IceTV New Feature - Copy SD EPG to HD Channels

philzgr8 · **26th July 2007, 08:30 AM**

I did a bit of a search but couldn't find any reference to this new feature of IceTV which allows you to configure the EPG to copy the contents of the SD channel guide to the HD channel. I set this up last night to see how it would work and so far I'm pretty happy with it. Of course it will take a bit of a mindset change when planning to record since I'll have to specifically look for the HD logo if I want to record from the HD channel but I don't see that as a big issue. Personally I think it makes my EPG more readable but it does make it harder to find HD content amongst the SD content and could lead to some confusion about setting up recordings but I think it's probably not too much of an issue if you only record on the HD channel when it has the logo. Interestingly I noticed that if I look at an entry on the HD guide for a program I have set to record on the SD channel it tells me that this program will record on the other channel. Personally I hadn't realised MCE was that smart!

What do others think? Is this an enhancement? Can you see any issues or gotcha's?

logifuse · **26th July 2007, 09:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by philzgr8

Can you see any issues or gotcha's?

The only issues I see are that 7 & the ABC don't always upscale non HD content like 9 & 10. The regular 7HD guide (from Ice) is pretty reliable, but the ABC is all over the place with when they do & don't show HD (& no Ice HD guide of any note), so duplicating the SD listings for ABC HD seems risky.

Justin

philzgr8 · **26th July 2007, 10:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logifuse

The only issues I see are that 7 & the ABC don't always upscale non HD content like 9 & 10. The regular 7HD guide (from Ice) is pretty reliable, but the ABC is all over the place with when they do & don't show HD (& no Ice HD guide of any note), so duplicating the SD listings for ABC HD seems risky.

Well that was my initial reaction but in reality I don't see how. If I want to record I always record on the SD channel unless I see an HD logo. Sure I can switch to a HD channel thinking I'm going to watch a show which isn't there but in truth it's only going to mean I need to change the channel again. I really don't think there's any issue unless there's something I haven't thought of.

arkay · **26th July 2007, 10:25 AM**

I have to say I prefer to see the guide fully populated with data rather than the way it was previously working. Always annoyed me that you couldn't turn off channels in the guide and still be able to record from them/view them via channel changing.

As it is I only ever record the HD shows I know are broadcast that way so I think it's a good idea.

Cheers,

Arkay.

philzgr8 · **26th July 2007, 10:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkay

I have to say I prefer to see the guide fully populated with data rather than the way it was previously working. Always annoyed me that you couldn't turn off channels in the guide and still be able to record from them/view them via channel changing.

As it is I only ever record the HD shows I know are broadcast that way so I think it's a good idea.

Yes that was exactly my thinking on it. I hate seeing those empty slots too. What I really wish was possible was that you could have HD channels invisible but dynamically substitute them for their SD equivalent if they were showing HD content. That would be a far better way to do things if it were possible.

MagpieMDP · **26th July 2007, 11:01 AM**

I wish all the channels broadcast in the same way as 9 & 10. That is, always show content on the HD channel regardless of whether it is SD or HD. For 9 & 10 I only have the HD channel showing, but I use Ice's SD program info against them and it's perfect. I always record the one channel and the guide tells me when stuff is HD.

Does 7 still broadcast test loop junk during the day? I haven't looked for a while.

MDP

simbot82 · **26th July 2007, 11:06 AM**

good for me makes recording the football easier as all afl HD games show up as unknown so I have to manually set the recording. Channel 10 HD afl is now Dolby Digital 5.1 so well worth recording

logifuse · **26th July 2007, 04:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by philzgr8

If I want to record I always record on the SD channel unless I see an HD logo.

There's what you or I do (& understand), & then there's plummeting WAF..... "I set the f'ing thing to record (insert daytime show on 7) & instead I got Sophie Dingbat poncing about in Dubai."

I think it would be a good option if you could choose to do it for 9 & 10, & leave 7 & the ABC as is.

Justin

logifuse · **26th July 2007, 04:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by simbot82

good for me makes recording the football easier as all afl HD games show up as unknown so I have to manually set the recording. Channel 10 HD afl is now Dolby Digital 5.1 so well worth recording

Should log that in the Guide Content section of the IceTV forum.

Justin

philzgr8 · **26th July 2007, 04:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logifuse

There's what you or I do (& understand), & then there's plummeting WAF..... "I set the f'ing thing to record (insert daytime show on 7) & instead I got Sophie Dingbat poncing about in Dubai."

I think it would be a good option if you could choose to do it for 9 & 10, & leave 7 & the ABC as is.

Yes I see that as an issue but I don't have a female permanently in the house so not a problem for me. Just the same you could actually achieve what you want by doing effectively what MagpieMDP suggested.

dgaust · **28th July 2007, 07:30 PM**

Most of the channels in my area (Illawarra) broadcast the HD loop as opposed to upscaling.

This feature, while it would be lovely to remove the blank spaces, just isn't usable for my region at least and probably all regional areas.