The same issue with the profiles can happen in Windows too but would need details from that user to look. If you want to point them this way, I can take a look.
If you want to test the Windows server now, just set the limit to 1 Mbps. That will force a transcode and check if it’s the server having an issue.
On your Linuz server, you can also check if it’s that setting or the need to transcode causing the problem. Turn off the setting on the server, and change the remote quality setting in the Android app to force the transcode.
Linux server:
320 kbps: Plays
720 kbps: Plays
1.5 Mbps: Plays
2 Mbps: Plays
3 Mbps: Plays
4 Mbps: Does not play “Error Playback has stoppped because the connection to the Plex Media Server has been lost. Please ensure the server is available and retry”
8 Mbps: Does not play
10 Mbps: Does not play
That’s odd, the lower bitrates should be triggering the transcode too. In your previous logs I did see it was trying to use hardware accelerated transcoding. I wonder if there is a problem with that at the higher bitrates. Can you turn off that seeing and see if you get the same results?
The lower bitrates were transcoding correctly. I should have said that they were transcoding and playing fine, my bad. At 4mbps up to 15mbps is when I’m having the issue where the transcoder isn’t starting.
I disabled hardware acceleration and it did not make a difference. I’m just going to leave it off because my linux server doesn’t have any hardware that would benefit from hardware acceleration.
Can you get me the Android log? Hoping it still has the info from this latest test. Curious if it’s an Android issue. Can you also try using the web browser on your phone to see if you get the same results?
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.624 [0x7fc3735e3700] ERROR - ClientProfileExtra: missing protocol parameter
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.624 [0x7fc3735e3700] WARN - ClientProfileExtra: ignoring directive: append-transcode-target-audio-codec(type=videoProfile&context=streaming&audioCodec=ac3)
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.624 [0x7fc3735e3700] ERROR - ClientProfileExtra: missing protocol parameter
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.625 [0x7fc3735e3700] WARN - ClientProfileExtra: ignoring directive: append-transcode-target-audio-codec(type=videoProfile&context=streaming&audioCodec=eac3)
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.625 [0x7fc3735e3700] ERROR - ClientProfileExtra: missing protocol parameter
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.625 [0x7fc3735e3700] WARN - ClientProfileExtra: ignoring directive: append-transcode-target-audio-codec(type=videoProfile&context=streaming&audioCodec=dca)
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.625 [0x7fc3735e3700] ERROR - ClientProfileExtra: missing protocol parameter
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.625 [0x7fc3735e3700] WARN - ClientProfileExtra: ignoring directive: append-transcode-target-codec(type=videoProfile&context=streaming&videoCodec=vp9)
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.625 [0x7fc3735e3700] WARN - TranscodeUniversalRequest: at least one profile extra directive could not be read
Feb 14, 2020 13:22:25.631 [0x7fc3735e3700] ERROR - Streaming Resource: Cannot make a decision because either the file is unplayable or the client provided bad data
Seeing this exact issue with one of my AFTV Stick clients when playing from my dockerized PMS running on Version 1.18.6.2368, setting the limit to original (i.e. no limit) allows the file to play again, I notice the error coincides with the line:
MDE: received PLEX_PROTOCOL_ANY from client, but could not determine best protocol. Defaulting to HTTP
In my particular case, these files play without issue on the web player and a roku, so I don’t think it’s related to any permission issues or the PMS itself but rather the client?
Interestingly it does not affect the firetv just the firetsticks, the fix is to allow original quality and not limit it under remote access settings, the whole reason I went with plexpass was to limit remote quality but if it’s broken with firesticks then I won’t continue to pay for it.
A current work-around is install Kodi (18.5 seems solid) on the firestick & install the Plex add-on from the repository. Works 100% as expected with limiting the remote stream bitrate.
EDIT
I should have added this, one of the February updates to the Plex server BREAKS playback for Kodi. I’m not sure if it has been fixed (1.18.7.2438-f342a5a4 was still breaking it), but I had to roll-back my server to 1.18.5.2309-f5213a238 (January 28th, 2020).
So, for Kodi+Plex addon to work as intended, run 1.18.5.2309.
I just dont understand why they haven’t fixed this. At least in the android app. Obviously a server update broke it, people have to pay for the mobile app, you would have thought they would have fixed that first or rolled back whatever they did to the server. The same issue exists in the official kodi addon but that wont get updated. Annoyed to say the least.
I’m also experiencing this issue now… Was able to temp-fix it on the firestick by using the old player but there’s no option for that on android mobile.
Annoyed to say the least.