Unable to update EPG via ICS (Vodafone Wireless Card)

[mvpeterson]

I am unable to update my Vista MCE EPG via Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) which is running on my laptop.

Here's my setup;

EPG: FreeEPG
HTPC: Connects via 'adhoc' method to laptop
Laptop: Connects via Vodafone 3G HSDPA card to Internet, and shares this connection using ICS

I am able to surf the net on the HTPC, so in essence, the ICS does actually work, it is able to browse the net.

When launching Vista MCE, I try to update the EPG, the icon stays on the control panel for a long time and then it says it is unable to retreive guide data.

I have tried going into Vista MCE and setting up the network connection again, it detects an internet connection and it works.

In Vista's 'internet map' it shows that the PC is connected to a gateway, but there is no net connection from the gateway to the internet (yet i'm actually able to surf the net via the ICS??)

I am stumped... so....

a) does the EPG use a specific port to download the guide? Maybe the port is blocked and I can try unblocking it
b) can I download the guide manually and 'feed' it to Vista MCE?

[mikehayton]

Some information...

The downloading of the epg happens in the ehrec.exe process. This process runs under the NetworkService account. It uses windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) to download the files. This is the same download mechanism that Windows Update uses.

Another tidbit is that the proxy settings that ehrec uses are stored in the registry. If you've set proxy settings on your local user account, since you went through mce setup, you might want to try going through mce setup again. From memory, the registry key with the proxy settings are under HLKM\software\microsoft\windows\current version\media center\services\epg.

a) it doesnt use a specific port to download the guide. Just http (80) & https (443)
b) I cant remember off the top of my head. I dont think so. Deleting the %programdata%\microsoft\ehome\epg\*.sdf file and restarting MCE, would cause it to regenerate the *.sdf, but I cant remember if it regenerates from an existing downloaded file or tries to download it. You'll have to have a play around.

Cheers

Mike

[mvpeterson]

Originally Posted by mikehayton

Some information...

a) it doesnt use a specific port to download the guide. Just http (80) & https (443)
b) I cant remember off the top of my head. I dont think so. Deleting the %programdata%\microsoft\ehome\epg\*.sdf file and restarting MCE, would cause it to regenerate the *.sdf, but I cant remember if it regenerates from an existing downloaded file or tries to download it. You'll have to have a play around.

Cheers

Mike

Thanks for your help!

My windows update works, I have been able to setup my vista epg to the point there I can pick my service provider (freeepg), but when it gets to the next page, it just gets stuck with a connection error.

I can see that it is trying to pass data through the ssl port because my firewall pops up with a message, and I allow it.

I have even tried disabling all firewall & av software.

I have tried installing the sim card into my phone and setting up my phone as a HSDPA modem, and the same thing happens.

Funnily enough, my old ADSL connection did actually work?

So just confirming... there is no way at all if worst comes to worst that I can use some sort of grabber to manually download the EPG to feed into vista?

Thanks for your help.

[mikehayton]

So just confirming... there is no way at all if worst comes to worst that I can use some sort of grabber to manually download the EPG to feed into vista?

It would be complex. I havent done this myself but others on this forum probably could assist.

You could use bladerunner (or similar) on the machine. These work by setting up a local Microsoft EPG web service on your machine. The discSvc reg key (in the same reg path as above) is then pointed to the local web service. (The FreeEpg install points the discSvc key to their web server). You'd then have to get the data from somewhere (maybe by taking to the FreeEpg servers) and then place it in the correct spot on the local machine (see bladerunner instructions).