4oD Player and EMBC

[hillskill]

Hi All,

 

Does anyone know if 4oD player works with EMBC?

 

Have a teacher who wants to play some stuff but wont work. Not a machine issue as tried on several clients and get the same problem.

 

It dosnt appear to be blocked by EMBC as no message as such comes up. The player just states that it was unable to play the content.

 

BBC I player works fine.

 

Thanks for any help!

[Joh619]

I tried to get 4oD to work but couldn't. I asked 4oD if there was anything I could do any they told me to use a line that didn't have a proxy on it

[hillskill]

I tried to get 4oD to work but couldn't. I asked 4oD if there was anything I could do any they told me to use a line that didn't have a proxy on it

 

Thanks for the info- guess thats the end of that then!!

[ChrisH]

I can get it to play about the first 3 minutes then it usually stops. I havent to the bottom of it yet. The BBC plays fine!

[GrumbleDook]

Yep, there is presently a known issue with 4oD and Synetrix are working on it. I will try and get you an update by the end of the week.

[tommej]

any update on this?

[nick3young]

We're also finding that more and more teachers are wanting to use the 4OD service. Has anyone heard anything from Synetrix/EMBC yet?

[ricki]

hi it will not work here either

 

richard

[kennysarmy]

SWGfL advises us:

 

I'd suggest you contact Channel 4 support to confirm source IP addresses.

The To address will be your LAN, so ALL

You will have to put a note that you need inbound and outbound access, as I'm not sure which end makes the initial request.

Port: 1935

Protocol: RTMPE

 

I have emailed ch4 to ask for this information...

 

Regards

[GrumbleDook]

Because the traffic goes out via EMBC IPs (controlled by Synetrix but PI IPs) C4 need to verify that that will accept those IPs. C4 have been saying (from my last conversation with Synetrix) that these are geo-tagged outside of UK (often done by labelling them against the company / companies which own the managing company) ... and yes, people have spoken directly with C4 and both parties have been working on it.

 

I'll ask again on Friday.

[Edu-IT]

Just out of interest, other ISPs seems to offer unfiltered lines, do EMBC? Or is it a filtered connection in and that be it.

[GrumbleDook]

No RBC do an unfiltered connection (in fact no ISP should be doing an unfiltered connection as they should all be filtering against the IWF blacklist).

 

As with most RBCs when people talk about filtering they are not just talking about the HTTP filtering but talking about other ports too ... and no, EMBC do not offer a line that is open on all ports to schools ...

 

The EMBC filters are pretty well documented in the technical library about the 4 different levels and who they are appropriate for, as well as the ability to have Local Control of Filtering (where you can get a heck of a lot more control).

 

An important thing to remember is that the buck stops with the Head on this ... some LAs will seriously challenge Heads to make sure the school understands esafety before you get access to it as it is not just a technical issue.

 

Pretty much each LA has a slightly different approach on accountability for esafety, but all are based on making sure that a school taking complete(ish) controlled is not just down to a spur of the moment decision. The EMBC technical conference went into a fair chunk of this but I would seriously suggest you speak with your LA for more info.

 

Also remember that safeguarding will not be looked at by OFSTED under the new framework (as in it is part of the framework and they may use it as a focus). I don't mean to scare people into sticking with what they have, but I'm concerned that IT Managers and techies in schools are doing things without having any backing from SLT ... and that means that should the school get a rap on the knuckles for it you have no-one to protect you.

[GrumbleDook]

It is also worth saying that the lack of audit trail / accountability applies to people if they use the EMBC tools too ... not just doing stuff in house.

[Edu-IT]

Sorry I just wondered, when they said use an unfiltered line to use this. I wasn't aware that one existed so what they're saying is get another ISP in addition.

[GrumbleDook]

When who said use an unfiltered line? C4?

[ChrisH]

I find 4oD to be unreliable, even at home. I had to restart a program 5 times last week and ended up watching all the dam adverts again every time when I tried to fast forward to the spot it went at. It kept breaking on the adverts as well it wasn't a random place.

[Gibson335]

Sorry for jumping into this thread, but does anyone know if EMBC block Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, and if so whether there's a workaround?

 

Thanks.

[Edu-IT]

When who said use an unfiltered line? C4?

 

I tried to get 4oD to work but couldn't. I asked 4oD if there was anything I could do any they told me to use a line that didn't have a proxy on it I tried to get 4oD to work but couldn't. I asked 4oD if there was anything I could do any they told me to use a line that didn't have a proxy on it

Based on this.

[GrumbleDook]

Ok ... we've had a bit more of a chat about this and have hit a brick wall.

 

It boils down to the simple fact that after a heck of a lot of running around, trying to speak with a variety of people in C4 it has proven bloody impossible to speak with the team running 4oD. All contact with them is via email via a contact form on the 4oD site. This gets an automated response, a little bit of conversation which centres around "we don't like your IPs" (paraphrased) and use another provider instead. I've tried to pull strings, EMBC have tried and Synetrix have tried ...

 

Seriously, how difficult can it be to get in contact. How difficult is it to realise that a few thousand schools are being affected by the inability to talk to the right people and it is not for lack of trying. Most of the folk in C4 have been really helpful (and many thanks to Matt and the education commissioning team for the help they have given) but this is now a plea.

 

If anyone here knows someone working in tech support at C4, or if someone does work there and lurks then please, drop me a PM.

 

Short of going to The Register and getting them to run a story about how naff 4oD is for a goodly number of schools then I don't know how we can get a response.

[Edu-IT]

Short of going to The Register and getting them to run a story about how naff 4oD is for a goodly number of schools then I don't know how we can get a response.

Could you drop them an email and see if they have a contact?

[GrumbleDook]

The problem with that is if you drop an email to a media company then they might want it as an article ... I would rather not alienate 4oD but any contacts would be good.

[Edu-IT]

I've sent an email to a dist. group I am a member of and they may come back with a contact. I'll let you know if they do.

[GrumbleDook]

I've sent an email to a dist. group I am a member of and they may come back with a contact. I'll let you know if they do.

 

Much appreciated ... if anyone else can help and can send emails to contacts then please do so.

[Edu-IT]

Just to update you all, I have explained this thread to somebody at Channel 4 who works with the 4OD team and I am waiting to hear back to see whether they can pass it on to the relevant person.

 

GrumbleDook, can you let me have your contact details please and I can then pass these on to the contact if they ask/copy you in.

[GrumbleDook]

PM sent.

 

You are a star!