tv_grab_file for Synology NAS

This is a modified version of https://code.google.com/p/tv-grab-file/ for use on Synology NAS devices.

WARNING

This project has been abandoned and no further support will be given.

What it is

tv_grab_file can be used to pull any XMLTV source and feed your XMLTV enabled PVR backend (e.g. Tvheadend) with EPG data.

Quoting the original Google Code repository:

Simple XMLTV grabber to "grab" a xmltv formatted file

This XMLTV "grabber" is used to provide a way of loading a valid XMTV file into any application that supports the various XMLTV grabbers.

It will respond to a small number of XMLTV options, just enough to pass as a valid XMLTV grabber, and it will just pass a valid XMLTV file to the requesting program.

Why the modifications were necessary

The original source was written for Bash, but Synology's operating system (DSM) is an embedded Linux based on BusyBox and the built-in shell (ash) differs in terms of syntax and functions.

Which versions are available

1. Local

This version behaves exactly like the original one: It reads a local XML file (e.g. output from mc2xml) and returns the EPG data.

2. Remote

This versions downloads a remote XML file (e.g. http://example.com/remote.xml) and returns the EPG data.

3. TimeFor.TV enabled

This version downloads a remote XML file from TimeFor.TV (paid service), strips the www.timefor.tv/tv/ part from id- and channel-attributes and then returns the EPG data. The last step is necessary because TVheadend contains a bug in its lastest release (3.4.27), which causes the EPG grabber to loose the association between XMLTV and PVR channels.

How to install

1. Download the latest tv_grab_file that fits you best (don't forget to modify the TimeFor.TV / remote URL or local XML file location with a editor)

2. Copy the file to a share on your Synology NAS (e.g. public)

3. Enable SSH (DSM → Control panel → Terminal → Enable SSH)

4. SSH into your NAS
   ssh [email protected]

5. Create a symlink
   ln -s /volume1/public/tv_grab_file /usr/bin/tv_grab_file

6. Make the file executable
   chmod +x /usr/bin/tv_grab_file

7. Restart your PVR backend (e.g. Tvheadend) and update the configuration to use tv_grab_file

8. Assign the XMLTV EPG sources to your channel listing