Intermittent REMOTE buffering issues across VARIOUS platforms for last few MONTHS!

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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Server Version#: 1.18.4.2171
Player Version#: MULTIPLE!!

So I am not sure how to troubleshoot this problem.

My DL: 1000mbit, upload: 30.

I have shared my plex with brother, sister, and parents.

My sister intermittently gets random buffering issues to the point she has to drop the quality down to 4mbps to play.

Initially this started with her 43" LG TV - so we called up ISP and got a new router, then problem intermittently persisted, so we changed the TV from her $400 LG TV to a Sony x950G!! The problem is still there, so I loaned her my 4k FIRE STICK TV, the problem is still there.

We have tried ethernet connection, 2.4ghz, 5ghz, everything gives her intermittent speeds.

I have ensured that my upload at the time the problems are happening is fully available, to rule myself out. Also ensured no one else is on server at the time.

She has run internet speed tests on her phone (wifi) as well as her laptop (also wifi) when this is happening, and each time her download speeds when she does that is 500mbit+++ on speedtest and google fiber test. Netflix’s built in speed test gives her 300-400mbit on wifi, and 90-110 if wired.

So it’s really odd, because shes trying to stream, and the max she can stream without stuttering/buffering is 2-4mbps SOMETIMES (when the problem isn’t there, she can direct play some files at 20-24mbps no issues).

So yeah, what are we missing?

Also did a FULL reset on her BRAND NEW SONY x950G fireTV just in case… that didn’t help.

How can I trouble shoot this and fix it considering she is the only 1 that has the problem.

I have even confirmed the stuttering/buffering on PMP on her laptop, and via chrome… I have also asked others to play the same file at the same timeslot to rule out it being a file issue… its only her.

I would have assumed its her internet, but every time she has this stuttering issues, she runs MULTIPLE speedtests on her phone, her tv (including standalone apps AND net flix), and everything gives her 300-400 on wifi, and 80-100 wired…

It’s also a small place, the router is literally 15 feet away from the TV (with nothing in between!!)

Help please!

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have you already checked for and rules out that the buffering is due to transcoding?

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@tom80H

CPU: 8086k, 32gb ram

Don’t think its transcoding, but the point was that the server has enough bandwidth (when its just 1 person) to push 30mbps – which is more than enough for some 1080p webrip, but it doesn’t direct play/direct stream even cutting it to 12…10…8… sometimes doesn’t fix it, but 4mbps works…

I don’t think the problem is on my end, certainly not the 1080p files

6

I believe it might be someone squeezing your pipe, Bandwidth throttling

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There is no one at home when these stuttering issues are happening…

Which is confirmed by the fact that when this problem happens, and I immediately run a speedtest on my server, I get my 28-35MBps/upload and when she runs the speedtest on her PC/phone at the time her TV is stuttering, she gets 400-500MBps…

8

I believe you mean mbps not 400-500MBps… so 50MBps- 62.5MBps, still not shabby. What I have heard though ISP’s can detect tests and auto remove Throttling. If true it’s disturbing.

At this point it does not look like Bandwidth, but in the forum there have been discussions about the recent update and the recommendation is to roll back a couple versions on Windows installed with Plex Media server.

One megabyte is equal to eight megabits, but the terms are used in specific ways: Megabits per second (mbps) are generally used to describe the speed of an Internet connection, whereas megabytes ( MB ) usually refer to the size of a file or storage space.

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Yes, all my numbers were megaBITs/s … the B should not have been capitalized. My bad.

I definately don’t think it’s an issue of ISP throttling, as we both have the same ISPs, and when I speed test mine, I regularly get 850-950mbps at home download, and 30Mbps up, and downloading files from nvidia, amd, microsoft, etc, confirms that download speed.

What version do you suggest “rolling back” to ?

Although I think that seems rather arbitrary, as again, only ONE person has the problem… others don’t experience the random buffering she does

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Plex Media Server 1.18.3.2156

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I don’t think that will help @SE56 , I have that saved on my PC – grabbed it Dec 16, 2019. The TV was changed on Black Friday 2019, and the problem persisted.

I am 99% sure the problem persisted while this version was there. I have since grabbed v2164 and v2171 both with the same problem…

I just tried to install the version: PlexMediaServer-1.18.3.2156-349e9837e-x86.exe and it won’t continue… in fact the Plex installer is so poorly configured that it won’t even give me the FULL ERROR… Zero Quality control… https://imgur.com/a/toXGBOj – so I don’t even know how to revert back.

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BUMP…

Can a plex employee or someone that’s advanced please provide some assistance?

Thanks!!

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