Schedules Direct US/Canadian/Mexico EPG Plugin (Updated August 2010) (2 Viewers)

[moab]

Update.
I use the XMLTV plugin with the MC2XML command line utility instead of this SD plugin.
The XMLTV plugin gives you total control over the mapping of MP TV server channels to SchedulesDirect guide channels.
I recommend using this over the SD plugin.
Tip for XMLTV plugin: click Save after mapping your channels on using the second tab of the plugin.
You can configure MC2XML to pull on a schedule using task schedular and a little bat script. Total control and transparency when pulling guide and mapping.
SchedulesDirect plugin worked fine when I had a simple handful of channels so it would work for some folks.

 

[akajester]

Update.
I use the XMLTV plugin with the MC2XML command line utility instead of this SD plugin.
The XMLTV plugin gives you total control over the mapping of MP TV server channels to SchedulesDirect guide channels.
I recommend using this over the SD plugin.
Tip for XMLTV plugin: click Save after mapping your channels on using the second tab of the plugin.
You can configure MC2XML to pull on a schedule using task schedular and a little bat script. Total control and transparency when pulling guide and mapping.
SchedulesDirect plugin worked fine when I had a simple handful of channels so it would work for some folks.

Moab, just curious, why do you recommend this method over SD plugin? I followed your instructions a while back to get it going and it's still working great. What would I gain from doing this via another plugin and command line? How many sources/channels do you have now?

Thanks!

 

[moab]

I upgraded to cable and have problems with the mapping.
For me it is easier to manually map the channels using the XMLTV plugin.
Also I like have the control over the download of the xmltv file from SD.
The problem is that I get duplicate SD channels and HD channels which confused the SD plugin.
My area has not fully migrated to digital yet. I expect once they do it would work better.
The FCC put off the date from February 2009 to June 11th 2009. Until then I have a mixed bag of digital and HD channels. Some duplicate some not.
All I am saying is that the xmltv plugin is more transparent than the SD plugin. Both work but XMLTV has more controls.

 

[akajester]

I upgraded to cable and have problems with the mapping.
For me it is easier to manually map the channels using the XMLTV plugin.
Also I like have the control over the download of the xmltv file from SD.
The problem is that I get duplicate SD channels and HD channels which confused the SD plugin.
My area has not fully migrated to digital yet. I expect once they do it would work better.
The FCC put off the date from February 2009 to June 11th 2009. Until then I have a mixed bag of digital and HD channels. Some duplicate some not.
All I am saying is that the xmltv plugin is more transparent than the SD plugin. Both work but XMLTV has more controls.

Thanks for the explanation. At the moment I'm only tuning ATSC and I get like 8 channels, so... It's nice to know if I ever got more complicated I can set it up a different way.

 

[2BitSculptor]

I've got about 30 ATSC channels (including subs and all the channels I really don't care to watch). I tried the XMLTV route but it didn't give me the description that I wanted, and the asterisk just seemed misplaced on the guide for new episodes. I went back to the SD plugin because of the ease of setup (I don't like working with scripts and batch files directly), and it does all I need to do with OTA (excellent WAF rating!). I won't even notice the cut-off date when it gets here.

regards,

Chuck

 

[moab]

... I won't even notice the cut-off date when it gets here.

regards,

Chuck

I would recommend a channel re-scan after they finally do the cutover.
Remember to backup your current channels before hand .
I am anticipating a bunch of my apaulingly bad quality analogue channels to go to crystal clear digital.

 

[patrick]

Unfortunately the original plugin author, who seems to have left us, did not post the source to his last version which included that option. He only left the source to the one before it. I am maintaining it at the moment but I haven't yet had time to reverse-engineer what he did.

oops, maybe the attached will help!
It has been a while since I have looked at the code, but if you want me to look @ or explain anything I will give it a shot.
I did not add it to the first post since it does not look like it works with the current version of MP from the posts.


HTH,
patrick

 

[ixian]

Thanks Patrick!

Believe it or not all that really needs to be done is for it to be rebuilt against the latest MediaPortal source and it works. WileE and I cleaned it up a little, and I got it ready for VS2008, but honestly that's small stuff.

 

[2BitSculptor]

... I won't even notice the cut-off date when it gets here.

regards,

Chuck

I would recommend a channel re-scan after they finally do the cutover.
Remember to backup your current channels before hand .
I am anticipating a bunch of my apaulingly bad quality analogue channels to go to crystal clear digital.

Actually, the Milwaukee and Madison lineups have already been broadcasting digital for a year, and some even already stopped analog at the original cutoff date. I just expect the strength of the broadcasts to get better.. a few of the digital channels that should be clean are still a little spotty, and I don't get them in very well with my rooftop masted antenna (it is a medium range and I'm right at it's limit from all the broadcasters). I haven't been getting analog since I installed MP along with my HDHR and SD 14 months ago.

I'd like to see some enhancement to the SD plugin... like being able to separate the description details a bit more, to rename the episodes more clearly.. like program-title-season#-episode#, for use in MPTV Series, and add a separate label to the skin for New/First aired info for broadcasts/episodes. eg, Some of the control that some xmlTV users can do.


regards,

Chuck

 

[denmich1997]

Thanks for all the help this is a great place. Installed 1.01 and SD is working. Now the only problem I have is won't play back recorded tv due to sound codec. I should be able to fix it. thanks again for the info.