Locals with 2.5 Image

[tgenius]

Hello guys. I've enjoyed reading the threads that everyone has devised..but I must admit I'm very perplexed.. here's the situation:

Like many, I lost my locals about a month or so ago. I cannot get them via ANY means possible. Realistically, it doesn't usually bother me, as I have my OTA for my HDTV to watch most of the local programming.. HOWEVER... I really need my Locals working... because I'm traveling next weekend and its the series finale for Buffy The Vampire Slayer.. and I need to record it. I have tried the clearing of program data and to do lists twice. I even tried midupdate.tcl and it displays the correct value (123 for Miami,FL) but what I can't figure out is, why I can't get my locals even though I pay for them on my sub. My other ird gets them fine (Hughes E86 HDTV) but my directivo doesn't. Is there ANY way I can get them working (I read something about mvchannels, or channels.dat, but that it eats cpu cycles making it slow. I really don't care the solution.. I just need it working to ensure it records that last episode a week from today.) It goes without saying I thank everyone and anyone who can help with this!

tg

[tgenius]

Riley-Anyway to upgrade my 2.5 to 2.5.2 WITHOUT losing my programs?

[Will]

Originally posted by rc3105
gotta be at 2.5.2 or 3.1 to get locals to work

Not exactly. My locals work just fine at 2.5, which is my preferred OS.

An upgrade to 2.5.2 or 3.1, followed by clearing the program (guide) data and todo list via the DTivo menu, will help bring back the locals lost by DTV's February '03+ mucking about. But it's not the 2.5.2, or the 3.1, in itself that has anything to do with fixing the problem, it's simply the _repair of the OS_ (regardless of version) that takes place when you upgrade.

Obviously the multiple-locals supply is dwindling given there are only 6 markets available that don't require a marketid. But OS 2.5 is the best, overall, for maintaining what multiple markets you CAN get. 3.1 is a bear.

A locals subtlety: the guide data seems to persevere better under 2.5 than 2.5.2, though 2.5 does seem to have a problem with the 119s (separate from the marketid issue).

[tgenius]

Will-What can I do to get my locals, that I pay for, working on my 2.5 box. I would hate to take this thing apart and put in 2.5.2 if it won't fix it.. Is there ANYTHING I can do?

[Will]

Originally posted by tgenius
Will-What can I do to get my locals, that I pay for, working on my 2.5 box. I would hate to take this thing apart and put in 2.5.2 if it won't fix it.. Is there ANYTHING I can do?

The _easiest_ way* (and this is where the misconception that you can't get locals with 2.5 comes from) is to upgrade from 2.5 to 2.5.2 and then clear program (guide) data and todo list via the DTivo menu. At that point as long as your card, etc. is properly set up for your legit locals they will come back. You can call DTV and they can hurry the process (they could NOT, before you did these things) or you could run midupdate.tcl, which will now work (it would not, before you did these things).

This is all non-destructive to your program content. You do lose your wishlists and season passes. You do not have to take your machine apart. Just read about 2.5.2 upgrading and when you understand, do it.

* Disclaimer: there are problems with locals OTHER THAN THE DTV FEBRUARY '03+ screwup. These problems are less pervasive, but ongoing, frequently involving user error, and they have solutions even less drastic that are well-documented elsewhere.

[Will]

Originally posted by rc3105
will:
currently I think if you have a working 2.5 box that lost locals the only way to get them back is to do the 2.5.2 upgrade.
Or directly to 3.1 of course. For all practical puposes I agree. You can install 25xtreme fresh (then restore content), and I've had hit-or-miss success in "fixing" 2.5 in experiments, but the practical advice for a locals-munged 2.5 is to upgrade non-destructively.


perhaps I can talk you out of a backup of your 2.5 I would LOVE to get 2.5 fixed. video insert speeds seem to suck under 2.5.2 & 3.1 for some reason...
Originally posted by rc3105
Sure. I don't backup my DTivos routinely (I backup content over my house LAN) so I'll have to dig out mfs tools or something and remind myself how to do that, but yes.

[tgenius]

hey guys, everyone who helped.. THANK YOU! I ran the 2.5.2 upgrade this morning, and then left for work after initiating the clear program data/todo. I just got home an hour ago, and low and behold.. MY LOCALS WORK!

Thanks again!