Frequency scan: Difference between revisions

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|DVB API version 3.2 or higher
|DVB API version 3.2 or higher
|DVB API version 3.2 or higher
|DVB API version 3.2 or higher
|DVB API version 3.2 or higher, but compiling needs DVB API version 5.0 or higher
|DVB API version 3.2 or higher<br>compiling needs DVB API version 5.0 or higher
|needs DVB API version 5.0 or higher<br>last update 02/2009
|DVB API version 5.0 or higher<br>last update 02/2009
|DVB API version 3.2 or higher
|DVB API version 3.2 or higher
|-
|-
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|-
|-
|'''initial scan file required'''<br>(matching to your satellite or local aerial/cable network)
|'''initial scan file required'''<br>(matching to your satellite or local aerial/cable network)
|yes
|yes (use dvb-apps hg from linuxtv.org)
|yes
|yes (use dvb-apps hg from linuxtv.org)
|'''not required'''
|'''not required'''
|yes (use dvb-apps hg from linuxtv.org)<br>''NOTE: slightly different file format from scan because of additional DVB-S2 support.''
|yes<br>''NOTE: slightly different file format from scan because of additional DVB-S2 support.''
|yes (uses libdvbv5 file format by default, but dvb-apps and s2-scan file formats are accepted too)
|yes (uses libdvbv5 file format by default, but dvb-apps and s2-scan file formats are accepted too)
|-
|-
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|'''can generate channels.conf for zap/xine/mplayer/vlc'''
|'''can generate channels.conf for zap/xine/mplayer/vlc'''
|yes (default)
|yes (default)
|yes (default)
|?
|yes
|yes
|yes
|yes
|yes
|yes (but new file format is default)
|-
|-
|'''can generate channels.conf for [http://www.tvdr.de/ VDR]'''
|'''can generate channels.conf for [http://www.tvdr.de/ VDR]'''
|yes, but hopeless outdated (vdr-1.3 only)
|yes, but hopeless outdated (vdr-1.3 only)
|yes, but hopeless outdated (vdr-1.3 only)
|?
|yes (default)
|yes (default)
|yes (default)
|yes (default)

Revision as of 16:16, 13 September 2014

In order to be able receive a particular signal with your TV tuner device you will need to tune/set it to the correct radio frequency used by that source transmission. Therefore, you (or, at least, the viewing application you are using) will first want to know which frequencies are used for transmission and, thereby, may be tunable by your receiver at your residing location. Frequency scanning utilities, listed below, perform such signal detection and, generally, provide a list of the frequencies upon which content is discovered, with which higher level applications can then in turn use for tuning purposes.

Note: Historically, the set of frequencies used under the older analogue systems have differed from one another, meaning that the particular frequencies used across North America, Europe, Asia, etc., etc., will differ depending upon the transmission standard adopted within each nation. When countries began to make the transition to digital TV systems, most have opted to continue to use their old channel frequency schemes so as to make the switch from analog to digital systems as seamless as possible for the end user.

Frequency Scanning Utilities

Analog

Digital

One of the handiest tools for scanning frequencies is "(dvb)scan", a utility included within the LinuxTV dvb-apps package. (dvb)scan parses the information from a pre-configured initial scan file that is specific to a particular country/region/location/service_provider (many of which are contained within the dvb-apps package as well as being available within the wiki or elsewhere), then tunes into the frequencies and lists the names for all available PIDs.

Comparison of DVB frequency scanning commandline utilities

Note: The differences between scan and dvbscan should be added to this wiki article. The information for dvbscan is still to be completed - please help.

The following table lists the main features of several of the popularly used command line scanners. For specific information on a particular utility's usage, have a look at its specific wiki article.

feature \ scanner scan dvbscan w_scan scan-s2 dvbv5-scan
download linuxtv.org/hg/dvb-apps linuxtv.org/hg/dvb-apps wirbel.htpc-forum.de/w_scan/index.html mercurial.intuxication.org/hg/scan-s2 http://git.linuxtv.org/v4l-utils.git]
last stable linuxtv-dvb-apps-1.1.1 linuxtv-dvb-apps-1.1.1 none / use latest version ? v4l-utils-1.4.0
comments linuxtv.org unmaintained
DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 support missing 		linuxtv.org unmaintained
DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 support missing 		maintained at linuxtv.org
DVB API needs DVB API version 3.2 or higher DVB API version 3.2 or higher DVB API version 3.2 or higher
compiling needs DVB API version 5.0 or higher 		DVB API version 5.0 or higher
last update 02/2009 		DVB API version 3.2 or higher
supported DTV types DVB-S, DVB-C (Annex A only - mainly Europe), DVB-T, ATSC (VSB and QAM) DVB-S, DVB-C (Annex A only - mainly Europe), DVB-T, ATSC (VSB and QAM) DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C (Annex A only - mainly Europe), DVB-T, DVB/T2, ATSC (VSB and QAM), DMB-TH (China) DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C (Annex A only - mainly Europe), DVB-T, ATSC (VSB and QAM) DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C (Annex A and C - worldwide), DVB-T, DVB-T2, ATSC (VSB and QAM), ISDB-T and more
initial scan file required
(matching to your satellite or local aerial/cable network) 		yes yes not required yes
NOTE: slightly different file format from scan because of additional DVB-S2 support. 		yes (uses libdvbv5 file format by default, but dvb-apps and s2-scan file formats are accepted too)
can generate initial scan file no no yes no no
can generate channels.conf for zap/xine/mplayer/vlc yes (default) yes (default) yes yes yes
can generate channels.conf for VDR yes, but hopeless outdated (vdr-1.3 only) yes, but hopeless outdated (vdr-1.3 only) yes (default) yes (default) yes (after version 1.4.0)
can generate channels.dvb for kaffeine no no yes no no

External Links

Analog

Digital For some other general sources (which may or may not be that useful) for finding local channel frequency lists, see:

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