First, for the benefit of those new to HDTV, D*, and DTV here is a clarification of some of the fuzzy acronyms floating around:
D* is Directv
DTV is Digital Television
HDTV is High Definition TV which is the picture resolution broadcast over Digital Television (Be it D* or local DTV).
DMA is Direct Marketing Area, or your local stations
OTA is Off-the-air (local DTV broadcasts)
OTO or O&O(haven't figured this one out yet, I think it is a way of saying OTA)
LIL is another reference to OTA. I thinks it means Local in local. Don't ask me why.
It would be nice if members would use correspondence etiquette and spell out a term at least once at the beginning of their article instead of letting the masses of uninitiated scratch their heads trying to figure out the gobbledy-gook shorthand that is used in these forums. Would you like to see a message that read, "I got my D* in and LIL's instead of OTA or O&O for my DMA". LOL!
OK, I digressed: thanks to a FOX engineer, I think I understand what's going on with D* EPG's, local DTV EPG's and other local DTV problems. Thanks to Andrew Hornfeck, mjones73, and others on the AVS Forum for their interest and help:
If you have a D* (H)DTV receiver and you have it activated, all PSIP and EPG data (even for local DTV) comes from D*.
If you have a D* (H)DTV receiver that is deactivated BUT you have a dish type specified in the setup and you have told it what zip code to load the EPG for, the receiver uses the D* PSIP & EPG.
If you have a D* receiver that is deactivated and have a dish type specified with NO zip code, then the D* PSIP is used, no D* EPG is used, and the local EPG is ignored.
If you have a D* receiver that is deactivated AND specify no dish is installed, then the receiver uses the full local PSIP data, including the EPG (if the stations choose to fill it in).
The last item seems to be hit and miss. The local PBS stations seem to be best at filling in program descriptions for their EPG's, but even then are spotty. The local network affiliates seem to not provide program descripion. They just provide what is required by the FCC.
Also, it seems that D8 gets their PSIP info from a "service" . If the PSIP info directv sends down with their program guide has incorrect info then that can cause such problems as getting good video on local DTV stations but no audio.
It is a well known problem with some Samsung and RCA stb's. The finger pointing says the local station is supposed to supply the PSIP info to the "service" that puts together D* program guide and send it to D*. My local that I am having the problem with say's their info is correct, but I haven't been told whether they have supplied the "service" with the info that was updated in February. So, the problem could be anywhere.
The audio problem seems to be happening in more than one DMA, so I would suspect a fumbly fingered typist at the "service".
I hope you can all follow this. I got confused trying to write it down!
But, then again, us old guys have an excuse <grin>.
D* is Directv
DTV is Digital Television
HDTV is High Definition TV which is the picture resolution broadcast over Digital Television (Be it D* or local DTV).
DMA is Direct Marketing Area, or your local stations
OTA is Off-the-air (local DTV broadcasts)
OTO or O&O(haven't figured this one out yet, I think it is a way of saying OTA)
LIL is another reference to OTA. I thinks it means Local in local. Don't ask me why.
It would be nice if members would use correspondence etiquette and spell out a term at least once at the beginning of their article instead of letting the masses of uninitiated scratch their heads trying to figure out the gobbledy-gook shorthand that is used in these forums. Would you like to see a message that read, "I got my D* in and LIL's instead of OTA or O&O for my DMA". LOL!
OK, I digressed: thanks to a FOX engineer, I think I understand what's going on with D* EPG's, local DTV EPG's and other local DTV problems. Thanks to Andrew Hornfeck, mjones73, and others on the AVS Forum for their interest and help:
If you have a D* (H)DTV receiver and you have it activated, all PSIP and EPG data (even for local DTV) comes from D*.
If you have a D* (H)DTV receiver that is deactivated BUT you have a dish type specified in the setup and you have told it what zip code to load the EPG for, the receiver uses the D* PSIP & EPG.
If you have a D* receiver that is deactivated and have a dish type specified with NO zip code, then the D* PSIP is used, no D* EPG is used, and the local EPG is ignored.
If you have a D* receiver that is deactivated AND specify no dish is installed, then the receiver uses the full local PSIP data, including the EPG (if the stations choose to fill it in).
The last item seems to be hit and miss. The local PBS stations seem to be best at filling in program descriptions for their EPG's, but even then are spotty. The local network affiliates seem to not provide program descripion. They just provide what is required by the FCC.
Also, it seems that D8 gets their PSIP info from a "service" . If the PSIP info directv sends down with their program guide has incorrect info then that can cause such problems as getting good video on local DTV stations but no audio.
It is a well known problem with some Samsung and RCA stb's. The finger pointing says the local station is supposed to supply the PSIP info to the "service" that puts together D* program guide and send it to D*. My local that I am having the problem with say's their info is correct, but I haven't been told whether they have supplied the "service" with the info that was updated in February. So, the problem could be anywhere.
The audio problem seems to be happening in more than one DMA, so I would suspect a fumbly fingered typist at the "service".
I hope you can all follow this. I got confused trying to write it down!
But, then again, us old guys have an excuse <grin>.
