Importing and Exporting the TV Channel database from GT Media STB Tuner Receivers
In this guide, I will show you how to export and import the tuned stations on the GT Media STB Tuner Receivers, so that you can easily share with your ATV peers, or ensure you are able to backup a custom list of channels.
When starting with Amateur TV I had the problem where I needed to tune in my receiver, however without a known working antenna system to receive the signal, or knowing that a transmission was occuring (Unlike commercial TV, there is no signal being transmitted if an Amateur TV operator isn’t transmitting). This guide covers the importing and exporting of TV channel lists so they can be shared with beginners, or just to be able to backup and restore your channel list which may help in weak reception areas.
Not knowing what components may or may not be working made it hard to perform an initial tuning of a receiver.
To get started, we will go through the Export process. If you are wanting to receive Amateur TV in Melbourne Australia from VK3RTV, I have included the Database file for you. For more information see VK3RTV Digital ATV Website
Exporting your Database
You will need a spare USB stick plugged into the box. I recommend using a 1-4GB size stick formatted with FAT32 or exFAT. Even though ther XML file is only a few KB in size, the GT Media boxes seem to create a timshift file for recording as well regardless.
The USB stick can be plugged in and removed with the unit turned on, just ensure you aren’t in the middle of saving data when removing.
Turn on your GT Media Receiver and open the main menu. Under the TOOLS menu, you will see the ‘USB Backup’ Option. Navigate to these options and press OK on the remote to enter the screen.
NOTE: If you have no USB stick plugged or it is the wrong format nothing will happen when selecting USB Backup.
On the USB Backup Screen, use the left/right buttons to change the ‘Backup Mode’ to ‘XML DB’ This will just export the TV Channel list. Nav down to Start and Press OK.
Once completed you will see a ‘Backup Success!’ Message. At this point the XML File is written to your USB stick and it can now be removed.
Importing your Database
First of all you will need an XML DB file from a previous export, or download the VK3RTV DB below. This file MUST be in the root directory of the USB stick.
TV Channel Databases:
If you have other Amateur TV Database files you would like added, drop me a line
Turn on your GT Media Receiver and open the main menu. Under the TOOLS menu, you will see the ‘USB Upgrade’ Option. Navigate to these options and press OK on the remote to enter the screen.
NOTE: Importing a new XML TV Channel Database will override all existing channels with the new list.
On the ‘USB Upgrade’ screen, change the Upgrade Mode to XML DB, and select the file you want to use. You can store multiple different TV Channel Databases on the one USB stick with different names and load them as you need.
In this example, I am restoring the VK3RTV Channel list. Once selected navigate to ‘Start’ and Press OK on your remote.
You will receive a warning ‘Are you sure to burn flash?’ Press Yes. This is just another term for writing to flash, so don’t be worried.
Once completed you will briefly receive a ‘Upgrade success! STB will restart!’ message, and then the STB will reboot, and be loaded with your new channel list.
Once rebooted, even if there is no signal, your STB will now be tuned in ready to go, and you can tweak your antenna, or wait for the first transmission to come online.
Further notes
The channel Database is just an XML formatted file. You can easily manually edit this with some help from XML guides if needed to combine and/or change the channels contained in the database. You could even manually tune with specific PID and VID information for simplex operation.
