Is the Guide Plus still up and working?

TonyF said:
Is it down again?
Click to expand...

No, Just downloaded weekly file, but have seen some weeks have been unresponsive or very slow to download.

Don't use this machine very often, close to 10 years old, and still plodding on.

Can't say my win7 computers produce any better viewing, but WMC is good and is automated, technology moves on.
 
I just grabbed my weekly listings a few days early... No problems. But I have to say, I've lost four or five channels from the list over the past year. That's a drag.
 
I haven’t logged in here or updated my Guide Plus since September 2010 – I did both yesterday, and I made a note to come back to this thread as I still had questions. I just got sidetracked. I also re-read the entire thread and grabbed a lot more info that I didn’t catch before (didn’t know several functions were removed from later versions). I am getting back to this:
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost.php?p=1336359429&postcount=175
And if I haven’t stated it before: I don’t have a flat screen, satellite, digital cable or HD anything. I've got a good working television with wood grain and dials on it and analog cable, five VCRs and two DVD players. Both computers I have run on 32-bit XP. I’m going to answer DA1745’s questions here as best as I can (thanks for your patience as always):
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost.php?p=1336363264&postcount=176

The old computer I used ATI/Gemstar on was given to me with the program on it with its CD and booklet. I was running Windows 98 and used it from 2001-2005. It was later reformatted with XP Pro and used by another family member from 2005-2009. The ATI software was never reinstalled when XP was put on because I wasn’t using the machine anymore but the ATI card remained inside as it was the primary graphics card for this computer – it is a 32MB AIW Radeon 7200. I Everest’d this machine and also got “7200 AGP” and “Radeon ATI DDR” so I’m not sure what the official title is. The booklet says ATI MMC 7 (I can’t find what version Guide Plus) and is copyrighted 2000. I guess this software would not work with Windows XP because of its age?

The feature I lost with my newer software is what the old booklet called TV-on-Demand where I could either have a live TV feed or TV-on-Demand with a click of an icon. This was a huge blow because I always used that feature for scrolling back, pausing, and making screens. I didn’t discover this right away as when I got my new computer it was a year or two before I wanted to make screens and ‘roll back logged TV’ again…then I realized, I couldn’t. You can still make screens but it is pointless because you can’t pause the TV. I can’t recall this with my old software, but with the newer stuff whenever I played a file in File Player it would only let me take a screen if the file was playing. When I paused it, the icon for taking a screen would change color and not work, again a huge blow because I need to pause video in order to capture screens! Most of these files were recorded using the ATI TV. I could always pause/screenshot with the TV-on-Demand on the old computer. Each way, I’m screwed for making screenshots.

The new computer I got in 2005 and has XP Home. I bought the then current ATI TV Wonder Pro at Best Buy. Instead of getting a nice instruction booklet it was all files on the disk…and I failed to ever read these until today, as I always used the book from the old software because at the time I thought “its all the exact same”. Since I use an Intel Graphics card I can’t find with Everest the exact ATI card model and it doesn’t say on the box (copyrighted 2003) – where can I find this info? I have always used the ATI MMC 8.2 and Guide Plus 1.0.0.44 that came on the disk. As stated, reading through the MMC guide now on the disk; it has no mention of TV-on-Demand anywhere. I wish I had realized this six years ago but it was years later I used the software and realized I didn’t have this function anymore – when/why did they remove it? And as stated above, can’t take screens when putting a video on pause in the File Player.

So I updated the Guide Plus for the first time in seven months. The first time I tried it and lost the connection half way, but it worked on the second try. More channels were lost/moved from what I posted here. This has to do with the move to digital and analog signals slowly being replaced. In Canada the analog shut off is August 31, 2011 – will Guide Plus then be useless?

Still missing Channel 3, CIII, Global
Lost Channel 9, A-Lon (however Channel 21 is a copy)
Still missing Channel 12, CKCO, I put CFTO in its place.
Never had Channel 13, TV Guide
Still missing Channel 14, Omni 2
Still missing Channel 15, Sun TV
Still missing Channel 19, TSC
Still missing Channel 20, Rogers
Moved Channel 23, CTS
Moved Channel 25, YTV
Still missing Channel 37, BBC News
Still missing Channel 45, History
Still missing Channel 47, which was TBS, now Peachtree.
Still no listing, gray across the gird Channel 50, Teletoon
Moved Channel 51, Family (series names but no episode names)
Still missing Channel 53, SCR
Still missing Channel 54, Speed
Still missing Channel 55, AMC
Never had Channel 57, BNN
Lost Channel 70, APTN, years ago.

Down at the bottom of my listings 551 was YTVHD, 556 was FamilyHD, and 651 was CITS-1 – I edited these station numbers to put them back into place (51, 25, 23). YTV didn’t have listings for all days. All course all channels still come though the TV. For all the hassle this software is worth, I’d really like something new that can still work with my XP machine that:

-Can screenshot when paused
-Can log live TV for about an hour and be able to pause/rr/ff though it
-Can record with better quality/smaller file size/and possibly a different file format
-A reliable EPG with all and correct channels for Canada.
-And eventually, be able to hook up my VCR and record my VHS tapes to files.

Does this involve buying a new TV tuner/video card and if so, where and what brand/software version?
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CoolSteve said:
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost.php?p=1336359429&postcount=175
and analog cable. Both computers I have run on 32-bit XP. I’m going to answer DA1745’s questions here as best as I can (thanks for your patience as always): http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost.php?p=1336363264&postcount=176

The old computer I used ATI/Gemstar on was given to me with the program on it with its CD and booklet. I was running Windows 98 and used it from 2001-2005. It was later reformatted with XP Pro and used by another family member from 2005-2009. The ATI software was never reinstalled when XP was put on because I wasn’t using the machine anymore but the ATI card remained inside as it was the primary graphics card for this computer – it is a 32MB AIW Radeon 7200. I Everest’d this machine and also got “7200 AGP” and “Radeon ATI DDR” so I’m not sure what the official title is. The booklet says ATI MMC 7 (I can’t find what version Guide Plus) and is copyrighted 2000.I guess this software would not work with Windows XP because of its age? So did you get this PC back or what??? Are you planning to put it back into service? --- Or is it just here for additional data? I'm un-clear.
Well IDK for sure but MMC 7 is right around the XP time I don't see why it woudn't work. PLUS once you installed the main components 1) an version of catalyst 6.2 or OLDER, then you could install everything else (dvd decoder, guide plus etc) off the disc and then use a slightely newer version MMC 9.08 and newer (like your MMC 8.2 version from your TV wonder pro disc.
I see support listed for some versions so I would think it does work with XP - but it's a matter of getting all the parts together in the right way.



================================================

The feature I lost with my newer software ...is what the old booklet called TV-on-Demand where I could either have a live TV feed or TV-on-Demand with a click of an icon. .... I could always pause/screenshot with the TV-on-Demand on the old computer. Each way, I’m screwed for making screenshots.
After re-reading this post and your last, I understand things better; I initially assumed you were talking about the problem we were all complaining about after upgrading to MMC 9.14-9.16 as some of the problems you mentioned are similar to using those. HOWEVER, I now think that it's possible that the TV Wonder pro doesn't have the option that the AIW did. i have one of those cards but the system I used it in burnt up with a bad Antec Power supply.
Perhaps someone that is still using a TV wonder pro could comment.

The new computer I got in 2005 and has XP Home. I bought the then current ATI TV Wonder Pro at Best Buy. Instead of getting a nice instruction booklet it was all files on the disk…and I failed to ever read these until today, as I always used the book from the old software because at the time I thought “its all the exact same”. Since I use an Intel Graphics card I can’t find with Everest the exact ATI card model ??? Ok did you mean to say Intel Graphics card there? If your graphics are by Intel then you are using not a Graphics card but Intel's built onto the Motherboard Graphics Chip. If you look at the back of the PC does your graphics VGA port go Vertically (as in it's built right into the motherboard usually up by or near the mouse and keyboard ports) or does it go Horizontally and it's down where the add in cards are? In other words is the GRAPHICS card something you can remove?

and it doesn’t say on the box (copyrighted 2003) – where can I find this info? I have always used the ATI MMC 8.2 and Guide Plus 1.0.0.44 that came on the disk. As stated, reading through the MMC guide now on the disk; it has no mention of TV-on-Demand anywhere. I wish I had realized this six years ago but it was years later I used the software and realized I didn’t have this function anymore – when/why did they remove it? And as stated above, can’t take screens when putting a video on pause in the File Player. MMC 8.8 is the oldest version I have ever used and it came with TV on demand (when using an AIW ==> again not sure about with a TV wonder pro though). So this may simply be a loss of the feature from AIW line to the TV wonder pro card line. Which makes since since you say you had it back in MMC 7 on your old system. And I had it in MMC 8.8 (using AIW 9600XT) and MMC 9.06 & 9.06.1 & 9.08 using (AIW 9800 pro & X800XT). So it's not gone from the software, likely just not a feature the TV wonder pro has.
Can you get your old system back? Try out the AIW 7200?


More channels were lost/moved from what I posted here. This has to do with the move to digital and analog signals slowly being replaced. In Canada the analog shut off is August 31, 2011 – will Guide Plus then be useless? No, that's not correct. I think I went into Great detail about this before. This is the combination of 2 known things and possibly other forces. TV Guides current owners have stated that they will continue to be publishing TV guides... And this has certainly been true for the U.S. having gone digital now for almost 2 years.

So why the missing channels. (1) it's what your cable co reports to TV guide. --> Titan TV the service used for Windows Media Center in my area gets 1 of the almost 70 Clear QAM Digital Channels available in my area. ==> Why bc my Cable Co doesn't provide them.
(2) TV Guide people are NOT proactive in making sure their line-ups are accurate. About 1.5 years ago my CC re-did their digital line up and TV Guide has YET to correct this or update they still post under the old channel numbers. --> Being that AIW are all analog it doesn't matter but it just shows they aren't on the ball, not competent at what they do at all!
3)With everything being about money it's possible that certain channels aren't be listed for a reason. It's been about 5 years since the network WE has been displayed... Despite them updating for some of the other channels as the lineups changed. So why have they never added WE??? IDK Maybe WE is owned by a competitor, maybe WE didn't pay them ?????????

Anyway, this has ZERO to do with the digital changeover. There are STILL digital TV's out there with integrated TV guides and they will want to and are being supplied with digital & analog information.

channels still come though the TV. For all the hassle this software is worth, I’d really like something new that can still work with my XP machine that:

-Can screenshot when paused
Well Windows itself has a Screen capture feature. It's the button called PrtScn / Sys Rq up in the upper middle right of your keyboard usually (depending on keyboard style). In order for this to work for me, the TV Window can't be in full screen mode it has to be in the Window-ed mode --> you know where you can resize it etc. (it can still take up almost the entire screen but just can't be full screen mode in Windows Media Center --> IDK if the same applies to MMC though.?.

-Can log live TV for about an hour and be able to pause/rr/ff though it
-Can record with better quality/smaller file size/and possibly a different file format
-A reliable EPG with all and correct channels for Canada.
-And eventually, be able to hook up my VCR and record my VHS tapes to files.
Does this involve buying a new TV tuner/video card and if so, where and what brand/software version?
Click to expand...
You might try digging around two ACTIVE boards. Avsforum.com -- they have a HTPC thread. Try searching for you card ATI TV wonder pro there. OR The green button.

However, even if the on demand is gone you can still record and watch later and with the Print Screen capture button you should be able to get by.

With XP and an older PC there are lots of issues to consider does your PConly have PCI ports which today limits your TV tuner options. There aren't too many quality ones that are PCI Here's one but it's expensive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...eo+Devices+++TV+Tuners-_-Hauppauge-_-15116033
The other issue is the Software that comes with the cards. Some have terrible software too. And you can't use MMC with them so you are back in the trouble boat again.



----------------------------
For 95% of my needs I have moved to Vista Media Center & Now Windows 7 Media Center. I use TV Tuner cards and it in general is a decent Tivo like setup. I can record series of shows, new or all episodes so I don't have to remember each day to set a timer etc. I just monitor it as did a good job in Vista of recording the show I wanted when a conflict occured but it's not as good in Windows 7.

I've lost track of whether the ATI TV wonder pro can work with Vista or W7... but you'd need to know b4 you went that way.

---> I HATE MICROSOFT!! but in this instance what they stole for all the other TV tuners programs like MMC they have made into a nice interface. You can buy a 3 user license family pack in the US often on sale for $125 or less.
I'm really drowsy and forgotten where I'm headed in this article so I'm going to push submit and look at it sometime in the future!

If you Current PC has PCI-Express slots you could buy less expensive TV tuners. Or you could use a USB external though they are software based... Here's the rub again, but one thing you would have gained access to with many newer tuners is OTA Digital and what ever Clear QAM (if any) digitial un-encrypted SD or HD channels your cable company is putting out there. UNFORTUNATELY, XP requires software in order to be able to operate those... So if it doesn't come with the card you bought OR it's crappy then it's a bit disappointing.

Is getting the AIW 7200 back into service an option?
 
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Very bad news, i wrote to rovi and here is the answer:

It appears you are using AMD / ATI Guide software to get TV listings from the internet.
Due to contractual differences with AMD/ATI, this service is no longer available.

If this is not the case and you are using an On Screen Guide built into a TV or DVR please reply to this email with the following information:

Zip Code:
Device Make and Model Number:
Cable Provider or OTA(antenna):
Set up if Cable (Cable Ready, Cable Box, Cable Card):

Regards,

Rovi CE Tech Support


I just wrote to AMD and ask them to fix the contractual problem with Rovi



Here are the 2 places i find the email address on their website

http://www.rovicorp.com/company/11088.htm
http://support.amd.com/us/contacts/P...l-support.aspx

I strongly suggest that everybody complaign to AMD instead of Rovi because there is no relation with us. We bought the card from AMD/ATI so they are the ones who makes publicity on their box about Gemstar. We have to put pressure on them to restore the communication with Rovi and fix the conflictual problem.

I mentionned that i saw other people on internet who was also complaigning about the termination of the service but i have no idea of how many. Just on another forum the thread has been read by over 60 peoples in a few hours. I am surprise because ATI cards are at least 7 or 8 years old
 
I wrote to Rovi and AMD, here are their answers:

Rovi :

It appears you are using AMD / ATI Guide software to get TV listings from the internet.
Due to contractual differences with AMD/ATI, this service is no longer available.

If this is not the case and you are using an On Screen Guide built into a TV or DVR please reply to this email with the following information:

Zip Code:
Device Make and Model Number:
Cable Provider or OTA(antenna):
Set up if Cable (Cable Ready, Cable Box, Cable Card):

Rovi CE Tech Support


AMD:

There is no contract dispute with the providers of Gemstar, the software is simply end of life like the ATI MMC software it shipped with. The MMC software was last updated in late 2006.
You should be able to use 3rd party online TV listings in your region. Your local cable/satellite provider will typically have a TV listing of the channels they carry on their web pages.
Titan TV and Zap2it are popular sites providing listings based on Zip codes.
Gemstar listings have never been guaranteed, simply provided as is with the ATI MMC software.


Rest in peace Guide Plus
 
ok so what the next best option?

ok so what the next best option?

Ive got a XP and a 9600 AIW card...
OK I know its old but it worked great on my old analog big screen..
Without changing hardware /OS, whats my next option?
Which would be a better upgrade? Win7 or update the card
 
This sucks. The packaging and papers that came with my ATI card didn't say anything about Guide Plus+ System - ATI being "as is" or having a life cycle.

Still, the problem here is with Rovi. All we need for our stuff to keep working right is the listing data they've been providing. They have it. We need it. And it won't hurt them to let us have it.

We paid for it when we bought our capture cards. We just have to make Rovi understand that when the bought Guide Plus, we were part of the package.
 
I too got the "contractual differences" story from Rovi. My reply...

I disagree. This has nothing to do with ATI. It's Gemstar software which Rovi now owns. And that ownership includes an obligation to continue providing the TV listing data.

I don't see what the problem is -- except that nobody in control wants to deal with it.

If Rovi wants to abandon this obligation, it should also abandon the software... Make Guide Plus+ for Windows open source and we in the community will make it work.

In the software's current state, from a legal and programming point, only Rovi can provide the listing data. If you release the software to open source, entities such as Schedules Direct (which purchases listing data for use in open source software) could write a hook to work with Guide Plus+.

This doesn't need to end badly for anyone. I think we can all be satisfied if Rovi will play nice.

Thanks,
Mike
​
Lets keep fingers crossed.

TonyF: You might try something like GB-PVR http://www.gbpvr.com/to replace Guide Plus, but you'd still need to purchase the listing data from another source. Take a look at Schedules Direct (Good people there).

I've used those two as a Guide Plus+ backup in the past -- for those times Guide Plus+ wouldn't work. The setup can be a bit painful but, it can work. The drawback (aside from having to pay a few bucks for the listings - fair enough) is I really like Guide Plus+ and in my opinion, nothing really compares. I've tried a lot of different programs, including Windows Media Center. But the interfaces are just too bulky and the applications too resource intensive.
 
Has anyone tried MediaPortal? I have been trying to get it to work but keep having trouble getting SQL Server to login.
 
Well... The week is nearly over and Rovi hasn't responded to my last email, so I've prompted them:

Hello again,
Although there has been no reply yet, I'm still hoping Rovi will come around. We can provide reasonable arguments why Rovi should continue the service or do something more constructive than just canceling without notice.

Please advise or direct me to a party with more influence in the decision.

Thanks,
Mike
Dedicated Customer
​
Still keeping my fingers crossed and hoping Rovi will either continue the data or release the software so we can find an open source solution. One of the GREAT PEOPLE at Schedules Direct told me a couple years ago they could probably write a hook to feed Guide Plus+ for Windows, but they're not allowed to play with proprietary software... Their services can only be used in open source applications. Then again, motivation might become a factor even for SD... As time passes, our numbers shrink. Who will make the effort for just a few of us?
 
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