PMS 1.19.2.2702 on Synology DS918+ Also happens with 1.19.2.2673.
Client 8.0.0.17115 on Pixel 3a XL, Android 10
Testing remote access.
Problem: If video must be transcoded due to PMS Remote Streaming bandwidth setting, movie will not play. Client displays “Error. An error occurred while attempting to play this video. Please try restarting both the Plex Media Server and this app.”
If PMS settings permit direct play and phone bandwidth settings require transcode, then PMS successfully transcodes the movie.
If both PMS settings and phone settings require a video transcode, then weird stuff happens and the movie may or may not play.
Details:
PMS Internet Upload Speed = 20 Mbps (my uplink speed).
Client Remote Streaming = Maximum
Limit Remote Stream bitrate = Original / No Limit
Result: Movie direct plays, 14 Mbps
Limit Remote Stream bitrate = 15 Mbps
Result: Movie direct plays, 14 Mbps
Limit Remote Stream bitrate = 10 Mbps
Result: Receive error message.
Server logs, phone logs, and movie XML attached.
Not captured in logs:
PMS Remote Stream bitrate = unlimited
Client remote streaming = anything below 14 Mbps.
Result: PMS transcodes movie and it plays w/o issue on phone.
PMS Remote Stream bitrate = 10 Mbps/1080p
Client remote streaming = 8 Mbps/1080p
Result: Error message.
PMS Remote Stream bitrate = 10 Mbps/1080p
Client remote streaming = 4 Mbps / 720p
Result: PMS transcodes the movie to 4 Mbps 720p and it plays w/o issue.
On a semi-related note, I’m not sure why Plex wants 14 Mbps to stream this movie. The overall bit rate is ~6.6 Mbps per MediaInfo. I know there’s a fudge factor in the b/w calculations, but 2x seems a bit much.
PMS Logs:
Plex Media Server Logs_2020-04-24_05-15-10.zip (259.3 KB)
Phone Log:
Pixel3aXL.zip (126.0 KB)
Plex XML for movie
Jason Bourne.zip (1.5 KB)
