Server Version#: 4.78.4
Player Version#: 7.0.7.7661-cc543783a-Plex
I received a new Roku Ultra today, and it refuses to play any Plex content from my local server, the one remote server that I have access to, or any Plex, Inc. streaming content, including audio-only content (e.g. a podcast). When I try, in every case, I get the familiar buffering circle in the middle of the screen which rapidly counts up to 99%. At 99% it stalls. Nothing ever plays. After some interval (20 seconds maybe?) It starts again at (typically) 13%, counts up to 99% and stalls again. And then it repeats that cycle of reloading, stalling and reloading over and over… forever. Once this happens, selecting a different show to watch may result in the same reload/stall/reload cycle just described, or it might result in an empty “buffering” circle appearing that never receives a progress percentage. At that point, the Plex app is unresponsive, although I can return to the Roku home screen. To get the Plex channel to respond again though, I need to reboot the Roku.
When the Roku Plex app first loads, I can see what content is available on every Plex source I have access to, and it can accurately tell me if it has yet to be watched, has been watched, or has been partially watched (in which case I’m given the option to resume). For the couple of TV series I’ve tried, it even plays the theme music for the content when I select it. It just can’t seem to actually play that content. At the same time, the Plex web app works fine on my Windows 10 PC, an it works fine on the Roku 3 the Ultra was intended to replace, the two other Roku devices I have in the house (a Roku Express, app version 7.0.7.7661, and another Roku 3, app version 7.0.7.7661), and the Android app on my phone. It’s only the app on the Roku Ultra that fails.
The Roku Ultra is connected to an HD (1080p) TV via HDMI, and it connects to my local network on a wired Ethernet connection. The Ultra is brand new, so I wouldn’t think I’d need to re-install the Plex app, it having just been freshly installed, but, in a fit of desperation, I reinstalled it anyway (removed the existing Plex channel, rebooted the Ultra, installed the Plex channel, tried again). Same result – buffers to 99% and then hangs for a while before starting over.
I guess I should mention that NONE of the content I’m trying to play is 4k content. It is typically 720p or 480p. Audio is either AC3 stereo or MP3 stereo.
I have not yet tried to change any of the Plex app default settings because, frankly, I don’t really understand what they do. I’m like an monkey with an H-Bomb in that respect, and I figured, until told differently, I should leave well enough alone. I can only say, the Plex apps on my other 3 Roku players are successfully operating with the defaults. I’m certainly not opposed to making changes there if there are specific changes people can suggest.
While Googling this issue, I did find one post on the r/roku subreddit of someone describing what seems to be exactly the same issue I’m having. That post is three months old though and, if there was a resolution to the problem, it wasn’t posted there. I fear that doesn’t bode well for success on this. (BTW, that post is this one).
I’ll say thank you in advance for any advice or suggestions you have to offer!
