                    FTAchnls  v0.03  (2007/12/09)
                    =============================
                Supplied channel database: 2007/12/08


What is it?
-----------

FTAchnls is an easy-to-use reference to the Free-To-Air channels that
are available on the SkyDigital platform. You can step through the
channels forwards and backwards, or find channels according to name or
channel number.

The display will show you the EPG channel number, the name of the
channel and whether or not it is a radio channel.
Below this, you can see 'flags' for whether or not this channel
broadcasts 24 hours a day (if known), if it can an interactive service,
if it has a videotext service (like ITV's "text"), if it has a more
traditional teletext service (like CNN), and if it is one of my
'favourites'.

Essentially, the information available is the same as that which is
used by my FTAchannels software for Windows, except the channel
descriptions have been removed to save space.



What's changed since the previous version?
------------------------------------------

Please refer to "Versions.txt" for details of changes between
versions.



Installation (PSIWin 2)
-----------------------

PSIWin 2 is supplied with the EPOC installation utility. This allows
you to install software onto your organiser with the minimum of fuss.

1. Decompress the contents of this archive someplace suitable,
   such as "C:\FTAchnls".

2. Connect your organiser to your computer and link to it.

3. Right-click on "My Psion" and choose "Install new program".

4. When you are prompted for the installation file, go into the
   directory you created in step 1 and select "FTAchnls.ctl".

5. Choose which drive to install to, you will need approx. 16K free.

6. Then wait while installation takes place.

7. Once you have installed FTAchnls and read this ReadMe file, the
   stuff you created in step 1 may now be deleted.

It is recommended that you use FTAchnls with the help present. Read
through it, get to understand the software. You may then, if you need
the space (5K), delete the file "\APP\FTAHELP.OPO".
Note that the actual use of FTAchnls is NOT covered in this ReadMe as
that information is provided by the included help module.



Installation (PSIWin 1 / manually)
----------------------------------

Copy "FTAchnls.opa" to the "\APP" directory on any storage device.

Copy "skyfta.dbf" to the SAME "\APP" directory. If PsiWin prompts you
that "\APP" is not the standard location for data files, copy anyway.

OPTIONAL: Copy "FTAhelp.opo" to the SAME "\APP" directory.


While it is not following the guidelines to store data in the APP
directory, when I tried it in a subdirectory, I measured that it took
an extra kilobyte on an SSD to create this subdirectory and put stuff
in it. Since I'm aiming for a small size, losing 1K was not such a
bad idea!

HOWEVER, there is a configuration option that will allow you to
relocate, even rename, the channel database file.
You cannot relocate the help module.

It is strongly recommended that you copy the help module (FTAhelp.opo)
and read through it at least ONCE. This guide does not cover the
actual use of FTAchnls as it is already described in the help. Once
you have read it all, you may delete the module if you wish. Then if
you call up Help, you'll be informed that it isn't available. I have
done it like this as the main application is 8K in size, the help is
a further 5K and it is not strictly necessary!



Data file compatibility
-----------------------

Because the database file contains some integer values, the "Data"
application WILL NOT OPEN IT. It will complain "wrong file type".



What does this stuff relate to?
-------------------------------

If you live in Asia, Africa, Australia, America, or other places
starting and ending with an 'A', you might as well just delete this
software.

This software provides a listing of the FTA channels that are
available on the SkyDigital platform. These channels are broadcast
from the Astra 2 satellite at 28.2E and Eurobird at 28.5E (both
'appear' to be in the same place as it is only a 0.3 degree
separation).

While some of these channels are broadcast on the North or South
European beams, several of the useful ones are broadcast on the UK
beam, which means you may experience difficulties in receiving the
further away from the UK you are. I can receive most things in the
upper Loire Valley (near Nantes) using a 60cm mesh dish. I know a
person in Switzerland who uses a 1.5 metre solid dish, and a person
in northern Italy with a 2 metre solid dish. Refer to my website, or
the official SES-Astra website to see the beam 'footprints'.



Data file conversion
--------------------

Load up FTAchannels for Windows.

Hold down the "Alt" key and double-click the space between the
"< Previous" and "Next >" buttons.

Choose "Create database file for 'FTAchnls'", set the filename
to "Skyfta.dbf" (with the path of your choice).

Click the "Create" button.

Locate the "Skyfta.dbf" file that was created, and copy it to the
same \APP directory as "Ftachnls.opa".



Future additions
----------------

Ideas? Suggestions? Email me...



Licence
-------

This software is supplied AS-IS, and is believed to operate in a
manner substantially in accordance with user expectations based upon
the documentation here, and in the help module.
This is FREE (as in gratuit) software, so no warranty of any form is
offered, and no third party is authorised to offer such a warranty.
I hereby disclaim ALL liability for (but not limited to) malfunction
and data loss, nor do I make any guarantees that this software is
error-free or that your use of it will be uninterrupted.
Your sole remedy in case of issues arising from the use of this
software is to provide me with a fault report. If I am able to locate
the fault mentioned, I will issue an upgrade; but note that I do this
as a courtesy to my users, it is not a guaranteed action on my part.

You, basically, may do whatever you want with this software EXCEPT:
  1. Redistribute it in a form that is different to that which is
     available on my website. This includes altering the archive
     format and/or poking 'downloaded from' type files into the
     archive.

  2. Redistribute it on any media or form for which the end-user must
     pay; whether it be a magazine cover-mount or a compilation
     CD-ROM or just some bundled freebies with a commercial app...

  3. You can hack the hell out of this software, but if you pass on
     a hacked or otherwise modified version, or software to perform
     such modifications, then you will feel the force of every single
     legal advisor/lawyer/solicitor/avocat that I can muster up.

In these cases:
  1. Ask me. If you have a good reason for modifying the archive
     contents, I will usually grant you permission. This does NOT
     include inserting files like "file_id.diz"...

  2. If you agree to give me a complete/fully working/registered (as
     applicable) version of what my software is to be included with,
     then I will usually grant you permission to distribute any or all
     of my software with similar terms... which is MOST of it!

  3. I understand the hacker spirit. I consider myself one, and I
     know that dissecting software is often a way to learn how things
     are done. So if you really want to RevTran this software, go
     ahead. But you might find life to be slightly easier if you ask
     me for the source code... after all, there are comments to
     explain what is going on. :-)

If the disclaiming of liabilities thing is not valid in your state, 
country or territory, then I am not able to grant you a licence to
use this software. Of course, you and I both know that you'll probably
go and use it regardless - at least in law you will be using it
illegally so I don't have to offer to accept any liabilities. :-)



And also...
-----------

This software was originally written in France, on the 26th of August
2006 while I felt like crap due to a severely upset stomach the day
before. My mother reckons I may be developing symptoms of IBS as it
doesn't seem to be anything I've eaten. To which all I can think of
to say is "marvellous", in the most sarcastic manner I can manage.

You'll be pleased to know the revisions were written while I felt
rather better. :-)

While writing this, I had "Classic FM TV" on my headphones. Nice
relaxing music. I am not going to tell you which channel this is,
use FTAchnls!

Many thanks to:
  My mother      - for the 'leccy,
  John Williams  - for the organiser and the loan of a 128K SSD,
  Ewen Cathcart  - for help and research and all those long emails,
  Glenn Richards - for hosting my website,
  Assoc. EnVol   - for improving my French and lots of good times

And thank you also to those who I have forgotten. This is not meant
to be an insult, I can't remember what I did three Fridays ago...
right now my brain is full of flags to pass to dTEXT and gPRINTB, and
<cough>lyrics to various Enya and Hayley Westenra songs</cough>!


Rick Murray
Originally 2006/08/27
Revised 2007/01/06 & 2007/05/07 & 2007/12/09
