My solution for DVB EPG raises more questions (1 Viewer)

[Da Nib]

MediaPortal Version: 1.1.2
MediaPortal Skin: Black glass nova
Windows Version: XP SP3
CPU Type: Intel 2.67Ghz
HDD: 1T
Memory: 4Gig
Motherboard: Intel P5Q Turbo
Video Card: ASUS Geforce GTX250
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card: VIA onboard
Sound Card AC3: analog out + SPDIF to HDMI
Sound Card Driver: unknown
1. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR4000
1. TV Card Type: DVB-S(2), DVB-T, abnalog, FM radio
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
h.264 Video Codec: divx
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Astra 28.8
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote:
TV:
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI-->HDMI and analog monitor


OK, I got this EPG thing working but it raises more questions.

First of all, EPG grabbing didn't start until I went to the tv-server configuration --> Manual control, there I pressed the button "Refresh DVB EPG". In my opinion EPG grabbing should start directly after you did a setup with a clean install.


Next go to "DVB EPG" in the tv-service configuration, the option "EPG grabbing while timeshifting".
When the checkbox is unticked does this mean:
- always grab EPG or
- never grab EPG
This is unclear to me, and isn't even mentioned in the Wiki. It is also unclear why EPG grabbing isn't always on. At some programs I tend to record them for my family, and I watch the first part whilst recording. I see no signs of stuttering or other signs my pc is running out of breath.


Next in to the setup choose "TV Epg grabber".Select all channels you want Epg for. I unchecked " Store data for selected channels", this gave me only Now/next information when tuning to a channel, and after a few hours it obviously dissapears from the tv guide. When checked, this gave me a week of EPG data (and more on some channels).
Question: is this checkbox useful? Is there anyone NOT wanting a full tv guide? Imho this should be no option, just store the data.
I found some explanation in the Wiki, but if you actualy select the channels you want EPG for then you really want to have Epg, right? And then you also really want it stored... What's the use of having to rebuild epg everytime Mepo is started?
Data for these channels should be stored without further asking.
The Wiki should be rewritten for this, I quote it hereby. Is anyone making sense of this:
If "Store data only for the selected channels" is checked, you need to check the channels you want EPG for.
If the "Store data only for the selected channels" is unchecked it will store EPG for all channels it find EPG for
Had to read it 5 times and I'm still unsure I'm understanding it.


The last thing which is unclear to me: Filter for these languages. What does this mean?
- Include these languages?
- Exclude these languages?
Is this option useful? Maybe in case a channel gives Epg in English and Arab, one could exclude the Arab langue.
The Wiki does not even mention this option.

I know I am pressing my luck with asking 3 questions in one post

greetings
Dani

 

[esas]

You have not attached your epg.log! Need this to help you more!

Usually one frequency/transponder contains the EPG data for all the channels, while the rest of the transponders contains now/next. If you tick of "Store data for selected channels" you ignore most EPG data and store only data for the selected channels (meaning now/next).

To find the transponder with EPG data you can tick off all channels , press "Refresh DVB EPG" and wait overnight (takes a long time). Then browse trough the EPG log to see witch channel had the most data. Then you only need to tck off that channel, and EPG grabbing will be very fast (some minutes)

 

[tourettes]

The last thing which is unclear to me: Filter for these languages. What does this mean?
- Include these languages?
- Exclude these languages?
Is this option useful? Maybe in case a channel gives Epg in English and Arab, one could exclude the Arab langue.
The Wiki does not even mention this option.

Some broadcasters indeed send multiple languages for EPG data. The filtering is needed for such since not all people want to have channel in EPG that contains multiple languages.

 

[Da Nib]

esas,

sorry about that, I am one happy user of Mepo, but I have no idea where to find that log, the only epg.log I find is tvserver_epg.log, and this included in the Zip I included with this thread. Please advise me on what you need if this isn't the exact file you are looking for. No need to give a full explanation, a link to the webpage will do.

I am using Mepo for about 5 years now, as a regular user. I have a more than average understanding of computers, but Mepo is a program I want to "enjoy". This is by far the most used program on my pc.
Your solution for finding the right transponder is -from your point of view- indeed a good solution, and I will try this for certain.
As a normal Mepo user this is my workflow (and I don't want to go browsing through logs):
Turn on Epg grabbing --> select channels I want epg for --> when needed, select additional options --> start Mepo.

That said, once I got all the settings right, the tv guide filled within minutes for the 15 channels i'm interested in.

thanks for your reply

Tourettes,

thanks for your reply, I understand this part much better now.

As a regular user, I would suggest you change the Filter for these languages into "exclude these languages".
From my point of view this would be clearer.

Still, an update for the wiki about the epg part would be much appreciated.

greetings
Dani

 

[esas]

Sorry! My bad. found the epg log now (used to it being named epg.log).

I can see that you are grabbing from 20 transponders, but in the log you have not finnished grabbing all (you started timeshifting). All the transponders you have tried grabbing in the log contains little EPG data (now/next). You need to find the transponder containing all the data as I described earlier or use google/search to find the correct transponder.

 

[Da Nib]

esas,

the log is a single point in time, the epg is filled from what I see in the tv guide. This could easily been done last week and from what I understand continues unnoticed in the background.
I will certainly go through the logs.

From a user point of view, I would advise to change "Store data for selected channels" to something like this: "Show Now/Next" and "Full EPG".
This would make things much simpler.

Thanks!
Dani

 

[pilehave]

esas,

the log is a single point in time, the epg is filled from what I see in the tv guide. This could easily been done last week and from what I understand continues unnoticed in the background.
I will certainly go through the logs.

From a user point of view, I would advise to change "Store data for selected channels" to something like this: "Show Now/Next" and "Full EPG".
This would make things much simpler.

Thanks!
Dani

If this is actually the case, I agree that it is unclear how the EPG mechanism works...

I thought that if you checked one or more channels in the list, the EPG grabber will grab for these - but not for others (the unchecked). I have never thought of it as a "get EPG FROM these channels" (as a source) but more as "get EPG FOR these channels".

Can someone perhaps make this clear?

 

[esas]

If this is actually the case, I agree that it is unclear how the EPG mechanism works...

I thought that if you checked one or more channels in the list, the EPG grabber will grab for these - but not for others (the unchecked). I have never thought of it as a "get EPG FROM these channels" (as a source) but more as "get EPG FOR these channels".

Can someone perhaps make this clear?

I agree that it's not so clear how it works. At least for me it's "get EPG FROM these channels", and I think that's the way it's meant to be.

Just changing the decription from "Grab EPG for these channels" to "Grab EPG from these channels" would clearify a lot. "Filter for these languages" could be changed to "Grab only these languages".

 

[pilehave]

I have just checked my TV-Server, and my conclusion is that it works as it should, the way it works is "get EPG FOR these channels". If I disable all but one channel and updates the EPG, all other channels are blanked and shows no EPG info. If I check all channels and grab EPG, the info is back.