Newcomer has questions/issues (1 Viewer)

[RonD]

I've been thinking...
It seems like the channel IDs are the same for everybody. In other words, I mean guide data for "A&E" in Dallas is the same as for New York... except for the time difference. So, rather than having people customise their own XML files, it may be better to put all possible channels in the XML we include. Then people just have to put in their zip code and match the channels up. Should be much less error prone.

This is probably a topic for team forums, agree with the big picture problem with individual users setting up gory channel details for an imdb based EPG. This also creates lots of web traffic to snag the data. Things like SchedulesDirect ($25/yr), with either the dedicated plugin, or mc2xml is a more workable long term idea.

As far as a "zip based" approach, that may be a bit harder than expected. I can only directly comment on OTA/ATSC, have never used MePo with clear QAM/cable, CableCard, or any of the cable/satellite set top box and hdmi/component grabber approaches. But for OTA the USA has about 1750 or so TV Stations and with ATSC sub-channels, lots of sub-channels. In my local area I receive about 25+ physical channels with 90+ sub-channels.

To get an overall USA/ATSC picture, rabbitears is a good info source. http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php click on a few cities, NYC, LA, SF, etc once you pick a city it shows all the main stations in the area, 30-50+ for a big city area, then click on "Expand/Contract All" to see the ATSC sub-channels. In each city, you really want local channel EPG data to get both the main network (ABC, CBS etc) programs and the local news, local programs, local sports, etc and this varies by city. For example in SF ABC=KGO, CBS=KPIX. in Chicago ABC=WLS, CBS=WBBM, in LA ABC=KABC, CBS=KCBS, but in general each city has a different mapping of main networks to local channels, with lots of cities and sub-channels, this could be a real big list to keep up to date.

Cable/satellite also have lots of channels (100 to 500+), not sure how many you really get with clear/QAM, cablecard, etc. Each location/zip has the main "cable networks" (ESPN, foxnews, etc) with timezone (EST, CST, MST, PST) based schedules and the same mix local channels that carry the non-cable networks. To get a picture of cable/satellite lineups, www.tvguide.com, www.zap2it.com are couple good places. For zipcodes, NYC=10001, Chicago=60601, LA=90001, SF=94102.

Its only a matter of software, how hard could it be write a few lines of code? (ps: I've worked 30+ years in computer hardware, board, system, chip design, with OS, driver, application programmers, and have a pretty good idea how hard it is to write a few lines of code)

 

[Anthony Donegan]

I created the mapping file with a lot of cut and paste and effort. I ran it and got the guide data. The channels in the guide are the long obtuse ones the cablecard lists. It would be infinitely better if the "siteid" channel names shown on the web page were used. Sage and apparently WMC I think use Tribune Media Services (zap2it.com) because they have 14 days of data plus elaborate metadata. My download populated the guide with about 7-8 data and there was no color fill in the guide indicating "drama", "comedy", was not read.

I made some fixes to the mapping for missing info and went to run the grab again. When you go to the grab box there is a "loading configuration" message in the bottom of the box, and hitting "grab" changes the last grab date but nothing happens.

In looking at the recordings section, i can't find anything on recording priorities. How are conflicts resolved? Every other pvr software has an option for "new" shows only to prevent recording marathons of past shows you've already recorded. I don't see that functionality anywhere.

 

[mm1352000]

Hello again Anthony

I created the mapping file with a lot of cut and paste and effort.

Yes, I acknowledge the IMDB source does take a fair amount of effort to setup. Other sources are a bit easier.

I ran it and got the guide data.

The channels in the guide are the long obtuse ones the cablecard lists. It would be infinitely better if the "siteid" channel names shown on the web page were used.

The reasoning for this has been explained previously.

From TV Server's perspective the guide data is just guide data (ie. program start times, titles etc.). Yes, in this case there are channel names used in the mapping process... however that's not always/usually the case, and in general TV Server has no awareness of the fact that WebEPG is working with channel names. In other words: TV Server can't get channel names from WebEPG.

The only real solution for you is to rename your channels.

Sage and apparently WMC I think use Tribune Media Services (zap2it.com) because they have 14 days of data plus elaborate metadata. My download populated the guide with about 7-8 data and there was no color fill in the guide indicating "drama", "comedy", was not read.

Sometimes in life you get what you pay for. As previously discussed, Sage and WMC pay to use TMS (now GraceNote), and we're simply not in a position to be able to do that. If you want TMS data and you're willing to pay for it then you'd have been better going with the SchedulesDirect + mc2xml + XMLTV source rather than IMDB.

I made some fixes to the mapping for missing info and went to run the grab again. When you go to the grab box there is a "loading configuration" message in the bottom of the box, and hitting "grab" changes the last grab date but nothing happens.

I don't use WebEPG myself so I'm not particularly familiar with it. I'd need log files and/or your IMDB XML file to enable me to assist you.

In looking at the recordings section, i can't find anything on recording priorities. How are conflicts resolved?

TV Server detects conflicts at the time you create a new schedule. If conflicts are detected, you'll be prompted and given a choice about what to do.

Every other pvr software has an option for "new" shows only to prevent recording marathons of past shows you've already recorded. I don't see that functionality anywhere.

Please refer to the "check episode of already recorded programs..." setting:
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_...guration/TV-Server_Configuration/07_Recording

It's the closest equivalent we have. There are other alternatives with other guide data sources.