[mythtv-users] missing tv schedules

[Michael T. Dean]

On 02/19/2012 08:06 PM, jameskel wrote:
> I am using one multiplexed channel which contains 11 tv stations.
>
> In FE (watching tv), tv schedules for 9 stations appear but 2 don't.
> In BE (Video Sources), I am using Listings Grabber: "Transmitted Guide Only (EIT)"
> Channel Frequency Table: us-cable
>
> How can I drill into this problem to understand why this is happening?
>
> How can I determine if the station is broadcasting EIT or not?
>
>
> PS - I've already asked for help with this issue in ubuntuforums/mythbuntu - no joy
> http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1922430

You could buy a membership to Schedules Direct for $25/yr (= 
~$0.07/day), support the Free/Libre Open Source Software community, 
and--in so doing--get free, high-quality listings that will make MythTV 
far more useful than US EIT--especially since cable companies have no 
incentive to provide EIT data (in fact, their incentive is to not 
provide such data to make it more likely that you'll use their 
equipment), so many do not provide it for any channels they are not 
required to provide it with (and, TTBOMK, if they have to provide any 
EIT data at all, it's only for the local TV channels that you would be 
able to receive OTA with an antenna).

If you want things like duplicate matching and series recording and such 
to work, reliably, you will need high-quality listings data.  The 
listings data you get for free with a Schedules Direct membership is the 
same data that TiVo users pay ~$15/mo to receive.  And, IME, it's some 
of the best listings data available to MythTV users anywhere in the 
entire world.

Note that MythTV is Free software.  A MythTV system, however, is an 
expensive luxury DVR solution.  When you look at the cost of buying 
hardware; the time you spend installing, configuring, maintaining, 
learning, and keeping up with changes to MythTV; and the cost of 
replacing hardware, such as failed HDDs (versus just calling the cable 
company and having them replace the DVR they're providing for $10/mo), 
MythTV is not at all free.  The $25/yr I spend on my Schedules Direct 
membership is a negligible fraction of the money I've spent on my MythTV 
system (which isn't all that impressive compared to many on the 
list--especially considering none of my frontend or backend systems have 
cost me more than $250).  The benefits of spending that $25/yr 
(including supporting the F/LOSS community as well as getting those free 
listings) make me happy to spend that money.

If you want to spend many hours of your free time to try to save $25/yr, 
feel free to do so (just how much is your free time worth to you, 
anyway?).  Just search for dvbsnoop and all the information about how to 
use it--and the EIT standards and requirements, as well as US and local 
requirements, to figure out just what to expect--and start 
investigating.  Note, though, that there's unlikely to be any "quick 
information" or "quick solutions" to your problem--as most MythTV users 
in the US have chosen to become Schedules Direct members, so that they 
may support the F/LOSS community and get the free, high-quality listings 
data available to members.  Not to mention the fact that what data is 
available on the channels your local cable company re-broadcasts is up 
to your local cable company, so it's quite likely no one in your local 
area has done any real research into the availability of EIT on your 
re-broadcast-by-your-cable-company channels.  (Where, again, the cable 
company is best served not providing EIT data, but using a proprietary 
listings data stream that's accessible by cable-company-provided 
equipment--their STBs--only.)

Mike, a proud member of Schedules Direct, and supporter of F/LOSS 
software development