82 replies to this topic

[Bryce]

[SIZE=4]Setting up EIT to EPG for Vista[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Sydney Metro Region NSW[/SIZE]

[SIZE=4][SIZE=2]Introduction[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][SIZE=2]This configuration is currently setup for the following Sydney metropolitan stations. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]SBS SBS HD XML collected from xmltvdownload[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]ABC1 ABC2 ABC3 ABC HDTV Using Frequency 226500[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]7 Digital 7 Digital 1 7 Digital 2 7 Digital 3 7 HD Digital Using Frequency 177500[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]NINE DIGITAL NINE HD Using Frequency 191625[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]TEN Digital TEN HD TEN HD Using Frequency 219500[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Dummy Files: FTA Digital Guide, Digital 44 NSW, Digital 44 Expo, D44-ACC[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Dummy files allow you to use these stations in the EPG without unsightly gaps in the EPG.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Crucial Criteria[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Must live in the Sydney metropolitan area.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Vista Operating System[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Digital TV Card.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Must have Active Internet Connection.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Turn UAC off. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Components[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]1 x Installation Document. This document.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]1 x File to download from this page. >>>  Sydney eit Setup.zip   570.3K   223 downloads[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]1 x File to download from sourceforge.net EPGScan.exe 1.0.0.8 see Step 1[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]1 x File to download from epgstream.net XMLTV Guide Pack Ver. 1.0.11 See Step 3[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Mandatory[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]UAC (User Account Control) must be turned off.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]If UAC is active on your system you need to do the following steps.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]*Go to control panel / User Accounts / Turn User Account Control on or off / Check mark the check box /Click OK[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]* Let the system reboot. Then go to step 1 [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Step 1.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Install Null Pointers EPGScan[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Mandatory Files and Path.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Go to sourceforge.net site and down load Null Pointers EPGScan.exe file. [/SIZE][URL="http://sourceforge.net/projects/epgscan/"][SIZE=2]http://sourceforge.n...ojects/epgscan/[/SIZE][/URL]
[SIZE=2]It is essential to install EPGScan.exe to the following path "C:\Program Files\EPGScan\EPGScan.exe" [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Do not use any other path or this system will fail.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Step 2.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Mandatory File: [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Sydney eit setup.exe[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Make sure you have downloaded and [U]unzipped[/U] the Sydney eit setup.exe file to your desktop. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Then in Step 13 of the XMLTV Guide Pack setup you will be asked to install Sydney eit.exe[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]After installation you will then resume and complete the XMLTV Guide Pack set up. In Step 13.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]The Sydney eit.exe file can be fully uninstalled if needed. It has its own uninstaller. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Step 3.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Download & Install XMLTV Guide Pack[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Mandatory Files: XMLTV Guide Pack must be installed for the eit system to work correctly.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]xmltvDownload, wmcGuideServiceProxy, xmltvAlter.exe & xmltvMerge.exe.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]The above files are contained in epgStreams XMLTV Guide Pack[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]For full instructions on installing and [U]downloading[/U] XMLTV Guide Pack. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Go to this site.[URL="http://www.epgstream.net/default.aspx?page=install-xmltv-guidepack-steps"]http://www.epgstream...guidepack-steps[/URL][/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Start here when you’re ready to install the setup files to your system. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Checklist before continuing. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]1./ EPGScan.exe is installed and in the correct path. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]2./ [SIZE=3]Sydney eit setup.exe[/SIZE] is on the desktop ready to install.
Your ready to continue.

*Start the XMLTV Guide setup
Xmltv Guide Pack Introduction Screen


Xmltv Guide Pack End –User Agreement



*Important [U]Install XMLTV Guide Pack set up with a FULL INSTALL[/U]
*Complete



Xmltv Guide Pack Installed Screen
*Click finish



Guide Proxy wizard Intro page
epgStream licensed users install licence files at this point.
*Before Clicking Start. Licensed users drop their licence files into the following locations.
"C:\Program Files\epgStream.net\wmcGuideServiceProxy\wmcGuideServiceProxy.exe.lic"
"C:\Program Files\epgStream.net\xmltvDownload\xmltvDownload.exe.lic"
If you’re an unlicensed user. Just continue on.

*Click Start



Guide wizard Agreement page


Step 2 of 15
*Select “XMLTV Download” + “Guide Service Proxy”
*Click Next



Installation Check





Step 5 of 15 Guide Region
*Select NSW + (Sydney CBD)
*Leave the check box in My region isn’t here! Un-checked
http://i279.photobuc...t reduced/3.jpg


Step 6 of 15 Available Channels
When setting up the available channels.
*You must UNSELECT all channels except SBS. Scroll down to next screen for a better example.
http://i279.photobuc...t reduced/4.jpg



The Channel screen should look like the one below.
*Un-select all channels except SBS. Do not select SBS HD or SBS News.
*Click Next
http://i279.photobuc...t reduced/5.jpg



Step 7 of 15
*Cut and paste the file location to save the SBS.xml file to.
..... C:\Program Files\epgStream.net\Raw Files\SBS.xml
#Note (upper text letter S for \epgStream\)
http://i279.photobuc...t reduced/6.jpg



Step 9 of 15 : Component Licenses
A registration screen with a check box will appear.
*Uncheck the check box if your not registering or already have an installed licence.
# There are limitations for unregistered users. (20 second delay + other minor limitations.)
http://i279.photobuc...t reduced/7.jpg

http://i279.photobuc... reduced/7a.jpg

http://i279.photobuc...izard12of15.jpg



[SIZE=3]Step 13 of 15 : System Test:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Stop![/SIZE] At this point.
Just leave the Guide Wizard on the desktop in an active state.
[U]Do Not Cancel Do Not Go Back DO Not Click Next.[/U]
You will come back to this screen later.
*Install Sydney eit setup.exe from the desktop. Scroll down to Step 13a
http://i279.photobuc...t reduced/8.jpg



Step 13a
*Go to the desktop and double click on the Sydney eit setup icon

http://i279.photobuc...t reduced/9.jpg



Sydney eit setup.exe
*Next
http://i279.photobuc... reduced/10.jpg



*Next
http://i279.photobuc...erselection.jpg



Additional Task Screen.
*Checkmark both check boxes.
*Click Next
http://i279.photobuc... reduced/11.jpg



*Install
http://i279.photobuc...dytoinstall.jpg



Sydney eit setup Complete
*Finish
http://i279.photobuc... reduced/12.jpg



[SIZE=3]Then[/SIZE] Resume with XMLTV Guide Wizard step 13 of 15
*Click Next.
http://i279.photobuc... reduced/13.jpg



Step 14 of 15
#System Test will fail if the above steps (Sydney eit setup.exe installation) are not carried out correctly.
Step 14 should look like this.
http://i279.photobuc... reduced/14.jpg

http://i279.photobuc...izard15of15.jpg



XMLTV Guide Wizard setup Complete.
*Select advanced Guide service proxy options.
*Then [U]click here.[/U]
http://i279.photobuc... reduced/15.jpg



[SIZE=3]Guide service proxy configuration.[/SIZE]
#Unregistered users will have a 20 second delay at start up and closing of the programme.
*Change the source file from.
C:\Program Files\epgStream.net\Raw Files\SBS.xml
To >> C:\Program Files\epgStream.net\Listings.xml
*Save Changes
#Note: The letter S in \epgStream.net\ is upper text.

http://i279.photobuc... reduced/16.jpg




*Yes
http://i279.photobuc...proxyscreen.jpg



*OK
http://i279.photobuc...xyrestarted.jpg



*Close the Guide Service Proxy configuration screen.

*Click Finish with the XMLTV Guide Wizard screen.
http://i279.photobuc...ltvfinished.jpg


[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]* Crucial[/SIZE]
UnCheck the check box in Daylight Saving Time.
Or EPG settings will be out of place.

http://i279.photobuc...ed/Timezone.jpg




[SIZE=3]Step 4[/SIZE].
*Double click on Sydney eit Icon on the desktop to fill folders with XML files.
#You must have an active internet connection for this to work correctly. xmltvDownload will use the net to download SBS xml file.
http://i279.photobuc...dneyeiticon.jpg



[SIZE=3]Service Proxy configuration[/SIZE]
It’s crucial to do the following steps after filling up folders with new xml files.
You only need to do this step once.
Click on Vista orb / All Programs / epgStream.net / Guide Service Proxy / Click on Guide Service Proxy Settings
Go to channels Tab
*Click Clear
*Save Changes (Two Confirmation boxes will appear. *Click yes for each confirmation)
*Click Read
*Left Click once on SBS to activate the Save changes button.
*Save Changes (Two Confirmation boxes will appear. *Click yes for each confirmation)

http://i279.photobuc...reduced/16a.jpg



*YES
http://i279.photobuc...proxyscreen.jpg



*OK
http://i279.photobuc...xyrestarted.jpg



Setting Categories
*Click the Categories’ Tab
* Click Read
#Note non registered users will be confronted limitations.
* Drag the sub directories to the main directories
Example drag sitcom and Favourite to Favourite.
Example drag Movie (Imported xml ctegories) to Movies (main directory. Star icon. Drop it on to the star)

*Save Changes
http://i279.photobuc...reduced/16b.jpg



*Yes
http://i279.photobuc...proxyscreen.jpg


*OK
http://i279.photobuc...xyrestarted.jpg


*Close the Guide Service Proxy configuration screen.

Step 5.
Do your Media Center setup
*Setup TV signal
*Setup your TV Guide Listings Source.
*Change your TV Channel Order.
*Add listings to Channel.
#When adding Listings to Channel always scroll down the list.
Don’t just take the first channel listing at the top of the list.
[/SIZE][/SIZE]

Edited by Bryce, 09 October 2008 - 02:48 AM.

[Circuit]

Great post Bryce very detailed instructions for anyone looking to setup EIT data.

Might even go down as the longest post ever in the forum

[Astrotoy7]

Nice work Bryce I have some basic questions that may help explain the purpose in a bit more detail. People arent likely to go through that ordeal without knowing fully why they should do it

1. What is EIT ?
2. Why would you want EIT as opposed to your usual EPG setup. ie. you need to use xmltvguide pack anyway, why not just use oztivo.net sbs listings?
3. Does this method require TVPack to be installed beforehand. If you had TVPAck installed, does it still work? (ie.xmltvguidepack doesnt work with TVPack update)
4. What is that 'sydney eit' app/file actually doing?
5. Can other channels be thrown into the mix, ie. payTV channels via the xmltvguidepack setup, or is this FTA only?

astro

[Bryce]

1. What is EIT ?

eit stands for event information table (EIT).
When a station broadcasts a signal. Different format of media is embedded in the signal. Vision sound and text.
When a TV receiver picks up that signal it processes it to give picture and sound. The text side of it is the event information table. When that information is processed it becomes a visual representation of an EPG (That’s my understanding of it.)

2. Why would you want EIT as opposed to your usual EPG setup. ie. you need to use xmltvguide pack anyway, why not just use oztivo.net sbs listings?

I started using EPG supplied by different providers over a long period of time.
I tried ice epgstream and used scrappers that would eventually break.
I found there were a lot of inconsistencies I couldn't control.
So I looked into building my own. To do that I needed something other than a scraping program. That’s where epgscan and dvbguide came into play.(programs that process eit)
From that I came in contact with software being developed by epgstream. (Filtering and merging xml)
It turned from an interest to a hobbie. I'm no longer reliant on a provider’s epg information as I build and customize my own to look the way I want it to look...
Once SBS come on line there will be no need to use the oztivo content.
I have run it for a number of months and find it extreamly stable without any problems or issues.

3. Does this method require TVPack to be installed beforehand. If you had TVPAck installed, does it still work? (ie.xmltvguidepack doesnt work with TVPack update)

I haven’t had the opportunity to use TV Pack so I’m not able to give an adequate answer to your question.
dvbguide beta can produce the xml format used by TV pack but I don’t know of any program to inject it in to TV pack

4. What is that 'sydney eit' app/file actually doing?

When the setup file installs it puts a customised xmltvAlter rule file into epgstreams common / tools folder and sets a path structure of folders where processed xml files reside.
The 'Sydney eit file executes commands to epgstreams files to do set tasks. Filter and merge allowing the user to customise the EPG information collected and processed in to xml file by epgscan. At the end of the process Sydney eit file triggers media center to get the latest guide.

5. Can other channels be thrown into the mix, ie. payTV channels via the xmltvguidepack setup, or is this FTA only?

It’ would mean rewriting the Sydney eit file to suit.
It would also mean writing additional rules to the xmlAlter
It’s do-able.

[Bryce]

I made changes to the xmlAter rules by changing the time zone setting from this
<rule type="changeProgrammeTimeZone" timeZone="+1000" />
to this <rule type="changeProgrammeTimeZone" timeZone="+1100" />
The time and zone settings should be set as shown below.


This is the setup file with the new time zone change.
 Sydney eit Setup.zip   569.91K   27 downloads
------------------------------

[Bryce]

I'm just comming back to Astrotoy7's question 5

5. Can other channels be thrown into the mix, ie. payTV channels via the xmltvguidepack setup, or is this FTA only?

It’ would mean rewriting the Sydney eit file to suit.
It would also mean writing additional rules to the xmlAlter
It’s do-able.
Yes. Other channels can be thrown into the mix.
The eit channels collected by EPGScan and all channels listed by xmltvguidepack (xmltvDownload)

.

[Astrotoy7]

great stuff Bryce

Always good to have people looking at EPG solutions other than a petition. It's the endeavour and talent of persons like yourselves and the epgstream crew that have given many Oz users a viable EPG.

keep up the great work. Would be cool to get something like this working in TVpack, because TVpack essentially forces your EPG into using EIT.

Astro

[saxnix]

:welldone:Wow, now that is a guide that I could follow. Really great work.

I have a vista pc in the shop at the moment and when it gets back I would love to try it. The problem is that I am in Brisbane metro. Is there any chance that you could make a Brisbane EIT version?

If it helps, I am a blues supporter

[Bryce]

I have a vista pc in the shop at the moment and when it gets back I would love to try it. The problem is that I am in Brisbane metro. Is there any chance that you could make a Brisbane EIT version?

Firstly I need to obtain accurate information to be able to do that.
I haven't been able to determine if the major citys all use the same frequencies.
It would appear Sydney and Melbourne do. Although I need to get that confirmed.

When you get your machine back from the shop.
Download the ScanChannelsBDA_UK file.
Run option 2. Australia.
When it has finished. Go to the folder ScanChannelsBDA_UK resides in.
Locate and Zip-up the ScanChannelsBDA.log then post it to this thread.
That will give me the Brisbane channel ID and frequency information I need to put something together.

Bryce

[saxnix]

Thansk Bryce,

I currently have another Vista machine, so was able to follow your instructions to run the task. File is attached. Let me know if you need any other info.
Thanks
Greg

Attached Files

•  ScanChannelsBDA.zip   2.76K   13 downloads

[Bryce]

>>>>>  Brisbane eit setup.zip   568.66K   50 downloads(568.7 KB)
See how you go with this.
Sydney uses the same frequencies as Brisbane. Although both cities use different channel ID's .
I made adjustments to the chanel ID's I had set in xmAlter.
You might need to edit the time zone settings in xmAlter if you find your programs to be out by an hour. Hopefully they should be OK.

[saxnix]

Thanks for this Bryce. I will probably wait until I get the other machince back (1-2 weeks) to try it.....unless curiosity gets the better of me. I will let you know how I go with it.

Thanks again

Greg

[saxnix]

You might need to edit the time zone settings in xmAlter if you find your programs to be out by an hour. Hopefully they should be OK.

OK, so couriosity easily got the better of me and I gave it a shot. It works, but I have a small problem and a couple of questions - please excuse my ignorance .

It all seems good, except the guide is out by an hour. Scratc that, I just checked again to see if it was an hour ahead or behind, and it looks like the reboot I just did fixed it up.

Question/clarification of how this works - So EIT guide data is usually (say in TV Pack) downloaded via the stream while watching a channel. Your workaround actually uses the Sydney/Brisbane eit application to get the data? If so, how accurate/often updated by the networks is the info? Should I schedule Brisbane eit to run once a week, every couple of days, once a day, or 3 or 4 times a day?

Sorry if my understanding of this is completely wrong. I would be interested to hear what your experience has been with the accuracy.

Thanks again

Greg

[saxnix]

I spoke too soon. It has just gone 9am and I noticed the "Media Center is connecting to the internet to update guide data" bubble (or whatever it says). The guide info is out by an hour. Eg. things that should start at midday, are showing in the guide to start at 1pm. The program info says it is meant to start at 1pm, not 12pm.

I don't know if this is relevant, but during the setup, I chose QLD (Brisbane) as the location and time zone.

I can't seem to find xmAlter, can you point me in the right direction so I can play with the adjustment? Also, do I need to set it to 1000 (I am guessing from you earlier posts that you changed it to 1100)?

[Bryce]

Download this editor.
XML Marker This tool edits the xmltvRules.config file.
Important when you save the file after editing use the Save As

Download XMLTV EPG Viewer Sit this one on your desktop. It displays the epg and the changes you make when you edit the xmAlter file.
Direct it to look at this file.
"C:\Program Files\epgStream.net\Listings.xml"

xmAlter can be located in this path.
"C:\Program Files\epgStream.net\Common\Tools\xmltvRules.config"
Save the original xmAlter config file in a folder called backup.
Just don't forget to use the Save As when you do your edit.

Goto this path.
"C:\Program Files\epgStream.net\City folder\Generate EPG.exe\ReBuild EPG.exe"
This tool regenerates the guide after you make changes to the xmAlter config file.
You can then veiw the changes in the XMLTV EPG Veiwer.
Media Center takes a while before it shows the true changes made to xmAlter whilst XMLTV EPG Viewer shows the changes directly.

When you get into xmAlter config file you will need to look for this line.
<rule type="changeProgrammeTimeZone" timeZone="+1000" />

It will be set as
<rule type="changeProgrammeTimeZone" timeZone="+1100" />
Or
<rule type="changeProgrammeTimeZone" timeZone="+1000" />

I don't know if this is relevant, but during the setup, I chose QLD (Brisbane) as the location and time zone.

That is the correct setting.

Bryce