What are ALL the EPG options now

[RedR]

Howdy all,

After reading around these last few months on the EPG going away and wanting to review the options, I never found a solid answer outside of Schedules Direct...

NOTE: Yes, I see Schedules Direct is the option of choice for many here, got it.

1) What other options do we have for getting an EPG?
1a) I am OTA only, any chance of getting the EPG data from it?
1aa) What's needed to get it working?

Thanks,
RedR

[Fuzzy]

1.) Essentially, the options are Schedules Direct, or XMLTV file imports (from whatever source you might find that can generate them).
1a.) Technically, sage will already try to by default if you don't have another source enabled... but OTA guide data in the US is essentially useless, sometimes providing maybe an hour to sometimes a day of data - nothing a DVR is going to find useful. $25/year for schedules direct is WELL worth if compared to the horrible situations the other 'options' would give you.

[Rezolution]

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get Schedules Direct working with V6.6.2.2.18 of SageTV?

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by Rezolution

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get Schedules Direct working with V6.6.2.2.18 of SageTV?

It's a 2 step process.
Step 1... - Upgrade to SageTV 9 (it's free)
Step 2... Use schedules direct

[Rezolution]

So I don't have to go to V7 first, then to V9?

The last time I attempted to upgrade from V6 to V7, I was unable to play any of my recorded shows. Some thought it was a permissions related issue but I was never able to solve the problem and had to roll back to V6 via a Norton Ghost Restore.

[graywolf]

Just be aware. Upgrade from V6 to higher can take awhile since it adds metadata to all your recordings

[SHS]

Originally Posted by Rezolution

So I don't have to go to V7 first, then to V9?

The last time I attempted to upgrade from V6 to V7, I was unable to play any of my recorded shows. Some thought it was a permissions related issue but I was never able to solve the problem and had to roll back to V6 via a Norton Ghost Restore.

Then you petty much SOL at point in time
The best thing to do is covert them if odd ball format.

[Rezolution]

So if I have to roll back to v6 because v9 doesn't work correctly, will the updated recordings still be usable with v6? I'm not sure if it updates the metadata in each mpg2 file or if it updates it somewhere in the SageTV installation directory.

[Rezolution]

Originally Posted by graywolf

Just be aware. Upgrade from V6 to higher can take awhile since it adds metadata to all your recordings

I'm still not 100% clear on my earlier question. Can I go from V6 to V9 directly, or do I have to go to V6 to V7, then V7 to V9?

[graywolf]

Also there is a full ui plugin v3 if you want to keep the v6 look
After install the plugin detailed setup - advanced- set full ui - up directory - v3 then sagev3.xml

[Rezolution]

Originally Posted by graywolf

Also there is a full ui plugin v3 if you want to keep the v6 look
After install the plugin detailed setup - advanced- set full ui - up directory - v3 then sagev3.xml

That's awesome. I will definitely do that. We've been using the same menu for over 10 years now. No point in messing with perfection!

[SHS]

Originally Posted by Rezolution

I'm still not 100% clear on my earlier question. Can I go from V6 to V9 directly, or do I have to go to V6 to V7, then V7 to V9?

Hmmm that good question v9 is still basics still v7 with most just a codec remove from the install
If that still fail you may want try setup up as new install with all old media folder place back in, Then after you finish setup like it used be then close sagetv copy over the old wiz file from v6 and let it do it thing who know maybe that will solve you problem.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by graywolf

Also there is a full ui plugin v3 if you want to keep the v6 look
After install the plugin detailed setup - advanced- set full ui - up directory - v3 then sagev3.xml

Yes that ture

[Fuzzy]

the upgrade from v6 to v9 SHOULD work, but if you were having problems playing back media in v7 in your previous attempts, it may make more sense to backup your current sagetv folder and install fresh instead of upgrade, since there may be some weird issues in your specific setup. The wiz.bin from your current setup can be dropped into the new v9 install once you've got it all up and running and configured with schedules direct.

[Rezolution]

I backed up V6, then installed V9 over it. It seemed to retain all my info but then it froze while I was messing with the tuner config. When I rebooted it lost all of my recordings and tuner data. I had to put the original files back and try the upgrade again.

Basically the service kept crashing every 3 minutes, complaining about EPG updates and memory. I though it might be related to the heap file size. I tried 512M but my hd200s wouldn't come online with it set to 512. Anything over 1024 and the service wouldn't start. I set it to 768M and it hasn't crashed in 16 hours so far. Changed the GUI to V3 to match my old version 6.6 interface. I also subscribed to the guide data service.

Fingers crossed...

[SHS]

Do you not get don't install over top
Do a new install get everything first like was before but with v9 then oven all that and going shut down sagetv and copy over the old wiz file that should restore everything

[Rezolution]

Originally Posted by SHS

Do you not get don't install over top
Do a new install get everything first like was before but with v9 then oven all that and going shut down sagetv and copy over the old wiz file that should restore everything

Yes, I get it. I didn't read Fuzzy's post until this morning, well after I had already gotten it working. I was just posting what I did last night to get it to work because I don't like to ask for help and then fall off the face of the Earth and not reply.

It's not as smooth running the V3 UI in Version 9. I'm happy that it's recording shows and my kids are still able to at least use it. The interface is pretty laggy so they just have to be gentle with the button presses on the remote or they wind up in the wrong spot.

Maybe I'll be able to get a few more good years out of it. Its been working flawlessly for the past 12 years.

Thanks to everyone who posted.

[graywolf]

Disable Animation and it should be snappier

[SHS]

As graywolf said give that a try