BBC iPlayer Airplay issues with Apple TV running through PlexConnect

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1

Hi,

 

I have the following set up:-

Since the beginning of February, the BBC iPlayer (via Apple TV Trailers via Plex Connect) on Plex Server no longer works.  When I select a programme, its starts buffering and then simply get "An error occurred loading this content.  Try Again Later".

 

I've determined its NOT a Plex Server issue, because I get exactly the same error if I:-

  1. Quite Plex Server on my Mac (still leave Plex Connect running on my Mac)
  2. Open the BBC iPlayer app on my iPhone
  3. Play on my Apple TV via Airplay

I know its not an Airplay issue either because if I reset my Apple TV to "Automatic DNS" (as opposed to the IP address of my Mac, as per the instructions for Plex Connect), the BBC iPlayer app on my iPhone plays over Airplay to my Apple TV.

 

There's something not working with the BBC iPlayer (on my iPhone, or on Plex Server) whenever it is being displayed through my Apple TV whenever that is pointing to my Mac (Plex Connect) as the DNS server.  This used to work fine until end Jan, not sure why it doesn't work anymore.

 

Anyone have any ideas?  Thanks.

2

You live in the U.K? Did the channel change recently as in how it serves it's content?

3

Logs?

Settings.cfg?

What DNS are you using within settings.cfg (would not need to ask it you posted the content of the file)


Of course this is all mentioned in the “READ BEFORE POSTING” pinned thread in the how to report a problem section.

4

I am seeing this in the log evertime I visit any content of the bbc channel:

XMLConverter: XML_ExpandLine - Error in {{VIDEOURL()}}Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Applications/PlexConnect/XMLConverter.py", line 554, in XML_ExpandLine
    res = getattr(CommandCollection, 'ATTRIB_'+cmd)(src, srcXML, param)
  File "/Applications/PlexConnect/XMLConverter.py", line 1235, in ATTRIB_VIDEOURL
    res, leftover, dfltd = self.getKey(PMS.getroot(), srcXML, 'Video/Media/Part['+str(partIndex+1)+']/key')
AttributeError: 'bool' object has no attribute 'getroot'

Not sure if he's seeing the same. Maybe flip the log on high so the dev's can see the issue(s).

5

BBC iPlayer works perfectly fine for me.... PMS 0.9.11.17, latest PlexConnect, aTV 3 with latest firmware, latest BBC iPlayer channel installed in PMS. I'm in the UK :)

6

Thanks for all the replies.  Sorry, am a newbie here so didn't spot the README post.  Ok, so here's all the info:-

  • Apple TV (3rd gen, rev2), 2013, A1469
  • Apple TV set to 192.168.1.149 - this is the IP address of the Macbook running PlexConnect
  • Macbook is a late 2008 MBP running 10.10.2 (14C1514)
  • PlexConnect version... not sure, but most of the files in the PlexConnect folder are dated 4th Jan 2015

Have attached PlexConnect.log after I did the following:-

  1. sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.plex.plexconnect.bash.plist
  2. sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.plex.plexconnect.bash.plist
  3. Went to my iPhone, and set the Airplay settings to be "Living Room Apple TV"
  4. Opened up BBC iPlayer and started a video - it started to load with a spinning wheel on the iPhone and TV
  5. Error message then came up on the Apple TV
  6. sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.plex.plexconnect.bash.plist

As I am outside the UK, the router on my LAN has its DNS set to the Overplay.net SmartDNS service - this unblocks the BBC region restrictions for all devices on my LAN.

Have repeated 3, 4 but with the Apple TV DNS set to Automatic (and returning the SmartDNS IP address already defined within my router config) and it all works fine - the BBC iPlayer programme requested on my iPhone is played via AirPlay onto my Apple TV.

Tried to attach Settings.cfg also for completeness but I get the error message here "You aren't permitted to upload this kind of file".  But here is the contents copy and pasted:-

[PlexConnect]
enable_plexgdm = True
ip_pms = 192.168.178.10
port_pms = 32400
enable_dnsserver = True
port_dnsserver = 53
ip_dnsmaster = 8.8.8.8
prevent_atv_update = True
enable_plexconnect_autodetect = True
ip_plexconnect = 0.0.0.0
hosttointercept = trailers.apple.com
port_webserver = 80
enable_webserver_ssl = True
port_ssl = 443
certfile = ./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
loglevel = High
logpath = .
7

Umm… I could be wrong, as I don’t use a third part dns or even airplay, but if you’re using a service like Overplay.net as a dns to get around region restrictions then wouldn’t you need to use this dns address in Settings.cfg by changing the line:-

ip_dnsmaster = 8.8.8.8

To your Opverplay.net dns address, otherwise the aTV will be using googles dns. I guess this also brings up the question why use airplay at all when PMS has an iPlayer channel.

8

Thanks for the pointer - I updated ip_dnsmaster to be the region unblocker and it now appears to work (sort of)!


By the way the reason I was using the iOS iplayer app over AirPlay was purely for debug purposes - to eliminate PMS as the source of the issue.


I do think BBC changed something recently as this setting has always been 8.8.8.8 and it used to work fine, I’m guessing because all requests previously originated from PMS which points to the region unblocker DNS configured on my router.


However, everything is now streaming in Standard Definition now whereas previously I was getting the iPlayer feed via PMS in 720p HD.


Any thoughts how I can get the HD stream? Do others get it in SD or HD?

9

Your question is best asked in the Plex Channels forum. There is already a BBC Chanel thread there and you might even be able to ask your question of the channel developer.

https://forums.plex.tv/index.php?/topic/125777-BBC-iPlayer-won’t-play-anything