NO EPG from Microsoft since ~3/7 (1 Viewer)

[david_31262]

I've been using the donator mc2xml & xmltv to get my EPG from MS.
Unfortunately, I haven't had any updates for about a week. My guide data is going to run out on Thursday.

There are a couple of active threads. Apparently, the MS servers are down (there are 3rd hand rumors that the problem is being worked and could be fixed today).

http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/viewtopic.php?f=96&t=9805
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/.../beb7a0a7-4192-42a5-a621-1611dc3a3207?page=31

Sigh, I'm just about ready to start paying for the EPG. What are people using these days?

I'm thinking to try Schedules Direct and keep using mc2xml/xmltv to grab the data. If I do this will the existing timers still fire, or will I need to create new timers. Will using a different grabber force me to recreate all the timers ?

Thanks.

 

[mm1352000]

Sigh, I'm just about ready to start paying for the EPG.

You could also try zap2xml if you prefer free.
http://zap2xml.awardspace.info/

If I do this will the existing timers still fire, or will I need to create new timers. Will using a different grabber force me to recreate all the timers ?

I expect that will depend on the types of "timers" (schedules) you've used, and on how different the content of the EPG data is (eg. MS vs. SD). For example, the schedules that trigger on the program name will require the name to be the same as before.

The other thing you'll almost certainly have to do is remap EPG channels to TV Server channels in the XMLTV Import plugin -> "mapping" tab.

 

[david_31262]

Thanks. Maybe I'll give zap a try. Are new episodes of series programs flagged as "new" ?

Dave

 

[mm1352000]

Sorry, I don't know Dave. I'm based in New Zealand so have never had cause to use zap2xml. The zap2xml home page does say:

-A "new live" = append " *" to program titles that are "new" and/or "live"

...so I'd guess that it's able to identify and mark such programs in some way. mc2xml has a similar option.