Server Version#: 1.32.8.7639
Player Version#: Multiple
Backstory:
I’ve been a PLEX user for years, and it’s always just kind of worked. I am somewhat computer literate, built my own PC, etc, but networking not always my strong suit). I have moved now, built a new PC, new ISP, etc. Suddenly I was having issues with the server transcoding local (on network) connections to super low quality from 1080p files. Tinkered around, and somehow it resolved. Everything working great locally and remotely. Cut to last week, suddenly all local connections dead, says server not available… but remotely via my cell phone (over 5g not wifi) works fine.
What I’ve tried:
I have combed through EVERYTHING, posted onr/PLEX, tried uninstalling plex, reinstalling plex, reinstalling the apps, redoing the entire library from a new install. I tried deactivating the routers built in “security”, tried disabling the Windows Firewall, whitelisted plex in the firewall. Nothing works. Nothing seems to be working.
Server System:
PMS installed and fully updated, Windows 11 full updated
Motherboard:
ASUS Prime Z790-A WiFi 6E LGA 1700
CPU:
Intel i9 13900k
GPU:
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founder’s Edition
RAM:
CORSAIR Vengeance DDR5 64GB (4x16GB)
Storage:
WD_BLACK 2TB NVMe x1 (OS)
WD_BLACK 4TB NVMe x3 (Gaming and Storage)
Seagate 16TB HDD Exos (Backup)
Internet:
Spectrum 500/100 (no issues, very fast UL/DL)
Spectrum Quantum Router (Upnp Enabled)
I appreciate any and all assistance.
Do you get no connection to your server at all, or does it only play in very low quality?
If the latter, during playback, open the web app on a second computer or in a second web browser tab.
Go to Status - Now Playing, look at the connection info.
What does it say? Remote, Local, or Indirect?
If you can reach the settings of your server, go to Network and ensure that Secure Connections is NOT set to “required”.
For local connections absolutely nothing. Shows as if the server isn’t even up and running. When doing remote, indirect and transcoding.
Not set to required.
Go to the Connection setting of Windows. See if the connection is classified as “private”. It it’s set as “public”, change it to “private”. Then restart the computer.
Do you have more than one “router”-type of device in your home network?
Do you have access to the configuration settings of your router?
If you do, try to change the “DNS Server” setting away from the default to either 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8
Then reboot the router first, then your server and each of your client devices.
A user on Reddit suggested the public to private. I am on public, but I did indeed try changing it to private and restarted. No change.
I do have access to the DNS settings, this is what it tells me:
"Edit the domain name system (DNS) setup for your network. Custom DNS is commonly used for blocking selected websites from your network.
Primary DNS Server
Spectrum DNS
Secondary DNS Server
Spectrum DNS"
I can go on and change them, it states this:
"Manage DNS Servers
Your network connection may be lost or become unstable if the DNS info is invalid. Before you save, please confirm the changes you made are accurate.
Primary DNS Server:
Secondary DNS Server:"
So I change both to 1.1.1.1. or 8.8.8.8. or just one?
(Thanks for your help)
You can use just the primary with either number.
Or put one into primary and the other into secondary.
Set it to “private” in Windows, or you will never be able to use it in your local network.
Ok, now that worked, thanks.
But now it’s transcoding down to SD with indirect playback via local which was the problem that seemed to proceed my current issues. Any ideas?
This is usually caused by another router feature called “DNS rebinding protection”.
You need to look in the router settings if you can put an exception in there for the domain plex.direct.
Details: https://support.plex.tv/articles/206225077-how-to-use-secure-server-connections/
Do you use an internet filter, like Privoxy or Pi-hole?
No filters or proxies.
I don’t see an area to add exceptions in the router. Only adjustable settings other than the DNS we changed are
Port Forwarding & IP Reservations
DNS Server
UPnP
Security Shield
Spectrum Mobile Access Point
Is there a setting to change in the PCs Network, or is this router related?
It is related to the DNS resolver in the router.
If your router doesn’t provide you with settings for this, then all you can do is to either:
- replace the router
- put another DNS resolver in the network, like the above mentioned Pi-hole etc and put the exception into its settings. Then tell all devices in your network to use the additional DNS resolver as their “DNS server”.
On some client types, you can try and set the “secure connection” preference to “not on local network”.
It’s very odd, because before everything flat out stopped working. The files were playing untranscoded and direct. It was only when everything stopped that it all got messed up. On the same router and everything.
Routers (particularly those which are provided by the ISP) sometimes get firmware updates without you noticing. It is perfectly possible that “DNS rebinding protection” was added by such a firmware update. After all it’s not a bad thing per-se. Just not that compatible with Plex server.
1 Like
I appreciate your help.
So is my only option then to buy a different router than the ISP supplied one?
Yes, or a Raspberry Pi and put Pi-hole on it.
Some router models can also be fitted with a 3rd-party firmware like OpenWRT, DD-WRT or Tomato etc. which all have the necessary feature.
I actually have a raspberry pi I haven’t used in years. Would I need to put all of my Plex stuff on the pi, or just run a raspberry pi with pi-hole running on it?
That stuff would all be new to me.
AFAIK the latter.
(I cannot recommend running Plex on this hardware anyway.) All it is intended to do is to work as the DNS resolver for your home network (and apply some filtering while doing so, if desired).
Thanks again for all your help. I decided to go new router instead. Hoping it goes smoothly but I’m sure I might reply again if I have further issues. Have a great day!
I’d verify that his new router does indeed provide you with the necessary settings menu. It’s not guaranteed that a newer model does.
1 Like
I’m actually going to purchase it myself. So it won’t be an ISP issued one.
Ordered the ASUS RT-AX3000. Seems like it should have all the things I’d need.
New router arrived. Installed, connected to the network. Instantly Plex is direct connecting and working perfectly (so far).
Thanks again so much for your help, it appears to be working just as desired now!
Have a great weekend!
1 Like
