scte65scan for QAM channel maps?

[loonsailor]

I'm having a hard time getting the channel maps right on my hdhr tuners. In another thread on this forum I learned of the program scte65scan http://scte65scan.sourceforge.net/. Apparently some carriers, including comcast, are now broadcasting the QAM channel maps over the air, and this program is able to read the map. Cool! So, I built and ran the program on my ubuntu box. It actually gives me six slightly different maps with different VCT_IDs which, I guess, are the identifiers that the STB uses to know which of those maps is relevant for it. One can find out the VCT that the STB is using by looking at a maintenance menu and, indeed, one of these maps (0bfe) corresponds to what my DTA, at least, is using. However, none of the maps really corresponds with what I see, or what sage finds when it scans. Also, it doesn't include the several HD channels that I get over clearQAM, I guess because this map is meant for the cheap DTAs.

So, if anybody is familiar with this arcane lore, I could really use a couple of answers.

1. Are these maps correct?
2. How do the 3-part channels (75-5-1), which sage shows me after after a scan correspond to the 2-part channels that I see in the result of scte65scan?
3. If I get a correct map out of this program, is there a way to get it into sage, other than manually?
4. Is there an easier way to keep the QAM maps updated automatically? Sage isn't doing well for me.

[bbobbo]

hey, i think you're referring to my post in the QAM Channel Maps - List Your Channels thread.

regarding the hd channels, according to the README file included with scte65scan:

Cable providers typically transmit local Hi-Def broadcast stations in the clear.
However, DTA's are not capable of HD so these are not included in the tables.
Local broadcast stations instead use ATSC standard PSIP information. Add '-p'
if you have HDTV and/or want scte65scan to also scan for PSIP VCT's.

so make sure you add the -p option to pick up the hd channels.

in terms of the channel maps being correct, i think that they are. however, if you're using comcast, it may be that they're changing the lineups on you. comcast in cambridge, ma made the all-digital transfer on 11/18, and since then i've found that the channel lineups seem to change nightly (not always all channels).

for example, on 11/19, i got the following hd channels:

PSIP channels
   VC     NAME  FREQUENCY   MODULATION PROG
===========================================
 68.1  WBPX HD  219000000hz QAM_256      1
  7.1  WHDH HD  483000000hz QAM_256      2
  5.1  WCVB HD  483000000hz QAM_256      1
 25.1  WFXT HD  489000000hz QAM_256      1
  4.1  WBZ HD   489000000hz QAM_256      2
 56.1  WLVI HD  495000000hz QAM_256      2
  2.1  WGBH HD  495000000hz QAM_256      1
 38.1  WSBK HD  501000000hz QAM_256      5

on 11/23:

PSIP channels
   VC     NAME  FREQUENCY   MODULATION PROG
===========================================
 68.1  WBPX HD  219000000hz QAM_256      1
 25.1  WFXT HD  351012500hz QAM_256      1
  4.1  WBZ HD   351012500hz QAM_256      2
 56.1  WLVI HD  357012500hz QAM_256      2
  2.1  WGBH HD  357012500hz QAM_256      1
 38.1  WSBK HD  363012500hz QAM_256      5
  7.1  WHDH HD  483000000hz QAM_256      2
  5.1  WCVB HD  483000000hz QAM_256      1

on 11/24:

PSIP channels
   VC     NAME  FREQUENCY   MODULATION PROG
===========================================
 68.1  WBPX HD  219000000hz QAM_256      1
  5.1  WCVB HD  345012500hz QAM_256      1
  7.1  WHDH HD  345012500hz QAM_256      2
 25.1  WFXT HD  351012500hz QAM_256      1
  4.1  WBZ HD   351012500hz QAM_256      2
 56.1  WLVI HD  357012500hz QAM_256      2
  2.1  WGBH HD  357012500hz QAM_256      1
 38.1  WSBK HD  363012500hz QAM_256      5

hopefully this will settle down after a while, or maybe they're doing this intentionally to foil people like us.

in terms of getting the info into sagetv, i can't help you there. i have to admit that i'm actually using this to import channels into mythtv. i have an hvr-2250 and i experimented with trying to get sagetv working with it on my fedora server within a qemu xp client so i could transfer my existing windows sagetv license, but i wasn't successful.

[bbobbo]

also, since scte65scan is a linux program, this thread might actually get more hits in the linux subforum.

[loonsailor]

Yes, I was referring to your post. Now that I use the psip switch, and I've figured out my local vct, the channel listing looks right. Now, if I can get answers to the other three questions... I'll try the linux forum.

Thanks.