[ViX_Misc] EPG Refresh, iEPG and VPS

[Huevos]

Hints fixed here: https://github.com/oe-alliance/enigma2-plugins/commit/9c4fe778f3934f8302fd6768f3f8a3b3521cd6c8

 

[birdman]

If I highlight "Enable VPS" and try to go left/right through the list it opens a ChoiceBox.

It's trying to work out which options are possible.

And on closing the highlight jumps to the top item... obviously because "Enable VPS" is not really part of the config list.

I've fixed that.

And mentioning others things related to the the default_vps setting just gets in the way. I'm already looking at it.

Anyway the point here is this is not a new behaviour related to the repair.

I know. The only changes so far have been related to the changes in the API of the intercepted code.

 

[birdman]

If a timer is programmed manually (not via EPG), it is necessary to set a VPS-Time to enable VPS. VPS-Time (also known as PDC) is the first published start time, e.g. given in magazines. If you set a VPS-Time, you have to leave timer name empty.

How? Where?

Only added to the menu if there is no EIT and the original title is blank.
Possibly so that it can figure out which programme it refers to by its event id.
If you actually have EPG data it will use that.

Whilst looking at this I think I've found a bug in the Enigma2 instant record that would affect this!

If you go into the Timer menu and press Add, the menu is filled out with the star/stop time of the currently playing programme. It also has its event ID (saved into timers.xml as eit=).
But if you actually want to record something else (which is the usual case) and so change the start time (and/or channel) the event id is not changed. So any attempt to use VPS for this would end up using the incorrect event id to control it?

 

[birdman]

And mentioning others things related to the the default_vps setting just gets in the way. I'm already looking at it.

One quick solution (or a workaround at least) might be to add a config option (off by default) so that all channels are treated as "Yes, Don't ask again" without actually doing the PDC test.
It would then be up to the user to only set VPS Yes on a channel where they knew it worked (which is essentially what you have to do with UK Freeview at the moment, as it can't work it out itself, but without wasting time on the pop-up).

 

[Huevos]

@Birdman, does VPS exist at all these days? It was part of teletext which was dropped in the UK with the switchover to digital.

 

[Huevos]

I've found a channel where "Enable VPS" is positive. ARD-alpha HD.

 

[bbbuk]

So does VPS exist on main channels on Sky 28.2 like BBC, ITV, Ch4/5 etc?

How do you tell if VPS is detected?

 

[goRt]

So does VPS exist on main channels on Sky 28.2 like BBC, ITV, Ch4/5 etc?

How do you tell if VPS is detected?

Set a normal recording with before and after buffers and then you'll see the start and end markers when playing back

Sent from my IN2013 using Tapatalk

 

[birdman]

@Birdman, does VPS exist at all these days? It was part of teletext which was dropped in the UK with the switchover to digital.

The real question should be whether the plugin works, rather than an (undefined) concept of VPS, and:
https://www.world-of-satellite.com/showthread.php?62706-EPG-Refresh-iEPG-and-VPS&p=509000&viewfull=1#post509000
There are other confirmations, too.

 

[ronand]

Indeed it does work (and works well as long as the channel has accurate data). Thanks birdman for poking about in the innards of it.

 

[Huevos]

Set a normal recording with before and after buffers and then you'll see the start and end markers when playing back

Sent from my IN2013 using Tapatalk

Nope. This works on BBC and that has no VPS.

 

[Joe_90]

When being initiated for a particular timer recording VPS looks for PDC (Programme Delivery Control) descriptor (tag 0x69) in EIT data which does not seem to be present in UK or Irish terrestrial or on 28.2E sat. This PDC, if present, would contain the day/month/hour/minute of the scheduled time of transmission. I imagine that, if the programme was going to be re-scheduled, this value would change and VPS could essentially re-schedule the recording? In any case, this is only one aspect of the plugin as it seems to function in the absence of the PDC. What it does when setup for a recording is 10 mins before the start is due is monitor the status of EIT data and it can determine when the particular scheduled programme has started from the event-id which is stored when the timer is generated from the EPG, either from AutoTimer or from a single recording timer generated by selecting a particular EPG event. I don't how how it would work if you were to attempt a purely manual timer recording as you would not know the event-id.

I've found it works very well on BBC/ITV/C4 which have completely automated playout services - the EIT now/next event is exactly synchronised with the programme start. I have three weeks of Coronation Street recordings and they start exactly with the Argos sponsorship video at the start of every programme and the recording ends at the start of the following programme. BBC and C4 programmes are similar. Other channels are not so automated and the programme EIT now/next changes occur at the scheduled EPG time but the actual programme content may start earlier or later.

 

[Joe_90]

Nope. This works on BBC and that has no VPS.

VPS was part of the old Teletext as you say and doesn't exist any more on digital. It may well be in use (as PDC) on German channels, but I can't see it on 28.2E when I poke around the EIT data. The plugin seems to work without it, though. There may be some additional capability in the plugin if it actually finds PDC.

 

[birdman]

I think some people may be getting bogged down in whether channels have "VPS" rather than whether the VPS plugin is actually able to accurately schedule recording on a channel.

So, just for the sake of it, let's assume the the VPS plugin attempts to achieve Variable Programme Scheduling (which gives it a name) and then decide whether it achieves it, by whatever means it has available to it under the hood.
And rate it accordingly.

 

[ronand]

It looks for but doesn't necessarily use VPS. It detects the change in event id. Maybe a seperate plugin without the vps check (and a name change) is needed.

 

[Joe_90]

PDC (it's not VPS any more), may be present on some German channels and provide some additional functionality. The VPS in the plugin name is a relic of pre-digital VCR programming I guess. I recall VideoPlus codes being printed in the TV guide here in Ireland aeons ago to help in setting VCR timers for recording. The six digit codes configured the VCR to start monitoring at a particular time and the teletext lines in the signal carried the start and end indicators for the programme. The plugin seems to work without PDC.

 

[ronand]

Set a normal recording with before and after buffers and then you'll see the start and end markers when playing back

Sent from my IN2013 using Tapatalk

That's not strictly true - some channels change the event id at the scheduled time not when the program actually starts/ends. The markers will still be there but won't be of much use to the plugin.

 

[ronand]

Also its pretty pointless having the vps check in any case - if you are using autotimers and enable the vps recording you are doing so on the assumption that it will work (the check doesn't take place for autotimers).

 

[goRt]

That's not strictly true - some channels change the event id at the scheduled time not when the program actually starts/ends. The markers will still be there but won't be of much use to the plugin.

This was in response to "how can I tell if the channel's signalling", not the accuracy

Sent from my IN2013 using Tapatalk

 

[birdman]

It looks for but doesn't necessarily use VPS. It detects the change in event id. Maybe a seperate plugin without the vps check (and a name change) is needed.

According to the (translated) info the ccs(?) posted earlier, the VPS plugin is always using the eventID to do its work.
"VPS time" just seems to be what is used to lookup the eventID.