This is a case of the FCC updating their database to reflect the post analog shutdown frequencies.  This has happened in cities all across the US and I suspect that there's more to come.   The whole analog shut down process is not going to happen over night but will probably be a nightmare spread over several months.   You're just seeing the opening salvo now.  Trying to keep atscchannels.xml in sysnc with the actual cutoff dates is going to be next to impossible to achieve.

It some ways it'd almost be better to delete all the stations from ATSCchannels.xml and then manually enter them all in by hand. Then you'd bypass any future problems with the freq database changing inappropriately.

So this is not MS's issue. They get the data from the FCC and the data is incorrect.  You can complain to the FCC but I think you already know how far that will go.

-dickm

test...having problems posting

I have been trying to post my solution here but I kept getting an error, so I posted it at avsforum.com:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13364108#post13364108

 

The problem is ... you can change the atscchannels.xml file, even make it read-only, but after a few days it no longer works.  You have to manually add or delete a channel, then it works as expected.  Is there a more long-term solution to this issue?  Just wait till Feb, 2009 and hope for the best??

Thanks,
Al R

If you read my post on avsforum (URL above), it gives instructions for editing atscprefs.xml.  That file is not overwritten each day!

arovner:

The problem is ... you can change the atscchannels.xml file, even make it read-only, but after a few days it no longer works.  You have to manually add or delete a channel, then it works as expected.  Is there a more long-term solution to this issue?  Just wait till Feb, 2009 and hope for the best??

Thanks,
Al R

You just have to delete the entire line with the bad station in the atscchannels file and then manually add it back in with the Add DTV Channels menu.  You do not have to edit the atscprefs file.  This will make it permanent.

-dickm

In Albany, WRGB stopped working today.  They are operating on channel 39.  They will return to channel 6.  The update was looking for WRGB on channel 6.   The fix listed here solved the problem, thanks!

As of yesterday, the FCC database has a new construction permit listed for channel 6.  That permit is for operation beginning in February, 2009, not March 2008.

It seems that Microsoft is grabbing the 2009 data prematurely!!!!

dmagerl:

You just have to delete the entire line with the bad station in the atscchannels file and then manually add it back in with the Add DTV Channels menu.  You do not have to edit the atscprefs file.  This will make it permanent.

That method didn't work for me.  Dan's did...

I believe that it really is an MS issue. 

For WRGB the FCC database shows a DTV license on channel 39 and a DTV construction permit on channel 6.

A license means "in operation" a CP means "permission to construct".

I cannot think of a good way to use the use the CORRECT FCC data to automatically tune anything.

Thanks for the info, BUT exactly how do I....
 open up the atscchannels file and delete the entries for the bad stations. Wipe them out entirely.   Then, using the Add DTV Channel GUI and manually add them back in.   They will get put in atscprefs and hence forth override any data in atscchannels.

I do not know how to access the atscchannels file to delete the bad entries.  When I open the file I can see the data but I cannot delete anything.

Please, any assistance would be most appreciated.

Handy Andy (sometimes)

That's easy to do.  First I would make a backup copy of the original file.  Then open the channels file using Notepad, make any changes you want then save it.  This is just a text file but since it has an XML extension, Windows will try to open it with Internext Explorer.

Be careful with the changes as the format of the XML file is critical.  Follow the existing entries as an example.

Good luck,
Al R.

Right click on the file and then slect "edit". That should open it in notepad.  Then delete the line and save it.

-dickm

I followed your instructions. I was able to open the file in notepad and delete the line.  However, I was not able to save the change.  The message I get is:
    "Cannot create the C:\Windows\ehome\prefs\atscchannels.xml file.
    Make sure the path and file name are correct.

Can you help?

The only thing I can think of is that you had MCE running in the background and it locked the file.

Try closing all background programs and trying it again.

Other than that, I dont know what would have caused that error.

-dickm

Don't worry about atscchannels.xml...just make your change as below (note that you will have to change the line as appropriate for your station)  Once this is in place, it will override the atscchannels.xml file.:

1. Edit the file C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG\prefs\atscprefs.xml by adding the following line:

<channel callsign="WHDH-DT" userAssignedName="WHDH-DT" version="0" physical="42" major="7" />

2. In order to force MC to read this file, you have to configure the file via the MC menus. I went into Tasks/Settings/TV/Guide/Add Missing Channels.

3. I created a dummy listing by clicking "Add DTV Channel" and added channel 7-3 as WHDH-DT3. Then clicked Done.

4. I then repeated the above steps and removed the dummy chanel by clicking on the X next to the listing.

Handy Andy:

I followed your instructions. I was able to open the file in notepad and delete the line.  However, I was not able to save the change.  The message I get is:
    "Cannot create the C:\Windows\ehome\prefs\atscchannels.xml file.
    Make sure the path and file name are correct.

Can you help?