Internal Network Plex Quality Stuck at SD480 Only?

[predators0]

I have a Synology NAS for about 2 years. I have had no quality issues. I posted this a few weeks ago, the Plex Tech Support guy had me troubleshooting the Plex application on my Roku/LG Smart TVs. (I can get full original quality on my PCs and Laptops for some reason, so just smart TVs are affected) I sent him some logs as well. I don’t know the exact date the quality went to SD480p only. Only my internal devices stay at the lower resolution. All my external Plex users have full HD/1080p quality video. I was thinking about deleting the plex server out of my Synology and just rebuilding with a fresh copy or maybe reverting back a few Plex server versions. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Mike

[ChuckPa]

Mike,
I’m the guy who had you check settings.

Here’s why.

1. I have a Roku 4800x
2. I have Direct Play / Direct Stream of 4K UHD and even DV.

Here are the settings I have in the Roku.

This is what I get from it.

[predators0]

All of the setting are the same as yours when I access them on my Roku TV itself. Not sure which version, its a new TCL TV with Roku 58" about a year old. But all my Roku TVs are doing the same thing. Attached is the image you captured when I was running a movie. Hopefully this helps?

[ChuckPa]

It’s showing as INDIRECT – which is limited to 2 Mbps – Which will force it down to 480p

Is everything on the same IP Subnet ?

You have the Synology firewall active ?
(It looks like you do)

Can you confirm it’s off ?

My Synology machines are already behind my Modem/Router firewall so it’s not needed.

[predators0]

I also just notice how all my video setting have “Limited Quality” stuck at 2 Mbps, which is a Plex Pass maximum for a Plex Relay function. I noticed that your Roku icon has a green padlock symbol whereas mine has a yellow “!”. I just upgraded to a new router, from what I’m reading my new router may have DNS rebinding protection turned on. I may be able to whitelist: plex.direct

[ChuckPa]

Yep. GOOD CATCH on the rebinding.

[predators0]

It is not on the same subnet, I just VLAN’ed all of my smart devices when I recieved my new Synology router.

[ChuckPa]

Server and players on the same subnet are “Nearby”.
Server and players on different subnets but reachable are “Remote”.

Keep that in mind.

Preference is to keep them on the same subnet.

I do VLAN management at the switch but still have everything on the same subnet.
I can isolate devices easily this way

[predators0]

So, since these are all wireless TVs I can just change my Roku devices to login on the same VLAN my NAS sits in?

[ChuckPa]

Yes. The simpler you can make it, the better

[predators0]

Just tried it, boom fixed…Chuck is the Man!

Thank you so much!

-Mike

[ChuckPa]

Now you’re getting DP / DS ?

[predators0]

Yes, full original quality. Easy fix really, just hard to find lol. Side question, you are getting full 4K quality, I have never pushed my NAS that far. I wonder if it could handle that if it doesn’t have to transcode? I need to try that… I have a Synology 920+ model about 2yrs old

[ChuckPa]

If you have the media curated for Plex as DirectPlay-ready (for all your devices)

then you can use even a lowly older Syno (DS1815+ old --haha) and it will push out the file.

The trick – AVOID ALL TRANSCODING on the OLDER NAS boxes. They don’t have the HW boost nor do they have the CPU speed.

DS920+ is solid . GeminiLake CPU w/ full HW transcoding … That will serve you well for the video. It’s weak on PGS subtitles – but we are working on that.

[predators0]

@ChuckPa

If you have the media curated for Plex as DirectPlay-ready (for all your devices)

Can you explain this more. To make sure I have the right media and settings for my internal network to run 4k type videos? What size (original file) are you running to get good quality 4k videos?

Thanks again, Mike

[ChuckPa]

I rip my media from BluRay discs directly.
I am a hoarder; I don’t ‘compress’ (reduce the bitrate). I keep all the extras.
I’m at the extreme end.

Everything I have plays very well on common gigabit network / WiFi 5 Ghz AC.

Here’s one movie. It’s like being in the theater lol

[chuck@lizum No Time to Die (2021).2007]$ ll -h
total 69G
drwxrwxr-x   3 chuck chuck  65 Dec 29 16:34 ./
drwxr-xr-x 367 chuck chuck 16K Dec 26 22:11 ../
drwxrwxr-x   2 chuck chuck 152 Dec 29  2022 Extras/
-rw-r--r--   1 chuck chuck 69G Dec 27  2022 No Time to Die (2021).mkv
[chuck@lizum No Time to Die (2021).2008]$

When I play this, except for screen size, it’s like being in the theater

My TVs, Shield Pro (2019), Roku Ultra (4800x), and LG TV will play this without video transcoding.
The Roku and TVs convert the audio (stereo only). The Shield is connected to my Onkyo (7.1)

Personally, I like to keep my 4K content above 40 Mbps if I can. My discs vary from 40-ish → 180 Mbps. (some movies are marginally 40 on BluRay but still exceptional)

1080p is really good from 30-40 Mbps. Only high-CGI content should favor the really high bitrates (to keep the edges/details crisp)

When I speak of curating your media.

1. Using a Remux tool (mkvtoolnix works great - especially OTA stuff) —
   – I use MakeMKV when ripping.
2. Remove ALL the unwanted subtitle and language tracks
3. Use FileBot / TinyMediaManager / etc to get everything named perfectly.
   – this is where my OCD kicks in
   
   

It will take some experimenting for you to find quality levels that you like.
( I just built a big box and keep everything. Easier for me )