MANUAL CHANNEL ASSIGNMENTS IN Vista Media Center

MANUAL CHANNEL ASSIGNMENTS IN Vista Media Center
================================================

If you have the patience and nerve, and are willing to give up the User
Guide, you can configure ATSC channels in WMC manually.

(This procedure is for over-the-air channels, as that's the only procedure
I'm familiar with. If you're using cable or satellite, I can't help you, but
would guess the procedure is similar)


(1) Enter your zip code at http://dtv.gov/stationlist.htm
That will give you a list of your local stations and their channel
assignments.
Print the page.

(2) Show hidden system files
Go to Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization
Select Folder Options
Click the VIEW tab and select SHOW HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS

(3) Go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG\prefs and copy atscchannels.xml
to another folder or your desktop.
You'll be modifying this file with your channel assignments.

(4) Now delete the CONTENTS of C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome, but leave the
ehome folder.

(5) Right-click the atscchannels.xml file you saved and select EDIT.

(6) Modify this file using the information you printed from DTV.gov
The procedure should be self-explanatory. The digital channel from DTV.gov
is the "physical" channel in atscchannels.xml,
the virtual channel is the "major" and "minor" in atscchannels.xml.

NOTE: in my area a couple channels are still in transition and their final
channel assignments will be different from the current ones.
Therefore, I needed to use the pre-transition channel number from DTV.gov.
If you still have missing channels after using this procedure, this might be
your problem.


Here's an example file. (I'm showing only two stations for simplicity):

***

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<channels>

<channel callsign="KSTP-1" version="0" physical="35" major="05"
/>
<channel callsign="KSTP-2" version="0" physical="35" major="05" minor="2"
/>
<channel callsign="WCCO" version="0" physical="32" major="04"
/>

</channels>

***

(7) When you're done editing the file, go into WMC ,select Tasks/Settings/TV
and select SET UP TV SIGNAL.
Select Set Up Guide Listings when prompted.
Say YES when prompted to use the Guide, agree to the Terms of Service, but
CLOSE MEDIA CENTER WHEN PROMPTED FOR A ZIP CODE.

(8) Now, copy your modified atscchannels.xml file to
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG\prefs

(9) Go into WMC ,select Tasks/Settings/TV and select GUIDE/SET UP GUIDE
LISTINGS.
Say NO to use guide and click FINISH.

You should now be able to access the channels you entered manually.

Good luck

Dave

It's only necessary to delete the EPG folder when using this procedure.
Here's the modified, less destructive procedure:

***

MANUAL CHANNEL ASSIGNMENTS IN Vista Media Center
================================================

If you have the patience and nerve, and are willing to give up the User
Guide, you can configure ATSC channels in WMC manually.

(This procedure is for over-the-air channels, as that's the only procedure
I'm familiar with. If you're using cable or satellite, I can't help you, but
would guess the procedure is similar)

(1) Enter your zip code at http://dtv.gov/stationlist.htm
That will give you a list of your local stations and their channel
assignments.
Print the page.

(2) Show hidden system files
Go to Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization
Select Folder Options
Click the VIEW tab and select SHOW HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS

(3) Go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG\prefs and copy atscchannels.xml
to another folder or your desktop.
You'll be modifying this file with your channel assignments.

(4) Now delete the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG

(5) Right-click the atscchannels.xml file you saved and select EDIT.

(6) Modify this file using the information you printed from DTV.gov
The procedure should be self-explanatory. The digital channel from DTV.gov
is the "physical" channel in atscchannels.xml,
the virtual channel is the "major" and "minor" in atscchannels.xml.

NOTE: in my area a couple channels are still in transition and their final
channel assignments will be different from the current ones.
Therefore, I needed to use the pre-transition channel number from DTV.gov.
If you still have missing channels after using this procedure, this might be
your problem.

Here's an example file. (I'm showing only two stations for simplicity):

***

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<channels>

<channel callsign="KSTP-1" version="0" physical="35" major="05"
/>
<channel callsign="KSTP-2" version="0" physical="35" major="05" minor="2"
/>
<channel callsign="WCCO" version="0" physical="32" major="04"
/>

</channels>

***

(7) Go into WMC ,select Tasks/Settings/TV and select GUIDE/SET UP GUIDE
LISTINGS.
Say YES when prompted to use the Guide, agree to the Terms of Service,
Select Manual Download, but CLOSE MEDIA CENTER WHEN PROMPTED FOR A ZIP CODE.

(8) Now, copy your modified atscchannels.xml file into
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG\prefs

(9) Go into WMC ,select Tasks/Settings/TV and select GUIDE/SET UP GUIDE
LISTINGS.
Say NO to use guide and click FINISH.

You should now be able to access the channels you entered manually.

Thank you very much!
Yikes! How many thousands of us are having to manually recode these files?
Or have they just given up on MS?
I would hope this is a temporary fix and that MS will soon, very soon,
provide an update to align the guide properly.
It has been a real bother since previously none of the digital sub channels,
the ones I really enjoy the most, never had a guide entry to allow selecting
for future recording.
Any rumors about either?
I purchased, as I am sure many others did, because MS said we would have a
full featured TV viewing/recording capability in Vista MC.
How can I record if there is no guide?
What is MS up to?
Class action lawsuit anyone? Or maybe leave it to the Europeans?

BTW the govt list is very incomplete.
I figured out how to run WinTV, the app that came with my tuner card, and it
shows many more stations with strong signals.
The WinTV listing shows the channel assignments BECAUSE IT PROPERLY SCANS
ALL SIGNAL SPACE UNLIKE MS MC.
Unfortunately, their guide system is not much use otherwise I would use it
exclusively. Maybe just more to learn???
I mean, while else would I buy dual tuner and MS Vista Ultimate with MC?

Thanks again for your help!

Well you can still record without a guide. You just have to enter the time
and channel.
I use Zap2it.com for my TV info. You can tailor the list to show only the
channels you care about.
Ironically, Zap2it is the provider for the pathetically incomplete/erroneous
Media Center guides.

Oh well, at least the picture is good, even if the support isn't

BTW - I hope you're using my corrected (reposted) procedure. The first one
deletes too many files.
No biggie for those like me who are only watching TV and not saving tons of
recording info, but possible a problem for others.
If you use the second, shorter procedure, it will only affect the guide and
not the info about already-recorded programs.

Yes, I wish MS or the people that do the EPG would get the frequencies
right... and quick!! When you depend on Vista Media Center as your DVR and
then your favorite channel stops working (yes I have all of the most recent
updates and guide listings) then it stinks. And no, I don't want to lose my
User Gudide. I want it to work like it is supposed to.

] has instructions
on how to make edits within the interface for OTA ATSC users.
Includes how to insure the guide listings are copied properly.