Sony TV XG87 ( Android TV ) no EPG Information

[XG87_Cork]

Hi ,

I got rid of Sky a few months back as they were frustrating to deal with. I connected the sky satellite directly to my TV and also connect a Digital aerial. The EPG works for the Digital aerial and I can see all the channels when I go to the guid and all the current and future program information . All good so far...

On my satellite channels ( which receive perfectly ) I cannot get the EPG to wrk with "No Program Information" appearing for al the channels. When I go to a channel and the EPG info for that particular channel u, usually just on the current program only.

I saw the latest Software update was to bring an EPG for the Freesat channels but the TV did upgrade to the latest firmware with build PTT1.190515.001.S97 650421 release keys but still no program information on the EPG.

What can I do to fix this ?

Is this a flaw in the TV OS or is there soemthing else I should be doing to get the Program Information for Satellite to appear on the EPG. any help welcome 

[royabrown2]

@XG87_Cork 

On my TV, ‘Satellite’ gives a plethora of channels, many not English, many encrypted, but only gives Now and Next by way of programme information.

And ‘Freesat’ is a separate option, which when chosen, does populate the EPG for the curated selection of all-English, all unencrypted, channels it provides.

[XG87_Cork]

Thanks @royabrown2 I was also trying to get 'freesat' working .. It is not an app available on the Google store or there is no setting I can find where I can select this option any where in the TV menus .

I was reading about it and it seems to be an option for UK but not in Ireland for some reason. Did you have to install something specific to get the Freesat option to come up or was this something that came along with a recent firmware update ?

Thanks for replying

[Joe_Dohn]

I'm also very curious about the Freesat function/app!

I don't use satellite personally, but it's been such a well-known limitation that it has me curious, much appreciated for any info you guys can give.

@XG87_Cork What you've described is how it used to work before the update, though I don't recognize the number you shared as a version, check the Help screen for the PKG or "package" version.

- JD

[XG87_Cork]

Thanks @Joe_Dohn 

The version you requested is PKG6.5042.0633EUA . The other version I pulled from the Settings->System_. Build Version. I saw the firmware update on https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/software/00258725 to v6.5042 and noticed that the same digits were in the final version of the build version...

Now I just noticed that I pulled this link rom song Uk site and my version contains EUA , so wondering if the Freesat portion of the updated was only available in the UK and not in Ireland ... 

[royabrown2]

@XG87_Cork 

A little bit of digging I have just done reveals that the footprint of the satellite broadcasting Freesat encompasses Eire, and that many Eire-based companies offer Freesat equipment to Eire-based customers.

But whether current Sony TVs sold in Eire don’t provide the Freesat option, I could not say; though as Sony insist there is but one possible standard in Europe for their rather tragic interpretation of the rules for warning about altered power consumption, I guess all EU models must be offering Freesat. Mustn’t they?

I do admire the Sony developers though, developing the complex software for these sets as they do, and without ever being able to use the IF statement….

[XG87_Cork]

Thanks @royabrown2 ,

I think I was coming to a similar conclusion. I found the Freesat broadcast area ( https://satfi.co.uk/coverage/ ) but I was not are how it worked. It seems to me that the FREESAT EPG information comes as part of the satelite signal. But I need to some Freesat software to interpret the information coming from the satelite. The update 6.5042 for the UK seems to have added the ability to interpret this information but the Software update  EU version. It seems like a licensing issue from Sony Ireland perspective , or more likely we re bundled under all Europe update.

Please correct me if I am thinking about Freesat incorrectly as the info is a little sparse.

If all is good above I seem to have an option whereby I can reset my TV , not connect it to the internet , set the region to Uk and do a manual update via USB to install the UK version of the Firmware Update.. I will try this over the next few weeks and let you know how it goes ...

[HannahEd01]

Hey XG87_Cork, the Sony TVs aren't satellite certified, so no guarantee the EPG would work.

[XG87_Cork]

HI @HannahEd01  ,

thanks for commenting  .... can you explain what is meant by "Satelite Certified". I would have expected any TV sold with a satelite connector and tuner to be capable of receiving a satelite signal to be "Satelite Certified". Is there some standard or protocol that Sony TV's do not meet ?

Would like  to take this up with Sony at some point , so any info is appreciated ..

Stacey

[HannahEd01]

Hi XG87_Cork, that means it can receive the signal but the EPG isn't guaranteed, you can't sort channels, etc. I vote for contacting Sony as well.