How I got TVGOS data to download thru Rogers digital!
DVDGuy:
Okay, in spite of Sony's extremely ignorant 1st level support, I culled a lot of
information from 2nd level support, and various websites, and got the TVGOS
guide data downloading through Rogers Digital Cable for a week now. The
problem is a bit complicated, but try to hang in there-it's worth it! BTW, this
will work with many brands of DVD recorders / PVRs. Your mileage may vary,
but I hope with some work and cooperation we can get everyone's TVGOS
devices working properly.
My recorder: Sony RDR-HX900
Also reported to work on:
Sony RDR-GX300
Pioneer DVR-533H
Panasonic EH50
My Rogers digital box: Scientific Atlanta 3250HD
Here's what you need to know:
1. You need to use coaxial cable from the cable box to any DVDR / PVR in
order to get the guide data. I'm not sure about TVGOS-equipped TV sets.
You don't need coaxial to get picture or sound, of course; that you can do
with any compatible connection. But to get guide data, you MUST connect
the digital box using coax to the DVDR / PVR. Optionally, you can add a
second connection for video, but you will only get the guide data through the
coax.
2. Know that TVGOS data is put into the VBI (vertical blanking interrupt), of
your local TVGOS host channel. The VBI is a scan line that you don't see on
your screen which includes all kinds of non-visual technical data. It was
designed to be used on analog cable. If, for example, analog channel 12 is
broadcasting TVGOS data, and you're connected via analog cable, the DVDR / PVR /TV
will typically download guide data just fine, and after 24 hours, start populating
your guide grid. However....
3. Rogers strips off the TVGOS guide data on the equivalent digital channel
(even though it's still the same station, CBLFT). Therefore, for example, on
Rogers Digital 12, you would not get TVGOS data. The workaround is as
follows: Rogers provides the analog equivalents of digital channels (when
using a digital box) above channel 800. So, for example, in my neighbourhood
(Toronto) I tuned my digital cable box and my DVDR to channel 812. It is from
there that my DVDR gets the guide data.
Note: These channels apply to me, in my neighbourhood. Please verify which
is the TVGOS host channel in your area/cable company. In my case, I read
several posts on
www.avsforum.com in which posters reported getting
good TVGOS guide data from CTV (in Toronto, analog 9, cable 8, digital 808).
One man tuned his cable box and his DVDR to 808, and consistently got guide
data. I tried this, and failed. However, in a later post, someone suggested
that the host station had perhaps changed to (or at least that he was
getting data from) analog cable 12 (digital 812). I then switched to 812,
and Bingo! I got TVGOS guide data. However...
4. If you've connected the infrared cable that the DVDR / PVR /TV uses to
change channels on your digital box, your DVDR / PVR / TV will keep scanning
channels. In the process, it will keep changing channels on the digital box,
but usually only up to channel 125. So how will your DVDR / PVR "see"
channel 812 {substitute your host channel # here} to get guide data? Enter
the TVGuide setup on your DVDR / PVR, Select "Change Channel Lineup",
enter "No match", and then punch 812 {substitute your host channel # here}.
Add the host channel to your Channel lineup, and exit TVGuide setup.
Now, your DVDR / PVR should recognize {Your host channel #) as a legitimate
channel. You can test that this is working by pressing {Your channel # here}
on the DVDR / PVR remote while the TV and cable box are on. This should
change the channel to {Your host channel #} on your TV, assuming the right
inputs are chosen on the TV.
Now... (Oh God, there's more!!? Hang in there, we're just finishing.)
5. One last problem to overcome: The DVDR / PVR will keep changing the channel
from {Your TVGOS host channel #} to other channels. How can you
make it stay on your host channel? You set a VCR timer on the cable box
to force the digital box to stay on your host channel for most of the early
morning hours. It is from about 2 AM to 6 AM (EST?) that the majority of the
TVGOS download happens. So, in my case, I set a VCR timer to keep my
digital cable box set to channel 812 between 2 AM to 6 AM, and from then
on, after 24 hours, I received guide data consistently.
Oh yeah, one last thing: if your DVDR / PVR/ TV does manage to find the
TVGOS host channel, you should probably record what it is. To do this, go to:
TVGuide-->Setup-->Change system settings
In that dialog box, it should display any host channel and VBI information
your machine detected.
I hope this helps many of you. If it does, perhaps we can change it into a
sticky of some sort.
Brainer
