How to remap channels on a 4000!

[datadragon]

Ok, finally got it working. Heres how you can remap channels on a 4000 series, the others like 4500 and older models would require removal of hd and hookup to pc, which can also be done, but more time consuming obviously.


There are instances when a cable channel does not appear on the same cable channel number as specified in the channel guide. Normally this is able to be fixed through the replay guide itself, by contacting them directly, however they will only fix if it affects either EVERYONE such as a channel lineup change or a large sub portion I assume like one campus that has its own special lineup, but for various reasons this may not be the case or the guide is just wrong. Also I believe non official cable boxes may not contain a mapping chip that will place the channels out of order. This wrecks havoc with name type recordings and such, and you are left with a guide that says one channel that tunes your box etc to the wrong channel then its actually on. In my specific situation Time Warner Cable of NYC (TWCNYC) transmits basic (unscrambled) analog channels all over the place. So if I wish to use a direct cable connection for my replay, without the benefit of a cable box, I'm faced with a dilemma. As an example, to tune in WCBS channel 2 via the Replay tuner I have to tune into channel 12. With a manual record this is simple, but then I lose the the channel ID as well as the program title and description in the replay guide and can't use any of the show channel and theme channel features that the Replay provides.

However, there is a solution to this problem. Again though using the below and a 4000 model you can do it via network! Non 4000 models can still do this but requires using extract_rtv to grab the file and rewrite once connected to the pc.

Thanks to Sean Riddle for providing the basic information on the structure and location of the channelset-######### file.

The file is in /user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFiles/<zipcode>/.
Its name is channelset-<date>, where <date> is the # of seconds since 1/1/1970. <zipcode> is the zipcode chosen in setup.

The file is fixed-length, 68 bytes wide. All values are in hex
Offset 0, length 2 is ???
Offset 2, length 2 is the TMS ID
Offset 4, length 2 is the physical (cable) channel
Offset 6, length 1 is the video input (0=tuner, 88=s-video)*
Offset 7, length 1 is type of channel, 1=OTA, 2=basic cable, 3=premium cable **
Offset 8, length 16 is the short name
Offset 24, length 32 is the long name
Offset 56, length 8 is the headend ID
Offset 64, length 2 is ???
Offset 66, length 2 is the logical (Replay) channel #
* There may exist other values here for additional inputs
** There may exist other values here for additional channel types, e.g. PPV, satellite, etc.

The two values of interest are are those starting at offset 4 and offset 66. The value at offset 66 is the channel number as displayed in the channel guide; we don't make any changes here. The value at offset 4 is the channel the Replay tuner will tune in to. This is what we change. In the above example, I find the record for WCBS and checking the Replay channel (starting at offset 66) I see that the value is 00 02. The same is true of the value starting at offset 4. To make the Replay tune in to cable channel 12 all that needs to be done is to change the value starting at offset 4 to 00 0C hex (decimal 12). If desired, the short and long names could also be changed, e.g. short name to WOGN, long name to Old Geezers Network (just to make Letterman happy,) all in hex of course.
I recently noticed a pattern in the listings differentiating between OTA, basic cable and premium cable channels, this is at offset 7 and the values are 1 for OffTheAir, 2 for basic cable, 3 for premium cable. There may be other values for satellite, PPV, who knows what else.



The process is as follows for Replay 4000 owners. Note that 4500 and 3000 etc models must use the drive removal method, and unfortunately do this any time there is a new channel lineup downloaded to your device.

For 4000 owners, First grab replaypc v0.40.

Step 1:

httpfs.exe -a <IP OF REPLAY>:80 -s 4.1.0 ls /SnapshotDir/../../../user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFiles/ZIPCODE

Note again that this will not work if the replay has been upgraded to 4.30, as it exploits a known '..' bug in 4.1.0

This step will show you the filename, such as ChannelSet-1025990120

Step 2:

Httpfs.exe -a <IP OF REPLAY>:80 -s 4.1.0 readfile -f <FILENAME> /SnapshotDir/../../../user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFiles/ZIPCODE/<FILENAME>

Where FILENAME = name of the file you found in step 1 such as ChannelSet-1025990120

Step 3: Hex edit as above the channels Hex Value for Offset 4 to the new channel to tune to.

Step 4: Write back to replay:

Httpfs.exe -a <IP OF REPLAY>:80 -s 4.1.0 writefile -f <FILENAME>
/SnapshotDir/../../../user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFile/ZIPCODE/<FILENAME>

Step 5: Reboot (I just unplugged, maybe some easier way I'm sure)

Step 6: Any problem, write back the original file.

> Good Luck!

DataDragon

[richierich]

Cool! I have a few questions that I would guess are all possible:

1. As far as you know, is it possible to remove entries to the list of channels (I have EchoStar service and it lists hundreds of channels I don't get--it would be nice to remove them completely rather than have them all deactivated).

2. Can we safely change the logical (Replay) channel number (the one that shows up in the ReplayTV Channel guide if I follow your description correctly) to group channels appropriately (e.g., put all of the SF locals together instead of having them spread between 589 and 654 [approximate locations of the channels in case anyone feels the need to try to determine exactly where they come]).

3. Can I simply archive my channel guide so every time the channel guide gets updated, I can return it to normal? [mostly rhetorical since we don't expect to remain with 4.1.1 much longer and the channel guide seems to get updated on a weekly basis]

[jtl]

To either remove channels or change the channel guide channel #, you'd need (at least) to also edit user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientLineupFiles/zipcode/Lineup-timestamp
-- it's an index, by channel guide channel number, into the client channel set file

http://www.molehill.org/twiki/bin/view/Replay/ClientLineupFiles

[CrazyDee]

Excellent report DataDragon. My question is what would happen when SB rolls out version 4.3 to all 4K?

[datadragon]

No problem, I just wanted to test it via network and a 4000, all the info were regarding older models and removing hd, hooking to pc etc, and many of the steps were different for a 4000. Thanks to those that provided all the info and those like jtl who helped figure out the problems as we tested it.

Can I simply archive my channel guide so every time the channel guide gets updated, I can return it to normal? [mostly rhetorical since we don't expect to remain with 4.1.1 much longer and the channel guide seems to get updated on a weekly basis]

The only time the mapping changes is when the CHANNEL LINEUP changes, not the channel guide. Such as if they add a new channel etc to your channel lineup. So its unnecessary to do it more then once until a channel lineup occurs.

As far as a new os update that may come later, this is supossed to close the '..' bug that lets you go outside where the replay should allow via https, and therefore I'm looking at benefits to disabling the update before that occurs, as I need to be able to remap myself, and dont feel like going the remove hd route if at all possible.

DataDragon
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/datadragon/cut[1].gif

[bshor]

Hi,

Tried to search the forum archives for instructions on how to remap channels in the older Replays, but didn't come up with anything. Does anyone have a link to instructions to do so?

I don't mind removing the drive -- forces me to extract old programs anyway!

bshor

[datadragon]

Heres the info for older models.

START DRAFT

There are instances when a cable channel does not appear on the same cable channel number as specified in the channel guide. In my specific situation Time Warner Cable of NYC (TWCNYC) transmits basic (unscrambled) analog channels all over the place. So if I wish to use a direct cable connection for my replay, without the benefit of a cable box, I'm faced with a dilemma. As an example, to tune in WCBS channel 2 via the Replay tuner I have to tune into channel 12. With a manual record this is simple, but then I lose the the channel ID as well as the program title and description in the replay guide and can't use any of the show channel and theme channel features that the Replay provides.

However, there is a solution to this problem. And, while it involves removal of the hard drive from the Replay and modification of a file in your PC, it isn't rocket science and anyone comfortable with opening up a PC and delving in its innards should be able to duplicate the process.

Thanks to Sean Riddle for providing the basic information on the structure and location of the channelset-######### file.

The file is in /user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFiles/<zipcode>/.
Its name is channelset-<date>, where <date> is the # of seconds since 1/1/1970. <zipcode> is the zipcode chosen in setup.

The file is fixed-length, 68 bytes wide. All values are in hex
Offset 0, length 2 is ???
Offset 2, length 2 is the TMS ID
Offset 4, length 2 is the physical (cable) channel
Offset 6, length 1 is the video input (0=tuner, 88=s-video)*
Offset 7, length 1 is type of channel, 1=OTA, 2=basic cable, 3=premium cable **
Offset 8, length 16 is the short name
Offset 24, length 32 is the long name
Offset 56, length 8 is the headend ID
Offset 64, length 2 is ???
Offset 66, length 2 is the logical (Replay) channel #
* There may exist other values here for additional inputs
** There may exist other values here for additional channel types, e.g. PPV, satellite, etc.

The two values of interest are are those starting at offset 4 and offset 66. The value at offset 66 is the channel number as displayed in the channel guide; we don't make any changes here. The value at offset 4 is the channel the Replay tuner will tune in to. This is what we change. In the above example, I find the record for WCBS and checking the Replay channel (starting at offset 66) I see that the value is 00 02. The same is true of the value starting at offset 4. To make the Replay tune in to cable channel 12 all that needs to be done is to change the value starting at offset 4 to 00 0C hex (decimal 12). If desired, the short and long names could also be changed, e.g. short name to WOGN, long name to Old Geezers Network (just to make Letterman happy,) all in hex of course.

The process involves using extract_rtv to access the file for modification and writing it back to the Replay drive. I've automated this procedure to make it as easy as possible to make the changes and avoid having to keyboard filenames such as the channelset########. All one needs to remember is the zip code used in setup and use it as an argument when running the getchan batch file.

END DRAFT


It is risky, you could make the hd unusable in the replay so it's imperative that you save an image before doing anything else. Having said that, I can tell you that I routinely remap the channels on two hacked replays and have a 100% success rate (you have to do this everytime the cable company changes the lineup since the download of a new lineup wipes out your remaps.) As to physical risk, you must follow all precautions in powering down the replay (pull the plug on it) and never turning it on without the hd attached.

The batch file, to use type in "getchan <yourzipcode>" (leave out the
quotes):


Note that the last line before :End launches the file in WinHex. Substitute your own hex editor's path here, or delete the line

to write back the file manually use:


code:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
extract_rtv -p1 -w ./user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFiles/<ReplayZip>/<ChanFileName>

ChanEDIT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


replacing <replayZip> and <chanfilename> with the appropriate values.

Good luck, and be careful. Make sure to back up before doing anything.

More info:

I recently noticed a pattern in the listings differentiating between OTA, basic cable and premium cable channels, this is at offset 7 and the values are 1 for OffTheAir, 2 for basic cable, 3 for premium cable. There may be other values for satellite, PPV, who knows what else.


The file is fixed-length, 68 bytes wide.
Offset 0, length 2 is ???
Offset 2, length 2 is the TMS ID
Offset 4, length 2 is the physical (cable) channel
Offset 6, length 1 is the video input (0=tuner, 88=s-video)
Offset 7, length 1 is type of channel, 1=OTA, 2=basic cable, 3=premium cable
Offset 8, length 16 is the short name
Offset 24, length 32 is the long name
Offset 56, length 8 is the headend ID
Offset 64, length 2 is ???
Offset 66, length 2 is the logical (Replay) channel #

Bas

Also, I use WinHex as the hex editor, you can download it free from: http://www.winhex.com/

[BaysideBas]

DataDragon: You should have checked with me before posting my preliminary draft. I'm working on the final version and making sure I address any possible problem areas before posting it. As you're aware there are many possibilities for mischief here. I'm trying to make it as foolproof as possible and it may be another week before the shipping version is ready.

In the meantime, anyone using the above information make sure you backup your RTV system partition and make sure you follow all standard precautions when working inside your PC.

Bas

[SRousseau]

I just the process on my 4040 (version 411190)

Step 1 and 2 work great.

I edited the file but when I execute the writefile I get:
Error create: 80820005
[##################################################] 4692/0 (4692%)

Any ideas what this could caused by?
Thanks for the great works guys!

Stephane

[jtl]

That's an error code that's meant (in other contexts) no-such-file -- maybe a typo on the directory or file name?

[SRousseau]

I must have checked that command line 10 times,
then someone says there must be a typo.....
you look at it again ....and there's the typo!!!!

Thanks (sheepishly)

Stephane

[BaysideBas]

That's why I created the batch files. You don't have to key in the prone to typos filename at anytime.

[bshor]

Bayside,

Where do you have the batch files to accomplish the remapping? I'd love to finally fix a channel or two I have wrong.

[BaysideBas]

Look for the attachment 7 posts up in this thread :)

[bshor]

Ah, ok. :)

But your reply to the next message said it was a preliminary draft. Is it still?

[BaysideBas]

Preliminary in that it isn't finished yet. But basically all the info is there and the procedure works, I just want to refine it and make it sort of foolproof. Time has been of short supply this summer.

"Just when you thought you made it foolproof, Nature develops a superior version of fool." Anonymous

[BaysideBas]

Here is the most up to date version of the documentation, the procedure or batch files have not changed:

There are instances when a cable channel does not appear on the same cable channel number as specified in the channel guide. In my specific situation Time Warner Cable of NYC (TWCNYC) transmits basic (unscrambled) analog channels all over the place. So if I wish to use a direct cable connection for my replay, without the benefit of a cable box, I'm faced with a dilemma. As an example, to tune in WCBS channel 2 via the Replay tuner I have to tune into channel 12. With a manual record this is simple, but then I lose the the channel ID as well as the program title and description in the replay guide and can't use any of the show channel and theme channel features that the Replay provides.

However, there is a solution to this problem. And, while it involves removal of the hard drive from the Replay and modification of a file in your PC, it isn't rocket science and anyone comfortable with opening up a PC and delving in its innards should be able to duplicate the process.

Thanks to Sean Riddle for providing the basic information on the structure and location of the channelset-######### file.

The file is in
/user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFiles/<zipcode>/.
Its name is channelset-<date>, where <date> is the # of seconds since 1/1/1970.
<zipcode> is the zipcode chosen in setup.

The file is fixed-length, 68 bytes wide. All values are in hex
Offset 0, length 2 is ???
Offset 2, length 2 is the TMS ID
Offset 4, length 2 is the physical (cable) channel
Offset 6, length 1 is the video input (0=tuner, 88=s-video)*
Offset 7, length 1 is type of channel, 1=OTA, 2=basic cable, 3=premium cable **
Offset 8, length 16 is the short name
Offset 24, length 32 is the long name
Offset 56, length 8 is the headend ID
Offset 64, length 2 is ???
Offset 66, length 2 is the logical (Replay) channel #
* There may exist other values here for additional inputs
** There may exist other values here for additional channel types, e.g. PPV, satellite, etc.

The two values of interest are are those starting at offset 4 and offset 66.
The value at offset 66 is the channel number as displayed in the channel guide; we don't make any changes here.
The value at offset 4 is the channel the Replay tuner will tune in to. This is what we change. In the above example, I find the record for WCBS and checking the Replay channel (starting at offset 66) I see that the value is 00 02. The same is true of the value starting at offset 4.
To make the Replay tune in to cable channel 12 all that needs to be done is to change the value starting at offset 4 to 00 0C hex (decimal 12). If desired, the short and long names could also be changed, e.g. short name to WOGN, long name to Old Geezers Network (just to make Letterman happy,) all in hex of course.

The process involves using extract_rtv to access the file for modification and writing it back to the Replay drive. I've automated this procedure to make it as easy as possible to make the changes and avoid having to keyboard filenames such as the channelset########. All one needs to remember is the zip code used in setup and use it as an argument when running the getchan batch file.

For ease of access and to avoid messy directory paths, I suggest placing all of the needed software in the same folder in the root directory of your c: drive. Since I remap two Replays I created 2 folders named 3060 and 2040 (FOLDERPATH \3060 AND \2040) respectively for the two units. Duplicating the extract_rtv and other files in the two folders doesn't take up much additional drive space and makes the process easier to control.

Two batch files automate the process and the listing for them is included at the end of this post. Simply copy and paste them via a text editor and save respectively as getchan.bat and savechan.bat

CAVEATS:

in both the RTVs I have the channelset file is the only one in the /user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFiles/<zipcode>/ directory; the getchan batch file depends on that to retrieve the name of the file. But I only have one lineup on each of those machines. If, on Replays with more than a single lineup, there's more than one file in the directory the batch file will not work as intended.

Only make changes to existing channel listings. Don't add or remove listings as this would change the file size and may result in unintended consequences.

PROCEDURE:

In Windows click on the Start button, select RUN and choose COMMAND. This opens a DOS window. Change to the Replay directory by keying CD <folderpath>, then invoke the extract utility by keying GETCHAN <zipcode> followed by ENTER. <zipcode> is the zip you specified in the Replay setup. Make sure that you don't close the DOS window until you've finished writing back the modified file to the Replay drive; there are environmental variables which store the zipcode and channelset file name so you don't have to rekey them while doing the update, they are lost if the DOS window is closed. If you use the last command to open the EDIT file in a hex editor, you won't be able to enter the writeback command in the DOS window until you close the editor, which will return the focus back to the DOS window.

I use WinHex. a shareware hex editor with a powerful command set which makes for easy and nearly foolproof operation.

[stahlgrau]

Has anyone tried this on a 5000 series replay? I tried using the following command:

httpfs.exe -a <IP> -s 530500750 ls /SnapshotDir/../../../user/ChannelGuide/ChannelSet/ClientChannelSetFiles/ZIPCODE

And got the following error message:

*** ERROR: Invalid software version

Any ideas? I'm using replaypc version 0.4.0 on a Win2K box.

[Mikeyboy]

user\ChannelGuide\ChannelSet\ClientChannelSetFiles\xxxxx

That directory does exist in the 5000.

[ocraven]

Timing is everything - this thread has been dormant for a long time but I just found it, too, and was going to ask almost the same question -- whether it works on the 4500 series units. I'll be SO happy if it does! I've been really wanting exactly this function for a long time. If not, maybe I can find someone who wants to trade a 4000 series for our 4508!
Thanks!

[Mikeyboy]

Originally posted by ocraven
Timing is everything - this thread has been dormant for a long time but I just found it, too, and was going to ask almost the same question -- whether it works on the 4500 series units. I'll be SO happy if it does! I've been really wanting exactly this function for a long time. If not, maybe I can find someone who wants to trade a 4000 series for our 4508!
Thanks! 4500 and 4000 use the same operating system. No reason it shouldn't work.

[stahlgrau]

Originally posted by Mikeyboy
user\ChannelGuide\ChannelSet\ClientChannelSetFiles\xxxxx

That directory does exist in the 5000.

Does that mean it's not possible to re-map on a 5000, or just that no one has tried it yet? I tried changing the -s parameter (software version) to 520411140 and now I get the following error:

Error 80820005

[Mikeyboy]

Don't know if it's been tried on a 5000. My guess is no.

I'm not up on httpfs.exe. jtl posted earlier in this thread httpfs.exe only works with software 4.1.

You could use extract_rtv to grab and then overwrite the file in side the hard drive. Be aware you need to know the exact file name to extract it. Channel map file name changes regularly.

[stahlgrau]

I managed to get httpfs working sort of, and it looks like doing an ls of / shows a Photo and a Video directory, that's it. Photo just has my photos in it, and doing an ls of the Video directory yields:
Error: end of httpfs status line not found
Error -1

It also gives the 80820005 error when you try to do a ../ in the ls, as mentioned earlier in the thread.

Newbie questions: To use extract_rtv I need to put the ReplayTV hard drive in my computer, correct? Will it show the entire file system contents, or will it just show what httpfs showed, just those two folders?

[Mikeyboy]

Originally posted by stahlgrau
I managed to get httpfs working sort of, and it looks like doing an ls of / shows a Photo and a Video directory, that's it. Photo just has my photos in it, and doing an ls of the Video directory yields:
Error: end of httpfs status line not found
Error -1

It also gives the 80820005 error when you try to do a ../ in the ls, as mentioned earlier in the thread.

Newbie questions: To use extract_rtv I need to put the ReplayTV hard drive in my computer, correct? Will it show the entire file system contents, or will it just show what httpfs showed, just those two folders? Right you must connect the replay drive into the PC. extract_rtv can extract all replay files.

To learn what the correct channelset file name is, extract all files onto the PC drive using command extract_rtv -e Choose partition 1. All the files will be copied into the same directory extract_rtv is executed from. Work your way to the appropriate directory and you'll find the channelSet file. extract_rtv can also be used to overwrite the channelset file.


At flipflops web site http://www.geocities.com/flipflop7146/ download the manual clock set hack. Inside that file are instructions how to install the manual clock setting panel using extract_rtv. You can alter those commands to be applicable to the channelset file.

I'm sure ther are other methods to do this but extract_rtv will work.

[stahlgrau]

Just finished and it seems to be working great. Thanks for all the help! Replay should really add this functionality.

[Mikeyboy]

Good for you! Did you use extract_rtv?

[stahlgrau]

Yup. I didn't really have any problems except when I turned on my replay for the first time after putting the drive back in I couldn't figure out why it would just sit there at the ReplayTV loading screen. I opened up the cover again and of course I forgot to re-attach the IDE and power connectors to the drive.

Anyway, the process is pretty easy. Someone with more GUI experience than me could probably write a program to make it super easy, especially for those that are able to use httpfs.exe instead of extract_rtv.

[BaysideBas]

Originally posted by stahlgrau
Just finished and it seems to be working great. Thanks for all the help! Replay should really add this functionality. Happy to hear it works on the 5Ks also. And yes, as I've mentioned before, it would not be very difficult to set up a panel for modifying this file by the user directly on the RTV. If I was still on TWC cable I would be motivated to spend the time and do the necessary research and development on it. But I'm now on Dish, and have no more need to remap channel assignments.

[ocraven]

Hooray! Sat down last night to give this a try on our 4508, and it works! Yippeee! Thanks, all. :D

Now we can finally stop using our ReplayTV as a glorified VCR (manual record only) and actually take advantage of the program guide (at least much of it) using Niagara Falls stations remapped to Toronto. Someday maybe we'll try that "harvester" for getting the full Canadian listings, but that looked more complicated. Of course, now we'll need to embark on the next adventure - getting a wireless bridge - since we'll actually want to (gasp!) have our unit talk to the mothership more than the current quarterly visit.

K

[FlipFlop]

I missed this thread the first time around, but this time it caught my eye.

It seems to me that it would be much easier to use a proxy server like RNSProxy combined with Ian Prest's RNS server code. Using Ian's code you can define your own headend (channel list). Then using a modified RNSProxy you can send this headend to your unit. There would be no need for extract_rtv, no editing files, and since your unit always connects through the RNSProxy, the RNSProxy will always serve up your custom headend even when the channel list changes.

Any tried serving custom headends using Ian's code? I don't want to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to...

But, I think I'll try this out myself. It could be another solution to the Dish Unsubscribed Channel problem. I can limit the channel list to just the ones I subscribe too, and won't have to be constantly removing channels every time Dish adds them.

[madSkeelz]

I recently changed cable providers and it looks like I may be facing some slightly-off channel lineups [because I'd really like to avoid using a cable box, and the "cable ready" listing from zap2it isn't quite right]. So, let me be the first lazy person to encourage you FlipFlop!

[FlipFlop]

I used Ian's provider setup scripts, and made a modified RNSProxy that substitutes the new zip code and headend info, and it works! :D I now have a channel guide containing only the channels I want, and can define my own lineups.

Unfortunately the RNSProxy script isn't particularly reliable, so for this to be a viable long term solution I'll have to work out the changes to Ian's server code so it only handles the zipcode and headend requests, and sends everything else on to the ReplayTV servers.

[Ghoul]

FlipFlop,

Why not work on a universal script that can allow the user to do whatever they wanted to... not only channel lineup changes, but hooks for other features... shells, OS refusal...etc..

C-Band users might be able to find some usefullness to your scripts as well.

[stahlgrau]

Nice to see people are doing more with this. My mapping was working fine until SpikeTV came along. Now I have to change the file again because the lineup got updated.

[cliffcor]

Originally posted by Ghoul
FlipFlop,Why not work on a universal script that can allow the user to do whatever they wanted to... not only channel lineup changes, but hooks for other features... shells, OS refusal...etc..C-Band users might be able to find some usefullness to your scripts as well.

I encourage your efforts. WHen there is a dummy users version of this kind of setup/utility, it will be used by many folks for managing setup's that RTV doesn't. Go forth!

[kjac]

FlipFlop,

The way ians code is currently structured, if a script is not found in the 2.0 directory (logon.pl for instance) it will redirect the request to mothership. So, if you only want to hook the headend to do a remap, ensure you get the proper channel ID, TMSID, etc that replay wants to send for that provider/zipcode combination. Delete everything in the 2.0 directory except getheadend2.pl, write your custom headend file, and modify headend2.pl to serve that custom file rather than going to the database.

What will happen then is you set your replay to use the linux box as a gateway, transproxy will direct to microproxy, micro_proxy will forward every request to mothership _EXCEPT_ getheadend2 which will call to return your custom headend, nicely fixing your remap. (I'm doing something very similar to this to get non-US listings into my 5040 refurb, I still forward vtime2.pl to mothership so that my unit can set time properly).

-kjac

[BaysideBas]

Elegant solution!

[stahlgrau]

Any update on this? It sounds like this is really coming along. Can't wait!

[madSkeelz]

I've a related question. Is it possible to *add* a single channel by editing the channelset file? I unofficially get IFC even though I'm not supposed to. [It just comes in.] But of course, it isn't listed in the channel guide at all, so I don't need to remap it, I need to map it. Is it possible to add a single entry?

The other option is to change my source so that I have the full lineup or something, and then remap *every* channel, which seems a bit much.

Any ideas?

[rfjason]

I just found out about this thread. I followed the instructions successfully. I can map a physical channel to a different logical channel.

As a RTV2000 user who doesn't have access to a phone line, I have two stumbling blocks:

1. I can't get my tuner to tune in anything except OTA stations. I even modified my restore XML file to tell the RTV menu that the video input was configured for cable. Didn't seem to make a difference.

2. Ultimately, I do want to modify the channelset file to add stations to the lineup. (Thus, lengthening the file.)

If I can figure out how to get through these stumbling blocks, I'm very tempted to write a win program to automate the process.

[ashvash920]

hi guys, i understand the use of the batch files, but i can NOT figure out how to modify the CHANedit file in WinHex. i don't at all understand this program (i'm a med student:confused: ) and would appreciate some pointers--how to find offset4, what to change, what to change it to???
help..gulp..

[BaysideBas]

OK ashvash, It would take longer for me to explain it to someone who has never done it himself (and there's great opportunity for mischief here) than for me to modify the file for you. Just send me the channelset file and a matrix of the current channel setup (remember, it's over 2 years since I wrestled with this). I'll modify the file per your info and shoot it back to you fortwith. Send it to the address I'll give you in the reply to the PM you sent. OK?

[horseflesh]

Has anyone figured out a way to do this over the network on a 5xxx yet?

I need to remap DirecTV ch. 13 so that it fires the IR code for ch. 18.

[wishman]

I just got a replaytv 5040 and got the channel listing of TWCNYC of Jamaica without a cable box. The channel listing is somewhat correct in that as the OP stated channel 2 is viewable on RTV channel 12. However normally RTV channel 14 should be showing NBC(channel 4), instead the tuner is displaying a scrambled YES network channel. All the other channels are correct. I used to use a 3030 and it was displaying the channel 14 as NBC show. Is something wrong with my replaytv's tuner?

Thanks!

[BaysideBas]

I doubt it, TWCNYC has been in the habit of shuffling channel assignments. Also, the lineups could vary by neighborhood. Don't be surprised if next week NBC is back on ch 14. But, to eliminate the possibility of a tuner problem, connect the cable to your tv directly, what appears on ch 14?

[wishman]

Thanks BaysideBas,

The replaytv works fine now after a day. It was weird but now it's working again. It's great that the 5040 has the correct channel lineup for non cable box - cable signal users(nbc is channel 14). instead of the need to mess with it when I had the 3030.

[BaysideBas]

So it only took TMS four years to provide a direct cable lineup for TWC-NYC? Way to go guys. They (TWC) probably standardized the mapping across the service area, which they didn't have before.

[famewolf]

Is there a simpler solution to do this now? I have a samsung t151 and need to remap 4 channels...

Channel 3 is channel 4 on the cable listings...
Channel 9 is channel 10 on the cable listings...
Channel 38 is channel 8 on the cable listings..
and channel 54 is channel 7 on the cable listings.

The directtv listings for my area do not have locals and when I try using wirns I get a network error consistently so it looks like modifying the channels is my best solution. I have a 5040.

[BaysideBas]

Seems to me that pursuing a fix for your network problem is the path of least resistance. OTOH, have you checked for the presence of locals in immediately neighboring areas on DTV's listings?

[famewolf]

I checked all cable and satellite providers for zip codes 31901-31909 and 36867-36877 and none of them provide local station #'s. I have tried repeatedly to get wirns to work with the replay and have finally given up on that route. Right now I'm doing a bunch of manual recordings to get the hdtv shows I want. Thanks for the reply.

[famewolf]

Well..on a bright note I did find out that Auburn University (zip code 36849) has a cable listing with channels 3, 9 and 38 mapped to the right local channels...to bad fox wasn't on 54 or it would be perfect...but I can deal with manual recordings on 1 channel alot better then 4.

[STL]

Can I use this method to send multiple commands when I select a particular channel in the guide? I am trying to find a way to make my ReplayTV 5040 tune my Samsung SIR-TS160 to channel 2-1 (that's channel 2 subchannel 1). I was hoping I could have the ReplayTV send "2+enter+ChannelUp" instead of say "88" when I selelct channel 88 in my guide. Does anyone know if this is even possible? Or if anyone has already done this please let me know!

[STL]

Anyone?

[STL]

TTT

[famewolf]

I run linux and have a samsung hdtv tuner...don't have access to wirns and would like to do some remapping of channels on the HD...I have a 5040...my understanding is on the 5000 series the only way to do the remap is to pull the HD. Is that still correct? Anyone made any utilities to make the remap process simpler? A gui that asks for channel and remap channel to limit the chance of screwing things up would be awesome!

I may be able to come up with a batch file to get input from the user and call a program to convert decimal to hex if I felt I understood the process better for the 5000.

[BaysideBas]

A GUI front end was just not worth the effort for me at the time. I did use MacroExpress to automate the procedure (since the remapping remained constant and all that had to be done was to reinstate it after the cableco sent a lineup change). One thing I think would have worked was renaming the channelset file to a value way in the future so it wouldn't get overwritten by an update. But I switched to satellite and had no more need to further develop the remapping.