Dvbv5scan Initial File May 2026

If scanning yields zero services, follow this diagnostic flowchart:

It is important to note that the older scan utility uses a different format (simple space-separated values) and relies on initial files located in /usr/share/dvb/scan/. dvbv5scan uses the .ini format, which is more flexible and supports DVBv5 features like S2 and T2.

Do not confuse the two. The keyword "dvbv5scan initial file" specifically refers to the .ini format described above. dvbv5scan initial file

DVB-T 474000000 AUTO 8MHz AUTO DVB-T 482000000 AUTO 8MHz AUTO

Once you have your initial file, the standard scanning command becomes: If scanning yields zero services, follow this diagnostic

dvbv5scan -a 0 -f 0 -I /path/to/initial.ini -o my_channels.conf

Flags explained:

Once you have a working initial file, you can script channel scans via cron. For example, to rescan every Sunday at 3 AM: Flags explained: Once you have a working initial

0 3 * * 0 /usr/bin/dvbv5scan -a 0 -f 0 -I /etc/dvb/initial.ini -o /home/htpc/channels.conf > /var/log/dvb_scan.log 2>&1

This is especially useful for IPTV gateways or home media servers where channel frequencies or multiplex parameters change occasionally.

The initial file follows a modified DVBv5 format, which extends legacy DVB formats. Each line describes one delivery system entry.

For advanced users: You can create a comprehensive initial file for an entire city or satellite. Collect all known frequencies and multiplex parameters from public sources (like ukfree.tv or lyngsat.com), then create an .ini file with multiple [CHANNEL] sections.

A complete initial file for London’s Crystal Palace transmitter might look like:

# DVB-T2 HD mux
[CHANNEL]
DELIVERY_SYSTEM = DVBT2
FREQUENCY = 482000000
BANDWIDTH_HZ = 8000000
MODULATION = QAM/256