On-screen TV Guide feature
 

We have the on-screen TV Guide feature on our new Sharp TV. Something a
little odd, and I can't find anything in the manual that addresses
this....we're getting our picture, both analog and digital, from a set
top antenna (fancy rabbit ears, basically). Now, we don't watch the
analog channels much, so we cut them out of the scan of stations. In
other words, although one can still access an analog station by typing
its number directly into the remote, if we scan through stations we have
the TV programmed to skip most analog stations and just scan through the
digital ones.

Now, we've found that since we did this, we aren't getting the TV Guide
downloads anymore. We tried reverting back to having all channels in
the scan, and we get TV Guide again. We also never get any TV Guide
info for digital or HD stations, only analog.

Is this supposed to work this way or is there a way to get TV Guide to
download without having analog stations in the scan?

Thx.



John

--


Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Now, we've found that since we did this, we aren't getting the TV Guide
downloads anymore. We tried reverting back to having all channels in
the scan, and we get TV Guide again. We also never get any TV Guide
info for digital or HD stations, only analog.

I can't help but wonder if there is *ONE* specific channel you need
to leave in the scan, probably PBS, the one transmitting the guide.
Or maybe there's two sources of the guide and you lose it if you
lock out both of them.

You might try locking out the analog channels, one or a few at a time,
until the guide quits. Then bring them back in reverse order until
it comes back. Then try locking out everything you want to lock
out except that one station.

Gordon L. Burditt

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:
We have the on-screen TV Guide feature on our new Sharp TV. Something a
little odd, and I can't find anything in the manual that addresses
this....we're getting our picture, both analog and digital, from a set
top antenna (fancy rabbit ears, basically). Now, we don't watch the
analog channels much, so we cut them out of the scan of stations. In
other words, although one can still access an analog station by typing
its number directly into the remote, if we scan through stations we have
the TV programmed to skip most analog stations and just scan through the
digital ones.

Now, we've found that since we did this, we aren't getting the TV Guide
downloads anymore. We tried reverting back to having all channels in
the scan, and we get TV Guide again. We also never get any TV Guide
info for digital or HD stations, only analog.

Is this supposed to work this way or is there a way to get TV Guide to
download without having analog stations in the scan?

Thx.



John



Yes John, that is the way it is suppose to work. The TV
guide information is transmitted via an analog TV station
for ALL analog channels (usually it is a PBS station but it
is also transmitted on cable channels like MSN). It is
received ONLY when your TV (or set top box for those that
have them) is off (some PBS stations only transmit the data
during the night). If you lock those channels out you will
get zero TV Guide EPG data for ALL analog channels.

The digital channels work quite differently concerning the
guide data. The guide data is transmitted by EACH station
using PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol). PSIP
also contains the mapping information (the digital stations
transmit on a different frequency than the analog one but
PSIP allows them to be mapped to the same channel number as
the analog station). PSIP is (or should be) available at
all times and since it comes from EACH channel your guide
for each station may vary a LOT depending on how much guide
information the station puts into the data stream. Most TVs
(and ATSC set top boxes) can store up to 16 days of data but
I have yet to see a digital channel that provides more than
15 hours worth of guide data.
--
Bill R

Remove "not_for_spam_" to reply by e-mail

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Bill R wrote:

Yes John, that is the way it is suppose to work. The TV guide
information is transmitted via an analog TV station for ALL analog
channels (usually it is a PBS station but it is also transmitted on
cable channels like MSN).

So does this mean I can keep just the analog PBS station on to get all
the data?

It is received ONLY when your TV (or set top
box for those that have them) is off (some PBS stations only transmit
the data during the night).

Yes, that's how it's done here.

The digital channels work quite differently concerning the guide data.
The guide data is transmitted by EACH station using PSIP (Program and
System Information Protocol). PSIP also contains the mapping
information (the digital stations transmit on a different frequency than
the analog one but PSIP allows them to be mapped to the same channel
number as the analog station). PSIP is (or should be) available at all
times and since it comes from EACH channel your guide for each station
may vary a LOT depending on how much guide information the station puts
into the data stream. Most TVs (and ATSC set top boxes) can store up to
16 days of data but I have yet to see a digital channel that provides
more than 15 hours worth of guide data.

So how come we're not getting digital information at all?



John

--


Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:
Bill R wrote:

Yes John, that is the way it is suppose to work. The TV guide
information is transmitted via an analog TV station for ALL analog
channels (usually it is a PBS station but it is also transmitted on
cable channels like MSN).


So does this mean I can keep just the analog PBS station on to get all
the data?

It is received ONLY when your TV (or set top

box for those that have them) is off (some PBS stations only transmit
the data during the night).


Yes, that's how it's done here.

The digital channels work quite differently concerning the guide
data. The guide data is transmitted by EACH station using PSIP
(Program and System Information Protocol). PSIP also contains the
mapping information (the digital stations transmit on a different
frequency than the analog one but PSIP allows them to be mapped to the
same channel number as the analog station). PSIP is (or should be)
available at all times and since it comes from EACH channel your guide
for each station may vary a LOT depending on how much guide
information the station puts into the data stream. Most TVs (and ATSC
set top boxes) can store up to 16 days of data but I have yet to see a
digital channel that provides more than 15 hours worth of guide data.


So how come we're not getting digital information at all?



John


John, It is likely that it is the PBS station that is
transmitting the TV guide data but it could be another
station. I would un-block the analog PBS station and see if
you get the data. If not, it is transmitted on another
station. You will have to try them one by one.

As to why you are not getting the information for your
digital stations that could be the way you have your TV
setup OR it could be a limitation of your TV OR it could be
a different button on your remote (it is on mine). Some TVs
(mostly older models) do not use the PSIP data and therefore
do not have EPG information for the digital channels (I
seriously doubt that your new TV is that way but I will do a
little research). What is the model number of your Sharp TV?

--
Bill R

Remove "notforspam" to reply by e-mail

On-screen TV Guide feature on/half of the TV guide
 

I have a slightly different problem with the "Guide Plus" on my Philips
TV. The local PBS channel (zip code 32819) now only broadcasts the ad
for the TV Guide magazine. I do not receive any channel listings
anymore. Try locking out all but the PBS analog channels.

Gordon Burditt wrote:

Now, we've found that since we did this, we aren't getting the TV Guide
downloads anymore. We tried reverting back to having all channels in
the scan, and we get TV Guide again. We also never get any TV Guide
info for digital or HD stations, only analog.


I can't help but wonder if there is *ONE* specific channel you need
to leave in the scan, probably PBS, the one transmitting the guide.
Or maybe there's two sources of the guide and you lose it if you
lock out both of them.

You might try locking out the analog channels, one or a few at a time,
until the guide quits. Then bring them back in reverse order until
it comes back. Then try locking out everything you want to lock
out except that one station.

Gordon L. Burditt

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:
We have the on-screen TV Guide feature on our new Sharp TV.
Something a little odd, and I can't find anything in the manual that
addresses this....we're getting our picture, both analog and
digital,
from a set top antenna (fancy rabbit ears, basically). Now, we
don't
watch the analog channels much, so we cut them out of the scan of
stations. In other words, although one can still access an analog
station by typing its number directly into the remote, if we scan
through stations we have the TV programmed to skip most analog
stations and just scan through the digital ones.

Now, we've found that since we did this, we aren't getting the TV
Guide downloads anymore. We tried reverting back to having all
channels in the scan, and we get TV Guide again. We also never get
any TV Guide info for digital or HD stations, only analog.

Is this supposed to work this way or is there a way to get TV Guide
to
download without having analog stations in the scan?

Thx.



John

Is there something good about TVGuide? If your TV has source-PIP, you
can watch TV-OTA, TV-Cable, DVR, DVD, or PC and have one other source
in the PIP window. TVGuide doesn't hold a candle to the average
on-line guide - unless of course you have TiVo - the best guide of all
IMNSVFHO;-0)

If you can switch between PC guide sources and TV programming, even
without PIP, then who cares what channels you do or don't block? A
remote mouse is way better than a remote TV clicker, if you've set up
your PC well.

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Bill's News wrote:

Is there something good about TVGuide? If your TV has source-PIP, you
can watch TV-OTA, TV-Cable, DVR, DVD, or PC and have one other source
in the PIP window. TVGuide doesn't hold a candle to the average
on-line guide - unless of course you have TiVo - the best guide of all
IMNSVFHO;-0)

If you can switch between PC guide sources and TV programming, even
without PIP, then who cares what channels you do or don't block? A
remote mouse is way better than a remote TV clicker, if you've set up
your PC well.


I have a DirecTV TiVo and I agree that the TiVO guide is
great but, on the other hand, the Interactive TV Guide that
comes on newer TV and DVD recorders isn't bad. You can very
easily schedule programs to record and it is a heck a lot
quicker than the on-line guides. For a lot of us the
on-line guides are not an option while we are watching our
HDTVs since our computers aren't in the same room.

--
Bill R

Remove "notforspam" to reply by e-mail

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Bill R wrote:
Bill's News wrote:

Is there something good about TVGuide? If your TV has source-PIP,
you can watch TV-OTA, TV-Cable, DVR, DVD, or PC and have one other
source in the PIP window. TVGuide doesn't hold a candle to the
average on-line guide - unless of course you have TiVo - the best
guide of all IMNSVFHO;-0)

If you can switch between PC guide sources and TV programming, even
without PIP, then who cares what channels you do or don't block? A
remote mouse is way better than a remote TV clicker, if you've set
up
your PC well.


I have a DirecTV TiVo and I agree that the TiVO guide is
great but, on the other hand, the Interactive TV Guide that
comes on newer TV and DVD recorders isn't bad. You can very
easily schedule programs to record and it is a heck a lot
quicker than the on-line guides. For a lot of us the
on-line guides are not an option while we are watching our
HDTVs since our computers aren't in the same room.

You raise some excellent issues, Bill. Having been disappointed in
the past by on-screen TV Guides certainly does not mean that they
continue to be useless. And yes, a PC in every TV room may not be the
norm today - but it will be ;-)

We subscribe here to the cable company's DVR, which has a far inferior
guide to TiVo, but a far superior capability - it works with all
channels - I understand that this is also true of TiVo with DirectTV,
just not us cable users? So here, the web based viewer guides
provide the source for look up and search, while we give up one-click
scheduling of recordings (as if the cable box ever offered that!!!;-).

Perhaps a feature of TVs for years, but new to me, is the PIP by
source. So I can now have a PC window open within a TV or DVD program
or vice-versa. And DVI on a 1920x1080 screen makes for very readable
displays.

Never-the-less, the OP seems to have a problem with merely watching
preferred TV channels and getting access to the guide. And my comment
was directed to that. In his case, the feature is apparently
useless - or at least poorly implemented.

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Bill R wrote:

John, It is likely that it is the PBS station that is transmitting the
TV guide data but it could be another station. I would un-block the
analog PBS station and see if you get the data. If not, it is
transmitted on another station. You will have to try them one by one.

As to why you are not getting the information for your digital stations
that could be the way you have your TV setup OR it could be a limitation
of your TV OR it could be a different button on your remote (it is on
mine). Some TVs (mostly older models) do not use the PSIP data and
therefore do not have EPG information for the digital channels (I
seriously doubt that your new TV is that way but I will do a little
research). What is the model number of your Sharp TV?

It's a Sharp Aquos LC-45GD5U. One other thing I don't get is why it
takes so long for the TV Guide feature to update. How long does it take
to transmit some text and the correct day and time? Sometimes the red
light on my set is on for 3-4 hours!



John

--


Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Bill R wrote:


For a lot of us
the on-line guides are not an option while we are watching our HDTVs
since our computers aren't in the same room.

Ditto.

The on-screen TV Guide tells me what's on that night, instead of having
me flip through channels. That's all I really use it for. I'm not a
fanatical TV watcher, but it's handier than logging into the computer in
the back room to see what's on and it is a feature that comes with the
TV, and as such I'd like it to work.



John

--


Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:

It's a Sharp Aquos LC-45GD5U. One other thing I don't get is why it
takes so long for the TV Guide feature to update. How long does it take
to transmit some text and the correct day and time? Sometimes the red
light on my set is on for 3-4 hours!



John



John,

I did a little research on the Aquos models over the weekend
(by the way, it is a very nice set) and I found out that
Sharp does NOT use PSIP to get the EPG information for the
digital channels. They use Gemstar (TV Guide) for ALL
channels. If the analog station that supplies the Gemstar
EPG information does not include the information for the
digital stations you will only have listings for the analog
stations. You might want to call your PBS station and talk
to an Engineer. He/she should be able to tell if the EPG
information is included for the digital channels.

The reason that it takes so long for the guide to update is
that the analog channel transmits the information on an
unused (for video) scan line of the analog TV signal (the
analog signal has 525 scan lines; some are only used for
"data" information). There is nothing you (or the station)
can do to get the information to you faster. That is one
reason that PSIP was adapted for digital channels. You can
get EPG data in seconds and it can be done in the
"background" (while you are watching TV). Its too bad that
Sharp decided to use the Gemstar system for all channels.
It makes me wonder what is going to happen in 2009 when
analog transmissions goes dark. Are all the EPGs on digital
sets that depend on analog data for their guides going to
stop working?
--
Bill R.

Remove No-Junk-Mail- in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:
Bill R wrote:

John, It is likely that it is the PBS station that is transmitting the
TV guide data but it could be another station. I would un-block the
analog PBS station and see if you get the data. If not, it is
transmitted on another station. You will have to try them one by one.

As to why you are not getting the information for your digital
stations that could be the way you have your TV setup OR it could be a
limitation of your TV OR it could be a different button on your remote
(it is on mine). Some TVs (mostly older models) do not use the PSIP
data and therefore do not have EPG information for the digital
channels (I seriously doubt that your new TV is that way but I will do
a little research). What is the model number of your Sharp TV?

It's a Sharp Aquos LC-45GD5U. One other thing I don't get is why it
takes so long for the TV Guide feature to update. How long does it take
to transmit some text and the correct day and time? Sometimes the red
light on my set is on for 3-4 hours!



John


I also have to wonder what happens if you pull the plug while the red
light is on. The manual urges you not to do this. Well, what if you
are having a violent electrical storm while the light is on--the manual
also tells you to unplug your TV, even if grounded--or, heavens, if the
power should suddenly go out itself while your TV's red LED is lit!




John

--


Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:
The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:

Bill R wrote:

John, It is likely that it is the PBS station that is transmitting
the TV guide data but it could be another station. I would un-block
the analog PBS station and see if you get the data. If not, it is
transmitted on another station. You will have to try them one by one.

As to why you are not getting the information for your digital
stations that could be the way you have your TV setup OR it could be
a limitation of your TV OR it could be a different button on your
remote (it is on mine). Some TVs (mostly older models) do not use
the PSIP data and therefore do not have EPG information for the
digital channels (I seriously doubt that your new TV is that way but
I will do a little research). What is the model number of your Sharp
TV?


It's a Sharp Aquos LC-45GD5U. One other thing I don't get is why it
takes so long for the TV Guide feature to update. How long does it
take to transmit some text and the correct day and time? Sometimes
the red light on my set is on for 3-4 hours!



John


I also have to wonder what happens if you pull the plug while the red
light is on. The manual urges you not to do this. Well, what if you
are having a violent electrical storm while the light is on--the manual
also tells you to unplug your TV, even if grounded--or, heavens, if the
power should suddenly go out itself while your TV's red LED is lit!




John



John,

Most TVs (or set top boxes) store the data in RAM and if you
pull the plug (or the power goes out) the data is gone and
the receiver just has to get it again. Most sets retain
their setting so you don't have to set up the guide (or any
other settings on your TV) again.

It is a VERY good idea to get a GOOD surge protector (not a
$10 power strip that says it has surge protection) for your
TV. You have a big investment there and a $60 (or so) surge
protector might be worth it.
--
Bill R

Remove "notforspam" to reply by e-mail

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Bill R wrote:

I did a little research on the Aquos models over the weekend (by the
way, it is a very nice set) and I found out that Sharp does NOT use PSIP
to get the EPG information for the digital channels. They use Gemstar
(TV Guide) for ALL channels. If the analog station that supplies the
Gemstar EPG information does not include the information for the digital
stations you will only have listings for the analog stations. You might
want to call your PBS station and talk to an Engineer. He/she should be
able to tell if the EPG information is included for the digital channels.

The reason that it takes so long for the guide to update is that the
analog channel transmits the information on an unused (for video) scan
line of the analog TV signal (the analog signal has 525 scan lines; some
are only used for "data" information). There is nothing you (or the
station) can do to get the information to you faster. That is one
reason that PSIP was adapted for digital channels. You can get EPG data
in seconds and it can be done in the "background" (while you are
watching TV). Its too bad that Sharp decided to use the Gemstar system
for all channels. It makes me wonder what is going to happen in 2009
when analog transmissions goes dark. Are all the EPGs on digital sets
that depend on analog data for their guides going to stop working?

Well, it mustn't be the analog PBS stations in our area that supply the
info. We reset them into the tuner presets and we got no new data. (We
had to pull the plug last night because of very bad electrical storms.
Yes, we have a good surge protector on the set; no, I don't completely
trust it.) Even the time and date are still wrong! Bizarro. My wife
swears she heard it's the local PBS station (KQED, San Francisco) that
provides that.



John

--


Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:
Bill R wrote:

I did a little research on the Aquos models over the weekend (by the
way, it is a very nice set) and I found out that Sharp does NOT use
PSIP to get the EPG information for the digital channels. They use
Gemstar (TV Guide) for ALL channels. If the analog station that
supplies the Gemstar EPG information does not include the information
for the digital stations you will only have listings for the analog
stations. You might want to call your PBS station and talk to an
Engineer. He/she should be able to tell if the EPG information is
included for the digital channels.

The reason that it takes so long for the guide to update is that the
analog channel transmits the information on an unused (for video) scan
line of the analog TV signal (the analog signal has 525 scan lines;
some are only used for "data" information). There is nothing you (or
the station) can do to get the information to you faster. That is one
reason that PSIP was adapted for digital channels. You can get EPG
data in seconds and it can be done in the "background" (while you are
watching TV). Its too bad that Sharp decided to use the Gemstar
system for all channels. It makes me wonder what is going to happen in
2009 when analog transmissions goes dark. Are all the EPGs on digital
sets that depend on analog data for their guides going to stop working?


Well, it mustn't be the analog PBS stations in our area that supply the
info. We reset them into the tuner presets and we got no new data. (We
had to pull the plug last night because of very bad electrical storms.
Yes, we have a good surge protector on the set; no, I don't completely
trust it.) Even the time and date are still wrong! Bizarro. My wife
swears she heard it's the local PBS station (KQED, San Francisco) that
provides that.



John


John,

SOME PBS stations do not transmit the Gemstar TV guide
information every day but in almost all areas the PBS
station is the one that transmits the data. In our area we
have three PBS stations and two of them transmit the data.
If you have more than one station that transmits the data
the receiver chooses one to get the data from so there is
never a conflict.

It is too bad that the Gemstar people choose not to tell us
which station our sets are getting the data from. The
information is available to the set (it knows what channel
to tune to after it searches for the guide the first night)
but does not appear in any TV guide setup menu that I have seen.

--
Bill R

Remove "not_for_spam_" to reply by e-mail

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Bill R wrote:
The Man Behind The Curtain wrote:

It's a Sharp Aquos LC-45GD5U. One other thing I don't get is why it
takes so long for the TV Guide feature to update. How long does it
take to transmit some text and the correct day and time? Sometimes
the red light on my set is on for 3-4 hours!



John



John,

I did a little research on the Aquos models over the weekend (by the
way, it is a very nice set)

Thanks. We love it. We are seeing our "old" movies all over again anew.

We're only worried about these reports suddenly of Aquos sets having
power-lock problems. I didn't see these posts before we bought the set,
but of course now that the decision has been made I've run into a lot of
posts about Aquos sets locking up and not showing a picture randomly,
even after unplugged and replugged, and Sharp not doing anything about
it and generally denying the problem exists (typical!). I haven't seen
our set specifically mentioned as a problem model...still, if it's
something like buggy software I'm truly concerned, since this set is
completely "software driven." (I hope they do a better job than
Microsoft did with Windows. Took them about 12 years to finally get the
kinks out of it.)



John

--


Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

Bill R wrote:

SOME PBS stations do not transmit the Gemstar TV guide information every
day but in almost all areas the PBS station is the one that transmits
the data. In our area we have three PBS stations and two of them
transmit the data. If you have more than one station that transmits the
data the receiver chooses one to get the data from so there is never a
conflict.

It is too bad that the Gemstar people choose not to tell us which
station our sets are getting the data from. The information is
available to the set (it knows what channel to tune to after it searches
for the guide the first night) but does not appear in any TV guide setup
menu that I have seen.

Yes, I'd like to know the station too. I supposed I could call our PBS
stations, or ask a colleague who works part time at one; she may know.

What's weird is after letting the TV set update all night and through
part of today (the little red light must have been on 10 hours) we have,
tonight, only a few random listings downloaded in the TV Guide...a few
shows are filled in, most have no info in the slots! I can't find any
pattern in the shows that have info filled in--not a few particular
channels or timeslots, for instance. And the time is still incorrectly
set. Since our new DVD player is an ultra slimline (one inch tall) and
has no real front display and we no longer have the bulky and ugly VHS
player hooked up, we are for the first time without a digital clock,
which is the only way to get the time at night without flipping on a
ceiling light. So as silly as it sounds, this clock feature on the TV
is really important to me! :-)



John

--


Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

On-screen TV Guide feature
 

It is too bad that the Gemstar people choose not to tell us
which station our sets are getting the data from. The
information is available to the set (it knows what channel
to tune to after it searches for the guide the first night)
but does not appear in any TV guide setup menu that I have seen.

You're right, that is useful information. I have a Sony DHG-HDD250 and
you can see which station is providing the TVGOS information by using
the service menu. I'll bet the Sharp also has a service menu with that
information. Check out http://www.avsforum.com/ to see if there is a
forum for Sharp TV's.