WXTX guide problem on HDTIVO

[Scott]

Hey,
I have a DirecTV HR10-250 (HDTIVO)
Just wondering if there is anyone else having the same problem as me. I recently did a OTA channel scan so I could get the CBS weather radar and WXTX "THE TUBE" multi cast channels.

Boy did I mess up, before I was getting FOX on 54.2 as well as the Fox program guide on 54.2. Now I am getting Fox on 54.1 and The Tube on 54.2, my problem is, my program guide is still on 54.2, which makes it impossible to schedule recordings automatically.

I have cleared and re-scanned and re-setup my box until I was blue in the face, and still the program guide is on the wrong channel. I have emailed the Chief engineer over at Fox twice, he obviously does not know what I am talking about and does not care because he responded to my first email, then blew off my second. I have also emailed zap2it.com and DirecTV with no response at all.

I read on an archived thread on satelliteguys.us where a guy in Columbus was having the exact same problem with his Voom HD receiver. If anyone else is having this problem, we need to all email WXTX to get this resolved. If just one or two people are complaining, I don't think they will care.

To my knowledge, the local channel is responsible for providing guide data to Zap2it.com (Tribune Media Services), who in turn provides the data to DVR manufacturers like (TIVO, DirecTV, Replay TV, etc...)

Below is the contact info for WXTX chief engineer.


Morris Pollock
Chief Engineer WTVM/WXTX
phone [phone]
fax [phone]
[e-mail]

[Mike Slade]

My Dish 811 won't show the guide for any local channel. All i get is the staion name and "local digital".

[Scott]

Probably because the Dish 811 is not a DVR. I bet the Dish 942 provides a guide for locals.

The way my TIVO gets guide data is, it downloads it through the satellite. I set-up local networks by selecting my DMA in a list during setup and it downloads the info for all the available OTA locals.

I can also do an Off Air scan for channels, when I do that, it maps the channels correctly with the channel names, but no guides at all. (This is probably how the DISH 811 works)

I know the problem is not with my TIVO, because TIVO gets their guide data from www.zap2it.com, zap2it gets their guide data from the network. If you go to zap2it.com and get the local listings, then select "show digital channels" it shows 54.2 as being the fox network instead of 54.1. So that tells me the problem is between WXTX and zap2it.com

I tried explaining this to the Chief Engineer over at WXTX, but he either doesn't care or doesn't understand. I have also sent a coupe emails to zap2it.com, with no response.

[Mike Slade]

True, but i thought they could also send out guide info as part of that PSIP info (or whatever it is called). I think my brother told me one time he was getting info on his built in Mits, but i've never got anything except the channel name.

[Scott]

You would think you would get guide data OTA. But if I just do an OTA channel scan, every channel says "Regular Schedule" 24/7

[Alan Gordon]

scott said:

Probably because the Dish 811 is not a DVR. I bet the Dish 942 provides a guide for locals.

The way my TIVO gets guide data is, it downloads it through the satellite. I set-up local networks by selecting my DMA in a list during setup and it downloads the info for all the available OTA locals.

I can also do an Off Air scan for channels, when I do that, it maps the channels correctly with the channel names, but no guides at all. (This is probably how the DISH 811 works)

I know the problem is not with my TIVO, because TIVO gets their guide data from www.zap2it.com, zap2it gets their guide data from the network. If you go to zap2it.com and get the local listings, then select "show digital channels" it shows 54.2 as being the fox network instead of 54.1. So that tells me the problem is between WXTX and zap2it.com

I tried explaining this to the Chief Engineer over at WXTX, but he either doesn't care or doesn't understand. I have also sent a coupe emails to zap2it.com, with no response.

I got my Hughes HTL-HD receiver a couple of years ago, but it was some time afterwards that I was able to hook up a decent antenna to it. The Hughes HTL-HD receiver also works similar to the HD-TiVo in that it draws it's information from setting up your "Local Area Network" information. It, like the HD-TiVo allows you to set up a Primary "Local Area Network", and a "Secondary Local Area Network", but unlike the HD-TiVo, the Hughes HTL-HD had a NSTC tuner in it also allowing you to receive information for both HD and SD via antenna.

I live in the Albany, GA DMA, and my local NBC affiliate, WALB-DT multicasts three channels, the HD feed, a digital SD feed and a radar feed. An independent, (WSST-DT, Cordele) in my market also offers a digital signal in my market, as does a lower powered UPN (WVAG-DT) affiliate in Adel, and I got tired of seeing "No Programming Information Available", so I contacted zap2it.com and informed them of this information, but have never received any response, nor have I seen any of this information pop up on my Program Guide... yet shortly after WFXL-DT (my local FOX affiliate) started broadcasting "The Tube", program information became available for it on the guide. I'd try contacting WALB-DT, but the last time I contacted them about their digital signal, I never received an answer.

This past Thursday, I took advantage of DirecTV's deal for current subscribers to get the HD-TiVo for $299, not counting the $100 rebate I'll also receive. I set up my "Primary Local Area Network", I then set up my "Secondary Local Area Network", and then did a scan for local channels to be able to receive my WALB-DT's multicast channels and managed to get the right channel information for the two additional channels, but with no programming information available, which is very annoying since I would like to be able to watch 4x3 programming like "Scrubs", and "Saturday Night Live" (in HD in a few months) on my Bedroom TV also connected to the HD-TiVo without the black bars on the side, and to save some space on my hard drive compared to the 1080i feed.

Also, this time, I chose to use the Tallahassee, FL DMA instead of Columbus as my "Secondary Local Area Network" due to the fact that I can now receive WCTV-DT out of Thomasville 24 hours a day (that broadcasts CBS in HD, and multicasts UPN) and noticed that the guide data is correct for UPN programming on 6-2. Not that the information for Tallahassee, FL is perfect since while their FOX affiliate is broadcasting at low power, they are still broadcasting HD, yet not listed as having a digital channel, and their NBC is multicasting, yet no guide info is available.

~Alan

[Alan Gordon]

admin said:

True, but i thought they could also send out guide info as part of that PSIP info (or whatever it is called). I think my brother told me one time he was getting info on his built in Mits, but i've never got anything except the channel name.

If you buy an OTA DTV tuner (strictly OTA, not associated with DirecTV or Dish Network) it will read PSIP data being sent by the stations.

DirecTV HD boxes (with the exception of a Samsung unit, forget which one) DO NOT read PSIP, but like Scott said, relies on Tribune Media Services for their guide information... although the TiVo does seem to use some sort of PSIP data to be able to get the channel name.

Dish Network boxes, well, I can't speak for the 942, or 921, but the 811 (if I remember correctly) relies on the same information that Dish uses for their LIL. If your market (and I'm aware that Dish does not LIL for Columbus) is served by LIL from Dish, Program Information becomes available.

~Alan

[Bill]

Several months ago before Voom went off the air, they converted to Super DMA. This was suppose to give viewers in certain markets additional TV stations to view (if you had a decent antenna and were between major cities). When this was done, I had the same issue, the programming guides between 54-1 and 54-2 were swapped. Within days, I found that many others were having similar issues in other markets.

Read here: www.satelliteguys.us/archive/index.php/t-47525.html

I was planning on following up either with Voom or local Fox54, but within weeks, Voom ceased operations. I have since lost all local programming guides even though the box is still fuctional for local OTA HD programming.

[Mike Slade]

I contacted WXTX last night and they sent an email to someone at Tribune to see if they can get it fixed. Hopefully that'll do it.

[Scott]

Wow, that's better than any response I have ever gotten. I guess time will tell.

thanks

[Mike Slade]

I'm guessing it should be fixed soon. Morris Pollock forwarded me this earlier today.

This is from someone at Tribune.
"At this time, it appears we are only editing one digital feed for WXTX (the primary feed) and we have it listed as 54-2. Once this is corrected and your new 54-2 feed is created, your viewers should be able to record their programs correctly"

[Mike Slade]

here's the latest from Tribune

"WXTXDT has been changed to 54-1. WXTXDT2 has been created and is assigned to 54-2. This information will go out to TiVo tomorrow and TiVo users should see them on their guides by Saturday or Sunday."

[Scott]

Mike,

I don't know what you said or if you know somebody or what, but you have apparently accomplished what I couldn't.

The WXTX channels and program guides are now correct, Thank-you so much for your help. ;D

You are the man!!

[Alan Gordon]

scott said:

Mike,

I don't know what you said or if you know somebody or what, but you have apparently accomplished what I couldn't.

The WXTX channels and program guides are now correct, Thank-you so much for your help. ;D

It's a shame Mike doesn't know anybody in the Albany, GA DMA as I was inspired by his success in getting the guide data straightened out with WXTX-DT, that I tried to contact my local stations to get them to straighten out their guide data.

My local FOX affiliate, WFXL-DT has their guide data correct, which figures since I've had contact regarding their digital signal multiple times before.

My local NBC affiliate, WALB-DT has no guide data for their multicast feeds (digital SD feed and radar channel), and wanting to be able to record "Scrubs" when it comes back next year in SD (to save room on the Hard Drive since it's not broadcasted in HD), I wrote an E-Mail to WALB-DT's Engineer on... Saturday night, or Sunday night. Still haven't heard back from them.

My local (sorta) UPN affiliate, WVAG-DT doesn't reach me with their digital signal very often, but I wanted to get my DMA's locals correct... so I wrote an E-Mail to someone who works for them (only E-Mail address that they had on their webpage), and asked them to forward it to whomever it may concerned. They wrote me back Monday, and asked some questions, and I explained my situation further and gave them a link to this thread. I expect it to be taken care of.

WSST-DT, an independent in my market also has no guide data, but I haven't seen an E-Mail on their website, so I guess I will have to use USPS mail to get them to add their digital channel data.

BTW, Scott, or Mike, you should contact WRBL-DT about their radar channel. Sure, it's not like you're going to TiVo the radar, but it will look better than having no program data being shown...

~Alan

[Mike Slade]

You might want to try calling the station and seeing if you can talk to someone. I've been real lucky that the stations here are pretty good to respond to email.

Hoever for about a year now I don't normally get a response out or WRBL. I send emails and never get answers. Sometimes i even get a "deleted without being read" return receipt. I did send an email about issues they have on Monday nights with switching recently and it looks like the problem has been fixed but I never heard back from them. However that problem had been going on for about a year or more and I had mentioned it to them before. So I wouldn't really expect them to do much about having no guide data for the radar subchannel. Hard enough to get them to fix real problems