Iowa PBS Guide Problem

Support & Troubleshooting
1

I have dealt with Tablo support by phone, text chat, email, and have given them remote access to my Gen 4 Tablo – over a period of WEEKS. I appreciate their attempts to help, but in case the PROGRAMMERS who make all of this magic happen are not aware of what is going on …

At the end of June, I bought a Gen 4 Tablo, and got it running. The Tablo Guide entries for Iowa PBS channels 32 and 36 were working fine, at least in early to mid-July. Then various weird issues and the dumpster-fire Guide madness happened. Now, from my use of various elements, the Guide seems to be working, BUT not one issue important to our household.

As a layman, what I know as Iowa PBS channels 32 (Council Bluffs, IA), and 36 (Red Oak, IA) appear on my Tablo gen 4 Guide for my ZIP code (Omaha, NE). However, on both of these channels, program names, and time segments are identical for the .1 and .2 sub-channels.

TabloGuideClip
TabloGuideClip588×545 43.6 KB

By checking a trusted online program guide, I can verify that the .2 sub-channel Tablo Guide’s program and time information is correct. The Guide’ s .1 duplication of the .2 information is incorrect.

By using the Tablo Guide to verify what is being broadcast live on the sub-channels, I can verify that the appropriate (different) programs are being broadcast on the .1 and .2 sub-channels.

If I choose to record an item from the bogus sub-channel .1 Guide entry, a recording is made for the indicated time segment, and of the program that is truly being broadcast on that sub-channel, BUT the recording is stored with an incorrect name – identifying it as what is being broadcast on sub-channel .2

Possibly the Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_PBS can give the bug-hunters at Tablo some clues.

If the .1 and .2 sub-channel problem extends to all Iowa PBS channels, it could affect Tablo users in Iowa and at least six other states receiving Iowa PBS over-the-air broadcasts.

I also run a legacy Tablo which does NOT have this problem.

2

(not a 4th gen owner)

As far as I know, OG and 4th gen are using the same guide provider source ultimately. So, I think it is interesting that OG units don’t have the guide issues.

3

Frustrating. I received another email yesterday that my issue had been resolved. I could see no apparent changes at all.

The Legacy unit absolutely does NOT have this problem.

Of course, as a simple user, I have no idea as to where, or how, Tablo gets the data to create and empower these guides, but apparently someone there did know how to do it with the legacy device.

4

Those danged Hawkeyes seem to have broken my Gen4 Tablo, or the will of the Tablo developers :wink:

I had AGAIN tried to explain the problem with the Iowa PBS channel 32.1, Guide listing.

Support’s reply (09112025), with my added emphasis:

“Thanks for reaching out.

At this time, we are not accepting requests for incorrect guide data as these are more difficult to resolve.

We hope to begin accepting requests to fix incorrect data in the future as we continue to enhance our guide data management tools and processes.

Please note that Legacy models use a different TV Guide Data management process.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The problem had not existed in early July 2025 with Gen4 Tablo. It does not exist with the Legacy Tablo (different data management process).

Danged newfangled machines. Speaking of which, can you help here, Claude AI ? Just kidding – I guess :wink:

5

Nearly THREE MONTHS LATER.

PROBLEM NOT FIXED

Am hoping not to be making an anniversary posting relating to this. :wink:

1 Like
6

How much longer?

" We hope to begin accepting requests to fix incorrect data in the future as we continue to enhance our guide data management tools and processes."

7

Have you tried a nearby zip code?

8

Yes.

Besides my home zip code in Omaha, I also tried those for the location of transmitters for Iowa PBS 32.1 and 36.1. Still, the information shown on the guide for the .1 subchannel is not correct. It actually duplicates the information for the .2 subchannel. But, when I click the grid on the .1 subchannel, it confirms that the actual program being streamed is correct, as verified by another trusted source.

Note the above comments are about a Gen 4 Tablo. I also run a legacy Tablo, using my home zip code. The problem does NOT exist on the legacy device. The grid information for both channels 32 and 36 is correct.

9

To be clear, Tablo is not accepting Guide updates to the Legacy products. It does accept Guide update requests for the Gen4.

1000002842
10000028421080×2640 372 KB

1000002843
10000028431080×2640 310 KB

https://support.tablotv.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

10

To be clear as I clearly stated in my latest posting, and in at least two “official” requests for a fix (before such requests were ignored by default), this is NOT a legacy problem. My legacy device is working correctly. It is a Gen 4 problem.

I assume I am not the only Iowa PBS Gen 4 Tablo user with this issue. It could be affecting Tablo users Iowa and bordering states. I have not given up. I plan to check back in a few years to see if Tablo figures it out. :wink:

11

That’s pretty clear. Clearly… But I was referring to the advice previously posted but failed to reply to that post.

Good luck!

12

Thanks.