I'm trying hard to make PlexConnect running smoothly disconnected, on simple a local network without internet.
The main issue is very simple: With no connection, I only get the 'Home' and 'Settings' icons, and then I'm unable to launch Plex. Where I am, I do not have any internet link, but would like to use Plex.
Not too sure, but think that the ATV is trying to grab a bag.xml file from apple before displaying missing icons. Any chance to have something embedded into PlexConnect to solve this issue?
From my very basic investigations, when ATV starts up, 2 things happen:
- it gets a bag.xml from ax.init.itunes.apple.com, depending on the ATV osversion; 5.0.2 is unencrypted, while latest (6) contains apparently a signature and encrypted content.
At this stage, I could put this bag.xml file on my own web server, and make force the ATV to use this instead of the online original website.
This bag.xml also contains some updated url; If I do not first get the bag.xml, it never goes to next step, and never tries to reach the second url.
- it then contact a pool of server, and one of them is e673.g.akamaiedge.net using https/443 port.
With only the first url ax.init.itunes.apple.com pointing to my apache with bag.xml and the e673.g.akamaiedge.net reaching the real destination, I did manage to make some of the icons appearing, including trailers... but the point is, as e673.g.akamaiedge.net is using https using full certificate negotiation, I don't see any possibility to go further.
May be based on an older version of firmware, where the protocol was not yet encrypted?
I'm trying hard to make PlexConnect running smoothly disconnected, on simple a local network without internet.
The main issue is very simple: With no connection, I only get the 'Home' and 'Settings' icons, and then I'm unable to launch Plex. Where I am, I do not have any internet link, but would like to use Plex.
Not too sure, but think that the ATV is trying to grab a bag.xml file from apple before displaying missing icons. Any chance to have something embedded into PlexConnect to solve this issue?
Thanks.
Hey looping,
You obviously understand a bit more than I do regarding all of this... but I am interested as well in seeing if there is a way to get PlexConnect to work in a situation where there is no internet. I live overseas and we go days at a time sometimes with our internet being down for days on end, and when that happens, the "apple trailers" channel obviously isn't there so I can't get things running...
I was just wondering if you had figured out a way to get this to work? Thanks so much!!!
From my very basic investigations, when ATV starts up, 2 things happen:
- it gets a bag.xml from ax.init.itunes.apple.com, depending on the ATV osversion; 5.0.2 is unencrypted, while latest (6) contains apparently a signature and encrypted content.
At this stage, I could put this bag.xml file on my own web server, and make force the ATV to use this instead of the online original website.
This bag.xml also contains some updated url; If I do not first get the bag.xml, it never goes to next step, and never tries to reach the second url.
- it then contact a pool of server, and one of them is e673.g.akamaiedge.net using https/443 port.
With only the first url ax.init.itunes.apple.com pointing to my apache with bag.xml and the e673.g.akamaiedge.net reaching the real destination, I did manage to make some of the icons appearing, including trailers... but the point is, as e673.g.akamaiedge.net is using https using full certificate negotiation, I don't see any possibility to go further.
May be based on an older version of firmware, where the protocol was not yet encrypted?
Would like to replace at least the standard trailers icon with a plex icon, but from what I can see, this icon/png file is already stored locally and does not get pulled from apple server address? So not able to be replaced?
I have plexconnect working with or without internet. Using plexconnects new app, added via addsite. This is before apple pulled the plug on addsite when I added it. My ip and dns is set to automatic discovery. I can still use the trailers.app as intended. Plexconnect will not work without having your pc on, if you use the old way to run it thru trailers.app and point your dns to your pms server it should work without internet no issues at all, channels will not work obviously but at least you can watch your locally saved content. Also you could get infuse from atv flash black to play you content. Its not as nice as plexconnect but it will work for browsing your machine for content.
Custom icons are stored in "/var/mobile/Library/Application Support/Front Row/ExtraInternetCategories.plist". On a jailbroken device you can edit this file by hand and add "apps" which will work even when internet access is not available.
Instead of trying to get this working with aTV perhaps you could try any of the other client options? One is a Samsung Smart-TV which have built-in Plex support. Or if you already have a tv then a Sony NSZ-GS7 (Google TV) which isn't that much more expensive than an aTV. I have all of these three and Sony produces the nicest Plex experience (imho) but only Samsung Smart-TV has 24p support.
@wahlman.j said:
I have plexconnect working with or without internet. Using plexconnects new app, added via addsite. This is before apple pulled the plug on addsite when I added it. My ip and dns is set to automatic discovery. I can still use the trailers.app as intended. Plexconnect will not work without having your pc on, if you use the old way to run it thru trailers.app and point your dns to your pms server it should work without internet no issues at all, channels will not work obviously but at least you can watch your locally saved content. Also you could get infuse from atv flash black to play you content. Its not as nice as plexconnect but it will work for browsing your machine for content.
Just experiencing an internet connexion shut down, and plex is not working…
Impossible to access the olexconnect interface, even if I haven’t changed anything in aTV configuration (DNS still pointing on MacMini PMS server)
Can’t understand why as the local network is working fine. (I can access the NAS interface without any problem from the ipad)
This is a know bug & you have a few options. Sign out of myplex on PMS (not PlexConnect) and it should work. If you do not have the all the apps loaded start a hotspot if possible and get the storeFront (apps) to load or run an extension cord to a neighbors if possible or hook to their wifi and load the storefront. If you get the apps to load DONT unplug the aTV from power and hook back into your wifi or ethernet @ your location and pull in the ip and set the DNS to your normal PMS more info here on the bug(s):
That’s odd because I cannot access plexconnect at all.
From the trailers app, when entering it I only have the black screen and the spinnig wheel.
I exit plex home from PMS but cannot do anything on plexconnect since I can’t enter plexconnect interface on aTV…
I have lost internet before and absolutely had plexconnect working still. Sign out of myplex on your PMS then test. If you still have your trailers app on your aTV then half the battle is over. I thought it was just signing out of PMS myplex, maybe sign out of myplex on plexconnect also. It’s been awhile since I lost my ISP but do remember a workaround to get it back via myplex sign out.
