[Lunatixz]

::Update::
I'm dropping the planned "MTV" like overlay in favor of music artist fanart...

[amcfarla]

This is written for use with PseudoTV Live, not to be confused with the original fork of PseudoTV on a windows machine.

Please read this post start to finish before proceeding with the guide to make sure you understand all information.

I am not responsible if you bork up your settings2.xml - please make a backup before moving forward.

Part 1 - Generating the STRM files.

1. Download and install the latest version of HDHomerun Software from the SiliconDust website.
   
2. Install latest XBMC version on the computer. http://xbmc.org/download/
   
3. Install the following two add-ons:
   • TV Guide
     
   • PseudoTV Live - Stable Release Latest Features - Manually install by unzipping and moving folder or install through XBMC.
     
4. HOW-TO:Install an Add-on from a zip file
   
5. Open them in xbmc to create the files for the next steps, they will not show up unless you open the two add-ons previously mentioned.
   • C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\userdata\addon_data\script.tvguide\source.db
     
   • C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\userdata\addon_data\script.pseudotvlive\settings2.xml
     
6. Download and extract to desktop Windows - HDHomerun Stream Builder (strm) by @angrycamel
   
7. Once downloaded and installed - open "HDHomerun Stream Builder.exe" go to settings and browse to the required files like seen in this image below.
   
   
8. Within hdhomerun stream builder go to tools--> scan channels and let the scan complete.
   
9. Once complete you will get a window with a list of channels that you can check/uncheck. check the ones that you would like to export strm files for and hit control+s to save. go to file --> export --> strm
   
10. Add STRM file folder to xbmc as a sources and confirm that they are working before moving forward. The higher channels ended up being off by 1 so please make sure to confirm, you may also want to create a uniform naming convention for the strm files, I did this manually.
    

Part 2 - Acquiring Metadata for EPG

In this example I will be using data from http://www.schedulesdirect.org which requires a paid membership. Alternative xmltv sources are WebGrabPlus, and mc2xml.

1. Configure channel listings in schedules direct like below. Only selecting the channels you will be viewing within xbmc.
   
   
   
2. Download and setup mc2xml for use with your brand new schedulesdirect account.
   • Run "mc2xml", it has a simple graphical user interface
     
   • Input postal code and country code and press OK
     
   • Select lineup number from the returned list and an xmltv.xml file will be produced in the same folder as the mc2xml.exe file.
     

Part 3 - Setup in PseudoTV Live by @Lunatixz .

For this part I have relocated the strm files to c:\strm\tuner0\

1. Download and install notepad++
   
2. Open xmltv.xml with notepad++ and look for the <channel></channel> tag that look similar to the ones below for channel 702.
   
   • <channel id="I702.16689.tmsdatadirect.com">
     <display-name>702 WCBSDT</display-name>
     <display-name>702</display-name>
     <display-name>33 WCBSDT fcc</display-name>
     <display-name>WCBSDT</display-name>
     <display-name>WCBSDT (WCBS-DT)</display-name>
     <display-name>CBS Affiliate</display-name>
     </channel>
     
   
   
   
3. Here is your baseline configuration for a channel to copy into Settings2.xml for PseudoTV Live. The only information that you will be changing is color coded and in bold. Once you get this part down you can copy/paste and do a few quick edits to be up and running in no time.
   
4. The Color coding is as follows:
   • BLUE - the channel code for metadata from your provider.
     
   • RED - the channel number that PseudoTV will use for the episode guide.
     
   • GREEN - the absolute path to the STRM file that you generated in Part 1.
     
   • PURPLE - the display name of the channel if you do not have a proper channel logo.png with the same exact file name. IE: CBS NY.PNG will display the below image in the EPG. The PNG must be located in the C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\userdata\addon_data\script.pseudotv.live\logos folder.
     
     
   
   
   • <setting id="Channel_702_type" value="8" />
     <setting id="Channel_702_1" value="I702.16689.tmsdatadirect.com" />
     <setting id="Channel_702_2" value="C:\strm\tuner1\702 - CBS HD.strm" />
     <setting id="Channel_702_3" value="xmltv" />
     <setting id="Channel_702_rulecount" value="1" />
     <setting id="Channel_702_changed" value="False" />
     <setting id="Channel_702_time" value="44968" />
     <setting id="Channel_702_rule_1_id" value="1" />
     <setting id="Channel_702_rule_1_opt_1" value="CBS NY" />
     
   
   
5. Once you have properly sorted through all of your channels and added them to the Settings2.xml file this is your reward.
   
   
   

Please make sure not to forget to donate to xbmc foundation for this fantastic program that we all enjoy so much.

Also if you enjoy your new found functionality in PseudoTV Live send a donation towards Lunatixz here - this will unlock some additional features that you can read about in the PseudoTV Live thread.

Creative criticism welcome. I will amend the post as necessary.

How long do you let it sit and build the channel? I have verified the .strm file works correctly that I am using in the settings2.xml file but it sits at the "Waiting channel XXX, waiting for file lock, querying database" for more than an hour and never completed scanning the channel in. This is the format from the settings2.xml file:

<setting id="Channel_702_type" value="8" />
<setting id="Channel_702_1" value="I2.1.20370.tmsdatadirect.com" />
<setting id="Channel_702_2" value="\\diskstation\files\XBMC files\strm\tuner0\2.1 - KWGNDT.strm" />
<setting id="Channel_702_3" value="xmltv" />
<setting id="Channel_702_rulecount" value="1" />
<setting id="Channel_702_changed" value="False" />
<setting id="Channel_702_time" value="44968" />
<setting id="Channel_702_rule_1_id" value="1" />
<setting id="Channel_702_rule1_opt_1" value="KWGN 2" />

Not sure the reason for the lengthy channel setup time, if anyone can be of assistance it would be appreciated. Thank you.

[juedesnic]

Ok ive been trying and trying but cant figure it out....how do i gt ptvl find my super favourites channels, i have super favourites channels set up correctly and ive done it by the manual direct plugin way but the channels mix together. So if anyone can give me instruction because i love this addon and i want it to work please and thank you.

[RockDawg]

Old versions are always available for download at my git repository... Logs = Fix!

I did post a log. See the link in my reply to bry-. I don't mean to be dense, but how do I download an older version on GIT?

I reviewed that log, and only see that you are using channel sharing incorrectly read post 2 for info... to download old builds, you need to click commit look through changes click the build you want then click download.

Channel sharing isn't the issue. I disabled it and I still have the problem. One thing I might not have made clear is that this problem exists without even having to actually run PTVL. I can simply open XBMC and immediately try to exit and it will just hang. If I disable or uninstall PTVL, XBMC exits without issue.

I just reverted back to 4.5 and the problem went away.

[RockDawg]

Rockdawg I just started looking into the same issue earlier today actually. Will post logs when I have time.

Have you had a chance to look into this further bry? Are you experiencing the same problem?

[bry]

Rockdawg I just started looking into the same issue earlier today actually. Will post logs when I have time.

Have you had a chance to look into this further bry? Are you experiencing the same problem?

Not yet. Away on vacation

[ryanmcclure]

Currently reworking an old classic skin. Hopefully it will look very nice... Will upload pictures when I finish it. I may make a version specifically for R Pi that will have the Pi logo somewhere on it. This skin is a modification of Confluence and I have found that it is GREAT for low-powered devices.

[LakersFan]

Hello, I reinstalled a fresh version of PseudoTV Live (developmental version). Everything is working great except I'm having an issue with USTV Now, though. It shows up in my channel listings okay but as I click any of them, nothing happens (it's like I pushed the back button and the current movie keeps playing - it exits the channel guide).

Am I missing a step? I am using the PseudoTV Live version of USTV Now. Here's my debug log: http://pastebin.com/BFKD5PBZ


BTW, the vimeo link used in the "Recommended for autotune & Live Channels" addons section is a broken link. Just a head's up.

[dmchristenson]

This is a rework of the original Confluence skin I've been using as of late. Added weather and Dynamic Artwork the the EPG

[bry]

@dmchristenson looks good - may want to test with some channel banners in there to see how it looks though imo.

[Lunatixz]

Please post your skins so I can added them to a download list

[dmchristenson]

Here's the link for my updated Confluence skin.

Confluence Skin

[bry]

@Lunatixz - was wondering if you could take another look at implementing this directly into PTVL -

python-xmltv 1.4.3 - last update on 2014-07-08 so it is actively being developed.

A Python Module for Reading and Writing XMLTV Files
https://pypi.python.org/pypi/python-xmltv/1.4.3

[ryanmcclure]

@dmchristenson, looks much better than mine! I may download yours and edit it to fit my needs ...if, of course, that's okay with you!!!

Edit: I've found that this skin doesn't like logos at all. Currently working with it to make logos work.

[dmchristenson]

Do what you will with it. Admittedly I'm very much a novice at all of this. Just did what I could with it. Any improvements would be appreciated. That's why I posted it.