Here in the DFW area, we have three channels that do not show properly on Media Center; 8, 33, 52.  The reason  these do not show up correctly is the Electronic Program Guide that is downloaded from Microsoft has the incorrect frequencies assigned to the station.

Step 1: Open C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG\prefs\atscchannels.xml in notepad (please make a copy of this file before editing).

Delete the Following Lines:

<channel callsign="KDAF" version="0" physical="32" major="32" />
<channel callsign="WFAA" version="0" physical="8" major="8" />
<channel callsign="KFWD" version="0" physical="9" major="52" />

Step 2: Open Media Center, go to tasks, settings, TV, guide, add missing channels.
            Click Add DTV Channel
            For Digital TV Channel enter "8"
            For Frequency enter "9" 
            For Name Put WFAA
            Repeat for KDAF, Channel 33, Frequency 32
            Repeat for KFWD, Channel 52, Frequency 51
            Save

Step 3: Add Listings to the Channel
            Open Media Center, go to tasks, settings, TV, guide, Add Listing to Channel
            Click 1081 WFAA, scroll down and click WFAA - ABC Affiliate
            Click 1331 KDAF, click KDAF - CW Affiliate
            Click 1521 KFWD, click KFWD - Independent

This procedure should prevent the next program guide update from overriding your settings.

I'm seeing this problem, as is another poster on the AVSforum Dallas OTA thread.

What can we do to encourage Microsoft to correct the Guide data errors?

-- Pete

Microsoft claims its not their problem

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/229543.aspx

-dickm

Interesting.  Thanks for the pointer.

The FCC has apparently updated their information feeds to include the frequency assignments that broadcasters will have after Feb 17, 2009.  You can see this at antennaweb.org, which now shows two lines for each of the channels that will be changing frequencies in February.

I wonder if it's really an FCC problem, or if perhaps Microsoft is not correctly filtering out the post-feb-2009 entries in the data they receive from the FCC.

-- Pete

With all due respect...  TitanTV has the correct information.  I checked with the FCC.gov, and their information is correct.  There is no excuse whatsoever for this problem.  Zap2it is responsible for the inaccurate infomation because they deliver the content of the guide to Microsoft, but the issue is ultimately Microsoft's.  If the vendor cannot get the information correct, it is time to change.  I would like to have a program guide that includes the extra channels.  I just don't want to have to live with and accept someone else's mistake.  Just doing without ABC or other missing channels is simply not acceptable.

The good news is there is a work around.  It is not pretty, but it works.

I just wasted most of the weekend trying to fix this issue of ABC Channel 8 disappearing just under 2 weeks ago.

I've spent over $100 on a new TV tuner card, signal amplifier, not to mention taking down a huge antenna in the attic to try and relocate it. On top of that many hours spent trying to manually edit the channel list in Vista MCE. I should have realized it's a Vista MCE related issue when my digital TVs received the channels perfectly, but MCE reported zero signal strength.

Thanks Microsoft - you have outdone yourself once again!

I dont think this is zap2its fault. I'm just guessing here but I think Microsoft merges data from 2 databases, frequency data from the FCC, and programming data from zap2it. Then it puts it all on a server and downloads it.  So its either the FCC's fault for providing the wrong data, or Microsoft is grabbing the wrong data from the FCC.

-dickm

It certainly is annoying.  On the other hand, it kept Dancing With The Stars from recording last night, which means I won't have to watch it with my wife!  :-)

I can't figure out how to tell what frequency is configured for each channel from the Media Center UI.  Does anyone know of a way to do that?  Obviously, I can look at the underlying XML file but I'm hoping to be able to do it from Media Center.

Poorman:

It certainly is annoying.  On the other hand, it kept Dancing With The Stars from recording last night, which means I won't have to watch it with my wife!  :-)

I can't figure out how to tell what frequency is configured for each channel from the Media Center UI.  Does anyone know of a way to do that?  Obviously, I can look at the underlying XML file but I'm hoping to be able to do it from Media Center.

The only way I know is from the XML file in the EPG folder.
Go here for the channel numbers http://www.antennaweb.org

---

Richard Miller Media Center MVP 2006

Poorman:

I can't figure out how to tell what frequency is configured for each channel from the Media Center UI.  Does anyone know of a way to do that?  Obviously, I can look at the underlying XML file but I'm hoping to be able to do it from Media Center.

Doesn't seem to be so easy. In all my messing about trying to get it fixed, I even manually added digital channel 9 and it didn't get it.

This may be a simple error at Microsoft (or whoever they contracted with to supply the data.) 

It appears that they've jumped the gun and switched the USA Guide data to the frequency assignments that are scheduled to take effect on February 17, 2009.  These assignments are not correct before February, and can't be since there are numerous cases where a broadcaster is going to move to a frequency that is currently in use for another broadcaster's service. 

Microsoft should immediately revert to populating the Guide data with the pre-transition frequency assignments, then make plans to promptly switch to the new frequency assignments in February.

-- Pete

This has since been resolved.

To clarify, we use the FCC feed for the channellineups. As for getting changes like this down to the client quickly, the biggest problem when using feeds like this is that the FCC gives no warning when they change their files. Reporting these types of issues here using the template defined helps us resolve issues like this quickly.

Moving forward, we are looking to change how this lineup data is generated and expect a much better and quicker turnaround on data quality issues.

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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.