Tutorial 6: Satellite and Terrestrial Channel Editing

READ ONLY: Our comprehensive guide on operating a modern Linux / Enigma2 based TVRO satellite receiver. Learn how to safely flash firmware, edit channel listings and install useful plugins.
Post Reply
User avatar
The Professor
TVRO Educator
TVRO Educator
Articles: 0
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:17 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Tutorial 6: Satellite and Terrestrial Channel Editing

Post by The Professor » Sun Sep 24, 2017 4:02 am

Tutorial 6: Satellite and Terrestrial Channel Editing
This tutorial may be distributed freely if you acknowledge tvrosat.com as the source. :grin:

Note: Click on the images below for enlarged view.

___________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS


6.0: Introduction

6.1: DreamSet Editor

[list]6.1.1: Configuration[/list]
[list]6.1.2: Saving[/list]
6.2: Scan for Channels
[list]6.2.1: Scan Satellite and Terrestrial Transponders[/list]
[list]6.2.2: Read Service Scans with DreamSet[/list]
6.3: Working with DreamSet Editor
[list]6.3.1: Edit Settings
[list]6.3.1.1: Viewing Transponders and Channels[/list]
[list]6.3.1.2: Editing Transponders and Channels[/list]
[list]6.3.1.3: Adding Transponders and Channels[/list]
[list]6.3.1.4: Deleting and Adding Satellites[/list]
[/list]
[list]6.3.2: Organize Lists
[list]6.3.2.1: Creating Lists[/list]
[list]6.3.2.2: Adding ATSC channels to Terrestrial TV List[/list]
[list]6.3.2.3: Adding Satellite channels to C Band Satellite TV List[/list]
[list]6.3.2.4: Adding both ATSC and Satellite channels to Favourites TV List[/list]
[/list]
6.4: Write Channel Lists to Receiver

6.5: View Channel Lists on Receiver
[/color]
___________________________________________________________________

6.0: Introduction

In the world of C Band Satellite TV, we have access to hundreds of satellites with thousands of TV and Radio programs. If you try to scan all these programs into your receiver, you will quickly become overwhelmed with programming content: fta, scrambled, numbers or call signs for channels, duplicate channel descriptors, temporary wild feeds, wrong audio, missing channels etc. Before long, your service scan lists will look like junk and become difficult to navigate! To avoid this, we need a way to sort all this programming information to generate listings with proper channel names and correct transponder data and correct video and audio pids.

The best way to edit Satellite and ATSC channel information is with a program called DreamSet. You can download the latest version from this site

http://www.dreamset-editor.com/index.php


In this tutorial, we will learn how to use this program to READ, EDIT and WRITE our channel listings to the receiver. :bigsmile

6.1: DreamSet Editor

Open DreamSet Editor. You'll see 4 tabs near the top: Organize Lists, Edit Settings, Search and Statistics. Above these, you will see the main menu commands.

screen_1.jpg

6.1.1: Configuration

Before your can communicate with your receiver, you will need to setup DreamSet Editor. Go to Tools > Program Setup / Box Configuration. Set your box IP address and ensure the Firmware is Enigma 2 ver 4 (Telnet reload) as shown below.

screen_2.jpg

To test your setup, click on Test Configuration. If your were successful, you will see a prompt with all [OK]s. If you don't get [OK]s, you must edit your setup until you do. Call your configuration setup ZGemma and click on the Save Configuration tab.

screen_2a.jpg

6.1.2: Saving

When working with DreamSet Editor, you will need to save your edits as you go along. The program creates and saves several (database) files, so make a directory in your PC to save everything. To save for the first time, click on File > Save as

Go to your directory and make sure File name: is "Name is not Used" and Save as type: is "Enigma 2 ver 4 (lamedb)". Click on Save. From here and on, you just need to File > Save your work.

screen_save.jpg

6.2: Scan for Channels

Although you can theoretically create transponders and channels from within DreamSet Editor and then write them to your receiver, we don't recommend you initially do this. It is far easier to simply scan services into your receiver and then work on them with DreamSet Editor. This strategy has the advantage of ensuring all the channel parameters such as frequency, symbol rate and pids are correct.

In theory, you will want to go through every satellite your dish can pickup and scan in all the transponders you want. Scan them into the 'correct' satellite folder. Use our satellite charts and lyngsat as an up-to-date guide to what is available on the c band spectrum.

For this tutorial, we will only scan a couple of satellites and the terrestrial locals.

6.2.1: Scan Satellite and Terrestrial Transponders

I started by scanning the following satellites:

125W / 3720 H
125W / 3960 H
125W / 4080 H


screen_3.jpg

Notice the multiple entries of the same channel in this scan? We'll fix this with DreamSet Editor!

screen_4.jpg
screen_5.jpg

127W / 3760 V
127W / 3820 H
127W / 3920 V



Notice how this scan assigned the frequency as the channel name? We'll fix this with DreamSet Editor!

screen_6.jpg
screen_7.jpg
screen_8.jpg

121W / 3840 H
121W / 3910 H


screen_9.jpg
screen_10.jpg

107W / 4100 V
107W / 4020 V


screen_11.jpg

Notice the satellite operator used unfamiliar call signs for the channel names. We'll fix this with DreamSet Editor!

screen_12.jpg

107W / 3726 V
107W / 3961 V
107W / 3800 V



Notice the CAPS with this service scan? It looks horrible. We'll fix this with DreamSet Editor!

screen_13.jpg
screen_14.jpg
screen_15.jpg

Next I did a service scan of my locals. Notice how the channels are out of order and some are listed with their call signs rather than with their proper names. We'll fix these problems in DreamSet Editor!

screen_16.jpg

6.2.2: Read Service Scans with DreamSet

Okay, now that you scanned a bunch of services into your receiver, you need to import everything into DreamSet Editor. To do this, go to Transfer > Read/Write Settings. Click on READ.

screen_17.jpg

If you were successful, you will see something like the screenshot below.

screen_17a.jpg

6.3: Working with DreamSet Editor

The first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with DreamSet Editor. Browse the menu options at the top of the program and also click on the various tabs. In general, you organize your channel lists by working under the Organize Lists tab and make transponder edits by working under the Edit Settings tab.


screen_17b.jpg

6.3.1: Edit Settings

6.3.1.1: Viewing Transponders and Channels

Click on the Edit Settings tab. Select a satellite (e.g. 125.1W) in the satellite drop down menu. The left window will display all transponder scans and the right window will display the programming information belonging to each transponder.
screen_17c.jpg

Selecting a different satellite shows the corresponding transponder and programming information.

screen_17d.jpg

6.3.1.2: Editing Transponders and Channels

If you wish to edit a transponder, simply double-click on it. Let's edit 127W / 3820 H / 30000

screen_21.jpg

You can edit information such as frequency, symbol rate, polarity and fec rate. If you edit the transponder id and network id, the reference field (discussed later) of the programs changes. In general, you should avoid editing these latter two parameters unless epg information is getting messed up in your guide.

screen_21a.jpg

If you wish to edit a program, simply double-click on it. You can edit the name, program ID (PID), video (VPID), audio (APID) and other information. The reference field for each program is a unique number assigned for the purpose of downloading epg information, either from the satellite stream (EIT) or from an online server.

For example, the Nasa transponder (127W /3920 V/ 28068) uses the frequency and SID for the program name. :verysad You can edit the program names by double-clicking on them.

screen_21e.jpg

The edits displaying the actual channel names and which are easier to remember, are shown below. :bigsmile

screen_21f.jpg

6.3.1.3: Adding Transponders and Channels

Let's add a satellite transponder and program from 127W. You can find the information you need by browsing our charts at

http://www.tvrosat.com/charts.html

In this example, we'll add ESTV found on 4160V and symbol rate 30000.
screen_21b.jpg

Click on the '+' icon in the transponder window. Add the frequency, symbol rate, polarity and fec for the transponder. You can leave the transponder and network ids as '0'. You only need to edit these when you are downloading epg data. Since most c band satellites do NOT transmit epg information, these entries are not important right now.

screen_21c.jpg

Now highlight the new transponder you created and click on the '+' icon in the programs window. Enter the name of the channel (i.e. ESTV HD) in the Name field. Enter the SID (program ID) in this case 7, in the ID field. The Type should be 1 for a video program. You would enter 2 for a radio program and 3 for data. You may wish to click on the Locked flag to prevent any future receiver scans from changing the name of the program you entered.

You must also enter the VPID in the Video field and PCR field (i.e. 113). These two fields will always be the same. Finally, enter the APID in the AC3 Audio field (i.e. 114). Leave the Audio field 0 because this program has AC3 audio. If this program had MPEG audio, you would enter it into the Audio field and leave the AC3 Audio field as 0. If the program has both, then can enter both, but you will need to use your remote to select between the two audio streams.

Click OK to save.

screen_21d.jpg



You can also view and edit your ATSC services in the same way by selecting them in the 'satellite' drop down menu.

screen_17e.jpg


6.3.1.4: Deleting and Adding Satellites

By default, most Enigma 2 images contain folders for geostationary satellites from around the world. For us in North America, European or Asian satellites aren't of any use to us. It is usually a good idea to delete them so they don't clutter up our satellite list. To delete any unwanted satellites, click on the red 'x' beside the satellite drop down menu. Scroll down the satellite list and enter a check mark beside any satellite you want to delete. Click OK to delete.

To add a new satellite to the list, you would simply click on the '+' icon beside the drop down satellite list and then enter the new satellite name, position and orientation.

Remember to SAVE your work as you go along.

screen_18.jpg

6.3.2: Organize Lists

We will now learn how to organize our programming lists. Click on the Organize Lists tab to get started.


6.3.2.1: Creating Lists

The top window in the middle of DreamSet Editor contains the programming lists or directories. The first thing we need to do is to create some new lists. Later, we will learn how to populate them with TV and Radio channels.

To create a new list, move your cursor over the top window in the middle of DreamSet Editor and right-click on your mouse. Select Create New List...

The first program list we will create is one for listing our c band satellite channels. Let's call it C Band Satellite TV.

screen_19.jpg

The second program list we create is Terrestrial TV.

screen_19a.jpg

Finally, the third program list we create is Favourites TV.

screen_19b.jpg

The programming lists we created are now visible in the top window.

screen_19c.jpg

6.3.2.2: Adding ATSC channels to Terrestrial TV List

Now let's add ATSC channels to our Terrestrial TV list. Click on the Terrestrial TV list. From the drop down menu in the left window, select ATSC. You should see something like the screen below with the middle window blank.

screen_20.jpg

To add an entry from the left window into your Terrestrial TV list (middle window), simply left-click the entry and drag it to the other window. You can also sort the entries in the middle window by again left-clicking and dragging them up/down.

screen_20a.jpg

To edit a program name, simply double-click on it and edit the name and other parameters as already described in this tutorial. I like to add the digital channel number (and sub channel number) in parentheses to the left of the name.

screen_20b.jpg

When you are done organizing your Terrestrial TV list, it will look something like the one below. This is how the list will also look in the receiver guide when you upload it to the receiver. Remember to SAVE your work as you go along.

screen_20c.jpg

6.3.2.3: Adding Satellite channels to C Band Satellite TV List

Now let's add the c band satellite programs to our C Band Satellite TV list. Once again, click on the C Band Satellite TV list to change directories. When it comes to satellite listings, what I like to do is create markers to separate the different satellites. You can do this by right-clicking the middle window and selecting Insert Marker... Since I am adding programs from satellite 127W, I called my marker 127W CBAND SATELLITE TV.
screen_22.jpg

Now left-click and drag the program entries you want from the left window to the middle one as explained earlier. You can also drag the entries up/down to sort them and double-click on them to edit the program names.

screen_22a.jpg

You can now repeat the process and add channels from another satellite, such as 125W.

screen_22b.jpg

Once you are finished, you will have a nice looking list for your satellite programs such as the one shown below. Remember to SAVE your work as you go along.


screen_22c.jpg

6.3.2.4: Adding both ATSC and Satellite channels to Favourites TV List

If you wish to combine your favourite Satellite and Terrestrial programs into a single list, you can do so by adding the program entries into the Favourites TV list we created earlier. As a matter of fact, this list is usually created by Enigma 2 as the default list.

screen_23.jpg

What I like to do is create markers to separate my programs by theme as shown below. It makes it easier to navigate the epg display when you do this. Now click and drag the programs into the appropriate marker. Remember to SAVE your work as you go along.


screen_24.jpg

6.4: Write Channel Lists to Receiver

Once you are done organizing your programming lists, the last step is to write everything to your receiver. Click on Transfer > Read/Write Settings. Then click on WRITE. You should see DreamSet Editor communicating with your receiver and a final message saying Transfer Completed.

screen_25.jpg

6.5: View Channel Lists on Receiver

Great! Let's see what these listing look like on the Enigma 2 receiver. If you press the TV button on you remote, you will be able to view and select the program listings you created. You can also reach the program listings by channeling up/down and then selecting Favourites.


screen_26.jpg

Select C Band Satellite TV to view your satellite programs.

screen_26a.jpg

Select Terrestrial TV to view your terrestrial programs.

screen_26b.jpg
Last edited by The Professor on Tue Oct 03, 2017 5:11 am, edited 8 times in total.
PhD in TVROSat

User avatar
The Professor
TVRO Educator
TVRO Educator
Articles: 0
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:17 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Tutorial 6: Satellite and Terrestrial Channel Editing

Post by The Professor » Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:03 am

Select Favourites to view both satellite and terrestrial programs.

screen_26c.jpg

Press the epg button on the remote to view the listings in epg mode.

screen_26d.jpg
screen_26e.jpg
screen_26f.jpg

Finally, it worth noting that you can view the individual satellite folders containing the service scans you made by pressing the TV button on the remote, followed by Receptions list. The best way to keep your listings up-to-date is to scan new programs into the appropriate satellite folders, READ with DreamSet Editor, add/edit new programs to your listings, and finally, WRITE back to the receiver.


:grin:
PhD in TVROSat

User avatar
The Professor
TVRO Educator
TVRO Educator
Articles: 0
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:17 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Tutorial 6: Satellite and Terrestrial Channel Editing

Post by The Professor » Mon Mar 19, 2018 11:15 pm

...
PhD in TVROSat

Post Reply

Return to “C Band Satellite Receiver Setup Guide”