[mythtv-users] Correct way to use a downloaded XMLTV file?

[Mark Perkins]

On 29 March 2017 1:34:41 PM Christopher Kerr <mythtv at theseekerr.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> There is a listings service for Australians at freepg.tv which
> provides a unique URL per user to download a prepared XMLTV file for
> their region.
>
> What is the correct way to use such a file with MythTV? The naive way
> would be to set up a cron job to download the file and invoke
> mythfilldatabase --file , but I get the impression that might be
> frowned upon compared to configuring a grabber.
>
> Is there a skeleton "download" XMLTV grabber designed for this use case?
>
> Best Regards,
> Chris
>

There is a 'no grabber' option when setting up a video source in 
mythtv-setup I think that would be the way to go. Then associate your 
capture card with the video source. Then scan for channels. Then you will 
need to populate xmltvid's to map your xmltv file to your myth channels, 
presumably see the xmltv file for details. Then a cron job to download the 
file and run mythfilldatabase using the file switch and video source switch 
should do the trick. Something like:

mythfilldatabase --file --sourceid=1 --xmlfile="/path/to/file.xmltv" 
--only-update-guide

The only update guide bit will stop the xmltv file from trying to update 
your mythtv channels, you will have to work out whether it is needed or 
appropriate.

I saw a reference to freepg.tv recently I think it is using oztivo data as 
the source. I have not checked myself so it is just idle speculation, but 
personally I have been unhappy with oztivo data in the past so I now avoid 
it. YMWV.