W scan: Difference between revisions

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(add generate tzap scan data segment)
(redirect to w_scan_cpp. Who still really want it, should know about newer and maintained version.)
 
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{{lowercase|w_scan}}
{{lowercase|w_scan}}


"w_scan" is a small command line utility used to perform [[Frequency scan|frequency scan]]s for [[DVB]] and [[ATSC]] transmissions. It is capable of directly creating channels.conf files as well as initial tuning data for [[Scan|scan]] (which is contained in the [[LinuxTV dvb-apps]]).
''w_scan'' is a small command line utility used to perform [[Frequency scan|frequency scan]]s for [[DVB]] and [[ATSC]] transmissions. It is not included in [[LinuxTV dvb-apps]], but complements the two [[Frequency scan|frequency scanning]] utilities available through [[LinuxTV dvb-apps]], [[Dvbscan|dvbscan]] and [[Scan|scan]]. It is meanwhile replaced by the newer tool [[w_scan_cpp]] with similar syntax.

''w_scan'' is capable of directly creating channels.conf files as well as initial tuning data for [[Scan|scan]].


==Obtaining w_scan==
==Obtaining w_scan==
You can get w_scan [http://wirbel.htpc-forum.de/w_scan/index2.html here].
The last ''w_scan'' version can be still obtained [https://www.gen2vdr.de/wirbel/w_scan_cpp/index2.html here]. There will be no further updates.


==Documentation==
==Documentation==
Detailed information can be found in the ''w_scan'' man page (i.e. from a console, run <code>man w_scan</code>). Additionally, running w_scan with the -h parameter will produce an output that provides a summary of it's main command line options.
Detailed information can be found in the ''w_scan'' man page (i.e. from a console, run <code>man w_scan</code>). Additionally, running ''w_scan'' with the -h parameter will produce an output that provides a summary of it's main command line options.
<pre>w_scan [options...] >> channels.conf</pre>
<pre>w_scan [options...] >> channels.conf</pre>


In general, when using w_scan you should at least specify three parameters: frontend type, country/satellite and output format. The following table summarizes the basic command line essentials for using w_scan.
In general, when using ''w_scan'' you should at least specify three parameters: frontend type, country/satellite and output format.

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Basic w_scan commandline parameters and their respective options'''
|-
! Parameter !! Argument !! Description & Options

|-
| '''Frontend Type'''
| -f''Type''
|
a = ATSC (North America, cable and terrestrial<br>
c = DVB-C (Europe, cable)<br>
s = DVB-S/S2 (Satellite)<br>
t = DVB-T (Europe, terrestrial = default)<br>

NOTE:
* ATSC support requires a w_scan version >= 20080815
* Satellite support requires a w_scan version >= 20090504)

|-
| '''ATSC Type'''
| -A''Type''
|
(ignored for DVB-C and DVB-T)<br>
1 = VSB ("Over-the-Air)"<br>
2 = QAM annex B ("cable TV")<br>
3 = both of them

|-
|'''Country ID'''
| -c''ID''
|
(mandatory for ATSC, DVB-C, DVB-T)<br>
uppercase two character identifier as defined in ISO 3166-1,<br>
(DE,FR,GB,US,FI,...)<br>
see -c? for list of countries.

|-
| '''Satellite ID'''
| -s''ID''
|
(mandatory for DVB-S/S2)<br>
uppercase character constant with E (east) or W (west) as separator,<br>
(S19E2,S13E0,S0W8,...)<br>
see -s? for list of satellites.

|-
| '''Output Format'''
| -''Format''
|
X = czap/tzap/xine channels.conf<br>
x = "initial tuning data" for [[Scan]]<br>
k = channels.dvb for [[Kaffeine]]<br>
If the output format is not specified, w_scan defaults to create [http://www.cadsoft.de/vdr/ VDR-1.6 channels.conf].

|-
| '''Help Level'''
| -''Level''
|
h = basic help <br>
H = extended help for expert functionality

|}

Some working examples, cobbled together from the basics given in the above table, are provided below. Note: ''Experts'' or ''experienced users'' may use some of the other w_scan options available, but this is not recommended. (For example, w_scan searches ''/dev/dvb/adapterX/frontendY'' for DVB/ATSC cards matching to option "-f", therefore specifying the adapter "-a XX" is not recommended.)

==Examples==
{{Note|As mentioned in the above table:
* ATSC support requires a w_scan version <nowiki> >= </nowiki> 20080815
* DVB-S/S2 support requires a w_scan version <nowiki> >= </nowiki> 20090504 }}

===Scanning ATSC VSB (United States, Over-the-Air)===
$ w_scan -fa -A1 -c US -X
===Scanning ATSC QAM annex B (United States, digital cable TV)===
$ w_scan -fa -A2 -c US -X
===Scanning DVB-T (Germany, Over-the-Air, VDR output)===
$ w_scan -ft -c DE
===Scanning DVB-C (Germany, digital cable TV, Kaffeine channels.dvb)===
$ w_scan -fc -c DE -k
===Scanning DVB-S/S2 (Astra 19.2east, vdr-1.7.x)===
$ w_scan -fs -s S19E2 -o 7
===Scanning DVB-S (Thor 0.8west, vdr-1.3.x .. vdr-1.6.x)===
$ w_scan -fs -s S0W8
===Scanning DVB-S (Hotbird, vdr-1.7, 4-port DiSeqC switch, hotbird at port 3)===
$ w_scan -o 7 -fs -s S13E0 -D2c
Note: ports are counting from '0'.

===Generating dvbscan tuning data===
Exactly as above, just specify output format dvbscan with "-x":
$ w_scan -f <FRONTEND_TYPE> {-c <COUNTRY>,-s <SATELLITE>} -x >''cc-Ttttt''

If you choose to create an initial scan file (and you know the name of your local transmitter or cable provider), you can send the resulting file to the [http://linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linux-dvb dvb mailing list] after checking that it hasn't already been posted or added to the [http://linuxtv.org/hg/dvb-apps/file/tip/util/scan/ scan directory in the dvb-apps repository].


''As w_scan was superceeded quite a long time ago, pls refer to the [[w_scan_cpp]] page for it's similar syntax.''
===Generating c/s/tzap tuning data===
Exactly as above, just specify output format dvbscan with "-X" (uppercase X):
$ w_scan -f <FRONTEND_TYPE> {-c <COUNTRY>,-s <SATELLITE>} -X >''cc-Ttttt''


==Also See==
==Also See==
* [[Frequency_scan#Comparison_of_DVB_frequency_scanning_commandline_utilities|Comparison of the scanning utilities]].
* man w_scan
* [https://www.mankier.com/1/w_scan man w_scan]
* [[scan]]
* [[scan]]
* [[dvbscan]]
* [[dvbscan]]


==External Links==
==External Links==
* [[w_scan_cpp|see w_scan_cpp]]
* [http://wirbel.htpc-forum.de/w_scan/index2.html Homepage (de)]
* [http://wirbel.htpc-forum.de/w_scan/index_en.html Homepage (en)]
* [http://edafe.org/vdr/w_scan/ English howto by edafe]


[[Category:Apps & Utilities]]
[[Category:Apps & Utilities]]

Latest revision as of 10:21, 8 August 2021

w_scan is a small command line utility used to perform frequency scans for DVB and ATSC transmissions. It is not included in LinuxTV dvb-apps, but complements the two frequency scanning utilities available through LinuxTV dvb-apps, dvbscan and scan. It is meanwhile replaced by the newer tool w_scan_cpp with similar syntax.

w_scan is capable of directly creating channels.conf files as well as initial tuning data for scan.

Obtaining w_scan

The last w_scan version can be still obtained here. There will be no further updates.

Documentation

Detailed information can be found in the w_scan man page (i.e. from a console, run man w_scan). Additionally, running w_scan with the -h parameter will produce an output that provides a summary of it's main command line options. 

w_scan [options...] >> channels.conf

In general, when using w_scan you should at least specify three parameters: frontend type, country/satellite and output format.

As w_scan was superceeded quite a long time ago, pls refer to the w_scan_cpp page for it's similar syntax.

Also See

External Links

Retrieved from "https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php?title=W_scan&oldid=36555"