Internet Required regardless of local connection

Plex Players Gaming Consoles
1

Ever since the inception I have been in love with Plex, and haven't really had any complaints in regards to server or apps, but the fact that an Xbox Live account, and active internet connection is required for the Xbox One App has started to drive me nuts.  I'm hoping this is something temporary because it's enforced by Microsoft and not something Plex decided to build into the app.

 

I've become kind of what you would call a "connoisseur" of media boxes as i've been building xbmc and other forks for many years (like before boxee was actually worth a crap), so needless to say I have multiple roku's, hisense atv's, raspi's, laptops, firetv, firetv stick, and really any other "media box" I could get my hands on.  A lot of people have complained about the firestick, and android app on some hardware, but that's really due to insufficient hardware ( i mean what do you expect for 30 bucks?! ), and I know that which is why i've never complained about it ...

 

Those of us who have used scripts, and other automation techniques in the past to transcode with ffmpeg know what a pain it was, and I think have a much better appreciate of Plex ...

 

With that being said, can someone please tell me what is up with the Xbox One app and having to require a Xbox Live account as well as active internet connection ... I can't tell you how frustrating it is at 1 am when you're watching a movie and the internet goes out because they are probably working on it and you pretty much become SOL, have to get out of bed and find a laptop or another media box, plug it up and then find the spot you left off at .... 

 

If you're an Xbox user you know the Xbox Live services go down all the time, and have been for many many years (why they still have problems is beyond me), so right there I see two complete point of failures, xbox live is down, or your internet .... what gives guys?

 

Elan and the entire Plex team, I still <3 you no matter what  :P

 

had to add in the rant above after reading a few threads, with people complaining about Plex, who will probably never know the struggle some of us used to endure ... and didn't want to sound like one of them  :ph34r: 

2

+1


XBL is being DDoS’d today, and to top if off, my internet has been out for the last hour.


The Xbox One app was a big part of my decision to buy a lifetime subscription… Its just a shame that more often than not, either XBL or internet issues prohibit me from actually using it :-/

3

+1

Completely agree with this thread

Why can't I connect to my local Plax server without an internet connection?  sucks when XBOX live is down...  doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, its a pain...  like today.. 

4

Its probably possible because netflix still worked on xbox one even when xbl is down. Maybe in the future they will make work like that too. 

5

I think its because the Plex pass is attached to the gamertag and when live is down plex can't check the gamertag. I have the issue because I share games with xbox. No if there was a way to attach the license to use plex locally then it should work. Like playing single player mode in a game.

6

Is there a way to fake the Xbox Live connection. I mean, trick the Xbox to beleive it is connected to the Microsoft Servers. One possible solution is to create a static IP route on my router redirecting traffic to my local server (where I have Plex Server installed). The I would just need a service on that computer to validate the xbox login procedure.

Is that possible or will we need the original certificate from microsoft to make the whole thing works?

7

Problem is that Xbox attempts to check with Xbox Live to see if you "own" the game or app, which happens to be Plex.

I'm sure plenty of you experienced this issue when Xbox Live went down all of Christmas Day and you were unable to do anything, which drove me crazy again as well.  Unfortunately I had to give up on the Xbox One app until this is fixed as it causes me more problems than it solves.

There *should* be something Plex can do on their end, but who knows ... it would be nice to at least get a response from the Plex team on this ... please :)

8

All they have to do is store "plex pass" information encrypted on the local server.  Then the client connects via local lan and see's the cached credentials on the server and everything works.

The cached credentials can be good up to the plex pass renewal date.

Problem solved if they did this.

9

A workaround is to enable DLNA and then use the built in Media Player. Not ideal, but works in a pinch.

10

Another night with no internet means another night without Plex…


If I had a stable connection, I would be watching Netflix, and wouldn’t need Plex… But since Plex is forcing me to be online, the whole point is moot.

11

+1, if somebody decides to runs a DDoS against XBL or even whatever authentication server Plex use for PlexPass it looks like we're all screwed until such time as it stops.

12

Could we please get a response from someone on the Plex team?  This is a huge issue

13

Could we please get a response from someone on the Plex team?  This is a huge issue

The issue with Xbox Live and/or an internet connection has been responded to by plex employees in another thread:

The thread:

https://forums.plex.tv/topic/143143-so-xbox-live-is-down-i-am-signed-in-locally-and-i-cant-use-plex/

The related posts:

https://forums.plex.tv/topic/143143-so-xbox-live-is-down-i-am-signed-in-locally-and-i-cant-use-plex/?p=841879

https://forums.plex.tv/topic/143143-so-xbox-live-is-down-i-am-signed-in-locally-and-i-cant-use-plex/?p=843696

14

Sure, but almost every Xbox game has a nice feature called "save game".

 

Why can't Plex save the server settings on a "save game" file in Xbox?

 

So, if you are offline and can't connect to XBL or Plex Servers, you could just "load game" with the server settings. No cache nedded as suggested... None the less, the credentials used to login into the Plex servers must be stored somewhere... or else we would be required to fill it everytime we use Plex for Xbox, and that isn't the case...

 

IMO, it sounds more like an excuse than an explanation...

15

 or else we would be required to fill it everytime we use Plex for Xbox, and that isn't the case...

Or you linked your microsoft gamer tag to your plex server via pin so when it connects to the plex.tv servers it see's what account that gamer tag is connected to and then pulls the server information.

16

only reason it requires internet is for "Plex Pass" guys come on! No Plex Plass no Plex on xbox one! thats the only reason!

17

A workaround is to enable DLNA and then use the built in Media Player. Not ideal, but works in a pinch.

Thats NOT a workaround. Thats called “using a different app”. A FREE app at that. So tell us WHY pay for plex memberships when we can get all of the functionality for free? Thats the point of this thread.

18

I propose that Plex extends our memberships based whenever there are XBL outages until this is fixed. Its ONLY right. Or at least offer us discounted lifetime memberships.

19

Thats NOT a workaround. Thats called “using a different app”. A FREE app at that. So tell us WHY pay for plex memberships when we can get all of the functionality for free? Thats the point of this thread.

A Plex pass gives you early access to Preview apps that are not ready to be released as full clients.  You are specifically paying to try the client out before it is fully completed and released to the general public.

20

I propose that Plex extends our memberships based whenever there are XBL outages until this is fixed. Its ONLY right. Or at least offer us discounted lifetime memberships.


You have the wrong thoughts/ideas about what a PlexPass is or what it's for. PlexPass is for those operators who need advanced options and features for their systems. It also allows you to gain many of these advanced features for your family via the use of Home.

As part of a PlexPass membership you are allowed to download and use "works in progress" software such as the XB1 Plex Client. It's a "Preview" of what is to come and by it's very definition is unfinished and not fully functional. The thought behind this, I'm sure, is that people who are PlexPass members are more advanced users and know the Plex system pretty decently. They will know how to do most of the trivial stuff already with Plex and will most likely be users who use the forums and will help report issues they find in the Preview.

A "Preview" version in Plex land could be Alpha, Beta or Release Quality in other terms depending on the specific client in question. What it IS guaranteed to be is unfinished and a "Preview" of what is to come down the road when it's released.

Knowing and understanding this basic concept, it would be unfair and without merit to ask for a refund, discount or extension to something you are getting your money's worth. If you ARE NOT using the Plexpass for the additional advanced features and have become a Plexpass holder just to use a specific client that is in Preview status, then you are using Plexpass outside of what's it's intended for and this is strictly your decision. But you have to understand that even in this extreme use of Plexpass you are still using a "Preview" version and entitled to nothing more than a work in progress version that is unfinished and not without problems.

You are entitled to access the PlexPass only sections of the website and to leave feedback on the preview product that might get used to shape the product during development.

Carlo