HOWTO: Have a custom channel order in PVS

[nielm]

edit: This page is now on the Community Articles section of the website:
http://www.snapstream.com/community/...s/customorder/
edit corrected MSDN urls...


An common feature of TVs and Videos (at least in Europe!) is to have the ability to re-order the TV channels to a favourite order defined by the user, eg with his 9 favouite channels on 1-9, or grouped by language etc.
A typical layout for the uk would be:

1. BBC1
2. BBC2
3. ITV
4. Channel4
5. Channel5

PVS cannot do this (yet), the channel numbers are the frequency indexes used by DirectX, so I have figured out a workaround...

DISCLAIMERS:
This involves hacking the registry to change the channel number/tuner frequency assignments that are hard-coded into DirectX.
Do not do it if you are not familiar with regedit...
This may also affect snapstream.net subscriptions as channel numbers will have changed...
This may render your system inoperable, I disclaim all responsability for any such damage. Windows XP users should take system checkpoints before starting, Other Windows users shoud do backups.
This will affect all TV viewing programs that use DirectX's tuner...

I have tested this on snapstream PVS 3.2 with a Hauppage PVR-250 under Win 2K Sp4.


First, go to Microsofts DirectX page on Tv Tuning and have a read about what we are trying to do in the Frequency Tables and Frequency Overrides section...

Basically we are going to re-map the entire frequency->channel number layout using the registry..

Next go to the Tables and Assignments page and select the frequency tables and chanel number assignments for your region and input type (Antenna/Cable).
Copy the frequency indexes to a text file (for Western European Cable, they look like the following:

        48250000L,      // 1    E2 
        49750000L,      // 2    E2A
        55250000L,      // 3    E3
        62250000L,      // 4    E4
        69250000L,      // 5    S01
        76250000L,      // 6    S02
        83250000L,      // 7    S03
        90250000L,      // 8    S04
        97250000L,      // 9    S05
       105250000L,      // 10   S1

edit: see post below for alternative to this next paragraph!
Next, use the unix tools sed/awk (available for windows with the Cygwin Unix environment) to run the following Unix commands to batch convert frequency table text file to a regedit-value format with hexadecimal frequency numbers:

cat frequecies.txt \
| sed 's/L,//' \
| awk ' { printf(";;%s\n\"\"=dword:%x\n\n",$0,$1) }' \
> frequencies_reg.txt

(note '\\' character must be at the end of the line, or concatenate all the commands onto one line)
Output is of form:

;;        48250000      // 1    E2 
""=dword:2e03c90

;;        49750000      // 2    E2A
""=dword:2f71ff0

;;        55250000      // 3    E3
""=dword:34b0c50

Check that you have not got any other random lines in the output!

If you have very few frequencies, and you do not have cygwin, you can probably do the decimal-hex conversion manually with Windows calculator, you may then only want to re-number the channels you are interested in!


Write down the channel order that you require, and the PVS channel numbers that these channels currently use.
If you have already labelled them in PVS, the file LineupCollection.xml in \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SnapStream\Personal Video Station will contain the current channel names/numbers mapping. (View it in IE)
Edit the frequencies_reg.txt file, and enter the new channel number in the empty quotes, thus re-numbering the frequencies to match the required layout
for current layout..

Eg if BBC-1 is on original channel 29, and you want it on channel 1:

;;       238250000      // 29   S12 BBC1
"1"=dword:e336810

Leave unused freq's blank for the moment

Once you have done all this, you can optionally go through and number all the unused freq's to high range numbers: I have channels 1-54 used, the unused ones are on 70-123 (you never know then you might need them...). or you can just delete the unused lines.


Add the following lines to the top of the file to make it a regedit import file.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\TV System Services\TVAutoTune\TS0-1]

Note at the end of the registry key name, the TS0-1 is for cable, if you have used broadcast TV mode, use TS0-0
(Note: I have only tested TS0-1)

Save the file eg: customchannels.reg

Top of Example file follows:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\TV System Services\TVAutoTune\TS0-1]
;;        48250000      // 1    E2  NED1
"16"=dword:2e03c90
;;        49750000      // 2    E2A Unused
"70"=dword:2f71ff0
;;        55250000      // 3    E3 Canvas
"22"=dword:34b0c50
;;        62250000      // 4    E4 RTBF-1
"21"=dword:3b5dc10
;;        69250000      // 5    S01 Unused
"71"=dword:420abd0
;;        76250000      // 6    S02 KA2
"21"=dword:48b7b90

Run regedit,
Go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\TV System Services\TVAutoTune

and Registry->Export the branch to another .reg file if it exists to back it up..

Finally, enter the new channel lineup in the registry, by double-clicking the file you created: customchannels.reg / Yes / OK

Re-start PVS, and you have re-ordered channels... Check the layout (note the old channel names are still active, so some confusion may occur).

If it has all gone horribly wrong, delete the registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\TV System Services\TVAutoTune

and restore the backed up reg file (if you had one)

You now need to rename all the channels to your new order in the PVS webadmin, or manually edit the LineupCollection.xml (location above) file while PVS is shut down in the same way... You can back up this same file to keep the old channel layout somewhere safe...

And if you use the XMLTV Importer, then you need to clear the DB of the old shows/mappings using config/clearDB, then edit the chanlineup.txt file to renumber the channels yet again, or delete this file and when you next import the XML data, let XMLTV re-prompt you for the new channel lineup. Again, backup this file to keep the old settings somewhere safe...

Restart PVS and you now have a custom channel layout. For those that are interested, I have attached my customchannels.reg file (for Brutele cable provider in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium; Zipped.)

[V_D_O]

Great, thanks, but I do wish SS would incorporate this into PVS!

[nielm]

I have written a small HTML page that uses javascript to convert the frequency index table to regedit format (in zipfile attached to this post). In this way you do not need to have sed/awk or worry about unix command lines...

So the section above "Next, use the unix tools sed/awk..." becomes:

Use the attached web page to convert the frequency tables in to regedit format:
Copy the frequency index table required from the MSDN web page into the first textarea replacing any text that is aredy there, and press 'Convert now'. The resulting regedit-format data appears in the second textarea. This should be copy/pasted into a blank notepad file and saved as "frequencies_reg.txt".

You can then continue from "Write down the channel order that you require", above.

[eurojojo]

Hai,

As explained on http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...yoverrides.asp it is a bit difficult in parts of Europe to get SnapStream running. Cable providers do not use exact channels, but f.e. channel "48+". And, channels are never in the right order, and must be re-ordered with presets. On a TV you can fine-tune. But that's not possible with software like SnapStream . People posted different tricks to solve the problem, but I hope I am working on the "final solution" (for Windows).

With FreqCopy you simply fine-tune with WinTV(2000). Best is when you use only Mhz-settings, since FreqCopy will re-order the channels and override existing channels. Make sure WinTV(2000) indicates stereo-sound when it is available. I found my cable-provider's table to be a bit off, and produce mono-sound on some channels. After you have all channels in the right order and tuned up, start my tool and it will create a frequency override table. From then on you can address the channels in the order of WinTV(2000) without the need for WinTV(2000) until you need to retune! It should work with all software, since it is then part of your Windows system settings.

On the webpage about FreqCopy I will show my analysis of the Hauppauge registry settings. Linux programmers may want to use that. Since the tool works with the Windows registry, there is no reason for a port to Linux.

Comments are welcome, and I am willing to improve on the tool and of course fix bugs (within reasonable limits). I wrote it for personal use, but you are welcome to help yourselves.

The link: http://www.prize.nl/software/freqcopy

Don't be offended by the PayPal button. It is "hey-man-ware". Only if you think "Hey man, this saves me a lot of time, thanx" or something alike I hope you make a donation...

[heiner]

hallo
the links to the msdn libery does not work,
the registry key's are not found,

i have xp and pvs 3.4.4 - what is wrong ?

heiner

[eurojojo]

Hai Heiner,

I checked, and Microsoft moved the "Frequency table" information from their "Library" to an "Archive". Here is the updated link:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/archive/de...encytables.asp

I will put it in a new version of FreqCopy.

How do you mean that the "registry keys" are not found? You did install and run the Hauppauge WinTV software, and set some channels? After that you ran FreqCopy to copy the WinTV channels to "frequency overrides"?

If you mean that your Windows has no "TVAutoTune" settings in its registry: that is normal (and puzzled me too before in the beginning). TVAutoTune settings are true overrides. Your Windows will use them if they are there, but not miss them if they are not...

Please let me know any troubles, I will try to fix them.

Joost

[heiner]

hai joost
that are the information that i needed - thank you

but after half of way i think, that it is not a good idea todo it now, because there are many things to edit and the sommer in germany is so hot ...

heiner

[eurojojo]

Hai Heiner,

It should not be so much work, that is why I wrote FreqCopy.

Quick way to proceed:

1. Get a list of the "Mhz" frequencies from your satellite/cable operator
2. Put them in the right order, f.e. on a piece of paper (lo-tech makes us humble)
3. Use the WinTV application to put them in the PC by entering directly the Mhz frequencies
4. Make sure they are all stereo (finetune!). What really helps: in German shops they sell metal coax connectors. They really improve your image and reception. I got them there myself when I was visiting your country, as they were a lot cheaper than in the Netherlands.
5. Use FreqCopy.

It should not take longer than 30 seconds max. per channel (including finetuning). Get a nice tall softdrink to cool down...

All the best,

Joost

[nielm]

updated URLs in first post...

[eurojojo]

Hai,

Just to let you know that I made detailed instructions on how to operate FreqCopy (finetune Hauppauge TV cards for use with GB-PVR, SnapStream, SageTV, etc.). I also constructed several XMLTV tools, and made some instructions on how to get an optimal TV Guide.

Check out http://www.prize.nl/software/pvr

Comments are welcome!

[Silvershark]

Does this trick still work in later versions of BeyondTV (3.5.2)?

(If yes, how is the file "InternationalAnalogTVListings.xml" - containing channel/frequency mappings used by BeyondTV?)

[Ozfiles]

I am running 3.5.3 build 2127 and I just installed a second pvr 250 in my htpc and tried this trick and it worked.

I managed to get the, over the air broadcast channel numbers, to line up with the cable channels.

So that now when I record channel 9, it will record over the air channel nine and not channel 11, which is what they have allocated for us here in australia.

The same goes for channels 2, 7, 10 and 28 which were set-up for 3, 9,12 and 15.

It was pretty easy to do, just download the zip file, from post 3 and copy the channel assignments and paste them into the convert frequency table html and push convert.

Copy all the converted text and paste that into notepad and then change the dword value to what channel you want the channel to be on.

Save the file as a .reg and then double click it, to add it to the registry.

I have included a zip file which, I used to line up, free over the air channels, with the optus cable that we have in australia.

regards

[raoul2]

Just a few comments by another person that found this thread and its information extremely useful. I had an issue where snapstream.net guide information had mismapped my local OTA channels. For example, they said call station KABC was on channel 6 whereas it was actually broadcasted on channel 42. I wrote to them about this discrepancy (total of 3 channels) but basically they were disappointingly unhelpful. They just referred me to a statement that said OTA channels were presented as is and cannot be modified. Searching around this forum, I found this thread and thought I could give it a try.

It was trivial to follow the instructions on this thread and come up with the registry entry which had the frequencies for each channel (I am in USA). Therefore, I thought I could simply transpose the frequency for channel 42 into the channel 6 spot. Therefore, the guide would list it as channel 6 but when I tuned to that channel it would tune to channel 42 frequency. I attempted this and changed the Long variable frequency (decimal) and its corresponding dword value (hex). Saved this as a .reg file and imported it to the registry as instructed. No matter what I did, I could not get this frequency override to work. Channel 6 remained mapped to the original frequency. I still don't understand why this didn't work.

However, I was able to get the end result that I wanted. I left the frequencies at their original values, but instead added the channel number I wanted it to be mapped to in the quotes in the registry script. Therefore, I wanted my channel 42 to become channel 6, so I did:

;; 639250000L, // 42
"6"=dword:261a2e50

(note the 6 in the quotes).

This worked perfectly and let me remap all the channels from where I received them to match the guide BTV supplied! Success! Anyway, just another post on this issue as I am certain others must have this problem all the time. It seems this would be a trivial feature to implement in BTV.

Thanks for the info.

[EddieVenus]

Just as a note, I live in Milwuakee, WI and my TV listings have always differed from what the cable company said they should be but I never cared because it was only the higher channels that were affected and I never watched them. My Tivo suffers the same problem, but that is another story.

However now the wife now wants to record shows that are on these problem channels. Following the directions posted above solved my issues completely. Now my channels still show up as the "wrong" number in SnapStream Guide, but now the actual channel that is being recording matches the guide info. So where Discovery Health is on channel 74 in the guide but comes in on channel 66 from the cable I now show that when watching channel 74 I have discovery health channel (through BTV at least). That means that when I record a show on discovery health I actually get that show and not an hour of jewelery shopping channel, which is what really comes in on that channel from TWC.


If I did this and it was super easy you can too. Just follow my condensed version of the steps from above. Remember that my version is uses the US Cable channel frequency info.

1) Copy the 2nd section from this web site to the HTML page you pull from the zip file in post 3 of this thread. http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...itedstates.asp into
2) Convert it and save the output to a file on your desktop called channels.reg
3) Edit that file in notepad. Add the BTV channel number between the quotes as noted in the previous post just as described. This will make BTV think that frequency is whatever channel number you put in there. Resave that file.
4) Open a command prompt, type "regedit" and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\TV System Services\TVAutoTune\TS0-1 once there export that key to a file on your desktop called old_channels.reg
5) stop ALL BTV services, either by closing down BTV or forcing all running BTV process closed with task manager (this has never caused me any problems, but try to avoid it if possible)
6) double click the channels.reg file on your desktop, say yes to merging that info into your registry and look in regedit, you should now see some changes in the window for the TS0-1 key you just backed up
7) restart BTV and happy viewing.


EddieVenus