the US and Canada you have to bring your own program information (AKA guide data).
3. You control the mapping of program information to channels.

 

[RonD]

you should be able to add EPG info for any channel you can watch (not encrypted). were you ever able to get the "unknown" names replaced with the names that were showing up in log files? if they still show unknown, you can edit the names just like modifying a windows file name using
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_...ration/TV-Server_Configuration/03_TV_Channels

To get EPG running, you will need to use one of the options in the EPG setup guides. Either get donator version of mc2xml ($20) and use the xmltv-plugin, if you get a SchedulesDirect account ($25/yr) you can use mc2xml v1.3 with xmltv-plugin. For a small number of channels WebEPG using imdb_com is another option.

http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_..._TV_Setup/4_TV_Guide_Setup_(EPG)/XMLTV_mc2xml
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_...ides/2_TV_Setup/4_TV_Guide_Setup_(EPG)/WebEPG