Getting unexpected playback error for files but only on LG TV, running on web is fine

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
, ,
1

Server Version#: 1.40.3.8555
Player Version#: 5.88.1 LG TV app

I’ve been trying to resolve an issue with a video file, when playing it on my comptuer via the plex web interface it runs fine, however when playing on my LG TV app it will play for a few seconds then stop, showing the buffering symbol then eventually just give me an unexpected playback error

I’ve checked the server’s stats and the CPU and RAM don’t appear to be maxed out, running it on Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS CLI, streaming locally. All devices are cabled direct to router

File is an MKV, strangely if I change the settings on the TV app to Force Direct Play it will not play any audio, but it also will not have any issues. I’ve attached the zip log files. Transcoding is set to make my cpu hurt, and the temp directory is /dev/shm

Plex Media Server Logs_2024-09-28_16-50-04.zip (2.4 MB)

2

The LG keeps disconnecting from PMS.

(LG is the peer here)

Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.512 [131072568339256] DEBUG - Removed transcode data consumer, active count 1 => 0
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.521 [131072518007608] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.1.10:54268 (Subnet)] GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p/base/00022.ts (6 live) #906 TLS Signed-in
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.521 [131072518007608] DEBUG - [Req#906/Transcode/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p] Asked for segment 22 from session.
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.521 [131072518007608] DEBUG - [Req#906/Transcode/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p] Returning segment 22 from session
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.521 [131072518007608] DEBUG - Content-Length of /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Cache/Transcode/Sessions/plex-transcode-yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p-cdf60e2a-1621-4201-b731-acf0aa583422/media-00022.ts is 13068068 (of total: 13068068).
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.525 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 163840 bytes: 104 - Connection reset by peer
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.525 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.1.10:54268] 200 GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p/base/00022.ts (6 live) #906 TLS 4ms 163840 bytes (pipelined: 1)
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.525 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Removed transcode data consumer, active count 1 => 0
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.534 [131072446704440] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.1.10:54282 (Subnet)] GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p/base/00023.ts (6 live) #908 TLS Signed-in
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.534 [131072446704440] DEBUG - [Req#908/Transcode/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p] Asked for segment 23 from session.
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.534 [131072446704440] DEBUG - [Req#908/Transcode/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p] Returning segment 23 from session
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.535 [131072446704440] DEBUG - Content-Length of /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Cache/Transcode/Sessions/plex-transcode-yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p-cdf60e2a-1621-4201-b731-acf0aa583422/media-00023.ts is 6010172 (of total: 6010172).
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.538 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 163840 bytes: 104 - Connection reset by peer
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.538 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.1.10:54282] 200 GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p/base/00023.ts (6 live) #908 TLS 4ms 163840 bytes (pipelined: 1)
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.539 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Removed transcode data consumer, active count 1 => 0
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.548 [131072505424696] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.1.10:54296 (Subnet)] GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p/base/00022.ts (6 live) #90a TLS Signed-in
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.548 [131072505424696] DEBUG - [Req#90a/Transcode/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p] Asked for segment 22 from session.
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.548 [131072505424696] DEBUG - [Req#90a/Transcode/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p] Returning segment 22 from session
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.548 [131072505424696] DEBUG - Content-Length of /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Cache/Transcode/Sessions/plex-transcode-yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p-cdf60e2a-1621-4201-b731-acf0aa583422/media-00022.ts is 13068068 (of total: 13068068).
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.553 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 163840 bytes: 104 - Connection reset by peer
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.553 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.1.10:54296] 200 GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p/base/00022.ts (6 live) #90a TLS 4ms 163840 bytes (pipelined: 1)
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.553 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Removed transcode data consumer, active count 1 => 0
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.565 [131072518007608] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.1.10:54308 (Subnet)] GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p/base/00023.ts (6 live) #90c TLS Signed-in
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.565 [131072518007608] DEBUG - [Req#90c/Transcode/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p] Asked for segment 23 from session.
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.565 [131072518007608] DEBUG - [Req#90c/Transcode/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p] Returning segment 23 from session
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.565 [131072518007608] DEBUG - Content-Length of /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Cache/Transcode/Sessions/plex-transcode-yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p-cdf60e2a-1621-4201-b731-acf0aa583422/media-00023.ts is 6010172 (of total: 6010172).
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.569 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 163840 bytes: 104 - Connection reset by peer
Sep 28, 2024 16:46:33.569 [131072572533560] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.1.10:54308] 200 GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/yrgs36nao1fusd5lte9sc11p/base/00023.ts (6 live) #90c TLS 4ms 163840 bytes (pipelined: 1)

WiFi distance / signal strength ?

I have a LG C1.
I never use the wired connection. A) only 100 Mbps B) Crap adapter
WiFi it works well –

DON’T get all exotic on the settings. Micromanaging it will cause failures.

3

Thanks Chuck, I recon you’re right.

I changed from wired to WiFi and now it still buffers but it will actually play afterwards.

The router sits right underneath the TV, I wonder if there is some interference there potentially as the cabinet it’s in is full of stuff.

Will try and move it to see if buffering issue improves.

Many thanks

4

Now, to solve the buffering involves:

  1. What bitrate can the TV pull over the wifi at
  2. What bitrate can the host transcode at , in real time, for the LG
5

I’m not sure on either to be honest, would you just need a speed test on the tv to see what bitrate it can pull, or is there a test I can do on the plex app for it?

For the host transcoding, I’m running a intel n100 with 16gb ram, if we can do a test on that too more than happy to post it, just not sure where I’d find that.

6

To test the TV, most TV app stores have a speedtest app you can download and test with.

It’s not the most accurate but it will point out glaring problems if they exist.

I have a N100 with PMS in a LXC, the setting should be similar if not identical

  1. Passthrough host ‘/dev/dri’ to VM ‘/dev/dri’
  2. After Passthrough, restart VM so the VM finds the device
  3. Install (reinstall the DEB file) so it checks the group membership and adjusts PMS configuration. (It looks at the iGPU group(s) and makes ‘plex’ a member of those group(s) as required for when it starts
  4. When PMS starts, it will be a member of the groups for transcoding to work.
  5. Settings - Server - Transcoder - Show Advanced - Enable HW (as required)
7

ok so I just ran speedtest.net from the browser on the TV, got 177Mb/s down and 212Mb/s up. Couldn’t get speedtest CLI working for the server but I’ve just checked downloading a file and I get about 100MiB/s on my server so it definetely seems like the TV that’s got the speed issues.

I don’t actually run anything as a virtual machine for my server, I just have all my apps running on 1 machine, are there any settings I’d need to adjust to replicate your set up without using VMs?

My transcoder settings are below, not sure what HW would be as I can’t see anything for HW?

image
image766×653 44.4 KB

8

So as it turns out, my LG TV(oled cs model) not only has a 100Mb ethernet port, but also can’t handle certain WiFi bands for 5ghz, changed it to 36 and lo and behold, no issues

Very frustrating for such an expensive TV, I think beyond what I’ve done I’m going to be limited in what else I can do to improve the connection, I saw online there are USB-ethernet adaptors that can improve things but the one i had on hand didn’t work. I’m going to keep going with this on WiFi for now but for my next TV I think I’ll be changing from LG unless they put in gigabit ethernet.

Appreciate your help here Chuck!

9

A Plex Pass is required for hardware accelerated transcoding. If the server owner does not have a Plex Pass, the options are not visible.

10

@michealtownley

To add for FordGuy,

I don’t know why but most TVs have only 100 Mbps ethernet.

I suspect it has something to do with TVs being wall mounted and only a power outlet behind the TV.

I also suspect it has more to do with being cheap.

I once tried USB plug-ins for a TV. They didn’t work because the TV firmware didn’t have drivers for it.

11

I think it’s these two things:

  • 100 mbps takes less power in operation – less heat to dissipate from the cramped space in ultra thin tv
  • there are no internet streaming services which even come close to 100 mbps bitrate. The players in TV devices are only developed and tested for these. Something like Plex is simply not on their radar – and even if it is, they don’t care because they consider that a niche market.
2 Likes
12

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.