I just got Plex Pass and a HD tuner setup on my server. I am currently unable to stream to Chromecast. Every time I try and stream the Chromecast reports “Something went wrong - Error code: h4 (Not Supported)”. It doesn’t matter what channel. It also doesn’t matter if I try to stream from web app, Android Plex app, or iOS Plex app. Same error from all of them. I am only able to watch live TV/DVR directly from the web app or mobile apps. The whole reason I bought Plex Pass was to use Plex to watch live TV on my actual TVs.
Server Version#: 1.25.2.5319
Player Version#: 8.27.2.29938 (to Chromecast)
Tuner Make/Model: Hauppauge WinTV-dualHD
Guide/Lineup name: Local Broadcast Listings (128 channels)
Using XMLTV?: No
Channel number/Name: ALL
Add your logs if you want to snag support: Reporting issues with Plex Media Server | Plex Support
Please add a tag for your OS and maybe say what CPU your server has.
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-01-04_19-33-16.zip (3.5 MB)
Logs attached. Issue was reproduced (twice) at 2:32PM EST on 1/4/22.
OS: Ubuntu 21.10
Processor: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-1620 (running under ESXi 6.5)
Other details in original post.
So far what I’m seeing is that when I stream live TV to Chrome cast it is trying to use the “Universal Recording” profile instead of the “Chromecast” profile. It is passing through the AC3 5.1 audio which the Chromecast cannot handle. Why is not using the Chromecast profile when trying to watch live tv? When I play a regular movie file it uses the “Chromecast” profile.
Jan 05, 2022 02:44:08.648 [0x7feefdee9b38] DEBUG - [Now] Device is Chromecast (Chromecast).
Jan 05, 2022 02:44:08.648 [0x7feefdee9b38] DEBUG - [Now] Profile is Universal Recording
Jan 05, 2022 02:44:08.648 [0x7feefdee9b38] DEBUG - [Now] Updated play state for /livetv/sessions/d0856fa6-772a-4b66-9df4-1c985171e7e3.
I gone through the logs a couple of times and couldn’t find any TV streams in that timeframe. The tuner service also wasn’t running at that time which is odd since no stream would have been possible.
Live TV streams are “on the fly” so Plex can’t analyze them for better decisions and ends up using whatever profile the device shares with it. They did make a change with regard to android devices and 5.1 audio but it was to use Opus instead of AC3.
One error that you are having that may be causing issues with audio and other processes is not enough inotify resources. Directions for remediation are here: Linux Tips - #9 by ChuckPa
During some of the other time you were live streaming a weak signal was recorded but I don’t think that is what is causing the H4 which is usually when you first start the stream and the audio codec doesn’t work.
All this to say I don’t think we have captured the failure yet.
Live TV streams are “on the fly” so Plex can’t analyze them for better decisions and ends up using whatever profile the device shares with it.
Yes, but what is happening here it is is not using the profile of the device it is sharing with (Chromecast), it just uses the Universal Recording profile which seems to be the issue.
I have uploaded another log
- In the “Plex Media Server.log” file you can see at “Jan 05, 2022 02:45:02.724” I attempted to stream live TV again to Chromecast. Here is when the “Universal Recording” profile is used and Chromecast cannot seem to handle the stream
- You can also see at “Jan 05, 2022 02:45:23” I attempted to stream live TV from the web app. In this case the stream worked and it also used the “Web” profile
- At “Jan 05, 2022 02:56:54” I stream a video from my library to Chromecast and everything works fine and the “Chromecast” profile is used
I will take a look at the documentation you provided and see if anything there helps, but it seems to me that there is an issue with the Chromecast profile not being utilized specifically for live TV.
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-01-05_02-57-06.zip (4.0 MB)
Flinging/casting live TV playback is not supported. See the 3rd bullet-point under “Limitations” in this document:
That’s likely why you’re seeing the “not supported” error.
Interesting, if that is the case then how is is Chromecast also listed as a supported app? How does one initiate live TV play on Chromecast?
That’s a great question. Reading back through that section, I saw this note:
- Live TV on Chromecast is supported for casting from iOS and the web app in a Chrome browser.
Seems contradictory.
1 Like
I’ve tried casting from iOS/Android/Web. All fail with same error. All show same in the logs (Universal Recording profile used).
Plex Staff, can we get some help with this?
@BigWheel was looking at this in another thread. Don’t know if a internal problem was logged or attention for the issue faded.
@pl_5309, thanks for the heads up!
@BigWheel, could we please get a status update on this? Happy to get more information if an official issue hasn’t been logged yet. Just looking to get this resolved.
From what i can see in github it is in the batch of bug the devs are actively trying to tackle. I’m sorry I don’t have any ETA
1 Like
What is the bug exactly? What is the actual issue?
Still looking into it. It may be using the wrong profile as mentioned in another topic.
1 Like
Is there any update on this?
Server Version#: 1.25.5.5492
Player Version#: 7.28.1 or 6.10.1
Tuner Make/Model: HDHomeRun CONNECT DUO AU (DVB-T)
Guide/Lineup name: Freeview
Using XMLTV?: No
Channel number/Name: No
Chromecast - Ultra
Live TV works A-OK on all iOS devices, Windows 10 client and Linux Server (Ubuntu 20.4)
Casting works for recorded TV programs as well as all other media
I am having the same issue and have upgraded to the lasted server version, using Chromecast Ultra and HDHomerunDuo (AU version = DVB-T) - I bought the Plex Pass for the DVR capability and noted that Chromecast is supported, I would not have purchased had I known you can’t but not being able to watch live on my TV is a real limitation.
Plex Employees - Is the fix anytime soon please ? ’
1 Like
I don’t know how we don’t have an answer on this. I bought Plex Pass over the holidays specifically for this and haven’t been able to use it since. @BigWheel, do we have any update on this?
Sorry I don’t have any other updates. Looking at bug report there are notes from this week trying to figure it out, so it is not forgotten.
