Nattering nabobs of negativism notwithstanding:rolleyes:, there are folks who really like this feature. Let's list some reasons.

Of course it's been described as a kind of poor man's TIVO, but therein lies its first quality: it's free.

Its interface may be clunky and sluggish, but you can see eight days of programming and choose to record any show from its offerings. Each show usually has both a simple and a detailed description, whether you only want the episode name without plot summary spoilers or, with the push of a button, a more detailed description. It also shows if the show is scheduled to run the following week or at any other time during the coming week.

Even in the simple show description, it indicates if the show is a new episode or not, so you can avoid repeats, a plethora of which is the bane of comtemporary programming.

It's searchable. Enter a keyword, say "CSI," and all the shows containing that word in the title on any channel for the next week appear for you to select from. There are other search parameters as well.

It can be set to record a show once, weekly, daily or regularly, the difference between the last two being that for the latter if a show is on just four days a week, for example The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, it is only recorded on those days it is actually broadcast. In fact, when those shows switched their broadcasts from the usual Mon.- Thurs. over to Tues. - Fri. this week and next for the Democratic and Republican conventions, TVGOS made the transition automatically and recorded them on the correct nights.

If you set a show to record regularly and it is preempted, as annoyingly happens on CTV in Canada during figure skating season:mad:, TVGOS doesn't record and fill my HDD full of triple axels and tutus in the place of my expected car chases and wound cams.

With TVGOS recordings, title information is automatically carried over to the HDD, including episode summaries, and a DVD burned from those programs retains the titles without having to enter them manually.

While its analog iteration will no doubt go dark in the US in February for OTA, and a sword of Damocles dangles above it for cable, I'm hopeful in Canada TVGOS should remain active for a few more years.

plplplpl~ I'm not sure one can add anything to what you said about TVGOS. It isn't/wasn't perfect, but for an OTA user like me, it was a great way to get a cable-like interface for finding programs that also makes setting a recording SOOOO easy. Mostly. I had a few failures of TVGOS recordings (before I transitioned to a CECB), but a lot of times I was fascinated at how it managed to stick to a program like glue and get it for you.

So if we lose TVGOS in the digital transition, we are certainly getting hosed.

I'm fairly happy with my TVGOS on my XS35, except for how it seems to stop working at the most unfortunate times. Not sure who's fault it is, and it's probably a case of figuring out who, at what local station, I need to call to get them to reboot the TVGOS output box... I've lost a few recordings when I didn't notice that the TVGOS stopped receiving data (Since it can fool you with its 7-day collections if you don't check a lot).

But I'm definitely someone willing to put up with a clunkier UI to get better results, or "free", and TVGOS definitely works for free.

That said, recording on the XS35 is really going to suck if TVGOS disappears in Feb... I wish these companies wouldn't have ENTIRELY wiped out their native UI for scheduled recordings, the older Toshibas have very nice/flexible recording menus.

Serious questions:

Does it give you the episode NUMBER? While that's not *incredibly* useful, sometimes it can be useful to look up in an episode guide for example.

You say it handled the Daily Show situation properly. Do you mean that it's recording 4/day or that it really only records the one at 11pm?

Does it handle a priority list (e.g. you have a different show that is scheduled to record at 11pm, so it will record the 1am rerun)?

The Daily Show guide info is often wrong on the Tivo -- usually(*) when it's generic info, it's a rerun, so the newest feature in Wishlist recording actually lets you work around the bad-guide-data issue -- you can essentially tell it to NOT record if specific words are there, so you do a normal wishlist, add some of the generic description terms to the wishlist as NOT items.. So then it'll only record when it's not the generic info.

(*) Actually, Comedy Central seems to have had this fixed for quite a long time now. I can't remember the last time there was no guide data but it was also a new episode. I do happen to record The Daily Show and Colbert on my XS32 though -- mostly because I record the 1-2am block, and because they overlap their timeslots.. So I did this before I had so many Tivo tuners available. (I do have autorecording wishlists as backups, but I usually nuke the scheduled recordings in the to do list.)

No episode numbers, as far as I can tell, but in addition to the episode summary it'll often give you the episode name, plus main actors.

In Canada, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are broadcast at 12 and 12:30 AM respectively on CTV, so technically it is usually Tuesday to Friday, but last week it recorded Wednesday to Saturday only, so all four broadcasts at their correct times and only once each. In other words, it got it right. I had set it to record those shows regularly.

If there's a scheduling conflict, it'll ask you which show you want to record and which one you don't. If there are reruns at a later time for a show there's a conflict for, a search will turn up alternate times you can record the show.

Here's what the TVGOS display for each program looks like:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/p_l/TVGOS.jpg



...taken from a PDF file of the TVGOS (what they call) "Training Manual" (http://www.spiffspace.com/TVGOS_Training_Manual.pdf):rolleyes:.

Nattering nabobs of negativism notwithstanding:rolleyes:

Referring to me, of course.;)

I'm not fond of the TVGOS feature myself but do understand the allure of a "free" TiVO interface.

At this stage of the game, analog TVGOS is gone from all new North American recorders and the older models will very likely black out after the February 2009 analog cutoff in the USA (they will remain useful in Canada for at least three years longer). It appears VERY probable that ATSC-based TVGOS hardware will be released in 2009 but it may be limited to LCD televisions and hard-drive-only DVRs (i.e. no DVD recorders). We'll have to wait and see. Early reports (rumors really) imply that ATSC TVGOS is better and more reliable than the analog version, if we can just get it into a DVD recorder it could be fantastic. Hell, for OTA ATSC recording even *I* would glady use it.:D

I really like the digital TVGOS in my new Sony LCD. Too bad it only goes out 24 hrs. My uncles analog RCA TVs TVGOS goes out several days and of course the analog Panny DVDRs go out 8 days. I would think digital TVGOS would have the ability to go out 8 days also but don't know of any device currently using it to that capacity.

Referring to me, of course.;)

IIRC, it was originally one of William Safire's, as heard through the alliterative lying lips of Spiro T. Agnew.:p In fact, I actually count myself among their numbers, initially. I much maligned TVGOS when I first experienced it on a Pioneer 633, which eventually went back. It's only later when I used TVGOS on a Panasonic and a Toshiba that I realised that it (mostly) wasn't TVGOS' fault, but that Pioneer had had such a poor implementation of it, I believe putting it directly on the HDD. This was totally unexpected for me as Pioneer is usually an excellent manufacturer, but they really dropped the ball on that one.

We'll have to wait and see. Early reports (rumors really) imply that ATSC TVGOS is better and more reliable than the analog version, if we can just get it into a DVD recorder it could be fantastic. Hell, for OTA ATSC recording even *I* would glady use it.:D

It seems the whole AV universe is holding its breath waiting for the Feb. 2009 Big Bang. I, too, would love eventually to see a new and improved digital TVGOS on an HDD DVDR.

If you're a cable user now, but they've cut off the signal or will be cutting it off, and you own an EH55V or EH75V, if you are able to have Dish Network, you can still use the TVGOS into the future. Doesn't work quite the same way - you actually use the Dish tuner's guide to program through (and it starts and stops the recorder on it's own) - but it does work flawlessly, at least it always has for me. You never have to set anything on the Panny's end after the initial setup. Titles all recordings, too.

I only get 2 days worth of guide info on my particular SD Dish tuner model - but I can program for one-time, M-F, weekly, etc., and it works just as well and basically gives you the same results as the standard TVGOS method.

You need to receive the data OTA to use it with DirecTV, so that provider won't work with it anymore. Just Dish - and cable, as long as you're still getting an analog host channel that's passing the data.

Actually, now that I think of it, you might still be able to use it with Direct as long as you're using it with cable, too. You can set up for two services using every provider (including OTA) other than Dish - with Dish you can only set up for just that one source.

I'm not fond of the TVGOS feature myself but do understand the allure of a "free" TiVO interface.

To be very nitpicky, from the description here, it's *vaguely* Tivo-ish.

My TVGOS has been great. The only major exception is that when it goes out, NONE of the settings are saved. That was a pathetic oversight. Otherwise it's very usable and easy to program.

Hmmm... it seems my TVGOS doesn't work any more recently. Is this me? Is it Time Warner Cable? Or is it my not connecting it to an over the air antenna (which it wasn't since it was in the cable wire.)

Hmmm... it seems my TVGOS doesn't work any more recently. Is this me? Is it Time Warner Cable? Or is it my not connecting it to an over the air antenna (which it wasn't since it was in the cable wire.)The cable company is possibly stripping the signal out now.

What model do you have?

Comcast, Portland Oregon area... Data has been spotty for the last two weeks. Getting data one day and not the next. As of yesterday I had data for Monday, Tuesday, and Friday; no other days this week. Last week was similar only different days.

Hmmm. If your recorder has only one RF input (which I believe all of the HDD/DVD 480i models do), the best thing to do would be to start calling and bugging your cable company about it. Some people have gotten them to re-insert the signal, or fix it if they were just neglecting it, when keeping on them about it.

It could even be a problem at the OTA host station, so if Comcast swears all is right on their end, you could try calling there next. But if the OTA station checks and tells you everything's fine there, I'd tend to not believe Comcast before them, because they do this sort of thing all time, as they often find it easier to lie about something and shift the blame rather than have to deal with people's wrath. Some people have been told, "Yeah, we took it out, and we ain't puttin' it back" bluntly, but at least they knew the truth for sure then and could go on from there.

If you had a Panasonic EH55V or an EH75V, you could hook up an antenna, and then set up the TVGOS for both cable and antenna, and get the guide info OTA. But you'd have to be using an external cable box into a line input, and the channel changing would have to be done by the IR blaster.

It actually might still work if you can set up for both with another model (you can set up for both with some other models, I think - I'm just not sure if it will always default to searching for the TVGOS signal from the cable), but you will need to rent their box to do so. Actually, you could even use an old VCR for the NTSC tuner if the IR blaster would change channels on it. Might not be a bad idea to just get digital starter from Comcast in this case, and get one free digital box for the two or three dollars more package price (as long as your recorder has that IR blaster and the two-provider setup works with your model - and as long as your unit contains a code which will change the channels on said box with it's IR blaster, that is).

Anyone here from Wilmington, N.C.? They were supposed to have ceased analogue transmissions today as a test market for the nationwide transition next February. It would be interesting to hear if this has wiped out analogue TVGOS data even for cable subscribers as some (including myself) have suspected it might.

But it might not be a conclusive test, since cable providers could still source many of their signals from analogue transmissions outside the local area.

Well, nothing beats my ReplayTV's for guide features and recording ease, but I was still pretty much OK with TVGOS on my Toshiba XS-xx recorders and even the slightly older version on my Sony HX-900. Primitive compared to RTV, but worked well enoguh as you pretty accurately described in your post and had that big advantage of being 'free'.

When the switchover comes, the good part is that will be the time I finally drop cable TV service since it will no longer be of any use to me. In its wake I will live happily on with OTA and my Roku Netflix player and whatever other gizmos I can cobble together. And fie on Comcast and their evil legions! ;)

I, too, would be interested in what's happening to TVGOS users in Wilmington, if there are indeed any TVGOS users.

The "theory" is based on that the digital transmissions still contain the old VBI data but in digital form. A cable company that converts the digital transmissions into the old analog type for their subscribers, could also recreate the old VBI data too. The hope is that since they are required to do this for analog Closed Captioning, that TVGOS data might come along for the ride.

I don't think the TVGOS on any recorder except maybe the Panasonic EH55V and EH75V, and the Sony DHG-HDD500/250 will convert the signal.

And I'm not even entirely sure that any of those above units will really do it.

They will need "help" from some kind of external device (such as the DTVPal was supposed to do, but no one has ever actually gotten that feature to work yet).

I was hoping (assuming?) that the "help" would come from the cable company's equipment. Basically, as part of their digital channel to analog channel "converter".

As I understand it, some people have pestered them enough and gotten them to re-insert the signal, but if no one bothers, neither will they. Too much work, probably. And they are just looking for any excuse to get you to rent their DVR, anyway.

I've read that TVGOS said they will do what they can to get them to do it, but if they can't then they can't. So they must not be payin' 'em - or payin' 'em enough.

If they are still able to allow some of us to continue using analog signal via a 'digital box' conversion, I don't see why there shouldn't be any reason that the host channel will stop transmitting tvgos by means of a digital converter.

Came across this thread while looking for any insight about the cutover to digital in Feb 09. My TVGOS on my Panny EH75V is running a little ad highlighting the digital cutover. This link: http://www.macrovision.com/dtv/10053.htm?link_id=rightPromo from their website gives information about availability.

Although I do have a cable box, I don't route it into the EH75 because I couldn't stand using the IR blaster - so I split my cable feed and go to the set top box and then the TV on one input and go to the EH75 and then to the TV on a different input. Only downside is not being able to record channels above 99, but that's never been a problem in over two years.

From what I read on that TVGOS link above, it says I should be able to keep working just as I do now, so long as "Your cable company must support TV Guide On Screen/Guide Plus+ data transmission via the cable standard SCTE-127"

They even have a service to look up your cable company's plans, but unfortunately mine shows as status unknown.

I followed that link, and according to the website, my cable provider (Comcast in the Philly area -- GO PHILLIES!!!) is ready to provide TVGOS EPG data after the digital switchover in February.

The only question I have is whether the TVGOS in my Panasonic E-500 will be able to use the EPG data, or will it require the TVGOS version that is in the newer recorders, such as the EH-55??

Not sure where to get that answer...

This link: http://www.macrovision.com/dtv/10053.htm?link_id=rightPromo from their website gives information about availability.

FYI, I had added that link last weekend to the FAQ: DVD Recorders and the Analog to Digital Transition sticky in this forum for easy reference. It's great that the TVGOS people are finally coming out of their characteristic taciturnity to offer at least a shred of information and a glimmer of hope.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14892526#post14892526

FYI, I had added that link last weekend to the FAQ: DVD Recorders and the Analog to Digital Transition sticky in this forum for easy reference. It's great that the TVGOS people are finally coming out of their characteristic taciturnity to offer at least a shred of information and a glimmer of hope.

The TVGOS grid DTV conversion ad was also already mentioned over in the TV Guide On Screen - post your info here! (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14891000#post14891000) thread.
;)

RG - I don't think it'll matter, as long as you have the converter.

The thing I worry about is that I get channels and info for three different markets. With the DTVPal/conversion technique, will I still get info for all those channels, or only my main market?

Ram, which converter are you referring to, the DTV Pal? My Panasonic E-500 now gets the TVGOS EPG directly from the cable input with no cable STB or converter.

Are you saying that I will need to use a converter after Feb. to get TVGOS?

The TVGOS grid DTV conversion ad was also already mentioned over in the TV Guide On Screen - post your info here! (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14891000#post14891000) thread.
;)

Yes, my post in the sticky thread here in the DVD Recorders forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14892526#post14892526) links to WaltA's post over in the Rear Projection Units forum, because he's the one we can thank for first spotting this and posting about it.:)

Ram, which converter are you referring to, the DTV Pal? My Panasonic E-500 now gets the TVGOS EPG directly from the cable input with no cable STB or converter.

Are you saying that I will need to use a converter after Feb. to get TVGOS?No, sorry. But you'll need something if they ever cut off your analogs.

Or, if they strip the signal when taking the digital versions and converting them to analog (like they've done in some areas), and don't bother with replacing it. In that case, if they don't offer the digital TVGOS either, than you'd be SOL for sure.

Found this site which will tell you whether your cable company will continue to provide guide info after the Feb transition.
http://www.macrovision.com/dtv/10061.htm
Just enter your zip code, then select your provider to find out.

It looks like TVGOS/Macrovision is preparing for the digital switchover.

The list of products that have TVGOS has been changed. For example, the only DVDRs listed as having TVGOS are the DVDRs with "version 9" TVGOS, that is the Panasonic DMR-EH55 and DMR-EH75. Version 9 can use the TVGOS EPG data sent over digital video, whereas the other versions require an analog signal. Looks like the rest of us may be out of luck...:mad:

To see the list, click here (http://www.macrovision.com/webdocuments/PDF/tvgos_availableproducts.pdf?link_id=productsProductLiteratur e).

Looks like they have Dish's DTVPal listed here...does this still suck? Have they improved it?

What I don't understand about that is the EH-55 doesn't have a digital tuner, only analog. So how can it pick up the digital TVGOS which I assume resides on a digital channel?
I'm strictly OTA but do have a CECB hooked up to line input 3.

What I don't understand about that is the EH-55 doesn't have a digital tuner, only analog. So how can it pick up the digital TVGOS which I assume resides on a digital channel?

Good question. I don't think that this has been fully explained.

Perhaps cable providers will be able to inject the TVGOS EPG data into the analog video signal that is ultimately input into these DVDRs with TVGOS version 9, whether it is through a digital signal that is converted to analog at the provider, or a digital signal that is converted to analog at the cable STB.

I would guess that this EPG data will not be in the VBI portion of the signal, which is where most of the current DVDRs get the data (will there even BE a VBI?), but will take some other form that only the equipment with TVGOS version 9 will be able to use.

I, for one, would like a better explanation of how TVGOS will work after the digital conversion.

This is not exactly in line with the theme of being a TVGOS appreciation email, more along the lines of "how can one become appreciative of TVGOS?"

To this day I have not used TVGOS to record something scheduled a few days ahead, but after seeing a couple of mentions online, maybe the limitation is mine and not the recorder's.

In a review I came across this:

> ...it took me quite a while to discover the ability to jump a
> certain number of hours ahead or back (the latter only works
> if you have jumped ahead already). It would be nice if it was
> clearly stated in the manual since people will use the guide
> to plan what they want to watch or record in the up coming
> days and not just what is on within the next couple hours.

and in this thread plplplpl wrote:

> Its interface may be clunky and sluggish, but you can see
> eight days of programming and choose to record any show from
> its offerings.

That's great, but how do you navigate around the 8-days of programming?

All I see is a 2-hour view into an 8-day schedule. Viewing 8 days of programming through a microscopic 2-hour window adjustable by a half-hour at a time is a disaster.

There are hints on use such as "CH/Page: Scrolls one page up or down in the LISTINGS service." but not one word about how to get from one day to another, jump several hours at a time, or select a time window.

Search is of little help, it only finds shows which begin with the same letter on today's listings, not the entire 8-day period.

Another gripe is that after setting up channels to eliminate the never-watched and group the most-watched together. the next overnight update scrambles them.

Presumably my impatience has much to do with not discovering any functions outside of the User's Guide, and that is why, clumsy as it is, I use the manual mode of setting up recordings.

Extensive searching has led me to lots of threads about the appearance/disappearance of listings but nothing so far on how to use the undocumented capabilities of TVGOS.

If there are shortcuts discovered by others that make TVGOS usable, can anyone point to where they are described?

If there are none already posted can I ask that those of you who have learned how to utilize TVGOS pass on their knowledge here?

Thanks

If there are shortcuts discovered by others that make TVGOS usable, can anyone point to where they are described?

If there are none already posted can I ask that those of you who have learned how to utilize TVGOS pass on their knowledge here?

Thanks

I just picked up some of these hints on this forum.
PREV / NEXT moves up and down to the next set of channels in the same time frame.
STEP / SLOW moved forward and backward 24 hours.
Punch in the channel number and press enter to go to that channels listing for the two hour block on time.
RIGHT / LEFT ARROW moves to the next time slot. However if you want to move back 6 hours, press 6 before pressing the arrow.
REC toggles through the various record options while you have a program highlighted.

Thats all I can think of at this time. I a have Pioneer DVR with TVGOS.

Thanks for the tips, I'll print out your tips and try them next time I'm using my EH-55. It may have been mentioned earlier but to me the handiest feature I've found is, when the TVGOS listings are displayed and I use direct entry kb numbers and type say 5, it brings up another sub screen that gives me the choice of 5 hours ahead/back, 5 days ahead/back, etc. I use this shortcut all the time. Sure beats going ahead one screen at a time:D

edit-Tried the tips and some worked/some didn't some were different keys here's how they worked on my Panny:
CH up CH down did what your PREV/NEXT did.
Nothing like your STEP/SLOW shortcut (or at least that I could find)
Tip 2 and 3 same.
REC-different, on my Panny this was a shortcut to setup a program to record. Sets it up to default recording modes and a one shot event. I think I may use this one at times.

So it looks like shortcuts are similar between brands but not exactly the same.

duplicate post

Here are my results on a Toshiba XS35:

> PREV / NEXT moves up and down to the next set of channels
> in the same time frame.

Toshiba's equivalent is SKIP +/- and it does not affect TVGOS but CH +/- does this (same as jjeff's Panasonic).

> STEP / SLOW moved forward and backward 24 hours.
> Punch in the channel number and press enter to go to that
> channels listing for the two hour block on time.

Toshiba has three other +/- functions (Search, Frame, Slow) and none of them affect TVGOS either.

> RIGHT / LEFT ARROW moves to the next time slot. However if
> you want to move back 6 hours, press 6 before pressing the arrow.

! JACKPOT ! 168 RIGHT jumped a week ahead, and other combinations in between work as well.

> REC toggles through the various record options while you
> have a program highlighted.

Unlear whether this works or not. The icon changes on the program, but when set to Weekly, the program does not appear in the Schedule of recordings. It will take a week to find out if it works, does not work, or works but doesn't tell you it intends to.

> when the TVGOS listings are displayed and I use direct
> entry kb numbers and type say 5, it brings up another
> sub screen that gives me the choice of 5 hours ahead/back,
> 5 days ahead/back, etc.

Toshiba offers:
- go to channel
- hours ahead
- hours back
- cancel

! JACKPOT ! No days, but 48 hours will takes you two days ahead.

Thanks for the help.

A few more contributions and we may be able to create a User's Guide to the Galaxy of TVGOS.

Well, the digital transition is here, I am a cable customer in Wichita, KS, and although our CBS affiliate has confirmed they are carrying the TVGOS data on their digital stream, my TV no longer is getting it from cable. (a) How are other cable system customers doing with this issue--are you still getting the data? and (b) what suggestions might anyone have on following up on this?

Well, the digital transition is here, I am a cable customer in Wichita, KS, and although our CBS affiliate has confirmed they are carrying the TVGOS data on their digital stream, my TV no longer is getting it from cable. (a) How are other cable system customers doing with this issue--are you still getting the data? and (b) what suggestions might anyone have on following up on this?Most cable providers in these markets (http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=tvgos) are carrying TVGOS on their CBS HD feed. The problem is that there are essentially no DVD recorders with TVGOS (and none with hard drives) that can tune these channels.

If you have a HDTV, it should be able to get TVGOS provided (a) it has a QAM tuner and (b) it was upgraded to the latest version of TVGOS before the analog shutoff. If you still have an older version of the TVGOS software and your television manufacturer doesn't provide some means to update, then you may be SOL.

Well, the digital transition is here, I am a cable customer in Wichita, KS, and although our CBS affiliate has confirmed they are carrying the TVGOS data on their digital stream, my TV no longer is getting it from cable. (a) How are other cable system customers doing with this issue--are you still getting the data? and (b) what suggestions might anyone have on following up on this?

A couple of things are coming to mind.


If you have an analog tuner on your device, your cable company might not be converting the digital TVGOS data from your local CBS affiliate into analog (VBI) TVGOS for one of their analog channels. Gemstar, at one point, seemed to be aggressively attempting to get cable companies to do this conversion. I have no idea if Gemstar still cares, and how successful they have been.
Gemstar made a global change a little while ago that affected all TVGOS devices (old and new, analog and digital). TVGOS use to offer the users all possible lineups for a given zipcode. Suddenly now, TVGOS restricts the lineups offered to users to only those which in its opinion, are appropriate for your setup. For example, if you specify "I have a cable box" in your TVGOS setup, you will now only be offered lineups valid for cable boxes. If you specified no, all lineups for cable boxes will be removed from the choices. Now, what's worse, is if you had previously selected a lineup which now you can't have, your TVGOS will simply stop updating! No error msg. No warning. No "please select a new lineup" msg. IMHO, due to some rather bad timing by Gemstar in making this change now, a lot of people are wrongly assuming that if their TVGOS stops updating, it is due to the DTV conversion (when its not).

My equipment is an LG TV with a built-in DVR. It has pretty much all the tuners--NSTC, ASTC, and QAM. Prior to Tuesday, all was well. I know someone at the cable company who is looking in to whether they somehow dropped the digital feed (because prior to Tuesday I believe our CBS affiliate was already carrying it on their digital signal and I've confirmed they are carrying it now). I suppose I could always add an antenna to my TV as well, but it is in the basement in a room with no windows, and I really don't want to string antenna cable through the house (and I'm sure my wife would object to this anyway). I looked at some diagnositic info in the TVGOS system and I have a ver. 8 of the system, which I think is a newer version that should still work. Also, just a few weeks ago I exchanged emails with TVGOS, because our cable provider had added channels which my TVGOS was unaware of; a few days later, they got them added on, so I'm confident they are providing the data for my system.

Fortunately, I've been getting my 7-8 day listings consistently without any hiccups since the inception of my EH55 a little over nine months ago. I'm with Charter (a very sh!tty company) and according to Macrovision; the migration from A/D should go smoothly. The only problem I have from time to time is when a title shows up on TVGOS from my EH55, but the same time slot shows a different title from my cable provider when I hit 'info' from the cable remote (and the box is always accurate).

I also have Charter, and have a Panasonic DMR EH75 which has been getting the TVGOS listing reliably for about two and a half years. If I ever did have an outage, I would press and hold the channel up and down buttons simultaneously until the unit would reboot (you will lose all your searches and scheduled recordings). That would resolve it overnight and things would resume as normal.

In mid-December, no matter what I did I could not get it to download listings. I called Panasonic, who were very helpful, and they had me try a couple things, then they escalated it to Macrovision http://www.macrovision.com/products/ce_manufacturers/ipg_ce/tv_guide_on_screen.htm

At the same time, I somehow found a way on the Macrovision website to submit a problem report. Between the two, I eventually started receiving listings again. I am sure that Charter stopped broadcasting them in my area and through the intervention of Macrovision, they started sending them again.

Trying to talk to the Cable Company about this is a waste of time. They hear "TV Guide" and they either want to talk about their own EPG through the cable box, or the actual TV Guide channel. Trying to describe the service to them is useless.

I found Macrovision wonderful to deal with - it is all done over email - although it takes a little time since they need to go negotiate with Charter. They had me run certain diagnostics and send them data which proved the problem was not mine.

So - be persistent, and get your equipment manufacturer's support team involved as well as Macrovision if need be.

I agree about how helpful Macrovision is--they were quick to respond to my inquiry, had me run diagnositics so they could see what info I am getting and what I'm not getting; I think they're going to get with my cable company.

I'm pretty fortunate, also, in that I know someone at my cable company who has proven to be very responsive on another technical issue; I've provided him a sufficient description of the issue, including the fact that the data stream piggy backs on the CBS affiliate's digital stream, to get them working on it as well. I'll report later with my results.

Trying to talk to the Cable Company about this is a waste of time. They hear "TV Guide" and they either want to talk about their own EPG through the cable box, or the actual TV Guide channel. Trying to describe the service to them is useless.

I found, one would want to talk with a technician in their "head". This person is typically very technical knowledgeable about TV signals, and would be well versed in the types of data which can exist, like closed captions, in the VBI in analog transmissions. That should include TVGOS data in the VBI too.

Now, they might not have the authority to change things, if the cable company policy is to not bother with TVGOS data, but at least he/she will understand what you are asking.

I am pleased to report that Macrovision, my CBS affiliate, and my cable company all got on my issue right away; Macrovision was very responsive, and I continue to have great respect for them.

After reporting great success last time I had to deal with a TVGOS issue, I must say I'm sorely dissappointed this time. Our local provided (Cox cable in Wichita) has been adding a lot of HD stations over the last few months, and I've emailed support at Macrovision a couple of times and have received no response, and no additional channels to the lineup! Anyone know a good way to call these changes to the attention of TVGOS/Macrovision to get the new channels in the lineup on my TV Guide?

I am still pretty disappointed, and just gave up, working with TVGOS to reverse a policy change they did many months ago.

It use to be that TVGOS allowed you select from any available lineup in your area.

Now, TVGOS restricts the list to allow you to only select from lineup of only "analog" cable channels if during setup you set "no" to the "cable box" question. If you set "yes", you only are allowed to select from lineups that use cable box numbering.

I don't have a cable box, so during setup I select "no".

However, before this policy change, I use to be able to select the cable box lineup, and then manually edit the cable box numbers and replace them with QAM numbers. Now I can't get that lineup. :(

Yea, I could do a more massive manual edit, and add all the cable (digital) channels to the analog cable lineup, but that's a lot more work.

I guese the root is the complete lack of any support of QAM lineups. :mad:

Just to make this worse, my cable company just stopped scrambling most of their HD channel lineup, allowing me to get them "in the clear" on QAM. That makes me now, really really really want/need an easy QAM lineup.

Yea, the TVGOS in my circa 2005 DLP TV does not take advantage of QAM for cable. Somehow it does for the HD locals, those are always set to 3-1,6-1, etc, and they are properly PSIP mapped by Comcast in my area.

But for cable channels, I have to go in and manually change all the numbers from the analog channel to the digital/QAM version, since those are sent in the clear(for now). This takes about 20-30 minutes overall. But at least I get to customize it how I want, so the HD locals are first, then sports, then news, then home channels, etc. You cannot customize Comcast's guide like that.

However it works great for a FREE onscreen program guide on my TV, that I do not have a cable box currently hooked up to.

While its analog iteration will no doubt go dark in the US in February for OTA, and a sword of Damocles dangles above it for cable, I'm hopeful in Canada TVGOS should remain active for a few more years.

Last night (8/29/2009) I arrived home to find TVGOS had risen from the ashes in Omaha, Nebraska.

When I turned the TV on (LG32LX1D) I was greeted with a screen that announced two cable services in Omaha were detected -- Cox and Qwest -- which one did I want? (Cox.)

All cable and OTA HD channels are displayed.

Yay!

I have had my pano off for a week. Maybe I should check it. Everytime I go by it I think to myself. You are probably getting the guide, now that you are not in use. ;)

I've just learned our local cable company will be renumbering all HD channels to a 4-digit numbering system. I've notified TVGOS tech support of this information, and hope they will implement the changes automatically. If not, does anyone know if I can edit the channel info on TVGOS to 4-digit numbers?

You can edit ("re-map") channel numbers by hand if necessary. Go to the TVGOS "Setup" screen and choose "Change Channel Display" (I think that's what it's called... I can't look at my system right now). Highlight a channel and hit the "menu" button on your remote and you should get a menu on the left side of the screen where you can change the channel number.

I don't know if it will take four digits, though.

Oh boy, another TVGOS thread.

I encountered something a bit unusual Friday late afternoon, so wanted see if anyone knows some technical details. Prior to Friday, we had listings for substantially all of the channels I get from my cable provider. On Friday, while I had my TV on briefly, and tuned to the HD feed from our local ABC affiliate, something went haywire; couldn't access TVGOS, TV wouldn't shut off correctly; I'd turn the TV back on, and it would come on briefly then shut back down. Ever since, I do NOT have even an entry on the grid for this station, or for Fox Business News HD (at least on its correct channel). Also, I can't even program one of the available ABC affiliates as being on the appropriate channel number--2010. I figured if I edited one of those channels, it would get the right info; but it won't let me input 2010 as the channel number; instead, when I input the 4th digit, the 1st digit scrolls of and it becomes 010; in contrast, our NBC affiliate is at 2003, and I CAN customize channels to that number. So it is like TVGOS refuses to acknowledge that 2010 is even a valid number.

So here's my question: is this likely a problem with the data stream from TVGOS, or could there be a hardware problem? Where is the TVGOS info stored on a TV; is it part of the built-in hard disk drive for the DVR in my TV, or is there a dedicated flash memory device, or what?

So here's my question: is this likely a problem with the data stream from TVGOS, or could there be a hardware problem? Where is the TVGOS info stored on a TV; is it part of the built-in hard disk drive for the DVR in my TV, or is there a dedicated flash memory device, or what?Over in the HDTV recorders forum, most reported losing TVGOS information on ABC in the past week.

Over in the HDTV recorders forum, most reported losing TVGOS information on ABC in the past week.

Me too, just ABC. Funny thing is our ABC station has a sub channel and I'm getting guide info for it:confused: Any report on when it might be back, or if user intervention is required?
Tivo's guide is working fine:cool:
edit: I found the thread, Pal DVR. Lucky with Tivo I hardly use my TVs TVGOS guide, so I'll wait for the dust to settle.

Thanks, bfdtv. I looked at those posts. Very interesting. I've posted there so I should get updates from that discussion as well. I hope if anyone sees a solution, or sees that ABC listings have been resuscitated, they'll post to let us know!

TVGOS is down in Western New York (including OTA). I'm only able to receive data from the Canadian host (CFTO) from Toronto. It appears to have started late last week around the time many reported loosing ABC listings.

I didn't realize this until I saw most of the CATV services showed "No listing" and the ads were missing.

TVGOS is down in Western New York (including OTA). I'm only able to receive data from the Canadian host (CFTO) from Toronto. It appears to have started late last week around the time many reported loosing ABC listings.

I didn't realize this until I saw most of the CATV services showed "No listing" and the ads were missing.

If you haven't opened a formal problem report I recommend you do asap. Twice in the last couple of years my local cable provider (Charter) did something that caused the TVGOS feed to stop working. Trying to work through their call center was a waste of time. No one there knows what you are talking about, even when you get to level 2.

In both cases I ended up getting to macrovision for support, and they worked with the cable company to get it solved. It takes weeks to resolve.

Looks like macrovision is now Rovi. You can start here for support:

http://www.rovicorp.com/support/9391.htm?link_id=topnav

From the site:
"Rovi's TV Guide On Screen® system features vary between products. Please refer to the product list below to get the support that works best for you. If you need additional support for TV Guide On Screen, please contact your manufacturer or you can contact us directly at Ce_customer_support@rovicorp.com or 800-386-7380."

1. It isn't a MSO issue,
2. I already contacted Rovi through the local host station and waiting for a reply,
3. The issue was resolved yesterday sometime. It appears of be ok now (so far).

TVGOS here in Phoenix seems to have died earlier this week since my listings end as of Sunday, Dec 19. Even the ads shown on the TVGOS screens on my Panasonic dvd recorders are gone.

Charter here in southern Cal seems to have issues also for the past week. The picture's been breaking up and pixelated, along the line, TVGOS has stopped loading and keeps cycling.
We need to deregulate these filthy greedy cheapo Cable TV providers.

Users in The Official AVS Dish DTVPal DVR Topic! here are now reporting ABC listings are back; I hope that means system wide they've addressed the problem (since I'm a cable customer, not a dish customer). I also noticed for me the problem involved more than just ABC, but gave TVGOS/ROVI a list of all my affected channels. As you see TVGOS (especially for ABC HD listings) getting back online, post!

As you see TVGOS (especially for ABC HD listings) getting back online, post!

Well ABC is now listed in the grid on my Digital Sony TV(it was completely absent before) but only No Listing. Maybe next download will get the info.

12/20-Got all listings for ABC and has been fine ever since.

Started getting some listings today, 12/21. Hopefully the grid will fully populate again during the next download.

I do wonder, however, what happens to the TVGOS signal for it to disappear for a whole week only to magically reappear.

The Sony DVR's are fine, the Mits TV is not. I get a populated grid only if I leave the Artec CECB on. When I remove it, the listing slowly start to disappear. They don't update. The procedure worked last summer, now it doesn't. They changed something (other than the glitch for ABC listings).

My TVGOS has completely dissappeared over the last couple of weeks. I'm in Western NY (Rochester). I can't seem to get the signal back. I've done a reset on my Panny EH75V and no TVGOS. I get my signal from Time Warner. Thanks for any help.
Larry

Apparently TWC had a glitch also. Problem fixed here earlier this week.

Apparently TWC had a glitch also. Problem fixed here earlier this week.Unfortunately not for the west coast.

The TWC part was a local issue.

My TVGOS has completely dissappeared over the last couple of weeks. I'm in Western NY (Rochester). I can't seem to get the signal back. I've done a reset on my Panny EH75V and no TVGOS. I get my signal from Time Warner. Thanks for any help.
Larry

See my prior post - this has happened to me and the only thing that solved it was to get the support teams working on it. You may get lucky and it will resolve itself through the actions of others but I would open a formal support request.

I've contacted Time Warner and they tell me that didn't do anything and I've contacted our local PBS station WXXI and they said they did nothing. But I really don't think I've gotten to anyone that understands what TVGOS is. How do you submit a problem report? What is interesting there is someone about two hours ahead of me asking the same questions both at Time Warner and WXXI.

I've contacted Time Warner and they tell me that didn't do anything and I've contacted our local PBS station WXXI and they said they did nothing. But I really don't think I've gotten to anyone that understands what TVGOS is. How do you submit a problem report? What is interesting there is someone about two hours ahead of me asking the same questions both at Time Warner and WXXI.

Read my prior post. In my experience, it is unlikely you will find anyone who knows what TVGOS is by working through the normal technical support process. You need to go to Rovi and initiate a formal problem with them. Info in my prior post.

TVGOS out on my tv again--Cox Cablevision, Wichita KS. Got home from work and my daughter told me it was down all day--no grid at all. So, I went to setup to tell it my channel lineup is wrong--again. this will result, if I'm lucky, in getting the complete set of listings, so I can turn off all those channels I don't get, and rearrange them into some meaningful sequence. If I'm not lucky, the service will stay off.

TVGOS back up in Wichita, plus a response from ROVI that they are adding the last several channels that were missing.

I've contacted Time Warner and they tell me that didn't do anything and I've contacted our local PBS station WXXI and they said they did nothing. But I really don't think I've gotten to anyone that understands what TVGOS is.


I gave up on TVGOS on my Toshiba XS34! The thing would cycle through all of the channels on the cable box through the IR blaster. I noticed previously it would "sit" on the PBS network to "download" the information. Following that, it would stay on the FOX network for some reason. If I manually set the box to PBS it would revert back to FOX!

The Tosh also sets the clock through this method, and screwed it up big time which is a major reason I omit using TVGOS. Some scheduled shows wouldn't record onto the correct channel, because of the cable mini guide getting stuck on when TVGOS flips to a channel that I don't subscribe to. I now manually set all shows on the recorder.

Same thing happening here with Charter (Time Warner). My EH55 just cycles over and over again via IR blaster to the point where even my cable guide listings shows "info not available", I'd have to stop searching from the recorder's TVGOs so that cable itself can update/list info again.

Programmable remotes?

Does anyone know if a programmable remote, such as the Logitech Harmony lineup, can be programmed to open the TVGOS feature on TVs that have that feature? I have the LG 50PC1DR television, and I think my channel up/down button may fail soon; this is also critical to navigating through the TVGOS screens. I can get a replacement LG remote for about $50 mailorder, it looks like, but for $80 or more I can get a programmable remote. By the same token, trying to train the remote for the TV, the Blu-ray player, and the Sony stereo; then training family members to use it, may be too much trouble.

I'll let others answer about universal remotes, but I've been very successful on repairing remotes that have sticky or hard to work buttons.
Generally the hardest part is prying the remote apart, many times their are a few screws holding it plus a tab or two that require prying between the two haves of the remote. Once apart look at the circuit board near the bad keys and you'll more than likely see a deposit of gunk, dust etc. Use a cleaning solution for magnetic tape heads or even 90%+ iso or denatured alcohol and a cotton swab. Put it back together and hope for the best. Like I said it's fixed all my remotes that have had problems, if it's getting too bad you don't have too much to risk.
BTW I like to start by taking the remote apart with the keys facing down, most keypads are one big skin but sometimes if they're individual buttons you don't want them falling all over. Oh and it's not a bad idea to clean the backside of the buttons having the problems. Most of the time I see what looks like pop or a sticky substance causing the button to not work correctly.

Programmable remotes?

Does anyone know if a programmable remote, such as the Logitech Harmony lineup, can be programmed to open the TVGOS feature on TVs that have that feature? I have the LG 50PC1DR television, and I think my channel up/down button may fail soon; this is also critical to navigating through the TVGOS screens. I can get a replacement LG remote for about $50 mailorder, it looks like, but for $80 or more I can get a programmable remote. By the same token, trying to train the remote for the TV, the Blu-ray player, and the Sony stereo; then training family members to use it, may be too much trouble.

The Harmony remotes generally support all the features for the various devices. Most also have a 'learning' function. There's a bit of a learning curve getting everything setup, but once you do, you'll never go back.

Some of the lower priced models are perfectly adequate, like the 670 for around $60, the 550/520, and others. Or you can go whole hog and get the "One" for nearly $200. ;)

Suggest handling them in a store somewhere as the shapes and feel vary widely -- depending how picky you are, might matter. I have a "One" and a 550 and a 670. I think the lower priced models are a far better value, the One is over-priced. Better, but not that much better.

Good luck!

P.S. Properly setup, the Harmony remotes do make it much easier for other family members to use your equipment. They just pick the "activity" like "watch a DVD" -- you setup "activities" rather than controlling each device individually - that's what makes the Harmony approach so nice. So keep that in mind if you get one. ;)

I was receiving data through 12/30/09 on my Panasonic E85H using the coax analog feed with Cablevision in Northern NJ ( Morris County), I've spent time with various levels of Cablevision support and they are basically clueless. One rep told me they reconfigured their analog service some time around 12/30/09. Other than possibly filing an executive complaint, I've given up on Cablevision and have sent an email to rovi as suggested above.

If anyone still care about TVGOS usin the analog coax feed on Cablevision in NJ, please call Mr. Peter Varios on 347-293-4366 in their executive complaint office. I went up the customer service line until I got there. He basically told me that had no plans to look into the problem unless more people called in to complain.

Is this really Cablevision's fault?

I thought, if anything, analog TVGOS was still supported on cable systems, if (and only if) TVGOS was renting rack space and basically providing it themselves. I know that is the case here for me in PA (TVGOS is on analog cable ch 50). If that is similarly true for Cablevision, then really their customer is TVGOS, not you, and it is TVGOS who needs to complain.

I also emailed TVGOS/rovi about the problem and have received no response from them either. My understanding was that the TVGOS data stream was transmitted with a broadcast channel and CV was probably unintentionally stripping that data stream when converting the digital signal back to analog ( at least that is what someone at Verizon FIOS told was happening when I dealt with them a few years ago on this issue).

If Cablevision was stripping off (ignoring?) the VBI capability data field from the original digital signal, then their analog converted channel would also be missing Closed Captioning, which I believe would be a major federal "no no".

I remember some time ago, TVGOS was actually soliciting info from us, the TVGOS users, about cable systems we were using. I was expecting that they then used this info to open up a dialog with our cable systems about supporting analog TVGOS after the nation-wide TV format cut-over. This would entail TVGOS renting some small rack space, to have the hardware to generate and feed an analog TVGOS channel/signal, even on cable systems that were otherwise totally digital.

OTA users would need their own hardware like the DTVpal.

Back to your situation, your analog TVGOS data dying on 12/30 really comes off like the TVGOS rack rental ended or something similar. The hardware failing at the end of the year like that would be one major coincidence.

My TVGOS in Rochester, NY went dead a couple of weeks ago. After some research found out it's the local CBS affiliate WROC 8 that carries the signal. Used to be the local PBS WXXI. I emailed the the Chief Engineer at WROC and he replied there were some technical problems that Gemstar was working on and they hoped to have the issue resolved in a week or two. He assured me that once resolved the TVGOS signal would return to the analog feed on Time Warner Cable in Rochester.

I am still losing TVGOS data frequently on my LG 50PC1DR. This is the built-in TV Guide Feature. As near as I can tell, the data is stored in some RAM or flash drive or something in the TV. It could be a signal problem; but it happens often enough I was wondering if others have a similar problem. I am in Wichita, KS.

Here's a new problem (for me anyway) .... anyone else had this happen?

The TVGOS is deleting a scheduled recording. I had the TVGOS set up to record 24 two weeks ago, and when I went to pull it up to watch - no recording. The entry in the Schedule was not there either (I set it up to record Weekly).

So, I set it up again - BAM - same thing happened the following week. (Of course, I did not realize it until too late.)

So, I set it up again, and I WILL be checking it tonight before 24 airs to make sure the schedule is still in place.

Looks to me like the listings are all fine - all channels, including Fox, seem to be downloading just fine. I've been using TVGOS for several years, with the occasional major outage, but other than that, no problems.

Anyone else ever had a scheduled recording deleted?

Although I can't absolutely swear to it, I believe that last week I had LOST scheduled to record on Tuesday PM, but on Wed AM discovered it was gone, and the recurring schedule entry was gone as well. I've got a couple of recurring recordings set up, so I'll watch to see if they stay scheduled as the dates arrived.

In the meantime, in Wichita the last couple of days, my programming info hasn't updated since having to restore my grid (other than some data left over from downloads before some failure).

Well, so far so good - back to normal. It kept the 24 recording entry this time and is working normally, although I will be watching it closely next week. I know for 100% certain that it dropped the scheduled recording one of the weeks, and I'm pretty sure that it dropped it the week before that. But, I was more surprised than anything to see that it didn't record, so I wasn't watching that closely. But the second week that it happened, I know it was an error on the TVGOS. No one else in my house messes with the recording schedule, and I know I didn't do it.

Well, after several weeks of flawless performance, I am once again experience issues with TVGOS in Wichita, KS. Specfically, I noticed that my scheduled recordings of the new "Life" series on Discovery all had question marks, indicating that the scheduler couldn't find them in the listings. I searched, and sure enough, no info. I looked at my schedule grid this morning. I have program data for many channels, and I have "No Listing" for many channels, including Discovery HD, and its related channels; a number of other channels that are subscription cable channels. I didn't have time to see if there was a pattern to what is there and what is missing; but it isn't a time-based problem (I have partial listings for a week from today; I have some missing listings for tomorrow).

Anyone else experiencing this now?

All I noticed, is that I have had no ads for almost a week now. Just the blue "Welcome to TVGOS" default pics. This is for both my analog TVGOS and my digital TVGOS equipment.

This worries me for two reasons. First, if there are truly no ads, that means there are no ads dollars supporting TVGOS. Second, no ads is usually my first indication that data transmissions, in general, are starting to fail. Neither are good news, to me.

I've also recently experienced intermittent problems with TVGOS on Comcast cable in the metro Detroit area.

Occasionally, a day or two of "No Listing" entries will show up in the program grid. I missed daily recordings yesterday and today because of this, and see that it's searching the stations for the channel with the TVGOS signal again today.

Not appreciating TVGOS very much at the moment... :(

Yeah, I went ahead and switched to using the Cox Cablevision digital HD/DVR. It will cost me a ridiculous amount more per month, but I got tired of all the outages and having too many possible sources of trouble.

Well, I finally got a response from ROVI to my March 23 complaint that I was losing listings on certain channels arbitrarily yesterday, April 6. Their claim: it is a problem with my LG television "forgetting" that it had a cablecard, so it would only store info on the "cable ready" channels. While this could be plausible, I suppose, it didn't seem to fit the problem I had--I lost listings for some fairly common channels, and kept listings for some relatively odd channels like UHD and Palladium. This is twice this year they blamed my provider or my TV for a loss of listings. I would prefer a properly working cablecard/TVGOS system to using the HD DVR from Cox, but I've finally been worn out by the fingerpointing among ROVI, the hosting carrier, the manufacturer of the TV, and my cable system when there is a problem.

I am sure I would do the same... I've only had two major issues with TVGOS in about 4 years of using it, with multi-week outages each time. Fortunately, it's been more stable than not, and if it were an ongoing issue, I would also end up with the cable DVR - or maybe Tivo. My impression is that those are the only real options available, since a hard drive "DIY" model like the Panasonic DMREH75 (which is what I have) is a thing of the past.

At the end of the day, what I'm after is a reliable DVR, and if I can do it with a free service like TVGOS, that's what I will do, but if it goes away, I'll be captive to the subscription services. Oh - and maybe if Uverse ever appears in my area, I'll be using their DVR.... $15 a month for a DVR from the cable company is highway robbery.

Oh - and maybe if Uverse ever appears in my area, I'll be using their DVR.... $15 a month for a DVR from the cable company is highway robbery.

Interestingly enough, when my TVGOS system has reset itself a couple of times, after I tell it WHERE I am, my next prompt is to pick my digital provider--Cox or UVerse. So, my guess is ROVI provides the data for Uverse at least here.

I know this is a very old thread, and I might be one of the 'remnant', still clinging to a TVGOS feed for my DVR, but ..... is anyone able to receive TVGOS from Charter Cable?

I lost TVGOS in February, and have had an open case with Rovi since then. They've had me reset and submit diagnostics multiple times, and recommended changing/upgrading any splitters in the cable line, but ultimately they said it was an issue with the cable company and they would work it with them. That's been since June 1, two months ago, and I am beginning to get the idea that Charter does not pass the signal any longer and I may be the only person in the US of A that is asking about it.

If anyone does successfully receive TVGOS through Charter, could you post or PM a working zip code? I want to program my DVR to a working zip code to at least prove that it will receive those listings. When I suggested this to Rovi via email, I did not get a response, which is what is making me suspicious that Charter is not passing TVGOS at all.

That's been since June 1, two months ago, and I am beginning to get the idea that Charter does not pass the signal any longer and I may be the only person in the US of A that is asking about it.

...

When I suggested this to Rovi via email, I did not get a response, which is what is making me suspicious that Charter is not passing TVGOS at all.

What device are you using? Does it require an analog channel with TVGOS data?

My older devices (Toshiba) can only receive TVGOS data from an analog channel. That's regardless of zip code (it doesn't matter what zip you use if there is no TVGOS data available at all).

My local cable company adds the TVGOS data to their analog channel 50. I assume using some sort of equipment supplied to them by Rovi back when the nationwide change from analog to digital channels occurred.

However, that requires the cable company to still support analog channels. Many don't anymore.

BTW, my kind-of new Sony XBR TV, as well as my old Sony DVR, has TVGOS, but can get data from digital channels too.

I'm with Charter and haven't seen any TVGOS for more than 2 years now. Occasionally, I would let my EH55 do the search but it just kept on going for days and annoyed me while I'm watching TV as the channels are switching nonstop. Besides their unreliable crappy cable/internet services, I gave up on the bastards and just live without the guide.

What device are you using? Does it require an analog channel with TVGOS data?

My older devices (Toshiba) can only receive TVGOS data from an analog channel. That's regardless of zip code (it doesn't matter what zip you use if there is no TVGOS data available at all).

My local cable company adds the TVGOS data to their analog channel 50. I assume using some sort of equipment supplied to them by Rovi back when the nationwide change from analog to digital channels occurred.

However, that requires the cable company to still support analog channels. Many don't anymore.

BTW, my kind-of new Sony XBR TV, as well as my old Sony DVR, has TVGOS, but can get data from digital channels too.


First of all, I'm glad there are still a few members of the 'remnant'. We might need a secret handshake.


I have the Panasonic DMREH75, which is wonderful. I've had it since it was first released (4-5 years ago?).

It probably does require an analog channel. I've gone through TVGOS outages several times before, and in each case I've gotten through to ROVI/Macrovision support and they've gotten with Charter and something gets fixed and the feed resumes.

I presume my cable co still has analog channels, and the logic for my thinking is that I can manually record "clear" channels (i.e., not through the cable box) on my EH75 up through channel 99. I think the digital channels start at 100. There are clear channels above 100 but I don't have the digital tuner in the EH75 to record them.

Should they switch to 100% digital, is there any kind of device that would allow me to convert the digital to analog in front of my EH75 and still get the TVGOS listings, should they ever be restored?

I'm with Charter and haven't seen any TVGOS for more than 2 years now. Occasionally, I would let my EH55 do the search but it just kept on going for days and annoyed me while I'm watching TV as the channels are switching nonstop. Besides their unreliable crappy cable/internet services, I gave up on the bastards and just live without the guide.

I think the future for me is UVerse, if it ever gets down my street. From people around here I've spoken with, they say that satellite is worse than Charter, and for those that have had Charter, satellite, and UVerse, they say UVerse is the best of them all.

I don't think I can live w/out a hard drive DVR for TV viewing any more, since we watch just about zero live TV and timeshift everything, including chase-watching (or whatever the term is) current broadcasts to blast through commercials. That said I cannot bring myself to pay the usury monthly fees charged by Charter for a DVR. One of these days the EH75 won't be a workable solution any more, I am sure.

My Charter-TVGOS went out a few days ago, in Missouri. Are there any tricks(zipcode,etc) to get the guide working again?

I lost the TVGOS feed on my Panasonic DMR-EH75V around February when Charter swaped out the cable-box to their new flavor.

Prior to that I had lost the TVGOS signal with the analog-to-digital switch, but after 6-8 months the TVGOS signal was once again available.

Today I get the channels identified, just not the line-up.

Every month or so, I reset my DMR-EH75V in hopes that Charter has once again broadcast the TVGOS.

I sure miss the guide.

How do you contact Rovi? Can you get TVGOS on your TV or computer?

I lost the TVGOS feed on my Panasonic DMR-EH75V around February when Charter swaped out the cable-box to their new flavor.

Prior to that I had lost the TVGOS signal with the analog-to-digital switch, but after 6-8 months the TVGOS signal was once again available.

Today I get the channels identified, just not the line-up.

Every month or so, I reset my DMR-EH75V in hopes that Charter has once again broadcast the TVGOS.

I sure miss the guide.
Do you have any timer programs set now?
My panny eh75 had the same problem for months. I tried multiple times to reset the guide to only get the channel lineup not the listings.
I happened to remove the timer and also tried the reset again.
This weekend it finally downloaded the entire listings set.!!!!!
Was it because of the timer settings or was it just a coincidence????
Of course it only works on the first 20 channels that are still analog, but I can still make use of that.

The Rovi site says that the listings in my area were last put out at 2AM, August 1. Does my Pan.EH-55 have to be turned off for several hours to receive the listings? At 2AM, or any time on Aug.1?

The Rovi site says that the listings in my area were last put out at 2AM, August 1. Does my Pan.EH-55 have to be turned off for several hours to receive the listings? At 2AM, or any time on Aug.1?Your unit must be turned off to receive all listings.

The Rovi site says that the listings in my area were last put out at 2AM, August 1. Does my Pan.EH-55 have to be turned off for several hours to receive the listings? At 2AM, or any time on Aug.1?

When troubleshooting w/Rovi, they always have me keep the unit off from 11:45pm to 6:00am at a minimum. Panasonic will tell you 24 hours, but I think that is overkill/safeguard.

New data starts at around 2am, and continues to download for a long while. And your unit needs to be "settled in" onto the correct channel by 2am.

How do you know the correct channel, and how do you "set" it?

The only way I know of, to find out what the correct channel in your area is, is to read thru various forums. Someone in your area might post the info.

The unit slowly scans thru all your channels, searching for a possible TVGOS data source. You unit needs to be 'off' for this to happen and the search needs to successfully complete before it can start a download. As in this example, the scan has to complete before 2am. That's why you can't just turn your unit 'off' at, say, 1:59am, and be sure it will catch the 2am download.