Transmitters not listed for my area in the Uk

[coda160]

Server Version#: 4.149.0
Player Version#: NA
Tuner Make/Model: Hauppauge QuadHD PCEi (win11)
Guide/Lineup name: (DVB-T / DVB-T2)
Using XMLTV?: No
Channel number/Name:

Plex does not display transmitters for the UK. There are a select few (approx 10) to pick from but the transmitters closes to me in North East Kent, UK , are not listed. I can initially select a London transmitter and can receive some channels but reception is poor and no HD channels are found. If I attempt to rescan, I can only see 2 options which is 2 Europe wide options which then yield even worse results.

1. why are the transmitters not listed? (Meridian Dover ideally) - currentlly i cannot use plex as a PVR as intended.

2. why when rescanning are my options reduce to two useless europe wide scan options - I see others who have also raised this in the past - there is no solution I can see from post 2-3 years ago.

   

Please advise.

[OttoKerner]

You should be able to use the exact one that is highlighted in your first screen shot. Scans may take longer with this one, but it should cover all theoretically possible transponders in the UK.

If you have a list of frequencies of all transponders in your area, you might be able to write your own list.
The full UK DVB-T list is stored in the file 4001.ini
You can find it in C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Tuner\Shared\scanners\dvbt\transponders
You could use that one as a template.
(You can also inspect this post Bug in Scanning DVB-T2 with QAM256 in UK - #2 by OttoKerner for a little more insight into the file structure. Though some of it may be outdated, because nowadays the polarization and symbol rate are no longer in there for DVB transponders.)

Save it also outside of the program folder, because it may get replaced or overwritten by a new Plex server update.

@coda160

but reception is poor

That must be completely down to your antenna and/or cabling.
Software cannot do anything about it.

[coda160]

Appreciate your point on reception.

The TV upstairs has a wonderful signal so I know the antenna is good and can only assume the TV software is automatically pointing at the correct Transmitter (Dover, I believe is the best for my area). Dover is not listed in the plex trasmitter list though and once I scan the neartest available that is listed (Crystal Palace), this does grab channels but the quality isn’t great because it is so far away (i used to live in London and Plex seems to be pointing to this transmitter still). I don’t a) why i can’t select a different transmitter after having scanned once and B) Why Dover isn’t listed initally.

Either way, the plex UI appears broken and stuck to what it was originally tuned to so there are two problems:

1. Can’t select a different transmitter after scanning once

2. Initial list of transmitters is inadequate as my nearest transmitter is not listed.

Are you suggest I make a copy of 4001.ini (as a backup) and edit the 4001.ini file?

I got chat GTP to help me edit 4001.ini for Dover:

[SATTYPE]
1=4001
2=DVB-T/T2 UK (Dover custom)
3=GB

[DVB]
0=8
1=570000,8 ; PSB1 BBC A (Ch 33)
2=586000,8 ; PSB2 D3&4 (Ch 35)
3=594000,8 ; PSB3 BBC B HD (Ch 36, T2)
4=594167,8 ; PSB3 alt offset (helps T2 lock in Plex)
5=618000,8 ; COM4 SDN (Ch 39)
6=626000,8 ; Local Kent mux (Ch 40)
7=642000,8 ; COM5 Arqiva A (Ch 42)
8=666000,8 ; COM6 Arqiva B (Ch 45)

But plex returns the same results, suggesting it isn’t looking at 4000 or 4001.ini (Id tried editing both). It’s like it is stuck - the UI allows me to rescan but it doesn’t allow to select a location - should it, after the custom 4001.ini edit?

[OttoKerner]

The ini looks weird. You seem to be missing some commas. I’m not sure if the comments after the semicolon are allowed.

1=473833,,,8 <-- three commas, no spaces
2=474000,,,8
3=474167,,,8
...

@coda160

Initial list of transmitters is inadequate as my nearest transmitter is not listed.

The “full frequency range” list should cover all frequencies used in the UK.

@coda160

Are you suggest I make a copy of 4001.ini (as a backup) and edit the 4001.ini file?

I was suggesting that you create an own ini by using the next free number.
This allows you to fall back easier to the original “all UK” list.

@coda160

(i used to live in London and Plex seems to be pointing to this transmitter still)

Did you completely delete the DVR within Plex after you moved?
You cannot edit an existing DVR to use a whole different set of channels.

[coda160]

I think that might be the main problem - even if I delete the PVR, it seems to remember the previous config…See Gif - it fines some channels but not as many as it should - no BBC channels for example. So I go to delete the DVR and it still lists the channels? Why? it’s like a can’t wipe the slate clean.

By removing the 4000, 4001 and 4105 .ini files restart plex server, closing it and readding the files, I can rescan. However, when doing the whole of the UK option which I assume points to all receiever, I still receieve incomplete results. The BBC SD and HD channels are all missing for example - they are all present on the TV upstairs which using the same antenna. I am wondering if the 4001 file is just out of date. Is there an up to date list or can in generate one?

There is a UK website that gives guidance of transmitters and for my area it generated this report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TpXx3D7eG7Pl64vL8ZIe7iax-iw6EvZ3/view?usp=sharing Helpful?

[OttoKerner]

Aren’t the BBC channels encrypted?
Or at least flagged as “don’t record”?
Because Plex cannot handle these. Its very principle is recording – even if it’s just temporarily for providing it live to a Plex client.

[OttoKerner]

There is this, but it is “hacky”, It’s supped to purge any remnants of previous DVRs.

Clear all DVR settings and start again Windows Plex Server

To delete any traces of old DVR and tuners, you need to edit the Plex database directly. Start like you would want to repair the database, as described here https://support.plex.tv/articles/repair-a-corrupted-database/ But instead of committing any of the SQL commands in the above article, only put DELETE FROM media_provider_resources; in there. This will empty out the table media_provider_resources. Then close the SQL prompt and restart your server.

[coda160]

Ok, first up - I changed DVB-T2 tuner devices as I think the QuadHD driver was incorrect - rather than getting into that, I have opted for old Hauppauge DualHD tuner.

I have also found that if i shut down the server, remove 4000, 4001 and 4051 ini files, start plex, close plex and re-add them, it fixes the UI and I can select a better range of transmitter, including the .ini files I might edit - definitely some kind of UI bug with Plex there then. As a result I am now getting all the channels I would expect, including the BBC ones, but still no HD channels at all (BBC or otherwise). I am going to get my WinTV app code recovered and reinstall that for that device and see if I get HD channels in WinTV. At least, I have made some progress on this.

[nww]

I can answer this!

I had the same issue with DVB-T2 muxes not being scanned correctly (albeit in Belgium).

Using this guide : Bug in Scanning DVB-T2 with QAM256 in UK - #6 by Biskyt

and editing the .ini file as shown, I was able to force Plex to scan the mux containing the HD channels (again, in Belgium).

Try it out and let me know!

[Biskyt]

It’s ridiculous that this bug still hasn’t been fixed in all these years. It makes me wonder what we pay the Plex pass fee for!

I hope the workaround still works for you.

[coda160]

Thanks for this. Will have a play and report back.