BBC Radio as .strm not working

[hickscse 2]

Hello all,

I was hoping to setup a Radio media folder on my Emby box, specifically having access to some of the BBC Radio channels. Now before someone mentions TuneIn, apparently the BBC radio channels (not including the World Service one) were removed a while back. Anyways I came across a github file that contained a list of all the channels streams.

However currently having issues getting it working, I believe it has something todo with the stream file extension being .m3u8. Anybody have any ideas?

Here is the .strm link: http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_med/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8. 

My folder setup is

- Media
  -- Radio
    --- BBC Radio 1.strm

The error when I hit play is: 

Quote

 

Playback Error

No compatible streams are currently available. Please try again later or contact your system administrator for details.

 

Thanks

[rbjtech 4304]

The above stream appears to work fine in Emby as the contents of an STRM. 

What library type do you have for Radio ?  (I used mixed content) Have you tried a library refresh ?

btw - I think the bbc streams are also geo locked - so they will only work from the UK, or possibly UK VPN (but these may also be blocked, not sure).

Edited September 5, 2023 by rbjtech

[ebr 14947]

4 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

btw - I think the bbc streams are also geo locked

Yep, that link does nothing for me over here in Yankee land.

[hickscse 2]

Thanks @rbjtechfor the quick reply.

Originally it was Music, but I have just tried out Mixed Content and Home videos & photos and oddly the same issue.

Just to clarify my all I have in my .strm file is http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_med/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8, that is correct? It looks correct according to the STRM spec on the website.

Ah I didn't know that, but I am all good I am in the UK.

Thanks

[hickscse 2]

And FWIW when I open that m3u8 file (the browser defaults to downloading it) in MediaPlayer on windows it works fine.

Edited September 5, 2023 by hickscse

[rbjtech 4304]

27 minutes ago, hickscse said:

And FWIW when I open that m3u8 file (the browser defaults to downloading it) in MediaPlayer on windows it works fine.

The file type and via emby 'works' for for me as I use the same link.

Can you post your STRM file - as it should literally be 

http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_med/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8

and nothing else.

[rbjtech 4304]

Remember that 'emby' is opening that URL - so if you are running emby in a docker container, or if it has restricted web access for example, it's own dns setup etc - then it is not the same as 'it works on my local machine'.    Just something to be aware of..

 

[hickscse 2]

Yeah so my .strm file contains only this 

http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_med/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8

 

10 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

Remember that 'emby' is opening that URL - so if you are running emby in a docker container, or if it has restricted web access for example, it's own dns setup etc - then it is not the same as 'it works on my local machine'.    Just something to be aware of..

OK - I think I am fine on that front, I don't use Docker and I don't have any special restricted web access AFAIK. But I will double check.

Just double checking what version are you running (maybe will not make a difference) - I am on 4.7.14.0 

[hickscse 2]

OK this is weird - I found another stream (from a forum post back few years back) and put that into a STRM file. Removed all of my test libraries and then added a Radio library using Mixed Content and its now magically working. It has slightly incorrect metadata but not to bothered by that. No idea what that happened maybe it needed another .strm to kick things into gear or something (FWIW this was the other stream I added - https://s2.stationplaylist.com:9460/guerrilla). 

Anyways seems to be sorted now. Thank you