High bitrate files buffering on Fire TV

Plex Players Streaming Devices
1

Just wondering if anyone has run into issues playing high bitrate (over 100 Mbps) files? My device is a 4K MAX, connected to a WiFi 6 router (can get 250-350 Mbps when running an Internet speed test - I’m sure LAN is even higher).

Server is direct wired to the router (Gigabit connection).

This started with a movie that I have that is at around 105 Mbps and will buffer pretty often.

As a test I downloaded one of the Jellyfish sample files at 200 Mbps and I can play the video smoothly on my iPhone connected to the same WiFi. However on the Fire TV it buffers pretty badly.

So thinking it’s definitely something with the FireTV stick app.

I did try one of the competitors and have quite a bit better luck but still occasional buffering.

I can get version numbers later (once I get back to my server), but I know I’m on latest non-beta version of the Fire TV app.

2

FireSticks and FireCubes have a habit of connecting to the 2.4g band, lots of people complain about this, try a dedicated band for 5g if not already.

I have personally experienced this in a few deployments;
a) Client was being detected as remote and traffic routed via the Router, was then being subject to bandwidth constraints (you can ofcourse overcome this by adding in your local subnet in settings). This can also result in traffic routing via the Plex Proxy (so always disable that feature)
b) Docker deployments (local clients will be seen as coming from the local docker subnet not the correct subnet. (overcome by adding the docker subnet in the local subnet plex settings)
c) Docker, mounting the plex library volumes via SMB (docker networking is ■■■■■ to get working at full performance, disable network offloads ect… check forums on how to improve based on your specifics)

3

So I did some more thorough testing last night and ruled out network. I installed iPerf3 on both the Firestick and my server and was able to get ~300 Mbps average

Server is Windows 10.

Using the Jellyfish test files on Emby, I can watch the 200 and 250 Mbps versions without buffering. Sometimes even up to the 300 Mbps version.

On Plex the 250 Mbps version buffers about 3-4 times during the 30 seconds (and it is direct playing).

4

Definitely check the logs to see if plex thinks you are coming in remotely.
Disable the plex proxy as suggested and ensure you LAN subnet is define.

5

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