How does the EPG get updated? In particular what channels does the update come from and does this data only come in the housekeeping period at night or if left on certain channels in the daytime would the EPG update and how long would the channel have to be viewed? Any info on this much appreciated.
EPG, How Does It Work?
The epg is a totally seperate data stream transmitted from the same Transponder on Eurobird 1 as ITV 1 HD comes from (thats all freesat do - look after the epg). This requires a tuner to download a new copy which is why you lose your picture and sound on a Foxsat-hdr after pressing guide for the time it takes to load the epg (about 30 sec). On a hdr the buffered epg can be viewed instantly without using a tuner by pressing schedule and then red.
Some channels transmit now and next programme info along with the video/audio. This info can be viewed in non-freesat mode.
Accordimg to Barry at Hummy.org the epg gets trickle charged all the time the hdr is on, how often this happens and how much data is updated is not clear.
Some channels transmit now and next programme info along with the video/audio. This info can be viewed in non-freesat mode.
Accordimg to Barry at Hummy.org the epg gets trickle charged all the time the hdr is on, how often this happens and how much data is updated is not clear.
Interestingly (to me, anyway!), is that sometimes the EPG is there instantly, i.e., without the video/audio cut off that it normally has.
I haven't found any pattern to when this happens, it seems almost random (and not necessarily linked to just having looked at the EPG).
I haven't found any pattern to when this happens, it seems almost random (and not necessarily linked to just having looked at the EPG).
Originally Posted by Johnny Blue:
“Interestingly (to me, anyway!), is that sometimes the EPG is there instantly, i.e., without the video/audio cut off that it normally has.
I haven't found any pattern to when this happens, it seems almost random (and not necessarily linked to just having looked at the EPG).”
“Interestingly (to me, anyway!), is that sometimes the EPG is there instantly, i.e., without the video/audio cut off that it normally has.
I haven't found any pattern to when this happens, it seems almost random (and not necessarily linked to just having looked at the EPG).”
A guess. Suppose you are watching a live channel using tuner 2 as a result of tuner 1 being used to make a recording at the time you started to watch. After the recording finishes tuner 1 is now available to download the epg. Because it's so fast the first page of data is instantly there (check the mesage receiving data that is displayed until the full download is loaded).
Originally Posted by grahamlthompson:
“The epg is a totally seperate data stream transmitted from the same Transponder on Eurobird 1 as ITV 1 HD comes from (thats all freesat do - look after the epg).”
“The epg is a totally seperate data stream transmitted from the same Transponder on Eurobird 1 as ITV 1 HD comes from (thats all freesat do - look after the epg).”
In addition Freesat has, I believe, copied Sky in transmitting the next few hours of EPG data on all transponders as a data stream - this allows programme navigation using the cursor keys without moving back to the "EPG transponder". Sky provide the facility to merge this Freesat EPG data onto the transponders - as a separate stream from their own.
Originally Posted by BKM:
“In addition Freesat has, I believe, copied Sky in transmitting the next few hours of EPG data on all transponders as a data stream - this allows programme navigation using the cursor keys without moving back to the "EPG transponder". Sky provide the facility to merge this Freesat EPG data onto the transponders - as a separate stream from their own.”
“In addition Freesat has, I believe, copied Sky in transmitting the next few hours of EPG data on all transponders as a data stream - this allows programme navigation using the cursor keys without moving back to the "EPG transponder". Sky provide the facility to merge this Freesat EPG data onto the transponders - as a separate stream from their own.”
Freesat does not have access to any transponders other than the one it rents space on for the epg. It is not responsible for any transmissions other than this. Although jointly owned by the BBC and ITV it's a totally seperate ring fenced not for profit organisation. If a free to air broadcaster wants to be on the epg they cough up £30000 for the priviledge that's Freesats only income source. The epg is buffered so it's not required to access the data every time you need to look at it. How would this work with any of the channels that are on both the sky and freesat epgs are you saying they transmit both ?
Originally Posted by grahamlthompson:
“Freesat does not have access to any transponders other than the one it rents space on for the epg. It is not responsible for any transmissions other than this. ........ How would this work with any of the channels that are on both the sky and freesat epgs are you saying they transmit both ?”
“Freesat does not have access to any transponders other than the one it rents space on for the epg. It is not responsible for any transmissions other than this. ........ How would this work with any of the channels that are on both the sky and freesat epgs are you saying they transmit both ?”
You are incorrect! A part of the Freesat EPG (just the next few hours data) are added to all transponders (transmitting Freesat channels) using the existing Sky "adaption hubs" - to extend the "now and next" capability. This is the one thing Sky agreed to do to support Freesat.
Sky do this for their own EPG anyway and yes - both Freesat and Sky partial EPGs are present (on different PID streams) for those transponders also used by Freesat.
Originally Posted by BKM:
“You are incorrect! A part of the Freesat EPG (just the next few hours data) are added to all transponders (transmitting Freesat channels) using the existing Sky "adaption hubs" - to extend the "now and next" capability. This is the one thing Sky agreed to do to support Freesat.
Sky do this for their own EPG anyway and yes - both Freesat and Sky partial EPGs are present (on different PID streams) for those transponders also used by Freesat.”
“You are incorrect! A part of the Freesat EPG (just the next few hours data) are added to all transponders (transmitting Freesat channels) using the existing Sky "adaption hubs" - to extend the "now and next" capability. This is the one thing Sky agreed to do to support Freesat.
Sky do this for their own EPG anyway and yes - both Freesat and Sky partial EPGs are present (on different PID streams) for those transponders also used by Freesat.”
I never knew that and it explains just how the epg can be updated continually. Thanks.
Originally Posted by grahamlthompson:
“... If a free to air broadcaster wants to be on the epg they cough up £30000 for the priviledge that's Freesats only income source. .... ?”
“... If a free to air broadcaster wants to be on the epg they cough up £30000 for the priviledge that's Freesats only income source. .... ?”
Graham, is that £30,000 once, or per year ?
David
