EPG disappears

[mickdaly]

Three times in the past week, Sagetv service has locked up.

After restarting the EPG is either empty or 80% of the channels show "No Data".

The solution - removing entries in sagetv properties containing 'server_update_id=' - works every time, BUT...

WHY is this happening?!

Mick
HP Mediasmart EX-470 server with 4.5tb storage, running Sagetv; 2 Hauppauge HD-PVRs; 2 Directv Receivers (H20 and H21 channel changing by usb/serial/usb cables); 4 Sagetv HD-200s; Pioneer KRP-500M Kuro plasma; Pioneer Elite SC-07 receiver; Panasonic TH-50PH9UK plasma; Sharp Aquos LC-C4067U LCD.
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[mickdaly]

This has become a monthly problem ... for no apparent reason, having made no changes to anything!

Does anyone have any idea what's going on?

I can fix the problem, but it shouldn't be necessary and if I miss any recordings during the World Cup I will not be a happy chappy!

[ASegredo]

Same thing has started happening to me. I tried removing the video source and re-installing it but I just get "error in connecting to SageTV EPG service"

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by ASegredo

Same thing has started happening to me. I tried removing the video source and re-installing it but I just get "error in connecting to SageTV EPG service"

You will probably find it being a firewal issue. Something chaged or reset the firewall to default.

Gerry

[mickdaly]

I don't get an error msg, just a completely empty Guide ... no changes of any kind cause it.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by mickdaly

I don't get an error msg, just a completely empty Guide ... no changes of any kind cause it.

Regardless you should recheck your firewall. Unless you can't get out to the Internet at check the FAQ. Most epg issues turn out to be a firewall issue. Sometimes you don't have to do anything. Sometimes a windows update or other software update may set the firewall back to default without even informing you.

Gerry

[graywolf]

Exactly the reason I do not allow automatic updates. Too many times I've had squirrelly things happen or setting reset and end up (after much time/effort) tracking it down to an update.

Now I do them manually (if at all). If it ain't broke ...

[frostback13]

Was a solution every found for this issue?

I just ran into the same problem. I have a Hauppauge capture card recording analog from a Comcast HD settop box. A couple of days ago, it ran out of upcoming recordings. When I took a closer look, all channels showed "no data" in the EPG. I followed mickdaly's approach: removed the server_update_id= line, rebooted, and things started to work again. The only significant change in the sage.properties file is that the server_update_id= line now has values after the "=".

BTW, the windows firewall is disabled--it sits behind a better firewall which allows outbound for all relevant ports--and windows updates are set to manual only.

I'm concerned that this is going to be a frequent problem. Comcast has encrypted most channels which makes my HDHR of little use. Hence the use of an HD settop box to record S-Video. But the WAF is beginning to drop as the reliability of recordings is slipping.

Any help would be appreciated.

[mickdaly]

Originally Posted by frostback13

Was a solution every found for this issue?

I'm concerned that this is going to be a frequent problem. Comcast has encrypted most channels which makes my HDHR of little use. Hence the use of an HD settop box to record S-Video. But the WAF is beginning to drop as the reliability of recordings is slipping.

Any help would be appreciated.

It happens to me every 3-4 weeks, and nothing changes to cause it, including any firewall problems. The WAF is big here too! The fix is quick, but the damage control is lengthy as I have to go into Channel Settings and re-fix all my channels (deleting those that don't exist, etc.)

Would love to know why you and I have this problem yet (presumeably) others don't!?

[robogeek]

Would either of you guys be using both the builtin SageTV EPG data source (U.S. tv listings) and the WebFeedEncoder or XMLTV guide importer? I eventually stopped using WebFeedEncoder due to the main SageTV EPG data source failing to update when using either the WebFeedEncoder or the XMLTV importer. It would seem to work fine for a while, then the SageTV EPG sources would show No Data in the guide. In any case, it might be worth it to turn on debug logging and as soon as you see a problem with the guide data or have a SageTV Service lockup, save the logs and submit a bug or support request with SageTV.

[frostback13]

Thanks for the replies Mick and Jason. I guess I will just have to keep a closer eye on it and go through the fix-up routine whenever I see it fail.

Meanwhile I've just had the IR blaster stop sending. I ended up recording 4 or 5 programs at the right times but only on TNT. Well, one of them was supposed to be on TNT so at least I got that show. This issue is documented elsewhere, so I'll be looking into serial or firewire remote control. Meanwhile, I'll probably be rebooting daily just for good measure.

I blame Comcast. This wasn't a problem until they encrypted nearly everything and my HDHR became mostly useless.

Jason, I forgot to mention, I turned logging on after the problem occurred. So if it happens again, I'll try to submit the logs to Sage Support.

[mickdaly]

Originally Posted by robogeek

Would either of you guys be using both the builtin SageTV EPG data source (U.S. tv listings) and the WebFeedEncoder or XMLTV guide importer? I eventually stopped using WebFeedEncoder due to the main SageTV EPG data source failing to update when using either the WebFeedEncoder or the XMLTV importer. It would seem to work fine for a while, then the SageTV EPG sources would show No Data in the guide. In any case, it might be worth it to turn on debug logging and as soon as you see a problem with the guide data or have a SageTV Service lockup, save the logs and submit a bug or support request with SageTV.

Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer: too 'green' I suppose! I'm just using Sagetv EPG support as shipped, nothing extra (just sagemc).

[michaeldjcox]

Originally Posted by robogeek

Would either of you guys be using both the builtin SageTV EPG data source (U.S. tv listings) and the WebFeedEncoder or XMLTV guide importer? I eventually stopped using WebFeedEncoder due to the main SageTV EPG data source failing to update when using either the WebFeedEncoder or the XMLTV importer. It would seem to work fine for a while, then the SageTV EPG sources would show No Data in the guide. In any case, it might be worth it to turn on debug logging and as soon as you see a problem with the guide data or have a SageTV Service lockup, save the logs and submit a bug or support request with SageTV.

I fixed that problem long ago by the way - with a bit of help from SageTV.

You can set a disable plugin epg flag on each source that use the SageTV EPG sources.

Then you can use importer / web feed encoder on the remaining sources.

The web feed encoder installer does this automatically now.

Michael

[mickdaly]

How would I know if I had either of those installed?
As I said, I'm pretty 'green'!
Mick

[DIBU]

Originally Posted by mickdaly

I don't get an error msg, just a completely empty Guide ... no changes of any kind cause it.

same here. the epg guide shows the last 2 day: "no information".

i have no change make on my server, no firewall change.

i use tvtv.de. the account is working fine in the web.

i dont know what i can do.

[Evil_Attorney]

I just started having this problem too. Last week I upgraded to a new server and all seemed to go well. However I noticed today when I got my new hd300 that the epg data hadn't updated properly and that I had dada for less than half the channels. I tried reading the epg source, which is the default sage epg but after I entered my zip code no options showed up. I am using the latest beta, so maybe that is the problem.

[Evil_Attorney]

Forcing an EPG update didn't add in the missing data and my Sage log files didn't show any EPG errors either. This morning I tried repairing/reinstalling Sage on my server and it seemed to fix the problem. However, it's not clear if this just forced an update and full data was available. I suspect that the EPG data provider has been having issues.

[b-morgan]

I started having the no data problem a couple of days ago. I'm running 7.0.16. I was able to fix the EPG by editing the "server_update_id=" line in sage.properties. I turned on debug logging while I was at it.

Hopefully, this is a one time deal as the EPG was rock solid with 6.6.2

Regards,

Brad

[DIBU]

Originally Posted by b-morgan

I started having the no data problem a couple of days ago. I'm running 7.0.16. I was able to fix the EPG by editing the "server_update_id=" line in sage.properties. I turned on debug logging while I was at it.

Hopefully, this is a one time deal as the EPG was rock solid with 6.6.2

Regards,

Brad

Hi, what you do with the line "server_update_id=" ??

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by DIBU

Hi, what you do with the line "server_update_id=" ??

See the FAQ for this issue:

My Program Guide is no longer updating and is missing data for some or all of my channels. How can I get it to start updating again?

- Andy