Local EPG URL

What format does a local epg URL file have to be (saved to USB in m3u folder)?

Thanks!

In MTV2 / Connection / add playlist

you are able to access a folder icon for EPG URL which looks in the USB drive m3u folder.

I can only assume this is for a static link to be placed and not a populated xml file which would essentially expire over time.

It's the format of the link I would like to know.

Hmm, maybe I misunderstood the purpose of this. It looks like it IS for an xml file, which seems odd to me, unless you are compiling your own I suppose.

What would be a great addition is if it also accepted a php link in exactly the same way the field for typing it in does. Why you ask? To speed up config.

A couple of clicks on stuff pre stored on USB and you'd have playlist and EPG up and running in speedy fashion. It would help with repetition setting up on multiple devices and also when testing multiple providers.

Ahh perfect.

I shall give this a go later tonight. So I can create a .m3u file and simply put the EPG link in it as plain text?

Okay this doesn't work. MTV2 explicitly looks for a .xml file.

I took your idea further and planted the link inside a blank .xml file and pointed to it but the EPG did not update.

Excuse me for banging this around, but I am new at all of this and working pretty much blind.

Looking at the XML structure, it appears we would need both MTV2 to be able to see something like a <xlink href> or similar 'link' within a xml file and be able to use it as a link and download the full xml file for the channels.

It feels like I am chasing my tail trying to work this out, there may be a much cleaner easier solution.

URL method works fine.

Request to Sam to answer this query when he is able, thanks!

Hey Sam,

For ease of character entry. Even using a link shortener it's a pain to enter them especially when testing out multiple providers.

A quick copy/paste of the link to usb stick and a click or two via MTV2 and it would be done. You could test multiiple providers with ease.

So, in just the same way you can create a local m3u playlist file on USB it helps tremendously with the tedious character entry.

MY Z8 was supplied with an awful keyboard, and data entry using it is a pain. Even using an app on my phone to type to MTV2 is not without problems.

To clarify: I am asking if there is a way to make the local USB m3u folder work for EPG by letting you select a EPG link stored on the USB itself which has been added externally by FTP or locally from Windows / Mac etc., not one that has to be typed in via MTV2.

So:

Put this link

http://blahblahblah:80/xmltv.php?username=xxxxxxxxx&password=xxxxxxxxx

on the USB m3u folder, either in a container (inside an xml file with a special tag?) or something similar and have MTV2 use it as it would the manually typed in data to enable it to download the EPG data from the source.

Quote from ddd

Suggestion/idea: You can attach a USB or bluetooth keyboard to Z8.

Yep I am aware of that but I don;t own nor intend to have to purchase one

Quote from ddd

Interesting... I always assume everybody has at least one (cheap) usb keyboard in the house...

Wired, yes. Not wireless. Even so allowing for this would reduce repetition across multiple Z8's which I am presently setting up.

Quote from 175n

Just covert your long format m3u URL to XC API portal login and be done with it

Thank you for your suggestion, although it's difficult to be 'done with it' as explained below.

Am I the only one that dislikes the fact MYTV2 can only load up one provider at a time?

Flicking between them takes a set amount of time especially when connecting to the providers servers to download the playlist. A local playlist is much more preferable in this scenario.

I presently have three live providers and each one supplies a selection of our channels. I have to flick between them and loading up each playlist is cumbersome. Local works much faster. Guide is of course fine as it's done in the background.

I hope Sam does not mind me saying this but our family now only uses MYTV2 for recording. We use TiViMate for watching exclusively across our families devices (3 Z8's for allowing 3x simultaneous recordings to shared NAS and 4 fireTVs) It has some excellent features, including allowing multiple playlists to be loaded concurrently and audio sync which is very easily selectable during playback. Groups can be organized with favorites across the playlists to create a seamless and very usable setup with all preferred providers channels blended together in one list.

Duplicating the URLs across the devices takes a lot of effort, especially when there is a change. Being able to do this from a USB stick with all the data preloaded would save a lot of time. The local playlists are FTP'd to each device with ease. It would be great to be able to do this with a guide URL too.