Server Version#: Version 1.23.1.4602
Player Version#: Client: 5.17.0
Platform: 4.3.0
For weeks now I have been getting random buffering. It does not matter what container/codec or whether subtitles are on or not. Almost all of my media is MKV with embedded srt files. There seems to be no common denominator to do with the files and if they will buffer.
When the buffering happens I see:
Plex server still says ‘direct play’ (no transcoding) but the playback status in the web console states Buffering.
My Synology NAS network interface goes quiet (transfer stops). CPU < 20%
The ASUS router confirms that the LG TV has full 5G Wi-Fi signal (it is only 2m from the router) but no network traffic is happening. The 5G wifi is a separate SSID from my 2.4 so the TV is not network switching.
The NAS is wired direct to the router on Gb network.
So it seems that the plex app on TV just lets the buffer empty and forgets to ask for more data, after a second or two there is sudden network activity and playback resumes. Normal playback may continue for a while (may be 5 mins, may be 30 mins) then it will buffer again…
Last night it happened probably about 8 times through the playback of the movie The Host which is an MKV straight rip from my HD-DVD copy (1080P VC-1 20.9 Mbit ,DTS audio, English, no subs).
However, as stated, it has happened on small TV episode files, 4K etc. It seems the properties of the video file (codec, bitrate etc) makes no difference.
As an extra, issue, any media file that has SSA/ASS subtitles embedded and the subs are turned on, the LG app hangs immediately after selecting the subs. I have ended up converting all of my ASS/SSA to SRT as I come across them and this solves the issue of it hanging on subs.
Anyone have any ideas regarding the above buffering situation?
you got it right Romburner. One of the updates missed the buffering up and PLEX is not interested in fixing this issue. I do have the same with 2 LG TVs (CX & C9) both used to work fine.
For some dialing the encryption solved the issue. for me nothing helped. the app itself is not managing the buffering properly.
Enabling SSA/ASS subtitles in the Plex WebOS app forces a video transcode by the Plex Media Server.
Depending on Synology model and the resolution of the media, the CPU in the NAS may not be powerful enough to transcode the video in real time. If so, playback will effectively stop.
You can monitor playback via Plex Dashboard → Now Playing. It will show you if the video or audio is transcoding.
With the Plex WebOS app:
Enabling image based (PGS/VOBSUB) subtitles forces a video transcode.
If the audio is transcoding, enabling any subtitle forces a video transcode.
If the audio is not transcoding:
SRT/VTT subtitles direct play.
ASS subtitles force a video transcode if Subtitles = Automatic in app settings.
ASS subtitles direct play if Subtitles = Only Image Formats in app settings.
I understand about transcoding and how to see if it is happening. It is not the video transcoding, the LG App literally freezes and you cannot do anything, it crashes. I have to force close the app on the TV to just get back to the menu. But that is a small issue for me as I rarely use subtitles. The BIG issue for me is the constant random buffering which essentially makes Plex unusable.
I have tried the same videos that buffer on the Plex app on the XBox series X and they play fine, no buffering (XBox app has it’s own issues but at least no buffering).
I think I have found a (not so good but working) solution. I believe it is to do with the LGC8’s wifi and how rubbish it is.
Firstly on reading other posts around the net, apparently the C8’s wifi does not like channels over 44, it works but has issues. However, I think the big issue is if you use DFS as well (which I do). I can’t use channels 36-44 as my Sky TV boxes have their own mesh which is fixed to these channels (I cannot change this). So the lower channels are out unless I want to battle with interference. If I have to use higher channels then I hit the problem of intermittent throughput.
As I can’t use the lower channels as I would have interference from my Sky mesh, I decided to try 2.4ghz even though it is more congested from neighbours. Up to now I have played 30 mins of The Hobbit 4K, 124mbit and not one buffer.
I will see how this runs for a few days and report back if I get further issues but it seems in my case, the LG has to be on 2.4 Ghz. If I hit issues again I will try the 5G higher channels and turn off DFS to see if that is more stable.
have your found a solution?
I have a 65" LG TV, which has a similar issue (I’m using a Synology DS218play as my NAS running the Plex server and the LG webOS client app, both uptodate). Whenever I try to use any kind of subtitles, I get constant buffering (after approx 10 seconds of video playback). This is extremely annoying to the point where I wish I had chosen Samsung again as my new TV. I never had this issue with Tizen
