LanceG

1inxs

Here is a link with information to help you with the TVGOS issues. #62 is the Albuquerque area.
RabbitEars.Info

Check out the following link
Contact information for TVGOS problems

ABQGeo

Hi LanceG in Albuquerque.

Yep, we've been hosed. We were getting TVGOS via PBS Channel 5, KNME analog

Since KNME has moved to 5.1 digital we no longer have a host channel for analog style (VBI) data and my 3 years old Samsung has version 8.1.42 of the TVGOS firmware.

I installed a DTVPAL Plus that I bought at Sears for $49.99 (on sale, no coupon) and was able to get some tv guide information via a composite video input.

I've put a slitter in front of and downstream of the DTVPAL Plus and have plugged it into the Over the Air connector. I set the DTVPAL Plus so that it is sitting on KNME 5.1 and set it up to provide the TVGOS signal on Ch3. Hopefully tonight I get some guide info.

Local Comcast is clueless about this issue? KNME analog 5 is on the cable but the VBI info apparently isn't there????

Sigh,
ABQ George

BTW if you've got ver 9, you should be able to get it directly from 5.1 over the air?

TonyT

Not really sure here, but aren't some of the PBS' hosting digital TVGOS data? Have you contacted KNME yet to see if they ever plan to broadcast TVGOS info again? Welcome to the forum btw.

jzig

PBS carried the old analog TVGOS, but CBS is the new host network for digital TVGOS data.

kenwood850

As an update to my post of 4-24-09, after many phone calls to Panasonic, I finally received a telephone call and an actual personal visit to my home from a "knowledgeable" TDS Telecom representative who looked at my TV and listened to my explanation of what I thought was wrong. To make a long story short, the rep told me that the local CBS station was picked up via a satellite feed and not off the air as I thought, but he would look into why the TVGOs information was not being taken off the digital signal and being sent down our analog cable in the VBI. It took about three weeks total but I have now have a constant 8 days of TVGOs information. A tip of the hat to TDS Telecom for making it possible.

And to those still struggling, this proves to me that there is no reason why a cable company cannot take the TVGOs information that is in the DTVCC Transport
Channel of a digital signal and convert it to the proper analog signal and insert it in the VBI if they want to. If they are telling you different, I do not think I would believe them.

DScreen

The solution may not have come from TDS Telecom. Early in August, I noticed that we were not getting any more updates to TVGOS either. I contacted KNME engineering and they acknowledged that they had an equipment problem which they expected to have resolved within a few days. About a week later, we began seeing updates. I believe the host channel for VBI data is still KNME, channel 5, analog. However, the updates have ended again as of last Thursday (there may be some updates, but they are very spotty, if at all). I have contacted KNME again. Hopefully, the problem will be fixed quickly.

HTNut

I wish the stations would do a better job of putting this information on their websites or through their own broadcasts.

Eureka

Mine is working, but will not work with the local KOLR 10 Springfield CBS data if I put in my local ZIP Code. I have to use an out-of-state ZIP.

If I put in my correct ZIP Code, it will only work if it happens to pick up Tulsa TVGOS host channel via tropo.

Also, stations frequently show the wrong call letters in the channel banner.

mouse23

This saga started when I bought my new top of the line Mistubishi, and after installation I went through the configuration procedures, page by page of the 95 page owner manual.

When I found out that the EPG was not working I immediately suspected the Cable signal from Time Warner. I figured, this set has a card slot and it needs a smart card to decrypt the EPG signal. There is a confusing paragraph in the manual about this.
The Time Warner tech support told me that I needed a Cable set top box to get the EPG,“for the nominal fee of $ 6.00 per month.” I did not want another piece of hardware on my shelf and pay another fee for it just to get the EPG. So they gave it free of charge for one year.

Then I bought another TV for the bedroom, a Sanyo from Walmart, which initially worked right away including the EPG. So,…… it must not have been the cable signal but the Mitsubishi which was at fault.

So I called Mitsubishi tech support: Level one, level two, etc. They were very helpful with going through the diagnostic procedures with entering secret codes with the remote, but the bottom line was: STILL NO EPG!

Meanwhile, in sympathy with the Mistubishi, the EPG on the Sanyo also quit.

In a case like this, where else to go than the good ol’ WWW. where I came upon a bulletin which announced that in the case of Gemstar v. TimeWarner the FCC ruled in favor of Time Warner who stripped the Gemstar EPG data from their cable signal. (Gemstar and TVGuideDaily are now together) (?)

Wikipedia has an entry about TVGOS which explains what it is and its applications.
And according to this article, it is not at all a certain thing that anyone, even with a brand new TV can get it. …………..Something about changing the Gemstar IP address so factory configured TV sets can’t get it.