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All posts by js

Below are all of js's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.

J
All free TV channels in the UK
Wednesday 20 June 2018 11:29AM

ASTRA/BSkyB FTA Diffs:

Primal Cure launched on BSkyB 670.
BSkyB info: At Primal Cure; via awareness, nutrition and natural products, we realign diet, lifestyle and environment back to that which nature intended.

NTAI launched on BSkyB 781.
BSkyB info: NTAI is an entertainment channel with various programmes covering diverse genres such as news, current affairs, sport, nollywood, family programmes and general infotainments.

Khushkhabri returned to BSkyB 0151.

TJC Choice was taken off BSkyB 670:

Comparing files List ASTRA 19-06-2018 18 01.txt and List ASTRA 20-06-2018 11 01.txt


************************ CHANGED ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN

Renamed, EPGID Change, Bouquet Change, LCN Change
54230 1 0000 54230 2089 2 11464H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000000
Primal Cure 1 1129 54230 2089 2 11464H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 670

EPGID Change, Bouquet Change, LCN Change
2 0000 9563 2095 2 11553H 0 0 BSkyB 000000000000000
Khushkhabri 2 3383 9563 2095 2 11553H 0 0 BSkyB 111111111111111 3151

Renamed, EPGID Change, Bouquet Change, LCN Change
54145 1 0000 54145 2096 2 11568V 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000000
NTAI 1 5228 54145 2096 2 11568V 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 781

EPGID Change, Bouquet Change, LCN Change
TJC Choice 1 5707 50320 2065 2 11082H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 670
TJC Choice 1 0000 50320 2065 2 11082H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000000

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J
Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
Wednesday 20 June 2018 11:59AM

truTV+1 was added to GIM:

GIM
ONID.TSID = 233A.7401
762 MHz, uhf 57, 8 MHz, 16-QAM, 8k, 3/4, 1/32
Target Regions = (GBR.England.North West)U(GBR.Isle of Man)
(
LCN SID TYPE SERVICE NAME
075 77C1 01 The Vault
089 7701 01 Now 90s
090 7601 01 TV Warehouse
091 7641 01 Clubland TV
092 8440 01 truTV+1
209 7681 01 POP+1
210 7741 01 Tiny Pop+1
)

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J
All free TV channels in the UK
Wednesday 20 June 2018 1:16PM

ASTRA/BSkyB FTA Diffs:

YANGA! moved from 11597V to 11553H:

Comparing files List ASTRA 20-06-2018 11 01.txt and List ASTRA 20-06-2018 13 01.txt


************************ CHANGED ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN

Service ID Change, Transponder Move
YANGA! 1 1058 53540 2098 2 11597V 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 453
YANGA! 1 1058 55105 2095 2 11553H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 453

Renamed, EPGID Change, Bouquet Change, LCN Change
55105 1 1139 55105 2095 2 11553H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000010 1028
YANGA! 1 1058 55105 2095 2 11553H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 453

Service ID Change
55105 1 1139 55105 2095 2 11553H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000010 1028
55105 1 1139 53540 2095 2 11553H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000010 1028


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J
All free TV channels in the UK
Thursday 21 June 2018 2:12AM

53290 - Paramount NETWORK - started testing on 11345H.

Currently showing a promo loop - 16/9 letterboxed into 4/3 video:

mpeg2 video, 4:3, 704x576i, 25 fps, 4:2:0, 2.3 Mbps.
mpeg audio, stereo, 48kHz, 160 kbps.
mpeg audio, stereo, 48kHz, 128 kbps.

Channel Diffs from 19/06/2018 23:19:45 to 21/06/2018 00:24:43

Found:

Format:
NAME, TYPE, SID, TSID, FREQ
Streams

53290, 1, 53290, 2111, 11345H
stream, PID = 2329 Type = 0x02 : mpeg2 video
stream, PID = 2330 Type = 0x04 : mpeg audio : lang = ENG
stream, PID = 2331 Type = 0x04 : mpeg audio : lang = NAR
stream, PID = 2332 Type = 0x06 : Teletext : lang = ENG : initial page = 500
stream, PID = 2332 Type = 0x06 : Teletext subs : lang = ENG page = 888
stream, PID = 2333 Type = 0x06 : dvb subs : lang = ENG


Video Bitrate (Mbps) sampled at 34 <= dPCR <= 34 ms intervals over 15 seconds for 11344.50 H 27500 5/6 DVB-S QPSK (21/06/2018 01:20:39)
maximum | minimum | average | service_name
02.347 | 01.502 | 01.877 | Studio 66
02.479 | 01.107 | 01.515 | At The Races [ENC]
06.730 | 01.988 | 03.530 | BT Sport 2 (53280) [ENC]/BT Sport 2 (53281) [ENC]
06.760 | 03.361 | 05.623 | BT Sport//ESPN (53285) [ENC]/BT Sport//ESPN (53286) [ENC]
03.586 | 02.342 | 03.031 | Get Lucky TV
04.560 | 02.742 | 03.539 | BoxNation [ENC]
02.349 | 02.251 | 02.300 | 53290
03.232 | 02.963 | 03.100 | BT Sport Mosaic 2 [ENC]
01.107 | 00.927 | 01.013 | BT Sport Extra 2 [ENC]
01.107 | 00.927 | 01.012 | BT Sport Extra 3 [ENC]
01.106 | 00.928 | 01.013 | BT Sport Extra 4 [ENC]
01.064 | 00.886 | 01.013 | BT Sport Extra 5 [ENC]
06.502 | 03.049 | 04.666 | BT Sport Extra 6 [ENC]
04.246 | 02.435 | 03.448 | Null Packets
06.553 | 04.865 | 05.559 | All Other Streams
42.239 | 42.238 | 42.238 | TS Bitrate

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J
All free TV channels in the UK
Thursday 21 June 2018 6:41AM

ASTRA/BSkyB FTA Diffs:

The four RTE digital radio sound services will be changing transponder soon.

"NEW":

5544 = RTE Radio 1
5545 = RTE 2fm
5546 = RTE Lyric fm
5547 = RTE RnaG

As usual, Freesat will have to move them before ASTRA/BSkyB:

Comparing files List ASTRA 20-06-2018 13 01.txt and List ASTRA 20-06-2018 18 01.txt


************************ NEW ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN
5544 2 1145 5544 2011 2 11915H 0 0 BSkyB 000000000000010 1028
5545 2 1146 5545 2011 2 11915H 0 0 BSkyB 000000000000010 1029
5546 2 1147 5546 2011 2 11915H 0 0 BSkyB 000000000000010 1030
5547 2 1148 5547 2011 2 11915H 0 0 BSkyB 000000000000010 1031


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J
All free TV channels in the UK
Thursday 21 June 2018 1:18PM

Freesat Diffs:

FRANCE 24(ENG) in HD was added to the Freesat private test regions.

As predicted, the RTE Radio services have changed transponder on Freesat:

Comparing files List Freesat 21-06-2018 11 01.txt and List Freesat 21-06-2018 13 01.txt


************************ CHANGED ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN

Service ID Change, Schedule Flag Change, Transponder Move
RTE Radio 1 2 19002 6140 2007 2 11837H 0 1 Freesat 111111111111 750
RTE Radio 1 2 19002 5544 2011 2 11915H 0 0 Freesat 111111111111 750

Service ID Change, Schedule Flag Change, Transponder Move
RTE 2fm 2 19003 6142 2007 2 11837H 0 1 Freesat 111111111111 751
RTE 2fm 2 19003 5545 2011 2 11915H 0 0 Freesat 111111111111 751

Service ID Change, Schedule Flag Change, Transponder Move
RTE Lyric fm 2 19004 6146 2007 2 11837H 0 1 Freesat 111111111111 752
RTE Lyric fm 2 19004 5546 2011 2 11915H 0 0 Freesat 111111111111 752

Service ID Change, Schedule Flag Change, Transponder Move
RTE RnaG 2 19005 6144 2007 2 11837H 0 1 Freesat 111111111111 753
RTE RnaG 2 19005 5547 2011 2 11915H 0 0 Freesat 111111111111 753



************************ NEW ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN
FRANCE 24(ENG) 25 07016 52560 2116 2 11427V 0 0 Freesat 00001EEE1EEE 204

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J
All free TV channels in the UK
Thursday 21 June 2018 1:28PM

ASTRA/BSkyB Diffs:

4Music has moved from 10714H to 12304H:

Comparing files List ASTRA 21-06-2018 11 01.txt and List ASTRA 21-06-2018 13 01.txt


************************ CHANGED ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN

Renamed, EPGID Change, Bouquet Change, LCN Change
12055 1 0000 12055 2031 2 12304H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000000
4Music
1 1758 12055 2031 2 12304H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 139
Service ID Change, Transponder Move
4Music 1 1758 9240 2041 2 10714H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 139
4Music 1 1758 12055 2031 2 12304H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 139


************************ NEW ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN
12055 1 0000 9240 2031 2 12304H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000000

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J
All free TV channels in the UK
Thursday 21 June 2018 1:36PM

ASTRA/BSkyB Diffs:

4Music has moved from 10714H to 12304H:


Comparing files List ASTRA 21-06-2018 11 01.txt and List ASTRA 21-06-2018 13 01.txt


************************ CHANGED ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN

Renamed, EPGID Change, Bouquet Change, LCN Change
12055 1 0000 12055 2031 2 12304H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000000
4Music 1 1758 12055 2031 2 12304H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 139

Service ID Change, Transponder Move
4Music 1 1758 9240 2041 2 10714H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 139
4Music 1 1758 12055 2031 2 12304H 0 1 BSkyB 111111111111111 139



************************ NEW ************************

SERVICE NAME TYPE EPGID SID TSID ONID FREQ.P ENC EIT PROVIDER BOUQUETS LCN
12055 1 0000 9240 2031 2 12304H 0 1 BSkyB 000000000000000

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J
All free TV channels in the UK
Friday 22 June 2018 1:39AM

52580 on 11427V is QUEST - testing in HD:

Channel Diffs from 21/06/2018 00:24:43 to 21/06/2018 23:43:24

Found:

Format:
NAME, TYPE, SID, TSID, FREQ
Streams

52580, 25, 52580, 2116, 11427V
stream, PID = 2305 Type = 0x1B : h264 video
stream, PID = 2306 Type = 0x06 : PES packets containing private data
stream, PID = 2309 Type = 0x04 : mpeg audio
stream, PID = 2310 Type = 0x06 : PES packets containing private data
stream, PID = 2311 Type = 0x06 : PES packets containing private data
stream, PID = 3840 Type = 0x05 : private_sections
stream, PID = 3841 Type = 0x05 : private_sections
stream, PID = 3842 Type = 0x05 : private_sections
stream, PID = 3843 Type = 0x05 : private_sections
stream, PID = 3844 Type = 0x05 : private_sections


The streams with PIDs 2306, 2309, 2310, 2311 are missing.

These would be ac3 audio, mpeg audio, teletext subtitles and dvb subtitles.

The streams with PID 3840 to 3844 are the Freesat streams.

Video Bitrate (Mbps) sampled at 39 <= dPCR <= 41 ms intervals over 15 seconds for 11426.50 V 27500 5/6 DVB-S QPSK (21/06/2018 23:58:21)
maximum | minimum | average | service_name
08.576 | 08.418 | 08.500 | 52580 = QUEST HD
03.843 | 03.761 | 03.800 | FreeSports
03.328 | 01.763 | 02.415 | Food Network
02.513 | 00.748 | 01.371 | Food Netwrk+1
02.231 | 00.821 | 01.175 | Craft Extra
03.492 | 01.882 | 02.573 | Gems TV
01.855 | 00.857 | 01.266 | PBS America
08.192 | 08.056 | 08.126 | 52560 = FRANCE 24(ENG) HD
02.811 | 02.744 | 02.778 | FRANCE Eng
03.267 | 03.036 | 03.193 | TV5 MONDE
04.415 | 02.921 | 03.698 | Null Packets
04.032 | 02.626 | 03.343 | All Other Streams
42.239 | 42.238 | 42.238 | TS Bitrate

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Invalid Codes in the Freeview EIT:

What I'm talking about here is the EIT text - the titles and descriptions of events.

There are two processing paths for the Freeview EIT.

The EIT text off DVB-T2 multiplexes is entirely Huffman coded.

The EIT text off DVB-T multiplexes is only Huffman coded for services on DVB-T2 multiplexes.

Thus a DVB-T only device will not normally encounter Huffman coded text.

Generic DVB-T2 receivers are not able to decode the Huffman coded text and will typically display gibberish - what their users often describe as Chinese.

The BBC is responsible for Huffman coding the EIT text, the objective being the ability to dictate DRM implementation requirements to manufacturers in exchange for the Huffman decode tables.

Thus the recordings made on Freeview HD certified devices are encrypted to disk and only playable on the device that they were made on.

Now that's out of the way, let's get back to the errors in the EIT text.

By observation, it has become evident that the invalid codes are the Least Significant Bytes of a group of Unicode punctuation characters.

The invalid codes seen so far are:

0x10 = LSB of Unicode Character 'HYPHEN' (U+2010)
0x13 = LSB of Unicode Character 'EN DASH' (U+2013)
0x14 = LSB of Unicode Character 'EM DASH' (U+2014)
0x18 = LSB of Unicode Character 'LEFT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK' (U+2018)
0x19 = LSB of Unicode Character 'RIGHT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK' (U+2019)
0x1C = LSB of Unicode Character 'LEFT DOUBLE QUOTATION MARK' (U+201C)
0x1D = LSB of Unicode Character 'RIGHT DOUBLE QUOTATION MARK' (U+201D)

The Current State:

The Freeview EIT stream, together with the NIT, SDT and TDT/TOT streams, were recorded for 360 seconds off BBC A and BBC B multiplexes.

The overall EIT cycle time is 300 seconds so recording for 360 seconds ensures all events are captured.

The file off BBC A was 33.4 MB.

The file off BBC B was 19.0 MB.

The BBC B file was much smaller because of the Huffman coding - a lossless compression.

Only the EIT text from events from services carried on DVB-T2 multiplexes is Huffman coded in the EIT off BBC A.

The files were processed by my EIT program which produced xmltv output files:

North West_BBC A__2018 06 23 041950.xml - 31.2 MB and North West_BBC B__2018 06 23 042617.xml - 31.0 MB.

Upon loading these files, the xmltv viewer app, TVGuide, reported:

"Loaded 33518 in 7.015625 seconds, spanning 23/6/2018 to 01/07/2018" for North West_BBC A__2018 06 23 041950.xml

and

"Loaded 33518 in 7.609375 seconds, spanning 23/6/2018 to 01/07/2018" for North West_BBC B__2018 06 23 042617.xml

The files thus contained the same number, 33518, of events.

My EIT program has a subroutine which substitutes meaningful strings for the invalid codes:

Private Sub fixbadcode(b As Byte, s As String)
Select Case b
Case &H10 'Unicode Character 'HYPHEN' (U+2010)
s = s + "{-}"
Case &H13 'Unicode Character 'EN DASH' (U+2013)
s = s + "{-}"
Case &H14 'Unicode Character 'EM DASH' (U+2014)
s = s + "{-}"
Case &H18 ''LEFT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK' (U+2018)
s = s + "{L'}"
Case &H19 ''RIGHT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK' (U+2019)
s = s + "{R'}"
Case &H1C 'Unicode Character 'LEFT DOUBLE QUOTATION MARK' (U+201C)
s = s + "{L''}"
Case &H1D 'Unicode Character 'RIGHT DOUBLE QUOTATION MARK' (U+201D)
s = s + "{R''}"
Case Else
Stop
s = s + "[0x" + hexbyte(b) + "]"
End Select
End Sub

So, for example, invalid code 0x19 is replaced by {R'} signifying 'RIGHT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK'.

The curly brackets that enclose the strings are not found in normal EIT text and are used to search for and locate the invalid codes in the output file.

TVGuide has the useful ability to count and display events based on text in event descriptions.

I have defined a "highlighter" in TVGuide as "{ in Description".

Thus upon loading North West_BBC A__2018 06 23 041950.xml, TVGuide shows "{ in Description(710)", indicating there are 710 events that contain invalid codes in the EIT captured off BBC A.

Clicking on the highlighter displays those events.

Upon loading North West_BBC B__2018 06 23 042617.xml, TVGuide shows "{ in Description(17)", indicating there are 17 events that contain invalid codes in the EIT captured off BBC B.

Looking at those events showed they were all off services carried on DVB-T2 multiplexes.

TVGuide also has the ability to restrict its display to categories, for example Sport or Movies.

In my EIT program, I created a "DVB-T2" category to restrict display to events on services carried on DVB-T2 multiplexes.

Upon loading North West_BBC A__2018 06 23 041950.xml and selecting the "DVB-T2" category and clicking the "highlighter" "{ in Description(710)", the same 17 events as those off BBC B were displayed.

So when the invalid codes originate in events from services carried on DVB-T2 multiplexes, they are the same whether the EIT is captured from BBC A or BBC B.

What happened to all the rest? There are 710 events containing invalid codes in the EIT off BBC A - but a mere 17 in the EIT off BBC B.

The invalid codes have simply been omitted in EIT text off BBC B.

This solution causes grammatical errors such as thats in place of that's and cant for can't.


I give a single example to illustrate here:

This event has an invalid code in its title:

Channel 5 HD, Mon 25 Jun 04:00 - 04:45: Now That{R'}s Funny

This error is present regardless of EIT origin and Huffman coded because it is off a service carried on a DVB-T2 multiplex.


The SD version of the event off the Huffman coded BBC B EIT:

Channel 5, Mon 25 Jun 04:00 - 04:45: Now Thats Funny

The invalid code for the intended apostrophe has been omitted, rendering a grammatically incorrect "thats".


The SD version of the event off the non-Huffman coded BBC A EIT:

Channel 5, Mon 25 Jun 04:00 - 04:45: Now That{R'}s Funny

The invalid code for the intended apostrophe is present.


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