Indirect Connection and lack of Availability

Plex Media Server Remote Access
1

Server Version#: Version 1.19.5.3112
Web Player Version#: Version 4.42.1

I recently upgraded my FiOS network, and had the router/modem replaced with their newest (fairly certain it’s this one: Link to DataSheet

As soon as the new router was in place, I started having some issues with Plex within my network, and people outside my network were also having issues.

Internal Problems:

  • When I use the web player, I can’t get over 2mb speeds, or 720p resolution.
  • I’m always in ‘indirect connection’ mode.
  • Very often when I check my ‘remote access’ settings, it says “not available outside your network”, before updating to “fully accessible” (usually following a refresh).

Remote Issue:

  • Friends are saying that it shows my server as ‘unavailable’
  • They are all (from what I’ve seen/heard) using a native TV app (Samsung TVs so far), as opposed to an apple TV or roku.
  • People using Rokus are having no issues.

I have played with manual port forwarding (as I saw suggested in a few places), but every time I set it up, I’d lose any access to the server (besides the computer it’s running from).
I also attempted to set-up a static IP on the router, but it didn’t seem to have any impact (one way or another). It seems like maybe there’s a difference in how TV apps connect versus devices (direct vs otherwise?), and I’m hoping someone smarter than me can steer me in the right direction.

For now, I’m just using the Plex Media Player on my home network (which operates as expected). But I have no workaround for the issue of TV based apps not being able to connect.

I appreciate any input anyone may have, or suggestions.

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Looks like this was completely a product of ‘DNS Rebinding’.
Verizon hid the setting well, but in the router menu:
Advanced> DNS Server> [Toggle: Stop DNS Rebind]

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Afterwards I stopped having ‘indirect connection’ inside my network. And externally people on smart TVs could again connect.

I am curious if I’ve opened up my network to any vulnerabilities, and if there’s a better way to configure things. Please weigh in if you know!

3

I may have spoken too soon.
All issues within my network have been solved, no more indirect connection and perfect resolution (not limited by the tunneling).
But the issues outside my network seem to persist.

I’ve now tried setting the IP address to ‘static’ for the server (on my router), but am not confident that was ever an issue.

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