Request for updates for channel picons

[prl]

Please let me know how it goes (and especially if there are any problems).

Alpha#2 - 9Gem HD and WestTV are fine on U4 Peter.

Thanks. Anyone in Adelaide willing to give it a go to see whether 44 Adelaide gets the right picon?

[Trial_Master]

Some time after I make the picons available in the repository.

Ah, my bad i didn’t realise that had to happen first.

[prl]

Peter, here's a scan for Mt Gambier.

Thanks, got it. My preferred form for the ZIP ifle is for it to contain Mt Gambier/getservices.xml (or Mt Gambier\getservices.xml if you prefer) rather than Mt Gambier.xml. All my scripts expect that form. I maintain data for 33 regions, so even though it's easy to fix, it's much if things are already in the right form.

Note that 'GEM Mt Gambier' is HD (has been for a few years) but has always just had the standard GEM picon.
Are you able to assign the GEMHD picon for this service?

Does the channel carry that branding (in watermarks, promos, etc)?

[prl]

Some time after I make the picons available in the repository.

Ah, my bad i didn’t realise that had to happen first.

It probably doesn't have to happen first, but IanSav may not want to distribute alpha test versions from his feed anyway.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Thanks, got it. My preferred form for the ZIP ifle is for it to contain ...{snipped}

Given the last few misfires, I wonder if scan contributors should use the page 23 "on box" scan script instead, no matter how capable they may think they're?

[benhsau]

Recent scan for Spencer Gulf SA. (New: SBS World Movies)

SpencerGulfSA.zip

(555 Bytes) Downloaded 123 times

[IanSav]

Hi,

Once Prl publishes his changes to the repository they should be picked up by the OE-Alliance feed server. I get the package from there and copy it to my feed server for local distribution.

If Prl gives me a nudge when he completes the official repository update I will check for the update package and upload it to my feed server.

Regards,
Ian.

[prl]

Recent scan for Spencer Gulf SA. (New: SBS World Movies)

SpencerGulfSA.zip

Got it. Thanks!

[Paul_oz53]

Both SBS WM and 9 Gem HD are working fine, T4 Sydney. No problems noted so far, thanks for the update!

Just a note, while obviously good practise to reboot the GUI, I was waiting for a commercial break before rebooting the GUI (so's not to disturb wifey's viewing pleasure ) and when that came around I noticed the SBS WM logo was already displaying. I guess the logo files are accessed dynamically and not cached at GUI boot? Anyway, rebooted the GUI in any case just to be safe.

+1 on the U4. I reboot the U4 daily anyway so not an issue either way.

I'll be updating the T4 to 19.3 before I worry about the picons on it - it is a backup these days and is rarely used in anger.

[Edit: All working on 19.3 on the T4. Notice that the picons did not change at first but did change as I scrolled through the channels.]

[prl]

Thanks, got it. My preferred form for the ZIP ifle is for it to contain ...{snipped}

Given the last few misfires, I wonder if scan contributors should use the page 23 "on box" scan script instead, no matter how capable they may think they're?

That may be a good idea, because it ensures that the form of the ZIP file is correct and is available to people whose Beyonwizes aren't networked. I don't think it makes the process any simpler, though.

BTW, this:

Code: Select all

tar -c "${scan_location}/" | gzip -c > "${scan_location}.tgz"  # tar/zip it on the box

can be simplified to

Code: Select all

tar -czf "${scan_location}.tgz" "${scan_location}/"  # tar/gzip it on the box

And to be really nitpicky, zipping something and gzipping it are two quite different ways of compressing files

Having the files in .zip or .tgz format makes no difference to me: I'm happy with either. Both can be extracted with a single simple command.

[prl]

Hi,

Here is Dalmeny:

Dalmeny.zip

I realised this morning that I had saved the Ulladulla file as .txt instead of .xml, sorry.

Can only cut & paste with Android.

Haven't tried writing a script. Totally forgot about it until now.

dRdoS7.

I only got around to looking at the Dalmeny data today. Unfortunately the getservices.xml file is empty:

Code: Select all

Cambyses:services prl$ unzip -l Dalmeny.zip 
Archive:  Dalmeny.zip
  Length     Date   Time    Name
 --------    ----   ----    ----
        0  05-26-19 12:54   Dalmeny/
        0  05-26-19 12:54   Dalmeny/getservices.xml
 --------                   -------
        0                   2 files
Cambyses:services prl$

The Ulladulla data you posted is OK, but it contains data already covered by existing data in my collection (for Wollongong, I think).

[prl]

Anyone in Adelaide willing to give it a go to see whether 44 Adelaide gets the right picon?

I was able to jury-rig a bouquet on one of my machines to allow me to test the 44 Adelaide picon setup to my satisfaction.

[prl]

The picon data in the beyonwiz / picons-australia repository is ready to distribute.

The new picon set:

• has been cleaned up to remove some unused image files
• has been updated to use Jasmeet_181's suggested picon updates
• reflects the recently posted scan updates (Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Mt Gambier & Ballarat, Newcastle, Orange, Perth, Spencer Gulf and Sydney)
• reflects the switchovers from YourMoney to 9Gem HD and from Viceland to World Movies.

Thanks to all who contributed, whether by supplying image data, scan data or by testing.

[Pete123]

My preferred form for the ZIP ifle is for it to contain Mt Gambier/getservices.xml (or Mt Gambier\getservices.xml if you prefer) rather than Mt Gambier.xml. All my scripts expect that form. I maintain data for 33 regions, so even though it's easy to fix, it's much if things are already in the right form.

Sorry, my mistake. Your instructions are quite straight-forward, but I must have just skipped over that bit
I'll make sure it's correct next time.

Does the channel carry that branding (in watermarks, promos, etc)?

Actually, it doesn't; It just has the 9GEM watermark:

GEM Mt Gambier Watermark.png (1.72 MiB) Viewed 5406 times

Oh well, I'll wait and see if GEM updates the logo in the future.

[prl]

My preferred form for the ZIP ifle is for it to contain Mt Gambier/getservices.xml (or Mt Gambier\getservices.xml if you prefer) rather than Mt Gambier.xml. All my scripts expect that form. I maintain data for 33 regions, so even though it's easy to fix, it's much if things are already in the right form.

Sorry, my mistake. Your instructions are quite straight-forward, but I must have just skipped over that bit
I'll make sure it's correct next time.

No problem. Actually, for your data, my preferred folder name for your data is "Mt Gambier & Ballarat", since you have scan data for both

Does the channel carry that branding (in watermarks, promos, etc)?

Actually, it doesn't; It just has the 9GEM watermark:

In that case, IMO, the current picon is correct, despite the fact that the transmission is HD.

[raj]

The picon data in the beyonwiz / picons-australia repository is ready to distribute.

The new picon set:

• has been cleaned up to remove some unused image files
• has been updated to use Jasmeet_181's suggested picon updates
• reflects the recently posted scan updates (Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Mt Gambier & Ballarat, Newcastle, Orange, Perth, Spencer Gulf and Sydney)
• reflects the switchovers from YourMoney to 9Gem HD and from Viceland to World Movies.

Thanks to all who contributed, whether by supplying image data, scan data or by testing.

What do we do to update our units with this information, or do we have to do anything?

Thanks to everyone.

[MrQuade]

What do we do to update our units with this information, or do we have to do anything?

Thanks to everyone.

Wait for the firmware update.

If you are subscribed to IanSav's feed you will probably get it earlier.

The Picons will likely hit the 19.3 beta firmware feed next.

Not sure if it will be updated in the 17.5 feed, but personally I think it should for those who aren't ready to go to the next revision.

[dRdoS7]

Hi,

Hi,

Here is Dalmeny:

Dalmeny.zip

I realised this morning that I had saved the Ulladulla file as .txt instead of .xml, sorry.

Can only cut & paste with Android.

Haven't tried writing a script. Totally forgot about it until now.

dRdoS7.

I only got around to looking at the Dalmeny data today. Unfortunately the getservices.xml file is empty:

Code: Select all

Cambyses:services prl$ unzip -l Dalmeny.zip 
Archive:  Dalmeny.zip
  Length     Date   Time    Name
 --------    ----   ----    ----
        0  05-26-19 12:54   Dalmeny/
        0  05-26-19 12:54   Dalmeny/getservices.xml
 --------                   -------
        0                   2 files
Cambyses:services prl$

The Ulladulla data you posted is OK, but it contains data already covered by existing data in my collection (for Wollongong, I think).

Sorry.

I checked the original, and it's empty, contents gone to bit heaven. One of the mysteries of modern computing? That's my excuse anyway. We'll probably be going back there in October. I'll check the contents before posting.

I was going to upload The Rock & Tenterfield but can't attach the *.tgz files created with the "Grumpy" script. Tried zips, also no go.

Tried again, and it turns out it's something to do with the external SD card. Worked OK from internal storage (copied OK from ext SD).

Here:

The_Rock.tgz

(822 Bytes) Downloaded 67 times

&

Tenterfield.tgz

(745 Bytes) Downloaded 62 times

dRdoS7

[prl]

Thanks, got them.

The data looks good. The Tenterfield data looks like general New England Tableland and The Rock looks like Wagga Wagga. I have old Tamworth and Wagga Wagga scan data, so I'll probably use your new scans to update those two areas.

[sub3R]

A bit late doing this. This is the latest (04-Jul-19) full scan on a U4 for Port Macquarie, Taree, Forster & nearby areas that receive transmission from Middle Brother towers on the NSW Mid North Coast.

SBS World Movies appeared on both U4s without doing a scan but I did a full scan anyway.

Taree_Port_Middle-Brother_NSW_04-Jul-19.zip

(821 Bytes) Downloaded 78 times

[prl]

A bit late doing this. This is the latest (04-Jul-19) full scan on a U4 for Port Macquarie, Taree, Forster & nearby areas that receive transmission from Middle Brother towers on the NSW Mid North Coast.

Thanks.

SBS World Movies appeared on both U4s without doing a scan but I did a full scan anyway.

Just as well. I don't think you would have got the data I need if you hadn't.

[prl]

The picon data in the beyonwiz / picons-australia repository is ready to distribute.

The new picon set:

• has been cleaned up to remove some unused image files
• has been updated to use Jasmeet_181's suggested picon updates
• reflects the recently posted scan updates (Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Mt Gambier & Ballarat, Newcastle, Orange, Perth, Spencer Gulf and Sydney)
• reflects the switchovers from YourMoney to 9Gem HD and from Viceland to World Movies.

Thanks to all who contributed, whether by supplying image data, scan data or by testing.

What do we do to update our units with this information, or do we have to do anything?

Thanks to everyone.

Thank you.

Grumpy_Geoff reports that these picon updates are included in the 20190703 beta update that became available overnight. I haven't updated to it yet, but I will soon.

Be sure to uninstall my alpha test picons if you have installed them before doing this (or any other) online update.

If you don't get that update, but are using IanSav's feed for picon updates, that should be available soon. See IanSav's post below for more information.

[IanSav]

Hi Prl,

I tried to extract the picon package from the Beyonwiz feeds but they do not, for some reason, allow browsing. I will need to wait for the next OpenViX build to get the package for distribution to Beyonwiz users.

Regards,
Ian.

[prl]

Thanks, Ian.

I've amended my post and linked to your post.

[dRdoS7]

Hi,

Here's Hastings Point:

Hastings_Point.tgz

(751 Bytes) Downloaded 91 times

Thanks,

dRdoS7

[prl]

Here's Hastings Point: Hastings_Point.tgz

Thanks. I'll have to see how that goes. It seems to be a scan of Lismore, but the data I already have is for an old combined scan of Lismore & Gold Coast. It'll be interesting to see whether they play nice together.

If you're heading up the Gold Coast way, a new scan of just the Gold Coast would be nice to have I don't really like combined scans, but I go with what I can get.

[Jasmeet_181]

Anyone in Adelaide willing to give it a go to see whether 44 Adelaide gets the right picon?

SichboPVR lists the tuning details as
Num - 44
SID - 3585
TSID - 3584
ONID - 12852
Callsign - 44 Adelaide
Frequency - 564500 Khz (7 Mhz)
VPID - 100 (H262)
APID - 102 (MP2A)
Seen - 2019-07-04

https://sichbopvr.com/frequency-tables/ ... a/Adelaide

[dRdoS7]

Hi,

If you're heading up the Gold Coast way, a new scan of just the Gold Coast would be nice to have I don't really like combined scans, but I go with what I can get.

I still have a couple of scan data files to ingest from dRdoS7

I don't want to overwork you.

Besides which, we like the Gold Coast as much as you like combined scans.

We're going to Brissie, but I'll try turning the antenna before we leave here, see if it picks up GC tower.

dRdoS7

[prl]

Anyone in Adelaide willing to give it a go to see whether 44 Adelaide gets the right picon?

SichboPVR lists the tuning details as
Num - 44
SID - 3585
TSID - 3584
ONID - 12852
Callsign - 44 Adelaide
Frequency - 564500 Khz (7 Mhz)
VPID - 100 (H262)
APID - 102 (MP2A)
Seen - 2019-07-04

https://sichbopvr.com/frequency-tables/ ... a/Adelaide

Thanks, Jasmeet, but I wanted to check that the 44 Adelaide picon actually worked. I had no reason to think that its serviceref (ONID, TSID, SID, etc) had changed.

[rfmoore]

New pic on 44 Adelaide works

Reg

[prl]

Thanks, Reg.

[dRdoS7]

Hi,

Here's Gold Coast:

Gold Coast.tgz

(853 Bytes) Downloaded 107 times

dRdoS7

[prl]

Here's Gold Coast: Gold Coast.tgz

Got it. Thanks. Looks good.

Do you create the .tgz files using a script? If so, could you make the directory name the same as the tar file base name?

[prl]

I have incorporated all of the recent scan data updates for regionals that have been posted recently:

• Wollongong updated (from posted Ulladulla data). Only changes to the picondefs file, no changes to the picon setup.
• Tamworth updated (from posted Tenterfield data).
• Separate Northern Rivers NSW (from posted Hastings Pt data) & Gold Coast scan data replaces an old combined scan of Northern Rivers NSW & Gold Coast.
• Replace Wagga Wagga scan data with combined new Wagga Wagga & Albury (from posted The Rock scan data). Only commercial channels in Albury data.
• Taree updated (from posted Taree-Port Macquarie/Middle-Brother NSW data). Only changes to the picondefs file, no changes to the picon setup.

Follow the links to the commit comments for more information about the changes.

The updates should be ready to distribute from the main repository.

Thanks to sub3r for the Taree data and dRdoS7 for the remaining data.

[IanSav]

Hi Prl,

I hope your changes are done for now as I am getting the latest picon package built at the moment. Once I have the package I will update my feed.

Regards,
Ian.

[prl]

Hi, Ian.

The repository is now up to date with the scan data posted so far. If more scan data is posted, I'll merge it in as it arrives.

[IanSav]

Hi Prl,

The repository is now up to date with the scan data posted so far. If more scan data is posted, I'll merge it in as it arrives.

I have the new package and will update the feeds shortly.

EDIT: My feeds have been updated with all your changes up until about an hour ago.

Regards,
Ian.

[Trial_Master]

Hi Peter

FYI. Brisbane isn’t showing the HD watermark for GEM although the name and resolution certainly indicate it’s 1080p HD. I think I read that was happening elsewhere and you decided against using the HD picon. Anyway just letting you know the lay of the land.

[Trial_Master]

Thanks for the update Ian. Good to get rid of Your Money picon.

[prl]

Hi Peter

FYI. Brisbane isn’t showing the HD watermark for GEM although the name and resolution certainly indicate it’s 1080p HD. I think I read that was happening elsewhere and you decided against using the HD picon. Anyway just letting you know the lay of the land.

It was reported for 9Gem Mt Gambier.

As you can see from the screenshot in the linked post, 9Gem Mt Gambier is showing the standard 9Gem logo, not one for 9Gem HD. Since that's the broadcaster's branding, IMO using the 9Gem picon is correct for Mt Gambier, no matter what the broadcast resolution is.

What broadcaster branding does 9Gem Brisbane have?

The picon setup is driven by the broadcast name of the channel, and I generally only over-ride it if I can avoid requesting new scan data for trivial branding changes (e.g. when One changed to Boss and then to Bold).

The whole 9Gem/9Gem HD thing's a bit of a mess, really. 9Gem Canberra, for example, is MPEG2 SD, and SCA Canberra doesn't (yet?) carry 9Gem HD.

[prl]

Hi Prl,

The repository is now up to date with the scan data posted so far. If more scan data is posted, I'll merge it in as it arrives.

I have the new package and will update the feeds shortly.

EDIT: My feeds have been updated with all your changes up until about an hour ago.

The last change of substance in the repository was at about 2019-07-08 11:00, so you should have grabbed an up-to-date copy.

[Trial_Master]

It was reported for 9Gem Mt Gambier.

As you can see from the screenshot in the linked post, 9Gem Mt Gambier is showing the standard 9Gem logo, not one for 9Gem HD. Since that's the broadcaster's branding, IMO using the 9Gem picon is correct for Mt Gambier, no matter what the broadcast resolution is.

What broadcaster branding does 9Gem Brisbane have?

The picon setup is driven by the broadcast name of the channel, and I generally only over-ride it if I can avoid requesting new scan data for trivial branding changes (e.g. when One changed to Boss and then to Bold).

The whole 9Gem/9Gem HD thing's a bit of a mess, really. 9Gem Canberra, for example, is MPEG2 SD, and SCA Canberra doesn't (yet?) carry 9Gem HD.

Hi Peter, I attached some screenshots. Let me know if this is adequate.

[prl]

I'm not sure quite what I'm seeing there. Are all those screenshots for 9Gem HD Brisbane? If so, then Nine is doing the opposite of what was reported for 9Gem Mt Gambier: it's naming the channel 9Gem HD, but using 9Gem watermarking.

As I said, Nine's branding of 9Gem/9Gem HD is a mess. So far, I think I'm doing the right thing, but I'm not really sure what "the right thing" is.

BYW: can you read the resolution in the infobar in the first screenshot? I certainly can't!

However, the service info screen has a serviceref that should be for MPEG4 HD (but broadcasters have been known to get that wrong, too).

[MrQuade]

BYW: can you read the resolution in the infobar in the first screenshot? I certainly can't!

Looks like 720x576i to me. The number of characters lines up if squinting doesn't resolve it.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I'm not sure quite what I'm seeing there. Are all those screenshots for 9Gem HD Brisbane? If so, then Nine is doing the opposite of what was reported for 9Gem Mt Gambier: it's naming the channel 9Gem HD, but using 9Gem watermarking.

As I said, Nine's branding of 9Gem/9Gem HD is a mess. So far, I think I'm doing the right thing, but I'm not really sure what "the right thing" is.

Here's the 'Current' OWIF info for 9Gem HD Perth, as you'll see all details point to an HD broadcast -

Code: Select all

Service
Name: 9Gem HD Perth	Provider: Nine Network Australia	Namespace: 4008574976 (eeee0000)
Video Width: 1920	Video Height: 1080	Video Wide: True
Encrypted: 0	Dolby: True	Subservices: False
Teletext: 570	Recording Status: False	Pmtpid: 262 (0106)
Apid: 655 (028f)	Vpid: 517 (0205)	Pcrpid: 133 (0085)
Tsid: 1120 (0460)	Onid: 4114 (1012)	Sid: 1125 (0465)
Sref: 1_0_19_465_460_1012_EEEE0000_0_0_0	1:0:19:465:460:1012:EEEE0000:0:0:0:	DVB-T

... yet the Nine numpties are using a non-HD watermark.
Perhaps they've not bothered with a new watermark since the service is set to disappear once the cricket finishes (so we understand).
Initially, the numpties got the service type wrong too (0x1 c.f. 0x19).

[Trial_Master]

Sounds like Brisbane is same scenario as Perth. That's a shame the HD channel is only temporary.

[prl]

Initially, the numpties got the service type wrong too (0x1 c.f. 0x19).

Why does that not surprise me? Mind you, IIRC, SBS did the same thing once for one of its then-new MPEG4 HD channels.

Anyway, I still can't see any reason to change from assigning the 9Gem picon to channels that declare themselves to be 9Gem (broadcast area) and the 9gemhd picon to those that declare themselves to be 9Gem HD (broadcast area). There may be some inconsistency in areas that I don't have recent scan data for (hint, hint), but I doubt that my inconsistencies are greater than Nine's.

If you don't have picons for your area, and would like them, follow the "hint, hint" link above

[prl]

Perhaps they've not bothered with a new watermark since the service is set to disappear once the cricket finishes (so we understand).

I can't find anything much that says anything definite about the life expectancy of 9Gem HD. The short item on TVTonight perhaps implies that it's just for the Ashes (but Nine has a press release about the Women's Ashes on 9Gem HD, so not just the men's Ashes). The Wikipedia entry for 9Gem says that it was introduced for coverage of the Ashes, but doesn't seem to imply "and only for the Ashes".

I found a couple of other articles about 9Gem HD, but they were no more enlightening.

Most strangely (and perhaps tellingly about its future), I can't see a launch press release for 9Gem HD in Nine's press releases. They just start off announcing that the Women's Ashes will be on 9Gem HD. There may be earlier program-specific releases that name 9Gem HD, but the press release for Cricket World Cup doesn't mention 9Gem HD.

In all this digging around I found, at the bottom of Nine's home page, a link to "Pedestrian TV". So descriptive of so much on offer from our broadcasters:

pedestrian
adjective

Lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.

[paullings]

Hi PRL, Do you know if 9GEM HD is coming to the regionals. The new picon for 9GEM HD has come through on Channel 85 for me however the scan is still Your Money, with no content, and Channel 82 is 9GEM. I tried to contact Nine last week but have not received a reply.