Hi,
I’ve got quite a lot of 4K videos, some HDR and when looking at streaming quality in the player settings on my server, if I set to original will this play content at 4k if that is the video resolution?
Thanks,
Paul
It does depend on the client and the media.
For example the Xbox One client can playback 4K media directly with HEVC. But if any transcoding is required (IE subtitles, audio conversion, h264 video codec) then the server needs to transcode to 1080p. Not all clients have this type of limitation.
But the basic answer is if you have selected original streaming quality the server will try and keep the resolution and bit rate roughly the same as the original file if transcoding is needed. And it will not transcode the file simply because it is 4K (Unless the client specifically says it can’t playback 4K material)
Great, thanks for that mate 
Basically the setup I’m using is as follows:
PC is media server (i7 4.5ghz, 16gb ram, 500gb SSD, 12tb HD, GTX 980ti 6gb, Windows 8.1)
Connection is Virgin Media 200mb (streaming over wifi at the moment)
TV is a Sony A1 OLED (tried sending to native plex app in android, internal chromecast and an external one)
I keep getting this message: Your connection to the server is not fast enough to stream this video
Surely 200mb is ok? It’s hitting 150mb on WIFI. I’m trying to get the TV wired up to my router, would this solve the above problem or is it not as obvious as an internet speed issue?
If you can help me get this fixed so it works flawlessly or recommend some hardware that will sort it I will name my first born after you 
Unfortunately, that error message is sort of generic. It could be the network, but every time I have seen it myself it means the server isn’t sending the data fast enough or I had some network congestion.
The best place to check would be your server logs. With those we could see what the server is doing.
It is possible that switching from wireless to WiFi could fix the issue. Depending on what is happening, if you’re watching an extremely high bit rate video and the WiFi connection is bouncing between signal levels then it is possible that the connection is just too slow for the WiFi to handle. Before moving I tried powerline adapters, and while they worked they were great, but they seemed to need to be reset every other day or so. They were faster then the WiFi, but less consistent, but were not effected by things like the Microwave dropping the WiFi signal. When I moved I ran an Ethernet cable behind my TV and it works flawlessly. (I actually put a dumb switch there so I have a cable to the TV, Xbox, Receiver, etc)
Overall, if you’re already planning on running a line to the TV I would go that router first as it removes all the issues that could be caused by the WiFi. But looking at the logs is something that would be free and might help reveal if the problem is coming from elsewhere.
Thanks again, will check the logs when I try again next time
Why are you using Chromecast to the TV? (Unless I misunderstood). The TV is running Android, you can just download the native Plex app directly to the TV for the best potential quality.
@codeecb said:
Why are you using Chromecast to the TV? (Unless I misunderstood). The TV is running Android, you can just download the native Plex app directly to the TV for the best potential quality.
@Ashcrapper, yes, this. I’m using one of your TV’s little brothers (2017 X900E), and it has no problem receiving 4K content through the Plex app, but I wouldn’t dream of trying to send it to the internal Chromecast. I would advise using an ethernet connection rather than wifi, although you could get away with it over wifi if the A1s have better support for AC wifi than the X900s do.
Edited the original post for clarity
I’ve tried using the plex app in android, using an external chromecast, and also the internal chromecast. It struggles with all of them.
I either get:
- connection to the server is lost
- connections to the server isnt quick enough
- tons of stuttering at the beginning of the video which will iron itself out eventually
Netflix 4k works fine, have no issues at all with it.
Should be getting a wired connection sorted this week so that will eliminate wifi being the culprit. If it carries on I’m at a loss
The suggestion was to use the Plex App for Android TV, rather than using the Plex App on your phone and sending it to the TV via Chromecast (internal or external). Switching to wired ethernet will help improve the internal Chromecast, but I still don’t have clarity about whether you’ve installed the Android TV app directly on the TV and attempted to view your 4K content that way. We watch all of our 4K content using the Plex App for Android TV, and we’ve had no issues, provided that the TV is on wired ethernet. I have a good, AC router, but the X900 support for AC wifi is garbage.
Sorry for late reply, been on holiday. I’ve installed the plex app as an android TV app. It still struggles. Not been able to get the cable in yet. Oddly I tried a 1080p HDR film and that lost connection with the server several times. Im at a loss. Is there any settings I should have in the plex media server I dont know about? Never had a single issue previously with 720/1080 stuff streaming to Chromecast
The error message about losing connection to the server can often be cause by trying to play a video that isn’t compatible (i.e. something encoded out of spec). The Plex app checks for some things but not all, so if there is something wrong with the file itself, you see these types of errors. You can also get this error if there is a hardware issue with your TV. The log from the Android app can sometimes provide this information.
TV is a Sony A1 OLED, should be capable of playing. I tried to chromecast as well and it played minus the HDR then through the TV plex app worked as intended. Just kept losing connection.
Still not got to the bottom of the problem with the 4k films. Infuriating
Recreate the problem then provide us the PMS and app logs.
How would I get them from the TV? Think I know what im doing with the server
Thanks btw
In the app there is an option to turn on network logging. You should then be shown a URL. Enter that into a web browser on any other computer in your network. That’s the log. The URL only lasts for 20 minutes, but logging is always occurring. The best is to recreate the problem them turn on this setting and save the text from the URL. Then turn the setting off.
Got past the issue. Borrowed a friends 4k Nvidia Shield, tried Plex but same issue. Tried Kodi and no issues at all, smashed it. Oh well …
@Ashcrapper said:
Got past the issue. Borrowed a friends 4k Nvidia Shield, tried Plex but same issue. Tried Kodi and no issues at all, smashed it. Oh well …
4K playback isn’t working at the moment in the Plex for Android TV client. It’s a bug.
Well that explains it
I don’t know if you’ve given up on Plex, but this issue has apparently been addressed in the Android TV client.
Interesting, been using Kodi on an Nvidia Shield. Will give it another look
