OTA On-Screen & Third Party Electronic Program Guides

[ATCTech]

Sorry if this has been beaten to death recently. Can anyone in the Lxx or Mxx postal codes confirm they are receiving TVGOS data *via off-air* reception containing Toronto off-air & cable listings? I know this isn't a digital signal (allegedly CFTO but they don't seem to know what I'm asking them about) but perhaps some of you have sets or PVRs with TVGOS ...

Mine works fine if I use a Buffalo zip code from WNED, but they don't carry all of the Toronto channels and obviosly no Canadian cable listings.

Thanks,

Bob

[stampeder]

Just to clarify, that's the TV Guide online data service, right? I don't know of any Canadian implementation of it, but I'd be curious to hear about it.

[ATCTech]

Yes, that's right. I bought a Sony HD PVR to be my off-air HD tuner and it has TVGOS built-in. I had Toronto-area data for a couple of days in mid-November, but after a power failure here it's never worked since. It does however work on PBS out of Buffalo and at least one person say's they're receiving TVGOS data on Roger's cable from CFTO. The built-in test does show CFTO is transmitting data over the VBI on the analog transmission, but the guide never appears.

Bob

[ATCTech]

Well, the situation worsens as the last guide data I had was for last weekend. No updates at all, and that's using a Buffalo zip code and WNED. I reset the TVGOS and I haven't even received a clock set in 48 hours. A word to the wise - stay away from TVGOS equipped hardware at all cost!

Bob

[rob50312]

Bob make sure you keep WNED channel 17 analog programmed in .I have read that if you delete the analog pbs you will lose your guide data and tvgos does not usually list digital stations in the guide.Wned has had their guide info. for their digital signal programs display dtv programming sometimes for days before fixing it.I decided against tvgos because of reliabilty problems.I am using Zenith hdr230 pvr for OTA digital.

[dcorreia]

I've also lost tvgos data using buffalo zip codes between 14201 - 14205
after hours i get guide light disappear and no listings. It was working over a week ago.

[ATCTech]

Thank you so much for replying, even if its bad news! I've been trying 14209 (on Grand Island) and also a Niagara Fall zip code with zero luck. I emailed WNED on Wednesday to inquire if the system was even working and have received no reply to date.

My clock won't even set so I'm guessing there's a problem at WNED rather than with Gemstar.

Bob

[dcorreia]

Its working for me again on the 14201 area code, try to make sure cables are good and u have some sort of decent signal on analog ch 17, i usually test by makign sure closed captioning comes in fine and not messed up.

[ATCTech]

I did a TVGOS reset and re-entered 14201 last night after reading your message. As of this morning the clock has still not set. I'm thinking a factory reset of the entire PVR is coming up tonight, then I'll use 14201 right from the get-go. It seems strange to me that even when TVGOS does work, instead of building more days of guide data over a week it actually seems to loose the ability to download. A very un-robust system...

Bob

[dcorreia]

I seem to have lost it again i dont know but it may be because analog singal isnt the greatest, im getting double image with a bit of vertical lines on the left side, how does ch 17 analog look to you?

[ATCTech]

Channel 17 looks about the same as usual. I have *slight* noise in the picture (probably from channel 19 OTA, not from a weak signal on 17 so there might be slight destructive interference to the data) but I can pretty much eliminate it by swinging the antenna a bit further S than straight at BUF from here. I've never re-gained any clock or guide even since you had it, and my email to WNED has never been answered. I'll post the section below, which is a message I posted on another site, and see if it means anything to anyone here:

Does anyone know what it means when the diagnostic screen (753159852) shows no host channel and yet when tuned to the local PBS station (OTA 17) and the G* Factory Test is run the VBI channel (and ATSC channel) indicate 1023-65533 ? I did get guide data and time from PBS until about 7 days ago & nothing since.

The VBI data is incrementing nicely (about 100 counts per minute or slightly more) and there are *no* errors indicated, but the clock never sets and the guide never loads. This both before & after a factory reset too...

I *hate* this system.

Bob

[ATCTech]

From WNED Engineering late this afternoon:

Hi Bob,

Thank you for alerting us to this problem. The time signal should be getting to you properly now. We were having trouble with our time signal insertion unit, which was telling us that the correct
time signal was being sent when, upon further investigation, it was not.

As for the TV guide, that is provided to us by PBS as a "pass-thru" - we have no control over it and have no way to monitor it. It just comes in via satellite and goes out over the air, so we really
have no way to determine if it is working or if it's contents are correct. There is a possibility that without a correct time signal, your PVR may have ignored the TV guide data, so it may be OK now.

If you have any other comments or questions, or if it still isn't working, please feel free to contact me at any time, and thanks for taking the time to write!

Best regards and Happy Holidays,

Director of Engineering and Technology
Western New York Public Broadcasting Association
WNED-AM/FM/TV/DT, WNJA-FM

[dcorreia]

Does anyone has tvgos ota working?
I still cant seem to download any guide.

[TX_GUY_CHAN]

Hi all:

We had to shut off for a few days awaiting for Industry Canada. Now back for good, unless there's problems, we have to have the key left in during the next 3 weeks. I haven't goten the PSIP information correct yet, so the info there is incorrect. Eventually we'll be 8-1, with the analogue being 8-0.

Big learning curve for us too. The signal is actually coming from our distribution center in Calgary. There is an intermittent problem which they're working on as I write this.

At the moment we're building a HD control room facility and have it almost complete.

TX_Guy

[alebowgm]

I got some good news from my CIII contact which I would like to share. Basically, it was a congratulatory e-mail about the signal going up although I did mention some of the issues that people are having, myself included. Here is the reply I got back.

Our transmitter has a power output of 1kw 40% signal.,,, from where you are located.., you could be right …

We are having some issues with our PSIP generator … sometimes fine.., sometimes not-so-much … We are working with the manufacturer to resolve…



Global Toronto has no means of producing the EPG.., and not sure when Calgary Master will be able to send….

So for those of you having PSIP problems, at least Global is aware of the issue.