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20 Responses to “Using XMLTV with EyeTV”

1. Cristiano Betta Says:
   March 7th, 2009 at 13:34

   Thanks for the article. I got one big question: how do you update this XML file? Manually? If I write a script that updates XML file automatically, will this propagate into EyeTV directly or do I need to drag the file into EyeTV every time?

2. Jan Says:
   March 7th, 2009 at 15:01

   No, I use a script that is launched every day at 8pm, via crontab. I’ve scheduled my mac to wake up at that time if it isn’t (normally the news is being recorded), and it automatically loads it into EyeTV.

   The script I use is:

   #!/bin/bash

   MC2XML="/Users/<name>/scripts/mc2xml"
   XMLTV="/Users/<name>/scripts/xmltv.xml"

   # Check if we have internet connection
   ping -q -c 1 -t 5 google.com > /dev/null

   if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
   # Get new shedule
   $MC2XML -F -c be

   # Reload EyeTV with the file
open -a EyeTV $XMLTV
fi


   The ‘open -a’ will cause EyeTV to load the XML File.

3. Cristiano Betta Says:
   March 7th, 2009 at 23:42

   Thanks. That’s just what I needed. I was just about to write a similar script myself, but this works just fine. Got any other EyeTV tips/tricks?

4. Jan Says:
   March 8th, 2009 at 19:33

   Not really. I search as I need it ;)

5. Anders Rasmussen Says:
   August 7th, 2009 at 13:54

   I was very surprised and pleased to find the mc2xml program – I had no idea it existed. Normally I have been working hard trying to the xml-tv grabbers working. But this is much easier – and a lot faster as well.

   Thanks for mentioning it.

6. vanfruniken Says:
   October 4th, 2009 at 01:37

   What is the oldest version of eyeTV this wil work with? I have had an eyeTV since 2005 and am running version 2.5.1

7. Jan Says:
   October 4th, 2009 at 11:53

   I’m afraid you need atleast EyeTV 3.0.1 to be able to use XMLTV files.

8. Vagelis Says:
   December 31st, 2009 at 21:50

   Jan, I need your help.

   Can you send me an example xml file to have a look ?
   I have created manually an xml / xmltv file for one channel and 2-3 programmes.
   I import succesfully at EyETV and map the channel to xml and the channel within the file.

   But still my guide is empty. Not used by any channel EyeTV says.

   Any ideas ?

9. Jan Says:
   January 2nd, 2010 at 11:37

   I’ve mailed you an xmltv file. Also, you need to manually map the channels in EyeTV, if you go to channels, you have to select XMLTV in the EPG dropdown box and select the correct channel.

10. Naren Says:
    January 18th, 2010 at 03:20

    Hello Thank you for sharing this info if I can get this to work I am going to be very happy.

    Sorry for the noob question but I download mc2xml save it

    then in terminal I try to run it

    $MC2XML -c us -g 08540
    -bash: -c: command not found

    running osx 10.6.2

    any help would be appreciated

    thanks you

11. Jan Says:
    January 18th, 2010 at 09:35

    $MC2XML is a variable which (should) point to the mc2xml binary. But in this case you can just use ./mc2xml instead of $MC2XML.

12. Naren Says:
    January 18th, 2010 at 14:40

    Sweet got it man, actually overlooked the chmod 755 mc2xml (since I am using the -c and -g switches)

    working great

    thanks again

13. Naren Says:
    January 18th, 2010 at 22:39

    ok I might have spoke too soon..mc2xmlis working great I can complete all the step manually and add the xmltv file to eyetv and map my listing to my providers clear qam channels.

    The issue is my coding skills

    since I am in the US I have to issue the command

    ./mc2xml -c us -g 08540
    it them prompts me to make a selection as to which listing I want to download .
    I have to choose Princeton Comcast (digital) # 25

    it then downloads the listing and then I can issue the command
    open -s EyeTV ~/Scripts/xmltv.xml

    The problem is I dont know how to code the part when it prompts you for a listing selection

    I would like to grep for “Princeton Comcast (Digital)” then take the # at the beginning of this line as the selection

    the rest is the same as your script.

    your help is greatly appreciated

    thanks
    Naren

14. Jan Says:
    January 19th, 2010 at 18:50

    That is rather strange – mc2xml should only prompt you that once, and on successive updates just use what you entered before.

    I’ve updated my script in the meanwhile:
    
#!/bin/bash
MC2XML="/path/to/mc2xml"
XMLTV="/path/to/xmltv.xml"

    cd `dirname $MC2XML`

    # Check if we have internets
    /sbin/ping -q -c 1 -t 5 google.com > /dev/null

    if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
$MC2XML -F -c be -g 9030
open -a EyeTV $XMLTV
fi


15. Naren Says:
    January 19th, 2010 at 19:29

    Interesting I have only attempted manually by deleting the download xml file so thats why it might be asking me I’ll run it again with the current files inplace and report back. BTW When you downlaod the listing does you Eyetv hang while importing. In my case a 7 days listing take about 1 -2 mins to import on a mac mini 2.26 core 2 duo

16. Naren Says:
    January 19th, 2010 at 19:31

    Also what are you using as a remote? my intent is to make a DVR and media center from my mac mini on a Sony 46XBR9. The Apple remote is rather limited in terms of functionality. I have been reading that the ps3 bluetooth remote with remote buddy is an option. Any thoughts on that ?

17. Naren Says:
    January 20th, 2010 at 05:35

    just an update…On attempts after the 1st download it does not ask for the listing selection it will remember so your script works for me as well

    thank you

18. Jan Says:
    January 20th, 2010 at 17:48

    Same thing here. EyeTV will hang during the import, which is rather annoying. Takes around 2-3 mins on mine.

19. Jan Says:
    January 20th, 2010 at 17:49

    I use the apple remote together with Sofa Control, and also using the remote that came with the EyeTV.

20. Naren Says:
    January 21st, 2010 at 22:14

    Jan thank you for all your help and advice…. some additional tips,update, etc….

    remote buddy has native support for Eyetv and many other apps I got a 30 day trial and its working great. I have decided to purchase it as soon as the trial runs out. the two main apps I will use this for is Eyetv and Plex.
    And it will support a range of different remotes, planning on testing the ps3 bluetooth remote simply because the cause it low $20.

    regarding the hang issue while importing the xmltv file I have noticed that its much less as the size of the file decreases (which make sense ) so to decrease the xmltv.xml file size I have created a xmltv.chl file and listed (you can use ranges ) channels in the file so I only download channel 1-200 rather then 550 channels listing . this decreases the xmltv.xml file size from 128 meg to 49 meg ( for 14 days)

    The script I took and made a text file and put an extension of .command on it and made a ical event for every Sunday night to open a file ( choose the .command file and note to set you terminal app to close automatically) Also note if you add a “-a” and “-A” switch to your script it will mark all new/live shows with a “*”

    Have fun later

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