I’ve recently installed the Plex server on my desktop and the app on my android box. I don’t want to pay for Plex until I know if I like it or not. I “think” I understand that there’s a 1 minute limit on videos streamed from my computer to the box (because it’s android, correct?), but what I don’t get is that it seems to stream out onto the internet from my desktop and then back in to the android box. This causes playback problems. Why can’t I just stream on my home network from the computer to the android box? Have I set something up wrong? I’m in the dark here.
Make sure your router is not dividing your home network into 2 separate networks. Some routers separate the ‘wired’ from the ‘wireless’ clients. And sometimes even every wireless device from other wireless devices (‘AP isolation’, ‘guest network’ etc). Under this circumstance the data have no choice than to travel over the internet (or at least the router).
Your phone must of course use WiFi and not your mobile data (just making sure here 
)
Even if the above is not the case, there is a known problem with some network configurations (mainly caused by router settings or the DNS server of your ISP).
It is has to do with ‘Secure Connections’ (an additional encryption of the data between server and client).
The easiest way to avoid it is top simply disable them for now.
Settings - Server - Network - Secure Connection = Disable
(Restart Plex server for the change to ‘take’)
Then of course there is the issue of improper data traffic counting method.
How did you determine, that your data are flowing over the internet?
It says that there’s an “indirect” connection to my desktop. Do I have to make sure that port 32400 is open on my router? Could this possibly be the problem?
I’m trying to find the settings you indicated. When I go to Server, do I then go to Network? I don’t see Network Secure Connection under just Server or Network. There is an option under Network -> Secure Connections which is currently set to Preferred. Should I set this to Disabled?
@bgula@vaxxine.com said:
It says that there’s an “indirect” connection to my desktop. Do I have to make sure that port 32400 is open on my router? Could this possibly be the problem?
Indirect means your client cannot reach your server via the direct route. So traffic is ‘relayed’ via Plex’s servers to make it work (with restrictions, though).
It is a symptom of the things I explained above.
I’m trying to find the settings you indicated. When I go to Server, do I then go to Network? I don’t see Network Secure Connection under just Server or Network. There is an option under Network → Secure Connections which is currently set to Preferred. Should I set this to Disabled?
I forgot to type one dash above, sorry!
Yes, please do. (Don’t forget to restart Plex server afterwards. Do also close the Plex App on your phone, wait a minute then re-open it.)
Did what you suggested. The “indirect” message has disappeared, but the videos still play with hesitation, so it seems like they’re still being sent out and back in. Still limited to 1 minute. Not impressed with Plex as it should be easier to set up than this. Probably will uninstall.
@bgula@vaxxine.com said:
… but the videos still play with hesitation, so it seems like they’re still being sent out and back in.
No. They might get transcoded by the Plex server to
- reduce their bitrate
- ‘burn in’ subtitles
- make their file format compatible with your client device
Transcoding requires cpu power. If your server’s cpu is not very fast, this may lead to a small delay after you press Play.
Still limited to 1 minute.
The 1 minute limit will stay until you either buy the mobile app for a one-off fee or subscribe to Plex Pass.
I’ve got an AMD Phenom II X6 2.7 Ghz. I don’t think it’s a processing power issue.
@bgula@vaxxine.com said:
I’ve got an AMD Phenom II X6 2.7 Ghz. I don’t think it’s a processing power issue.
I still believe that it is indeed a cpu speed issue. Especially if you are using HEVC-encoded video files or PGS subtitles.
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X6+1045T
