[mythtv-users] ongoing DataDirect problems?

Raphael Pooser rpooser at gmail.com
Mon Jan 9 15:55:19 UTC 2006


John Biundo wrote:

> Michael T. Dean wrote:
>
>> In the interest of fair time...
>>
> . . .
>
> OK, let me put it this way.  Anybody thinking about setting up a 
> MythTV box should, BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE, evaluate zap2it.  Here 
> I am, having spent lots of $$$ and DAYS OF TIME building and setting 
> up my box.  However it's severely limited by the fact that I can't get 
> listings from zap2it.
>
> Yes, it's my fault for not checking this before I invested so much.  I 
> can only claim ignorance, and I think it's probably the norm, 
> especially considering that zap2it BY AND LARGE seems reliable (as 
> evidenced by the lack of complaints on this board similar to mine), 
> for most people to just assume that if they live in a large 
> metropolitan area, zap2it is going to have their listings.  Again, I 
> take responsibility for not researching that in advance, but hopefully 
> this serves as a warning for others who happen to be looking in this 
> direction.
>
> If they DON'T have your provider, then you're probably going to be in 
> the same boat as me, which is WAY UP THE BROWN CREEK without a paddle. 
> Good luck trying to get any info out of the zap2it folks.  I've tried 
> every means I can think of to contact them, with absolutely NO reply. 
> I've been patient and polite.  I've e-mailed, posted, PM'd, etc.  Not 
> a word out of them.  They do lead you to believe that they're 
> listening by setting up a forum where you can post your problems with 
> the data, but providing NO RESPONSE for 2 weeks?
>
> So I'm stuck trying to figure out a workaround, and believe me it 
> isn't pretty.  If you're not a SQL wiz, then forget it. Even then, it 
> seems part black magic so far.  And the worst part is, even if I get 
> this all working, I suspect that my provider listings, which 
> apparently just up and disappeared a few weeks ago, may just as 
> suddenly reappear, rendering all this work a colossal waste of time.  
> I really only wish they'd reply and let me know whether I should wait 
> for them to fix a minor problem, or that I'm on my own and should keep 
> on plugging with my hacks.
>
> And as far as their "generosity" for providing this data for free, I'm 
> sure there are tons of grateful MythTV'ers out there, and I wish I was 
> one of them, but I'd gladly pay a few bucks a months for this service. 
> Especially if it gave me the right to bitch and demand that things get 
> fixed.  The fact that they DON'T charge frankly worries me.  Their 
> profit model is not very clear to me, which makes me nervous that they 
> may either just pull up stakes one day, or shut down their free 
> service without an adequate replacement in sight.  What then?
>
> Anyway, just wanted to clarify my earlier rant.
>
> John
>
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>
Just a thought but did you try looking around for another zip code 
nearby that might have the same or almost the same lineup as you?  I 
have no clue if it's possible but if that exists and data direct has the 
information, maybe it would beat having to hack your sql db.
Raphael


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