: Pre-configured files for many regions are usually located in /usr/share/dvbv5/ or provided by the dtv-scan-tables repository.
An "initial file" for is a configuration file that provides the necessary tuning parameters (like frequency and delivery system) for at least one physical transponder. This file acts as the starting point for the tool to scan and discover all available services (virtual channels) and other transponders on a digital TV stream. Key Features & Benefits
A DVBv5 scan file consists of one or more blocks separated by newlines. Each block starts with a descriptor name in brackets and contains specific delivery system descriptors. Key Syntax Rules dvbv5scan initial file
: dvb-format-convert -I channel -O dvbv5 legacy_file dvbv5_initial_file . Running dvbv5-scan with an Initial File
: w_scan -fa -A2 -x > initial_file.conf (Example for ATSC). : Pre-configured files for many regions are usually
By default, dvbv5-scan expects the modern . This format is designed to be comprehensive, supporting all types of digital TV standards, including DVB-T2, DVB-S2, and ISDB-T. It is a simple, human-readable text file organized into sections.
Many Linux distributions include a set of pre-made initial files as part of the dvbv5 or dtv-scan-tables packages. These are typically located in directories like /usr/share/dvbv5/dvb-c/ or /usr/share/dvb/ . For example: Key Features & Benefits A DVBv5 scan file
Various websites provide channel data for different locations. For instance, a site like https://helpdesk.vodafonekabelforum.de/sendb/belegung-380.html might contain relevant channel data for your region. However, these online resources can be outdated, and you should verify the parameters before use.
: High-priority / Low-priority forward error correction (e.g., 2/3 , 3/4 , 5/6 ). GUARD_INTERVAL : 1/4 , 1/8 , 1/16 , 1/32 . TRANSMISSION_MODE : 2K , 8K , 32K . Satellite (DVB-S / DVB-S2) Keys
The two main legacy formats it can handle are:
Let's walk through a complete example from the actual documentation. Here's what a successful scan might look like: