The TV guide is what turns a long list of channels into something you can actually plan around. When it is empty, out of date or an hour off, it is easy to miss the start of a game. IPTV Smarters Pro has two settings that deal with most guide problems: EPG refresh and EPG time shift. This guide explains both and when to use each one.

Smarters Pro is free in many app stores and handy as a backup, though in our experience it is not always stable, so we recommend IBO Player Pro as the main player. Menu names in Smarters Pro vary by version and device.

Two Different Problems

  • The guide is empty or out of date: this usually calls for an EPG refresh.
  • The guide is full but every show is off by the same amount of time: this usually calls for a time zone check or EPG time shift.

Working out which one you have saves a lot of trial and error.

Fix 1: Refresh the EPG

EPG refresh tells the app to download the latest guide data again. It helps after the first login, after a long break from the app, or when the guide stops showing upcoming days.

  1. Open the Smarters Pro settings.
  2. Look for the EPG or guide options and choose to refresh the EPG.
  3. Wait for the download to finish without leaving the app.
  4. Open Live TV and check a few channels in the guide.

If the guide is still empty after a refresh, close the app completely, reopen it and refresh once more.

A refresh can take longer on a slow connection, so give it a few minutes before deciding it did not work.

Fix 2: Check Your Time Zone First

Before touching the time shift, make sure your Fire TV Stick or TV shows the right local time. Many guide problems disappear once the device clock is correct. In the United States, these are the usual suspects:

  • The device was set up with the wrong zone, for example Eastern instead of Central.
  • A move across time zones, such as from Chicago to Denver, without updating the device.
  • Daylight saving time changes in March and November. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks, which can confuse a device set to a neighboring zone.

Fix 3: Use EPG Time Shift

If your device clock is right and every program is still off by the same amount, EPG time shift lets you move the whole guide forward or back. It changes how the guide is displayed, not what is playing.

  1. Work out how far off the guide is by comparing a live show with its guide entry, for example one hour late.
  2. Open the Smarters Pro settings and find the EPG time shift option.
  3. Set the shift by the same amount in the opposite direction.
  4. Save, return to Live TV and compare the guide with what is on screen.

Adjust in small steps and recheck after each daylight saving change, since a shift that was right in summer can be an hour off in winter.

US Time Zones at a Glance

When comparing the guide with what is on screen, it helps to know the usual gaps between zones:

  • Eastern to Central: one hour.
  • Central to Mountain: one hour.
  • Mountain to Pacific: one hour.
  • Eastern to Pacific: three hours, so an 8:00 pm Eastern game starts at 5:00 pm Pacific.

Alaska and Hawaii are further behind, and the gap to Hawaii grows by an hour while the mainland is on daylight saving time.

A Pregame Guide Check

On game day, open the guide about an hour early and compare the listed start time with the pregame show on screen. If they match, you are set. Our live sports setup guide has more game-day tips.

Keep in mind that many national promos quote start times in Eastern time, so a game advertised for 8:00 pm starts at 7:00 pm in Chicago.

Troubleshooting

Only Some Channels Have Guide Data

Guide data comes from program listings for each channel, and some channels may have little or none. A refresh cannot create data that does not exist, so let us know which channels are missing information.

The Guide Jumped After an Update

Updates can reset settings. Check your device time zone and the EPG time shift value again.

The Guide Is Right on One Device but Wrong on Another

Each device has its own clock and its own app settings. Compare the time zone on both devices, and check that the EPG time shift is the same in each app.

The Guide Loads but Channels Will Not Play

That is a playback problem rather than a guide problem. Try the steps in our Smarters Pro buffering guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I refresh the EPG?

Whenever the guide looks empty or out of date, and after logging in for the first time. There is no need to do it every day if the guide looks right.

What does EPG time shift change?

It moves the times displayed in the guide. It does not change what is playing on the channel.

Why is my guide one hour off in November?

Daylight saving time has probably ended. Check the device clock first, then adjust the EPG time shift if needed.

Does IBO Player Pro have a guide too?

Yes. It has a built-in EPG with what is on now and next. Compare both apps on our apps page.

A Guide You Can Trust

For a general walkthrough of reading the guide, see how to use the IPTV EPG TV guide. Still stuck? Contact us with your device and time zone.