PID's and ITV2?

[Shaun]

The following URL indicates that there are 3 ITV2 channels on Astra 28.2E, 2 of which appear to be free to view: http://www.lyngsat.com/dig/skyuk.shtml. When I scan the appropriate transponder, I can only see the encrypted ITV2. Looking at the URL, it seems the different ITV2 channels have different PID values. One of the free to view channels has a VPID setting of 2325 and an APID setting of 2326E, while the other channel has a VPID setting of 2329 and a APID setting of 2330E. What does all of this mean? The PID settings on my receiver are set to automatic, however if I try manually setting my Video, Audio and PCR (whatever this is) PID's to these values, then a scan of the trasnponder reveals a single 'User Channel' which contains no audio or video. My receiver is a GBSAT 2CI10. My initial need is to receive an ITV2 free to view channel (without a card), but I'd also like to understand about PID's and how to use them.

 

[rolfw]

See This Thread for other questions and information on this topic Shaun. I am moving this to transponders and channels.

 

[Channel Hopper]

A possible solution would be to look at the channel identrs of other programmes from the same provider on the satellite, with known PIDs, and then scan in again putting the same number before the advanced search

It appears to work with a 'trial and error' on some SCPC channels I found on an obscure Western satellite about six months ago

 

[wolsty]

have a Humax 5400z, patched with 2002g and with modified PET123 settings (downloaded from Phill's) installed on 09.11.02. At the same time, I updated the PMC table with a file from xamuh (Tony Doe's site). To my surprise ITV2 came through in clear.

I've looked up the settings for this channel and they are as follows:

Ant 25
Freq 10905 V
Sym 22000
FEC 5/6
TSID 2054
NetID 136
ChID 10260
VPID 2329
APID 2330
PCR 2329
PMT 271
Serv-ID 21CC


Does this help?

wolsty

 

[Burnham Beech]

I looked into this in some detail a few days ago.

My results were than I could get the two fta ITV2 channels on a Nokia 9600 without any problem at all - but only by manually entering the PIDs published elsewhere.

I had no success in getting them with an Echostar ad3000 whatever I tried. Since the ad3000 is reputed to be a competent receiver, I feel there should be a way, but I can't work it out.

wolsty says fta ITV2 can be got on a Humax 5400z so maybe there is a way with your GBSAT 2CI10. Perhaps with some receivers like the GBSAT 2CI10 (and my Echostar ad3000 ?) it is necessary to enter more data than just the vPID & aPID.

I will try inputting all the data listed by wolsty into my ad3000 to see what happens - I suggest you try that as well with your GBSAT 2CI10.

 

[Shaun]

Thanks everyone, I got a result by scanning the appropriate transponder with VPID = 2329, APID = 2330, PCR PID = 2329. Scanning the same transponder with the other PID's (i.e. VPID = 2325, APID = 2326, PCR PID = 2325) didn't seem to work for me.
I'm not familiar with satellite technology, does anyone know whether the channels on a satellite transponder are CDMA or TDMA. I presume the Video and Audio PID's are identifiers of some sort that uniquely identify the different video and audio channels on a transponder, however I haven't a clue what the PCR PID is. Also, why does a scan of the transponder not reveal all channels on that transponder without having to manually enter the PID's? Is it that there is some sort of control channel which contains a list of all the PID's on the transponder, and if a particular PID is not listed on the control channel, then that channel will be hidden?

 

[malling]

Yes! It is there! The data wolsty gave is correct. I have a Manhattan Skyline 6800(patched with standard patch). The only other thing I had to do was to input the name of the transponder in the TP menu which is Sky Digital(this had to be inputted before ITV2 was found), I then did a search and ITV2 comes up as Unnamed(I only get this channel on this frequency none of the others in previous posts).

Are Sky losing it very unlike them to let their content be shown in the clear!!

 

[2old4this]

when I tried to locate these channels about a week ago using my Echostar DVR7000, there was no signal at all registering on the transponder. So I would not be confident that this will be a stable transmission.
2old

 

[Shaun]

So it seems we have ITV2 free to view (for a little while at least). Can anyone help with my understanding of what the PID's are (in particular the PCR PID) and why it might be that certain channels are hidden from general transponder scans.

 

[2old4this]

see the sticky post "FAQ: MPEG-DVB-tech sat info" in the Digital Systems forum of this board.
http://www.satellites.co.uk/php-bin/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2740

2old

 

[Burnham Beech]

I finally managed to get these two channels on my Echostar ad3000. I tried various things in the edit transponder menu screen before I worked it out. With the ad3000 I get these two channels by entering only the aPID & vPID - the ad3000 works out the PCR-PID itself.

Thanks go to Shaun for giving me the enthusiasm to give this another go.

2old4this - bit surprised you said you could not locate a signal on the transponder - these two fta channels have been there every time I checked them in the past two weeks. Also, the transponder is used for normal Sky NDS encrpyted channels, so I would have assumed the transponder would have been continuously active.

Having said all that, is does seem a mystery as to why these channels have been allowed to be fta for so long - can't see it lasting for ever.

 

[Channel Hopper]

A pity though

ITV2 doesnt have much going for it unless you like

Who wants to be a £m
+
Coronation Street

 

[Burnham Beech]

Also available on ITV2 is Champions League football

Tuesday, 12 Nov - Arsenal vs PSV
Wednesday, 13 Nov - Feyenord vs Newcastle

Not available on satellite fta elsewhere.

 

[wolsty]

And there's the odd B feature film.

wolsty

 

[wolsty]

It may not be stable, 2Old, but ITV2 was in the modified settings file which I installed. I wonder how the modifier of the PET123 file got this information.

wolsty

 

[Shaun]

I must have entered the wrong values because I can in fact get ITV2 using both sets of PID's.
Its not that I'm particularly interested in ITV2, its just that I was using this as an example to try and find out what PID's are all about.
I've now printed off http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/index.html and got lots of reading to do. At a first glance it looks like this has all the answers to my questions and lots more. Many thanks all.

Regards,
Shaun.

PS. I can't stand either Coronation St or Who wants to be a £M.