How to force mpv to load channels.conf.ter as DVB-T instead of DVB-T2?

[abouvier]

I have a USB tuner (Xbox One Digital TV Tuner) that supports both DVB-T and DVB-T2 protocols. And a channels.conf.ter file that contains a mix of DVB-T and DVB-T2 channels. But mpv load the whole file as DVB-T2 channels (maybe because of this?). So only DVB-T2 channels works, and DVB-T ones cannot be loaded. How can I force mpv to load the channels as DVB-T?

In VLC playlist I can specify the protocol with <location>dvb-t://frequency=562166000:bandwidth=8</location> or <location>dvb-t2://frequency=498166000:bandwidth=8</location>.

channels.conf.ter

Only the last two are DVB-T2 channels.

TF1:562166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:120:130+131+132:1537
France 2:586166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:120:130+131+132:257
France 3:586166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:220:230+231+232:273
France 4:586166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:320:330+331+332:260
France 5:546166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:420:430+431+432:1045
M6:546166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:120:130+131+132:1025
Arte:546166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:320:330+331+332+333:1031
LCP:562166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:720:730:1545
W9:546166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:220:230+231+232:1026
TMC:562166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:620:630+631+632:1542
TFX:562166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:520:530+531+532:1544
Gulli:506166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:620:630+631+632:518
BFM TV:506166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:320:330+332:515
CNews:506166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:420:430:516
LCI:562166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:220:230:1546
France Info:586166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:620:630:262
CStar:506166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:520:530+531+532:517
T18:506166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:720:730:519
Novo 19:506166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:820:0:520
TF1 Séries Films:642166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:120:130+131+132:2561
L'Équipe:642166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:220:230+231+232:2562
6ter:546166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:520:530+531+532:1046
RMC Story:642166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:520:530+531+532:2565
RMC Découverte:642166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:420:430+431+432:2564
Chérie 25:642166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:320:330+331+332:2563
Paris Première:546166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_8:HIERARCHY_NONE:720:730+731+732:1050
Canal 31:531660000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_32:HIERARCHY_NONE:3521:3641:2050
20 Minutes TV:531660000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_32:HIERARCHY_NONE:3522:3642:2051
Le Figaro TV:531660000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_64:TRANSMISSION_MODE_8K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_32:HIERARCHY_NONE:3524:3644:2053
France 2 UHD:498166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_AUTO:TRANSMISSION_MODE_32K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_32:HIERARCHY_NONE:3021:3032+3033+3034:2305
Test UHD:498166000:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_AUTO:FEC_AUTO:QAM_AUTO:TRANSMISSION_MODE_32K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_32:HIERARCHY_NONE:3051:3062+3063+3064:2306

$ mpv -v dvb://

[cplayer] Command line options: '-v' 'dvb://'
[cplayer] Configuration: -Db_pie=true -Dpython.bytecompile=1 -Dlibmpv=true -Dgl-x11=enabled -Dcaca=disabled -Dcdda=enabled -Ddrm=enabled -Ddvbin=enabled -Ddvdnav=enabled -Dlibarchive=enabled -Dopenal=enabled -Dprefix=/usr -Dlibexecdir=lib -Dsbindir=bin -Dauto_features=auto -Dbuildtype=plain -Dwrap_mode=nodownload
[cplayer] List of enabled features: alsa build-date cdda cplugins cuda-hwaccel cuda-interop dmabuf-interop-gl dmabuf-wayland drm dvbin dvdnav egl egl-drm egl-wayland egl-x11 ffmpeg ffnvcodec gbm gl gl-x11 glibc-thread-name glob glob-posix gpl iconv jack javascript jpeg lcms2 libarchive libass libavdevice libbluray libdl libplacebo linux-fstatfs luajit memfd-create memrchr openal pipewire posix posix-shm ppoll pthread-condattr-setclock pulse rubberband rubberband-3 sixel uchardet vaapi vaapi-drm vaapi-wayland vaapi-x11 vapoursynth vdpau vdpau-gl-x11 vector vk-khr-display vt.h vulkan wayland wayland-protocols-1-32 wayland-protocols-1-38 wayland-protocols-1-39 wayland-protocols-1-41 x11 xv zimg zimg-st428 zlib
[dvbin] Opening dvb://
[dvbin] DVBv5: Number of supported delivery systems: 3
[dvbin]  DVB-T
[dvbin]  DVB-T2
[dvbin]  DVB-C ANNEX A
[dvbin] Searching channel list for delivery system DVB-C ANNEX A
[dvbin] Searching channel list for delivery system DVB-T
[dvbin] Searching channel list for delivery system DVB-T2
[dvbin] Ignoring other channels.conf files.
[dvbin] Reading config file /home/user/.config/mpv/channels.conf.ter for type DVB-T2
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 0, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: TF1, FREQ: 562166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  120  130  131  132  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 1, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: France 2, FREQ: 586166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  120  130  131  132  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 2, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: France 3, FREQ: 586166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  220  230  231  232  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 3, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: France 4, FREQ: 586166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  320  330  331  332  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 4, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: France 5, FREQ: 546166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  420  430  431  432  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 5, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: M6, FREQ: 546166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  120  130  131  132  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 6, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: Arte, FREQ: 546166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  320  330  331  332  333  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 7, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: LCP, FREQ: 562166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  720  730  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 8, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: W9, FREQ: 546166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  220  230  231  232  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 9, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: TMC, FREQ: 562166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  620  630  631  632  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 10, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: TFX, FREQ: 562166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  520  530  531  532  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 11, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: Gulli, FREQ: 506166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  620  630  631  632  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 12, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: BFM TV, FREQ: 506166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  320  330  332  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 13, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: CNews, FREQ: 506166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  420  430  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 14, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: LCI, FREQ: 562166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  220  230  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 15, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: France Info, FREQ: 586166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  620  630  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 16, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: CStar, FREQ: 506166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  520  530  531  532  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 17, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: T18, FREQ: 506166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  720  730  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 18, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: Novo 19, FREQ: 506166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  820  0  17  18 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 19, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: TF1 Séries Films, FREQ: 642166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  120  130  131  132  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 20, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: L'Équipe, FREQ: 642166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  220  230  231  232  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 21, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: 6ter, FREQ: 546166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  520  530  531  532  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 22, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: RMC Story, FREQ: 642166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  520  530  531  532  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 23, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: RMC Découverte, FREQ: 642166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  420  430  431  432  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 24, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: Chérie 25, FREQ: 642166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  320  330  331  332  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 25, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: Paris Première, FREQ: 546166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  720  730  731  732  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 26, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: Canal 31, FREQ: 531660000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  3521  3641  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 27, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: 20 Minutes TV, FREQ: 531660000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  3522  3642  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 28, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: Le Figaro TV, FREQ: 531660000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  3524  3644  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 29, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: France 2 UHD, FREQ: 498166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  3021  3032  3033  3034  17  18  0 
[dvbin] DVB-T2, NUM: 30, NUM_FIELDS: 11, NAME: Test UHD, FREQ: 498166000
[dvbin]  PIDS:  3051  3062  3063  3064  17  18  0 
[dvbin] Added adapter with channels to state list, now 1.
[dvbin] dvb_config: prog="TF1", devno=0
[dvbin] Tuning to channel "TF1"...
[dvbin] Program number 0: name="TF1", freq=562166000
[dvbin] Opening frontend device /dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0
[dvbin] Opening 7 demuxers
[dvbin] dvb_set_channel: new channel name="TF1", adapter: 0, channel: 0
[dvbin] Tuning to DVB-T2 frequency 562166000 Hz
[dvbin] tune_it: fd_frontend 15, DVB-T2 freq 562166000, srate 0, pol -, diseqc 0
[dvbin] Using DVB-T2 adapter 0
[dvbin] tuning DVB-T2 to 562166000 Hz, bandwidth: 8000000
[dvbin] Dumping raw tuning commands and values:
[dvbin]  00: 0x11(17) => 0x10(16)
[dvbin]  01: 0x3(3) => 0x2181f8f0(562166000)
[dvbin]  02: 0x4(4) => 0x3(3)
[dvbin]  03: 0x8(8) => 0x0(0)
[dvbin]  04: 0x24(36) => 0x0(0)
[dvbin]  05: 0x25(37) => 0x0(0)
[dvbin]  06: 0x6(6) => 0x2(2)
[dvbin]  07: 0x5(5) => 0x7a1200(8000000)
[dvbin]  08: 0x27(39) => 0x1(1)
[dvbin]  09: 0x26(38) => 0x2(2)
[dvbin]  10: 0x28(40) => 0x0(0)
[dvbin]  11: 0x2a(42) => 0xffffffff(-1)
[dvbin]  12: 0x1(1) => 0x0(0)
[dvbin] Getting frontend status
[dvbin] Not able to lock to the signal on the given frequency, timeout: 30
[dvbin] Error locking to channel
[dvbin] Tuning failed
[stream] Failed to open dvb://.
[cplayer] Opening failed or was aborted: dvb://

[olifre]

I think the easiest solution would be to create a VDR channels.conf which explicitly annotates each channel whether it is DVB-T or DVB-T2, such that mpv can choose the correct delivery system to use.
The problem with the classic channel configuration files is that they do not indicate whether T/T2 or S/S2 is used, and most areas which offer T2 also offer T (and same for DVB-S), such that a different format such as the VDR format is the best way to go.
Indeed there is currently no override possible in mpv.

Does it work as expected for you with a VDR-style channel configuration file?

[olifre]

Indeed that Wiki article requires an update, mpv supports the VDR format since quite some years (but mplayer does not).
In fact, any channel config file can be in VDR format independent of the actual name, the format is detected at runtime (if it is not VDR format, the ZAP / mplayer format is assumed).

[abouvier]

I tested your commit with DVB-T channels in channels.conf.ter1 and DVB-T2 channels in channels.conf.ter, and both types can be played in mpv now.

But in the end I will use a single VDR channels.conf.ter with all DVB-T/T2 channels inside ^^

[olifre]

Nice, then I think I will still PR the code in case someone wants to use this in the future, but of course the VDR format is nicer in general ;-).
I sadly did not manage to create an account on the ArchWiki to add a hint there that the VDR format is the better solution for mpv, as the Captcha for account creation requires an up-to-date Arch system, which I currently do not have at hand. So in case you want to improve the ArchWiki in that regard to help future mpv users, of course that would be appreciated.

[olifre]

Note: PR at #16568 .