EPG help in USA (3 Viewers)

[swihart]

MediaPortal Version: 1.1.1.0
MediaPortal Skin: Maya
Windows Version: XP SP3
CPU Type: AMD Phenom X3
HDD: WD 80 gig
Memory: 2 gig, DDR2
Motherboard:
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4500
Video Card Driver: 8.762
Sound Card:
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppage HVR-950q
1. TV Card Type: ATSC
1. TV Card Driver: 1.95.28113.0


I recently added a Hauppage 950q to my Mediaportal setup to grab over-the-air programming, but I can't get any form of EPG (DVB, WebEPG, Xmltv) to work (no issues at all viewing TV)! All of the posts I've read on this topic keep referring me to "MC2XML" as the best option, however this site doesn't look like it has existed for a while.

I've also tried using the DVB EPG grabber. In the "Manual Control" it says that my card is going out and grabbing epg, but the log always shows that no programs were found. I know that my broadcaster is at least broadcasting SOME information, because I can view program information directly through my TV. This would be my preferred method for grabbing the information, although I have read conflicting reports that some have trouble with reliable information in the US. I haven't been able to find in the documentation for the 950q that it can't pick up epg. Is it possible my 950q doesn't support this feature?

Can someone explain WebEPG? I can map the channels, but that's about it. Is it meant to work as a standalone, or only with the XMLTV plugin? Is there something in the yahoo or IMDB databases that it is looking at that will give me program guide information?

I've looked at some third party grabbers, but I haven't found any that support US tv programming.

In the US, is xmltv thru a Schedules Direct subscription my only option? I am not opposed to this, I just thought grabbing the EPG information for the 4 channels I can pick up over-the-air shouldn't be giving me this much trouble.


Can someone in the US point me in the right direction? I've attached my epg log for reference.

 

[typhoid]

I wasn't aware that the mc2xml site had gone dark.

I tried WebEPG a couple of years ago, but was unable to get it to work with any of the US sources available at the time. Maybe things have changed, but I got the impression from the forums that WebEPG would break whenever a "source" would make an unannounced change.

For a reliable, "set it and forget it" source of program guide data here in the US, I think that your best bet is going to be xmltv with Schedules Direct.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I did manage to get EPG grabbing working about a year ago here in the US with OTA ATSC, but my local stations (Houston, TX) were only sending about 2 days of guide data. Unfortunately, I was experimenting with GBPVR, MediaPortal, and 4TR, and I can't remember which one I was using at the time, or how I managed to get it working.

Once I discovered that I could only get 2 days by EPG grabbin, I dropped it in favor of mc2xml, which has been working great.

 

[2BitSculptor]

found a new link in another post. The link currently works.
mc2xml

Chuck

 

[swihart]

Thanks typhoid and 2BitSculptor! MC2XML is indeed alive and well- I was just thrown off by all of the links on this topic taking me to their old website. I think I can make MC2XML do what I need.

Thanks again!

 

[xvffx]

Hi,

sorry to bump this thread.. but the topic is correct... solution is not.

EPG in USA (use a external solution? thanks but no thanks)

EPG is kind of grabbing ok but not for all channels. (other software has none of these issues)

what I would like to do is have a proper solution but need directions on proper steps to do to generate the logs that will be useful.


I can tick on all channels and let is sit for hours then create the logs then (if this is the case.. let me know)

a new thread? also let me know.

many thanks

Vff

 

[xvffx]

found a new link in another post. The link currently works.
mc2xml

Chuck

I've went ahead and gave this a try....

the results... it's awesome! alot of work.. but awesome.

the lot of work comes from manually selecting channels to the right info/channel
(some channels needed to be renamed as well)

any reason why half wasn't picked up?.. was this a scan issue or channel IDs wasn't properly imported?


Vff (trying to stay on topic)

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

any reason why half wasn't picked up

We have something similar in the UK, usually associated with broadcast name against program guide name, which may involve spaces being incorrect as well as just name, ie Channel4+1 may be Channel4 +1, or any variation.

Always good if you can post some specific things you have had to do, just to help others get the right idea

 

[ap90033]

Hi,

sorry to bump this thread.. but the topic is correct... solution is not.

EPG in USA (use a external solution? thanks but no thanks)

EPG is kind of grabbing ok but not for all channels. (other software has none of these issues)

what I would like to do is have a proper solution but need directions on proper steps to do to generate the logs that will be useful.


I can tick on all channels and let is sit for hours then create the logs then (if this is the case.. let me know)

a new thread? also let me know.

many thanks

Vff

I agree, this is what Open Source is all about right?

 

[ap90033]

Anyone here a MP Guru? What do we do here? Looking for a real solution...

 

[2BitSculptor]

Sorry, not a guru here... couldn't figure out the whole EPG thing so I just opted to pay the $20/yr for Schedules Direct and use the Schedules Direct plug-in. No fuss (for me anyway). With more than $1200.00 invested in my HTPC, and MP is free ... and free OTA TV, I don't mind paying for a few other small conveniences.

- Chuck