Dvbv5scan Initial File -

The dvb-apps package includes starter files:

[CHANNEL_NAME]
DELIVERY_SYSTEM = value
FREQUENCY = integer
SYMBOL_RATE = integer
MODULATION = string
INVERSION = AUTO
FEC = string
[...other delivery-specific parameters]

Example for DVB-T (terrestrial):

[BBC One]
DELIVERY_SYSTEM = DVBT
FREQUENCY = 474000000
BANDWIDTH_HZ = 8000000
CODE_RATE_HP = AUTO
CODE_RATE_LP = AUTO
MODULATION = QAM/AUTO
TRANSMISSION_MODE = AUTO
GUARD_INTERVAL = AUTO
HIERARCHY = AUTO
INVERSION = AUTO

Example for DVB-S2 (satellite):

[BBC HD]
DELIVERY_SYSTEM = DVBS2
FREQUENCY = 10847000
SYMBOL_RATE = 23000000
MODULATION = PSK/8
POLARIZATION = V
FEC = AUTO
ROLLOFF = 0.35
INVERSION = AUTO

Example for DVB-C (cable):

[Premiere]
DELIVERY_SYSTEM = DVBC/ANNEX_A
FREQUENCY = 370000000
SYMBOL_RATE = 6900000
MODULATION = QAM/64
INVERSION = AUTO
FEC = AUTO

Digital television receivers require accurate physical layer parameters to tune to a specific multiplex (also called a transponder or frequency channel). The scanning process involves iterating through a known set of frequencies, modulation parameters, and symbol rates to discover all services (TV/radio channels) within a signal area. dvbv5scan initial file

dvbv5scan – part of v4l-utils (Video for Linux version 2 utilities) – provides a robust, standards-compliant scanning tool. Unlike its predecessor (scan), it supports newer delivery systems (DVB-S2, DVB-T2, DVB-C, ISDB-T, ATSC) and generates output in a more consistent, parsable format. However, it still requires an initial file as a starting point: a list of known tuning parameters.

An initial file (often with a .ini extension) is not a channel list. It is a predefined configuration file that tells dvbv5scan where to look for frequencies, symbol rates, modulation parameters, and other physical layer details. Example for DVB-T (terrestrial) : [BBC One] DELIVERY_SYSTEM

Think of it this way: Your tuner can see the entire radio frequency spectrum, but it doesn't know where to start. The initial file provides a starting set of known transmission parameters for your geographic region or specific satellite.

Without an initial file, dvbv5scan is like a metal detector with no clue what it’s looking for. With it, the tool knows precisely which frequencies to probe, what bandwidth to use, and what modulation schemes to expect. Example for DVB-S2 (satellite) : [BBC HD] DELIVERY_SYSTEM