Out of curiosity G South, did you find out what the problem was ?

The problem was that the iceguide data contains weird-ass 'channel numbers', while the lcn field is correct. The channel numbers are actually iceguide database reference numbers - with no real-world relationship to the channels. I had to map all the 140 numbers they use, that covers all the areas they have data for, to the correct lcns.

I sent G South a special icetv xml2dat.awk file... but I intend putting both the normal and icetv channel mapping into the one awk script that'll detect whether the user is using icetv data or not.



It depends. Data for regional areas is grabbed every 2nd or 3rd day, while data for capitol cities is grabbed daily. One of the 2 sources is grabbed less often the other.

But usually a lack of data means the grabber may be temporarily broken due to source website changes.

For Perth... I find that jrobbo.com never goes past 5am (ish) Sunday of the current week, unless it is Saturday afternoon when the real update appears to happen. (the files are only trimmed each day at midday EST?)

Hi,

first off, many thanks to all who have contributed here - great resource! 'grovel mode 'off'

can anyone PLEASE help me? I have managed to get my xml file from OZTIVO converted to a DAT file using Dave's converter, and have copied and pasted that into the ICEEPG file but I still get no EPG info. I have done most of the obvious stuff I think (like turn ICE EPG on in the menu).

It's driving me crazy as I have to virtually dismantle the AV rack each time in order to take the MS to the PC (no notebook!). If I can get this working I intend going down the USB extender path but can only sell that to the boss if she can see a clear benefit!!!

Looks like I panicked a little early! my problem stemmed from taking the M/S to the PC - as I had no antenna plugged it was not recognizing a time signal - set the clock manually and away she went!

Thanks anyway!

The OzTivo seems to update on Friday/Saturday only, with the exception of SBS. Theres certianly no daily updated is occuring. Are there any other sources being used apart from www.jrobbo.com & OzTivo?

Scott

Boy do you get some work done there Dave®. Bravo sir.

There are quite a few choices these days, here are the well known ones:

http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~willu/xmltv/index.html

[quote name='Dave®' date='Oct 6 2006, 12:44 AM' post='498933']
The problem was that the iceguide data contains weird-ass 'channel numbers', while the lcn field is correct. The channel numbers are actually iceguide database reference numbers - with no real-world relationship to the channels. I had to map all the 140 numbers they use, that covers all the areas they have data for, to the correct lcns.

I sent G South a special icetv xml2dat.awk file... but I intend putting both the normal and icetv channel mapping into the one awk script that'll detect whether the user is using icetv data or not.

Hi Dave,
did you eventually do anything with the awk script for ice data? I am having the same trouble with the channel numbers and it's driving me nuts!

TIA, Paul

For DW820 owners

Selectv fired up their full 7 day EPG available now from their stream. The down side is that the ICE Guide must be turned off. Meaning Terrestrial self create EPG will not be available, unless MS will split this function separately for satellite and terrestrial.

I've had a v2 beta sitting here for 2 weeks that just needs some finishing touches. But it hasn't been a high priority.

To get you up and running, download icetv_xml2dat.zip, unzip, and rename the icetv_xml2dat.awk file to xml2dat.awk and the replace the original xml2dat.awk file in the utils directory.

Thanks Dave, you're a star!
I now have ICE EPG info for all channels except 7. I had the same trouble the first time I tried running the OzTivo epg and fixed it with a bit of tweaking in the channel mapping in xmldat.awk but the ice mapping is a foreign language (not that the other one meant much to me - I just followed instructions from another thread!). I'm very grateful for all your help. If anyone can shed light on which fields I need to alter to get 7 going (I'm in Melbourne), I'd be very happy.

best regards, Paul

[color=#000099]after posting this I fiddled with the channel mapping a bit more and got it running myself - thanks to everyone here anyway! (pretty pleased with myself actually, I'm sure most of you think this stuff is pretty basic but I'm SO far over my head it's not funny!) - Paul

Those trying to use Jrobbo's DW guides will find they currently dont work (the scraper was broken by changes to the source...). Using Oztivo guides for Perth gives strange EPG info after processing... tracked it down to their being GWN info in there causing programs to end up in all the wrong channels... (FYI I think what happens is that whatever data there is for GWN is inserted into the previous channels list...)

As in Perth Channel 31's list is ignored I have just lumped GWN in with it at this line to send it to oblivion (in xml2dat.awk)

if ( channel ~/31|GWN/ ) { lcn = "0031" } else

I guess one could set up an "ignore" channel in the awk script and deal with other rouge channels... Is GWN even broadcast on digital? I think maybe it belongs on LCN 6, but am not sure

if ( channel ~/6|Prime|PrimS|SCT|Southern.?Cross/ ) { lcn = "0006,0061" } else ................should be
if ( channel ~/6|Prime|PrimS|SCT|Southern.?Cross|GWN/ ) { lcn = "0006,0061" } else

Another fix for jrobbo's DW guides...

SBS-2-news is now listed as "SBS Digital" so the following line needs a tweak...

if ( channel ~/33|SBSD|SBS.?News|SBS.?Digital.?2/ ) { lcn = "0033,1281" } else

to

if ( channel ~/33|SBSD|SBS.?News|SBS.?Digital.?2|SBS.?Digital/ ) { lcn = "0033,1281" } else

This would cause problems if your guide used "SBS Digital 1" and "SBS Digital 2", but the DW guides are currently using "SBS" and "SBS Digital", so this works, for now. I had emailed him, but no responce.

I'm thinking of buying a Mediastar and it's mainly for the technophobe wife so it needs to be blindingly obvious how to work it, particularly the recording side of things. I'm thinking of subscribing to Ice, is this the best (meaning easiest to set up and use) way to get an epg? Also, if we did use ice, what is the procedure to pad recordings while using this epg?



Thanks!

IceTV is not so much easier than the other XMLTV feeds, as much as it is the most consistent in providing a constant +7 days of data available throughout the week. It also provides the most complete synopsii (and most amusing).

As far as padding the recordings, the procedure is to find a show in the EPG you want to record, hit the red REC button, which takes you to the detailed timer recording input screen. There is an option to add 10, 20, 30, etc minutes onto the end of the recording (but not beginning). You can also change the start and stop times if you want, as well as make the timer a weekly recording, etc.

Just the info I needed, thanks!



Now I'm trying to work out exactly how to get the Mediastar working with Ice epg data and I have read so much stuff that I am confused about how to do it. I've found very clear instructions on how to use the OZtivo data, but not so clear directions for anything else (I'm not a programmer so I need exact step by step help! ) I've also looked at the Ice site (signed up for free trial to to get access to the epg data and learn how to use it) and its just as confusing as to what I need to do, there are many options and instructions and of course no instructions for the Mediastar....



If somebody could post a step by step guide for dummies to get Ice working with a Mediastar it would help probably more people than just me.


Edit; I spoke too soon, found the read me file in the unzipped epg converter and it looks like I could follow that, maybe with a question or two as I go through it. I have also found how to get to a URL containing my ice epg data. How do I extract the data from the web page and get it into the converter data file? I tried copy and paste but was obviously doing something wrong. The file was so huge it slowed my PC to a crawl while I had the browser window open. I tried using webget.exe thinking this might grab the data cleanly for me but I can't work out how to edit the commands to stick in my details, it just throws me out of the program when I touch a key. I'm sure it's simple when you know how.....

Well I have answered my own question and somebody might be interested in the fact that I dropped the IceTV epg file for the DGtec into the Mediastar without any changes other than renaming it to ice_epg.dat and voila, my epg was installed ready to use.



My next question is does the Ice guide always have 'holes' in it i.e. some programs and their timeslots are simply missing. I noticed it during the afternoon when I was testing out the epg. A whole hour or more might be missing from a channel's line up. The TV guide from the weekly Sunday paper had the missings programs listed, so why doesn't ice? I'll ask them myself but that will have to wait until they come back to work, and I would like to know from the user's perspective anyway.

Sorry, I didn't see that there was a question (buried in the middle of a long paragraph). Or I didn't see your edit.


Interesting! I heard that the firmware engineer who did the IceGuide code for the MediaStar got into a lot of trouble because we cracked it so easily (which could be why IceTV do not state that the MS is IceGuide compatible on their website). And now the DGtec uses the same code!

Did the DGtec come before the MS?

Is the DGtec just another clone?


Not usually. Though the different feeds have different content. The xmltv feed via their webget.exe is the best.

A code that uses a=1 b=2 does not deserve to be called a code ... why would DGtec bother to use the same "system" and not just plain text??? Interesting none-the-less...

Now... does the DGtec have a system running for programming schedules via the EPG like TED/S ?

Apparently that algorithm is also patented

OK, so let me get this right for E P G.

My newish MS has the latest firmware version but no EPG is displayed - only channel 7/10 guides.

If I follow the instructions by deano17 "setup the electronic program guide' will that mean I will get EPG info on my MS for ever (well a long time).

If so, do I need to keep update the EPG info onto the MS from the PC every week? or is always there.

Is it easy to do?

Geoff

You need to update once a week from your pc. Try this link very helpful.
http://temporary1ms920.googlepages.com/

Thanks vyclub,
I had looked through that site and yes very informative.

If EPG needs to be updated each week, meaning everyone has to take the MS to the PC (those who don't have wireless, laptop or pc in same room) why will people bother - what a weekly hassle!! Maybe I'll just look in the paper tv guide.
Geoff

Try it once and you'll understand why. Setting timers is as easy pressing the record button (or OK button) while the program you want to set a timer for is highlighted in the EPG. I could set 30 timers in a minute while you're still trying to read the paper tv guide.

PVRs and EPGs go hand in hand. Otherwise you may as well still be using a VCR...

All you need is either:
a.) A long USB cable that goes from PVR to PC - could be via powered USB extender(s) etc.
b.) Or a host USB device to take the data to the PVR - could be a laptop or a PMP like the Maxian T600 or Topfield TFP20 etc.
c.) Or a better PVR with full-time USB or LAN.

It looks like I will get the usb over cat 5 cable extension. VYCLUB showed a link to one although it was 50 metres - so I'm going check for a 20 metre or so.
Thanks

The usb extender will take a cat 5 cable up to 50m. The cat 5 cable you have to buy seperately, so you can use any length as long as it's under 50m.

ok, so buy a cat5 thingo. This is the booster I presume.

Buy a usb extender (upto 50 metres) - basically a long usb cable?

VYCLUB, did you buy a 20 metre usb cable length?

Doobie

If you look at this pic http://cgi.ebay.com.au/USB-Cable-Extension...bayphotohosting the red cable is the cat 5 cable its a networking cable the same cable that plugs into your modem (not the telephone line). You buy that to what ever length you need. One silver box you connect up to a usb port on your PC which I leave connected and the other silver box connects to the PVR via usb cable which you also need. I leave this connected to the PVR. The cat 5 cable stays connected to the silver box that is connected to the PC. So when I want to Connect the PVR to update my epg I just use the cat 5 cable and connect it the silver box thats already connected to the PVR. I hope that makes sense.

Yep, now I've got it (at last you say). I just couldn't get it through my brain

I'll have it up running very soon now.
Thanks for you patients.

Thats ok mate if I can help thats great. I know I've learnt a lot from this forum. Actually I must thank G South cause he put me onto the usb extender.

[quote Actually I must thank G South cause he put me onto the usb extender.
[/quote]
Yeh, he did to me too (first) but I didn't understand what they did exactly, so with your help/explanation all has paid off.

good to see you guys got it all sorted... sorry I should have taken a second to explain exactly what a USB/Cat5 extender does. They are a great invention that lets you really overcome the distance limitation of USB.

As explained above you have 3 parts to the extender - one goes on your PC USB port, the other part goes onto your USB port of your MS. These 2 are then joined by a length of CAT5 cable (this is just std networking cable that can be bought at just about any decent electronics store - I even saw some at Bunnings the other day).


Cheers
Geoff

Hi Guys and Gals

Hope someone can help with a bit of a problem I have encountered whilst trying to Setup the Electronic Program Guide.

Per instructions I am up to the point of "From the xml2ms folder, run xml2ms.exe" (this will create a ice_epg.dat file in the Data directory)

When I run the xml2ms.exe file it states it can not find the file. I have tried a number of times in case I was doing something wrong but seemed all ok, just not working.

I have checked -

1) I copied and pasted the TV guide into Notepad (originally pasted into Word doc, but when taking out the .doc to leave xmltv.xml it stated it may become unstable and do I wish to continue - I clicked yes)

2) The file name (created in the Data folder) is correct - xmltv.xml

3) "hide file extensions for known file types" in the folder options>view tab - it is un-ticked.

The TV Guide I pasted is hopefully the correct one. There were 2 -

- 1 with the days of the week/times/and listing 100% filled in blue and others with 0% in red (I didn't copy this one)

- the other was with pages and pages of this - (which is what I copied/pasted)

......<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>
- <tv generator-info-name="Wktivoguide v5" generator-info-url="http://minnie.tuhs.org/tivo-bin/xmlguide.pl">
- <programme start="20061230145000" stop="20061230183000" channel="ABC-SA">
<title>Rage</title>
<desc>Continuous music programming</desc>
<category>Music</category>
<category>Arts and Living</category>........


Are there any thoughts as to what the problem could be.
Thanks

Hi Doobie

Did you convert the notepad to the xmltv.xml file.

Howdy again VYCLUB
I presume so. Once I saved the info into the file, I renamed it (took out the .txt letters) which left xmltv.xml

Ok thats what I wanted to check cause I had the same problem but I wasn't taking out the txt letters. Once I took the txt letters out my problem was solved. I can't think if I did anything else sorry.

Looks like I've fixed it.

In the data folder I created a file called xmltv.xml.

Then in that folder I placed the notepad tv info also name xmltv.xml. I reckon that's what it did not like. So I deleted that '2nd' file and recopied and pasted into the data only file.

That worked and now I have a ice_epg.dat.

Here's hoping the rest works. fingers crossed.

Good to see you worked it out you'll love the epg guide it's awesome.

bugga, have hit a snag.

No EPG is displaying on MS/TV. I note there is according to instructions there is a bug in using Favourites but I have tried 'all' channels and no epg noticeable.

Ice epg is turned 'on' on the MS.

What I am wondering is whether I have copied over the wrong guide from the minnie site.

this what I copied over to the PC and copied on into MS PVR folder. http://minnie.tuhs.org/tivo-bin/tvguide.pl

or

should it have been this one. http://minnie.tuhs.org/tivo-bin/xmlguide.pl

Thought I might check before changing it all around.
Any thoughts on this on please.

Yep, you need the xmlguide.

What I am wondering is whether I have copied over the wrong guide from the minnie site.

this what I copied over to the PC and copied on into MS PVR folder. http://minnie.tuhs.org/tivo-bin/tvguide.pl

or

should it have been this one. http://minnie.tuhs.org/tivo-bin/xmlguide.pl



[/quote]

OOPS SORRY, wrong way around.

I copied this one to the PC and then onto the MS PVR folder. http://minnie.tuhs.org/tivo-bin/xmlguide.pl


Should I have copied this one. http://minnie.tuhs.org/tivo-bin/tvguide.pl

Yes, you copied the right file (src from xmlguide.pl) onto your PC, which then gets converted to ICE_EPG.DAT, which is copied onto the PVR (not the xmltv.xml file).

Thanks dischucker
Thought I had copied the right one one but then dought enters your mind. I am pretty sure I also copied the ice_epg.dat file over.

I'll need to double check though - have to wait until TW has finished watching her show at the moment.

If I have copied over the ice_epg.dat file is there any other thought - if not I might have to try it all again tomorrow.

I did copy over some mp3 files into the mp3 folder and that worked ok.

Boy am I F%#@# wit.

It helps to re-enter the local time.

All working now.

Here's wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2007.

Doobie
(Geoff S)

Thanks Dave and everyone else who has contributed to this thread. I bought my PVR last week and now have it up and running with the EPG - very handy!

Also FYI - my PC is about 5.5m away from the PVR. I bought a USB 2.0 Active extension cable from Dick Smith for about $30. No indication on the packaging about how many can be linked together. As I am only using one it worked great - copied a 2Gb+ file from the PVR to the PC in about 2 minutes.

As another option to extending USB cables, Jaycar sell these 5m extensions cables with repeaters that can be joined to extend upto a maximum 25m. The higher speed (12MB/s) appears to be close to USB2.0.

USB Data Extension Cable, cat. no. XC4839 $24.95ea

Extend the length of your USB device by an additional 5-metres (16-feet) using this Active USB Repeater Cable. It meets USB Electrical and Timing specifications, defeating signal errors that you would experience using an ordinary passive extension cable. Up to 5 of these cables can be joined for extensions up to 25-metres.

Specifications:
* Length: 16-feet (5 metres)
* Type 'A' Female to Type 'A' Male
* High Speed mode: 12Mbs
* Low speed mode: 1.5Mbs
* Maximum Cable Voltage Drop: 0.095V
* Maximum Supply current Drawn: 5.0mA

Scott

Hi all, thanks for the work that has been put into decoding the Ice format and then writting the filter program. It definitly helped make up my mind to get the MS.

Hoping someone can help me with a small problem I have.

I have downloaded xml2ms and have it working using jrobbo's xmltv file. The EPG displays correctly after being transfered to the MS, but when I try to record (record button on remote when highlighting entry) from the EPG it just takes me to the "Schedules" page, it does not take me to the "set task" page. If is switch off the IceTv support in the menu and just use the Next EPG, it works correctly and takes me to the "set task" page. Any Ideas? I am running 206a on the MS.

Thanks.

Dennis.

Just make sure the program you are wanting to record (set a timer for) has not started yet. I find if I hit the record button in the EPG view, when the current show has started already, I get taken to the list of timers. But if I select a show that is in the future, I get the timer settings page (set task).

Thanks for the tip but that isn't it, same behavior though.

//Dennis.

Hi Dennis

Is the "Ice Guide" turned on in the Display Setup?

Peter