The is a crucial configuration component for scanning digital TV frequencies on Linux systems. Unlike standard channel lists that store discovered services, an initial file contains the basic tuning parameters—such as frequency, modulation, and symbol rate—required for the dvbv5-scan tool to lock onto a transponder and begin identifying available services. Initial File Format and Syntax
: Specifies the standard, such as DVBT , DVBT2 , DVBC/ANNEX_A , ATSC , or DVBS2 .
: w_scan -fa -A2 -x > initial_file.conf (Example for ATSC). dvbv5scan initial file
/usr/share/dvbv5/ : The default directory for DVBv5 formatted files. /usr/share/dvb/ : Often used for legacy DVBv3 files.
: (For DVB-T/T2) The channel bandwidth, often 8000000 (8 MHz). The is a crucial configuration component for scanning
Most Linux distributions package these files within the dtv-scan-tables or dvb-tools packages. Common locations include:
: (For DVB-S/C) The symbol rate in symbols per second. Example DVB-T Entry: : w_scan -fa -A2 -x > initial_file
[CHANNEL] DELIVERY_SYSTEM = DVBT FREQUENCY = 474000000 BANDWIDTH_HZ = 8000000 Use code with caution. Where to Find Initial Files
: The w_scan utility is an intelligent scanner that does not require an initial file. It can be used to generate one for future use with dvbv5-scan :
To initiate the scan, point the tool at your initial file: dvbv5-scan /usr/share/dvbv5/dvb-t/de-Berlin dvbv5-scan and dvb-channels.conf · Issue #31 - GitHub