[uglyned]

Just a quick note, as discussed in another forum, to ask for extra Freesat EPG functionality in DVBViewer and recording service.

Freesat EPG data is broadcast on transponder 11427 and this is where DVBViewer gets the EPG from. However, for UK users with only one tuner this means that the EPG will only update if they tune to a channel they don't regularly watch or want to watch.

The EPG is, however, broadcast an all Freesat transponders, just with a few differences which I've copied in below. If possible, please could DVBViewer and Recording service be updated so that they can receive EPG data from all Freesat transponders? I will supply a list and details of the ones I've tested so far if you need it but you could leave it to the user to add the list.

Inclusion of this functionality would mean that for UK users the EPG would update while watching regularly watched channels including, but not limited to, all BBC, ITV and Channel 4 channels.

Details as promised. Transponder 11427 is the one that DVBViewer currently uses for Freesat EPG data. Please ask if you want any more information, thanks.

Transponder 11427 transmits at a symbol rate of 27500000 while the other transponders transmit at 22000000
11427 uses PIDs 3002 and 3003 to transmit EPG data - other transponders use PIDs 3841 and 3842
11427 transmits EPG at a faster rate - 30 seconds is enough to generate a full EPG on 11427 but other transponders need 30 minutes to get the full list.

[Lars_MQ]

Done, there now is a FreeSAT EPG (PID 3842) entry in the MHW options. This should do it

[uglyned]

Lars_MQ, on Jan 6 2009, 11:53, said:

Done, there now is a FreeSAT EPG (PID 3842) entry in the MHW options. This should do it

Thanks for such a quick reponse, Lars. I look forward to testing itin the next beta!

[Topogigi]

Well, I'd like very much to see this feature work for italian sky epg too.

From what I know, it would not be too hard to decode the sky italy openepg implementation as it seems to be very similar but simpler than the UK one.

Italian SKY Openepg is broadcasted on Hotbird 11881 V on Alice channel, as you probably already know.

As soon as you have a bit of spare time, Lars, think about it. It should be a nice feature indeed.

[Lars_MQ]

Quote

Italian SKY Openepg is broadcasted on Hotbird 11881 V on Alice channel, as you probably already know.

No I don't Got any information about this (links etc.)?

[Topogigi]

Lars_MQ, on Feb 25 2009, 18:35, said:

No I don't Got any information about this (links etc.)?

Of course. It's a pleasure to see such a fast response.

Here you can find the first implementation of a plugin (developed for vdr-linux):

http://lukkinosat.altervista.org/

There is also a Huffman dictionary of common words used in epg (UK and ITA) and if you download the plugin youl'll find the C sources.

Here you can find the plugin (written for mediaportal by djblue) that performs the same thing. You'll find some useful infos in that thread too:

http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/developm...esat-epg-43261/

You will find something useful in particular on page 4 of the forementioned thread:

http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/attachme...nepgtoxmltv.zip

This piece of software parses a .TS recording of the Alice 11881 V channel (HotBird SKY Italy) and extracts from there all the EPG data, then it writes them to a XML file.

Let me know if you need anything else, I'll be happy to help in any way.

[Lars_MQ]

ok, this might take a little longer and I won't promise anything. but I will study the material and see if and how we can incorporate it.

[Topogigi]

Thank you very much Lars.

[uglyned]

You might both be interested in this - DJBlu is writing something specifically for DVBViewer and the app he's working on already had support for Sky Italia. It's separate from the MediaPortal one and there's also something there about how simply the 'green button' series link feature works on Sky+.

See from post 337 onwards on this page

[Topogigi]

uglyned, on Feb 26 2009, 11:27, said:

DJBlu is writing something specifically for DVBViewer

Yes I've read it too, but AFAIK the data structure of the freesat EPG (dvbviewer is already able to read it) is not so different from the Sky Italy EPG. DjBlue itself says that the italian epg data structure is simpler under some aspects. Furthermore I'd really prefer that such a feature would be integrated into the main app rather than thinking to implement it into a plugin (integrated into the main app by the developer=more supported).

Anyway, I'll wait for the DjBlue implementation and will see how it works, if he'll be the first to reach the deadline....

BTW, here there is the italian sky epg data structure (in italian language):

http://lukkinosat.al...a.org/howto.pdf

(Copy and paste the link into the browser and don't click it, otherwise it will not work)

This post has been edited by Topogigi: 26 February 2009 - 15:13

[uglyned]

OK!

Well in that case please could I request that if you have time you look at the UK sky EPG at the same time? I think it has the same format. It has info for many more channels than the Freesat EPG does.

Thank you.

[Lars_MQ]

The freesat epg is simple EIT epg with a twist. all text is hufman encoded.
The sky epg is far from that easy. It seems to be something in the line of MHW with added BAT processing with a userdefined descriptor for the channelID and hufman decoding for the text.

I personally think it would be much easier and more effective to support the works of DJBlue from our side (if he wishes it) than trying to reprogram the routines by ourselves all over again (of course we can not integrate GPL'd code).

[uglyned]

That's fine. I only suggested in case it was easy. To be honest, the Freesat EPG covers almost all free to air channels which is all most people care about. It's a lot of hard work with little reward to try and configure hardware and software in order to view NDS Videoguard encrypted channels and they are the only ones missing from the EPG.

[DJBlu]

I will be releasing something later in the week that will listen on the port that DVB Viewer streams on.
I will have something that will write an EPG.tmp file. I will send the message to refresh the EPG to DVB Viewer.

What I would like to know is how to add events to the PVR if this is possible externally.

[DJBlu]

DJBlu, on Mar 1 2009, 01:22, said:

I will be releasing something later in the week that will listen on the port that DVB Viewer streams on.
I will have something that will write an EPG.tmp file. I will send the message to refresh the EPG to DVB Viewer.

What I would like to know is how to add events to the PVR if this is possible externally.

Nevermind figured it out.

Accessing it through the COM.

You will be able to use the Series link function when I have finished with this.