Announce : Global Player (UK) Plugin (Classic FM, Capital, Smooth, Heart, LBC etc.)

[expectingtofly]

Stable Release 2.1.2

---

This version brings an overhaul to live radio :

• All live radio stations from a new AAC hls source that should bring higher bitrates.
• New source for Programme and Track metadata. Progress through the current live programme
• You can pause/rewind/restart/seek within the current live radio programme
  • Seek with standard LMS controls (Rewind or the seek bar)
  • Skip to the start of the current programme with <<
  • Return to live with >>
• All regional versions of the Global brands are now available.

Please note, if you have any old presets or favourites from the previous version you will need to recreate them from the new version of the plugin.

Thank you to the beta testers for your help.

This version is now available from the main repository.

[expectingtofly]

Release 2.2.0

This release includes :

• Added Schedules to the catch up menu, enabling time shift listening from a schedule.
• Amended the source of programme artwork to include branding.
• Other minor bug fixes.

It's available now from the main repository.

[staresy]

I've been getting occasional audio drop outs and re-buffering. Specifically when playing LBC, and they seem to be ~20 seconds after streaming starts and on program boundaries. Sometimes the stream will recover, other times not.

My streaming settings are:

Server
Streaming Mode for HTTP(S)
Cache HTTP(S) streams on disk

Player
Proxied streaming

I've noticed that changing File Types for AAC (F, I) from AAC to DISABLED seems to cure/improve this, but I'm not quite sure what disabling that has done (is this setting for local decoding in the SBR vs decoding by LMS)?

[expectingtofly]

I've been getting occasional audio drop outs and re-buffering. Specifically when playing LBC, and they seem to be ~20 seconds after streaming starts and on program boundaries. Sometimes the stream will recover, other times not.

My streaming settings are:

Server
Streaming Mode for HTTP(S)
Cache HTTP(S) streams on disk

Player
Proxied streaming

I've noticed that changing File Types for AAC (F, I) from AAC to DISABLED seems to cure/improve this, but I'm not quite sure what disabling that has done (is this setting for local decoding in the SBR vs decoding by LMS)?

The buffering on a programme boundary is a problem I haven't solved yet. There is a new URL for the stream for each programme, and the plugin is relying on the Web Socket API to tell it what the URL is, quite often it doesn't provide the information quickly enough, hence the gap. I've tried various ways to tease the information out of the API in a quicker fashion, but no luck so far. It may be something we have to live with when using these higher bitrate hls streams.

Regarding the buffering at the start of a stream, I find that playing AAC streams on the SB radios in particular, it can pause as it works on filling up the decoded buffer. Disabling native AAC streams on LMS does indeed solve this, as the decoding is done to FLAC on the server if you do this, and the radio has much less work to do. The decoding of AAC has to be done somewhere, and as the stream is coming via the server anyway, it is better to do that job on the server I find, as it has the power it needs to do so. So I would leave it as disabled (unless network bandwidth is an issue, but that's unlikely these days).

[AngloCuencano]

Global Player 2.2.0 has stopped working for me, but the same stations (e.g. Classic FM or LBC) continue to stream through the UK Radio Player plugin. I set Global player logging to debug, but I don't know if it shows anything useful:

[23-01-30 08:18:34.9110] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::toplevel (49) ++toplevel
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9123] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::callAPI (90) ++callAPI
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9130] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_getCachedMenu (644) ++_getCachedMenu
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9142] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_getCachedMenu (650) --_getCachedMenu got cached menu
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9148] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::callAPI (150) Getting Menu from cache for https://bff-web-guacamole.musicradio.com/globalplayer/brands
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9154] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_renderMenuCodeRefs (672) ++_renderMenuCodeRefs
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9160] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_renderMenuCodeRefs (688) --_renderMenuCodeRefs
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9191] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::explodePlaylist (906) Entering with globalplayer://_live_121
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9213] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::close (217) close called
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9231] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::close (217) close called
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9292] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::getNextTrack (108) getNextTrack++
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9300] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::getNextTrack (114) Request for next track globalplayer://_live_121
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9306] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::getNextTrack (133) New Live Station
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9339] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::new (304) New called
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9385] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::new (308) Props : $VAR1 = {
'artwork' => '',
'havem3u8' => 0,
'isContinue' => 0,
'm3u8' => '',
'oldFinishTime' => 0,
'oldm3u8' => '',
'reaTitle' => '',
'schedule' => '',
'title' => ''
};
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9392] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::new (313) Remote streaming : globalplayer://_live_121
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9398] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::new (317) set up vars ...
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9405] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::getBufferLength (793) Buffer set to 50
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9414] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsconnect (54) ++connect
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9421] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsconnect (79) Attempting to open SSL socket to wss://metadata.musicradio.com:443...
[23-01-30 08:18:35.7639] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsconnect (92) Trying to create Protocol::WebSocket::Client handler for wss://metadata.musicradio.com/v2/now-playing...
[23-01-30 08:18:35.7658] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsconnect (140) connecting to client
[23-01-30 08:18:35.7670] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending GET /v2/now-playing HTTP/1.1
Upgrade: WebSocket
Connection: Upgrade
Host: metadata.musicradio.com
Origin: https://metadata.musicradio.com
Sec-WebSocket-Key: pAVu+P6jFSssoyisDQ9AJg==
Sec-WebSocket-Version: 13

...
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9477] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (114) Successfully Connected to wss://metadata.musicradio.com/v2/now-playing...
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9484] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::__ANON__ (385) Connected to WS
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9493] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wssend (166) Sending : $VAR1 = '{"actions":[{"type":"subscribe","service":"121"}]}';
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9502] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending Â[23-01-30 08:18:35.9512] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsreceive (174) ++wsreceive​

LMS is running on a Raspberry Pi 4:

• Version: 8.3.0 - 1667251155 @ Mon 31 Oct 2022 10:55:34 PM CET
• Hostname: Pi-Server
• Server IP Address: 192.xxx.x.xx
• Operating system: Debian - EN - utf8
• Platform Architecture: armv7l-linux
• Perl Version: 5.32.1 - arm-linux-gnueabihf-thread-multi-64int
• Audio::Scan: 1.05
• IO::Socket::SSL: 2.069
• Database Version: DBD::SQLite 1.58 (sqlite 3.22.0)

I don't think it is relevant, but I am outside the UK.

[expectingtofly]

Global Player 2.2.0 has stopped working for me, but the same stations (e.g. Classic FM or LBC) continue to stream through the UK Radio Player plugin. I set Global player logging to debug, but I don't know if it shows anything useful:

[23-01-30 08:18:34.9110] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::toplevel (49) ++toplevel
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9123] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::callAPI (90) ++callAPI
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9130] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_getCachedMenu (644) ++_getCachedMenu
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9142] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_getCachedMenu (650) --_getCachedMenu got cached menu
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9148] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::callAPI (150) Getting Menu from cache for https://bff-web-guacamole.musicradio.com/globalplayer/brands
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9154] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_renderMenuCodeRefs (672) ++_renderMenuCodeRefs
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9160] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_renderMenuCodeRefs (688) --_renderMenuCodeRefs
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9191] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::explodePlaylist (906) Entering with globalplayer://_live_121
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9213] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::close (217) close called
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9231] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::close (217) close called
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9292] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::getNextTrack (108) getNextTrack++
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9300] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::getNextTrack (114) Request for next track globalplayer://_live_121
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9306] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::getNextTrack (133) New Live Station
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9339] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::new (304) New called
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9385] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::new (308) Props : $VAR1 = {
'artwork' => '',
'havem3u8' => 0,
'isContinue' => 0,
'm3u8' => '',
'oldFinishTime' => 0,
'oldm3u8' => '',
'reaTitle' => '',
'schedule' => '',
'title' => ''
};
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9392] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::new (313) Remote streaming : globalplayer://_live_121
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9398] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::new (317) set up vars ...
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9405] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::getBufferLength (793) Buffer set to 50
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9414] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsconnect (54) ++connect
[23-01-30 08:18:34.9421] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsconnect (79) Attempting to open SSL socket to wss://metadata.musicradio.com:443...
[23-01-30 08:18:35.7639] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsconnect (92) Trying to create Protocol::WebSocket::Client handler for wss://metadata.musicradio.com/v2/now-playing...
[23-01-30 08:18:35.7658] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsconnect (140) connecting to client
[23-01-30 08:18:35.7670] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending GET /v2/now-playing HTTP/1.1
Upgrade: WebSocket
Connection: Upgrade
Host: metadata.musicradio.com
Origin: https://metadata.musicradio.com
Sec-WebSocket-Key: pAVu+P6jFSssoyisDQ9AJg==
Sec-WebSocket-Version: 13

...
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9477] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (114) Successfully Connected to wss://metadata.musicradio.com/v2/now-playing...
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9484] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::ProtocolHandler::__ANON__ (385) Connected to WS
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9493] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wssend (166) Sending : $VAR1 = '{"actions":[{"type":"subscribe","service":"121"}]}';
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9502] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending Â[23-01-30 08:18:35.9512] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsreceive (174) ++wsreceive​

LMS is running on a Raspberry Pi 4:

• Version: 8.3.0 - 1667251155 @ Mon 31 Oct 2022 10:55:34 PM CET
• Hostname: Pi-Server
• Server IP Address: 192.xxx.x.xx
• Operating system: Debian - EN - utf8
• Platform Architecture: armv7l-linux
• Perl Version: 5.32.1 - arm-linux-gnueabihf-thread-multi-64int
• Audio::Scan: 1.05
• IO::Socket::SSL: 2.069
• Database Version: DBD::SQLite 1.58 (sqlite 3.22.0)

I don't think it is relevant, but I am outside the UK.

Hmm, their API is not replying. It all looks fine at the plugin end and it's connecting fine.. I wonder if they just had some down time. It's working fine at the moment here, It might be worth giving it another go to see if its working again?

[AngloCuencano]

Hmm, their API is not replying. It all looks fine at the plugin end and it's connecting fine.. I wonder if they just had some down time. It's working fine at the moment here, It might be worth giving it another go to see if its working again?

No, still not working for me. I first noticed the problem yesterday. I should probably mention that catch up plays fine, its just the live streams that have stopped working.

[expectingtofly]

[23-01-30 08:18:35.9512] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsreceive (174) ++wsreceive​

Is there anything in the logs after this "wsreceive" ? Or is that where it ends.

[AngloCuencano]

Is there anything in the logs after this "wsreceive" ? Or is that where it ends.

That's the end of the log.

[AngloCuencano]

Is there anything in the logs after this "wsreceive" ? Or is that where it ends.

I just tried to play again, and there was an additional line in the log. It still didn't play.

[23-01-30 12:59:38.1950] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsreceive (174) ++wsreceive
[23-01-30 12:59:38.3029] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::GlobalPlayerFeeder::_parseStationList (423) --_parseStationList
​

[expectingtofly]

Global Player 2.2.0 has stopped working for me, but the same stations (e.g. Classic FM or LBC) continue to stream through the UK Radio Player plugin. I set Global player logging to debug, but I don't know if it shows anything useful:

[
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9493] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wssend (166) Sending : $VAR1 = '{"actions":[{"type":"subscribe","service":"121"}]}';
[23-01-30 08:18:35.9502] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending Â[23-01-30 08:18:35.9512] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wsreceive (174) ++wsreceive​

I'm a bit flummoxed by this. The only thing that looks slightly odd is the encrypted message that is being senton the web socket :

[23-01-30 08:18:35.9502] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending Â

It should be a lot longer than just sending that " Â ". Does it look like that every time you try and connect? That could show that the SSL encryption is not working for some reason.

[AngloCuencano]

I'm a bit flummoxed by this. The only thing that looks slightly odd is the encrypted message that is being senton the web socket :

[23-01-30 08:18:35.9502] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending Â

It should be a lot longer than just sending that " Â ". Does it look like that every time you try and connect? That could show that the SSL encryption is not working for some reason.

Today I uninstalled and reinstalled GlobalPlayer, but it still doesn't play. The line you are asking about now looks like this:

[23-01-31 10:16:54.1637] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wssend (166) Sending : $VAR1 = '{"actions":[{"type":"subscribe","service":"116"}]}';
[23-01-31 10:16:54.1645] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending ²½ ÷zƖÉI˜ÎÍ!ƃÍEÕ@ŸS‚ÎC…ßEÕVŸS’ËI”ŸÕKŒÕà] ...​

[expectingtofly]

Today I uninstalled and reinstalled GlobalPlayer, but it still doesn't play. The line you are asking about now looks like this:

[23-01-31 10:16:54.1637] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::wssend (166) Sending : $VAR1 = '{"actions":[{"type":"subscribe","service":"116"}]}';
[23-01-31 10:16:54.1645] Plugins::GlobalPlayerUK::WebSocketHandler::__ANON__ (103) Sending ²½ ÷zƖÉI˜ÎÍ!ƃÍEÕ@ŸS‚ÎC…ßEÕVŸS’ËI”ŸÕKŒÕà] ...​

Yes, that all looks correct (the encrypted message will be different each time). As a long shot, I wonder if it is to do with your location. If you got to the global player website. Then play a live station, then press rewind 10 seconds (that will basically mimic the plugin does, it plays the hls rewind stream), does that play ? : https://www.globalplayer.com/live/classicfm/uk/

[AngloCuencano]

Yes, that all looks correct (the encrypted message will be different each time). As a long shot, I wonder if it is to do with your location. If you got to the global player website. Then play a live station, then press rewind 10 seconds (that will basically mimic the plugin does, it plays the hls rewind stream), does that play ? : https://www.globalplayer.com/live/classicfm/uk/

Yes, that all worked as expected. I had to create an account first.

[AngloCuencano]

Yes, that all looks correct (the encrypted message will be different each time). As a long shot, I wonder if it is to do with your location. If you got to the global player website. Then play a live station, then press rewind 10 seconds (that will basically mimic the plugin does, it plays the hls rewind stream), does that play ? : https://www.globalplayer.com/live/classicfm/uk/

I'd like to follow up on this issue. I rebuilt LMS on a new SD card with RaspiOS. Using either LMS 8.3 or 8.4, GlobalPlayer still fails in the same way. I also built a piCore based server, and that doesn't work either.

I think I would normally conclude from this that I am being geo blocked for being outside the UK. Except that the link you provided works on my laptop, both at startup and after pressing the rewind. I did have to create an account to get access, so that makes me wonder if non-UK listeners now have to log in before a stream will initiate.

Might it be possible to investigate this a little further?