WisconsinEric

Ok, here's a new twist to this topic. In short, if you quit EyeTV 3 (Mac, OS 10.14.3) with Channels set to xmltv and an xmltv schedule grid previously downloaded in use, when you restart EyeTV the channels will have reset to ATSC and the schedule grid will be blank (it will slowly start to fill in with ATSC data). Bummer, had to do the manual reset and channel assignment all over; at least I live in a rural area and held my lineup to 14 channels, so it took just a few minutes. Thankfully the xmltv data are still there, and immediately repopulate when you reselect xmltv as the EPG source. Again, this happens ONLY when you quit EyeTV (so I assume it will also happen when you restart the computer). Anyone else run into this, and can anyone think of a solution? I assume this has nothing to do with the xmltv source file itself (mine comes from www.xmltvlistings.com, which appears to be an alternate source to schedulesdirect.org, using some of the same software from the XMLTV part of the open source project).

Ton (above) suggested TV Mosaic. Never having heard of it, I went to their web site, impressive. It looks like an EyeTV DVR/EPG ecosystem in the making, with several types of software and a hardware tuner. Based in Netherlands; the tuner is DVB only, so that won't work in US. But software supports all platforms (Mac, Windows, even Raspberry Pi!). Still under development, software is in version 1.0. Claims to support HDHomeRun, but EyeTV Hybrid (for those of us who have it) is not on the list. The EPG problem being solved in this thread is our short-run problem, but what happens on the Mac after Mohave (i.e., OS 10.15) is a much bigger long-term problem for Mac owners. If Geniatech fails to deliver on its promise to convert EyeTV from 32-bit to 64-bit, TV Mosaic might be our way out for the future. For those of us with big EyeTV libraries (like me, 500+ programs) the only option I see is to keep my 2010 Mac Mini when I replace it this summer (with a 2018 model) as a dedicated EyeTV server. Clunky solution, but I'd hate to throw out all those programs I recorded (many are edited).

I too want to thank everyone who's contributed, I plan to implement Schedules Direct tonight or tomorrow. Just 2 points of clarification to make sure I am clear, since I am not a programmer (but I do have 2 sons who are by profession, so will run the composite solution by them to see if they have any suggestions and report back if they do). #1 For using mc2xml, the -T flag does NOT have season/episode data, but the -J flag does, correct?. Therefore better to use the -J flag. And does that software have other option flags that might be useful to know about/try? #2 I am in a rural area with a OTA antenna (using a now-ancient EyeTV Hybrid which is still working fine). My channel lineup in EyeTV/TV Guide is for the nearest big city (60 miles away); I assume I should use a zip code for that city, not my own residential zip code, right? Thanks again! - the advice here has been invaluable. I wonder if anyone will ever write a GUI front end to integrate the various software components in this EPG solution.

To DC Rackerby: Schedules Direct is also my backup plan (assuming TV Guide EPG is extinct), but information on how it works would be appreciated. Specifically, having studied the Schedule Direct web site (but not actually done anything), picking a channel listing and setting your channel lineup seem straightforward when receiving over the air via antenna (which I do). And so does downloading a 7-day schedule (leaving the 14-day aside for now). On the EyeTV side, I assume you manually set all channels to xmltv in the EPG column. But I'm missing that final link: having EyeTV recognize the Schedules Direct EPG file. Does it happen automatically? Do you drag the file onto the EyeTV program icon? (one blog post on the net suggested that) Any guidance you can provide would be appreciated. I asked this same question 24 hours ago at Schedules Direct, but have not gotten a response. [I am in USA - Wisconsin, where Schedules Direct displayed an expected range of preset lineups to choose from, though I couldn't judge their content without signing up; using a Mac running 10.11.6].

ATSC EPG alternative Here's an EPG stopgap that works, tested this evening. I have an over-the-air antenna (live in a rural area in Wisconsin without cable, don't want a dish). Not sure if it will work with cable. This is for a Mac running OS 10.11, should work through 10.14. 1. Go to the Channels listing in EyeTV. You will find a listing of your channel lineup you set up in EyeTV. 2. In the EPG column, there is a dropdown menu for each channel; it is currently set to TV Guide. Change it to ATSC for each channel (has to be done one at a time). 3. Go to the Program Guide window, which is still blank, and from the dropdown menu at the top, select Update ATSC (you should have several options, don't select Update TV Guide obviously). 4. I have about two dozen channels in my EyeTV channel listing (which remains active), the program download took under 2 minutes. When done, the Program Guide will be populated for about the next 24 hours (although our 4 public TV channels populated for 4 days out). The listings are barebones, but you can click to record as with TV Guide, and the individual programs do have a content description if you click on the program title. All the usual Record functions work. 5. I'll find out tomorrow if the autoupdate daily function works (set in Program Guide in Preferences), or if you have to do it manually each day. Obviously not convenient like TV Guide, and only goes a day in the future, but it did work fine for me this evening and . . . this is how we did used to do it a decade ago with early DVRs (EPG's have spoiled us). xmltv is probably a better option, I'll tackle that over the next few days.

Assuming TV Guide is gone for good . . . Using xmltv format seems like an alternative, if it works. EyeTV does seem to include that capability (change the EPG source in the Channels window). There is at least one good US source, costing the same as the EyeTV TV Guide subscription, with a 14-day free trial: https://www.xmltvlistings.com/ That's as far as I've gotten. Has anyone used xmltv formatted EPG listings with EyeTV? My question: if you download the 7-day grid for your channel lineup (see above source), does EyeTV automatically identify it on your computer; if not, how do you get EyeTV to recognize the downloaded grid data? I am going to send Geniatech a support request with the same question, but I don't expect an answer - I assume they are swamped or in crisis mode. (I am using EyeTV3 software on a 2010 Mac Mini running El Capitan, to be upgraded this summer to a newer machine running Mojave before 32-bit capability goes away)

The fact that TV Guide is also no longer available on the Geniatech web site to me suggests some kind of license/legal dispute between TV Guide and Geniatech. There are free/open source TV guides out there, I wonder if EyeTV can use them (see my 2nd paragraph below). Meanwhile, EyeTV isn't 'junk' as one person suggested above - all other functions work fine, and you can manually program recordings. Cumbersome, but if you know what you want to record it doesn't take very much longer (I have tried it and it works without problem). The Repeat record function should also work, saving some manual programming. Admittedly not a long-term solution but keeps the software working. TV Guide alternatives: Has anyone in the US tried the "built-in" EPG referred to on pp. 18 & 59 of the EyeTV3 user manual? ("in-stream EPG"). I notice that the EPG column under the Channels window does also offer two other options besides TVGuide: ATSC/OpenCable and xmltv. I wonder if the latter can be configured to give access to open source EPGs? I assume you have to set this option to ATSC/OpenCable to generate the (limited) in-stream program guide.

Like others, my TV Guide listings end abruptly at 5 pm (Central Time) tomorrow, Tuesday 2/5. Hope they fix it. Meanwhile here is a workaround (which I just tested): program recordings manually by going to the Schedules section of EyeTV and clicking on the New button, then enter all the info manually. See "How do I manually schedule a recording" on page 22 of the EyeTV3 user manual. You do have to know what programs you want, which is inconvenient, but all other functions of the EyeTV software appear to work normally - recording, waking the Mac up to record, filing in a playlist, repeat recording of episodes, etc. (I just tested all but the last). I haven't ever tested it, but the user manual claims (p.18) that "EyeTV can also build an EPG from information contained in a digital broadcast" for users with no access to an EPG. Has anyone ever tried doing this? I guess that will be a last ditch effort.

I have experienced this as a problem, not a feature. It started with the most recent update of EyeTV 3 to 3.6.9. Only one program I regularly watch has audio narration (sometimes called video narration), the PBS/BBC series "Nature." Previous versions of EyeTV did NOT reproduce the audio narration; I know because it suddenly appeared on recordings I have watched before; it is so incredibly annoying, that there is no chance I would not have remembered it. I am looking for a way to turn it off, or short of that, revert to an earlier version of the software. I'm about to contact Geniatech to that effect. If you know a way to turn it off while watching an EyeTV recording, I'd sure like to learn about it; I can find nothing in Preferences or the software controls that accomplishes that. Eric

I had the same problem with the TV Guide program not updating at the end of August, so something must have happened to screw up TV Guide access. The problem seems to be with user account records. Thus clearing the EPG data base won't help. I followed instructions here in step 2 (ignore Step 1) and it did solve the problem, but it is a bit of effort. I deleted and re-downloaded/installed EyeTV3 software and also deleted the preferences files named in this web page; TV Guide schedules resumed updating immediately and I haven't had any trouble since: https://www.geniatech.eu/eyetv/faq/eyetv-3-fix-problems-with-program-guide-scheduling-errors-missing-guide/