Nvidia Shield Can’t Play Collection or Playlists

Plex Players Streaming Devices
1

Server Version#:latest
Player Version#: latest
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>
Hi,

I bought a nvidia shield because it was recommended universally for Plex. The Samsung tv app crashes constantly with playlists and can’t handle anything with subtitles, so had to get it.

Whenever I select a collection or playlist (smart or not) it just buffers endlessly. Other content plays fine.

I’m using playlists/collection so I can shuffle content to replicate a tv channel.

Can someone advise if this is a bug and if it’s going to be fixed soon? That way I know whether to return the shield

Thanks

2

To add, it also displays playlist as collection and the playlist tabs are empty

3

Never had such an issue here. What exact model of Shield do you have? It should be the 2019 Pro for max performance and compatibility.

4

If I recall correctly, there’s a bug when shuffling playlists and collections for videos reported in the forum. It only surfaces when a shuffle play is initiated otherwise normal playback isn’t affected.

5

Sorry. I lie. Unrelated to playback.

6

My goal is to shuffle but I can’t play normally or shuffle

7

https://www.harveynorman.com.au/nvidia-shield-tv-4k-hdr-android-tv-streaming-media-player.html
This is the one I have

13

May I be of assistance here?

14

Yes? Please see the above issue

15

Deleting comments doesn’t help my issue, please advise why collections and playlist don’t function.

Thanks

16

Still waiting on an answer

17

@InsipidCjs

Please be advised:

  1. I live on the east coast USA. While it may indeed be Monday, 2am AEST, it’s Sunday, 12 noon for me and there’s this little thing called “Sleep” involved.
  2. It’s a holiday weekend in the USA.

Regarding your Shield Tube, known issues with it

  1. The WiFi in the Shield Tube runs hot.
  2. Once it gets too warm, it throttles the CPU (proximity heat)
  3. Performance issues ensue.

“Buffers endlessly” is also a common complaint when subtitles are being burned in and the server CPU isn’t strong enough to keep up with the job.

I would like to see the Server DEBUG log files ZIP which captures one of these failures/issues. (Please recreate the problem, download the ZIP file from the server, and attach here)

1 Like
18

Because of the delay I’ve already returned the shield and am getting the pro
But I doubt that issue would occur the second I turn it on and start the playlist or collection (it just spins forever)

19

Without the log files to confirm, knowing there is about a 20 millisecond delay (while PMS determines what to do and spins up the CPU as needed) anything is still possible.

You might go through this whole exercise (Yes the shield pro 2019 is FAR more capable) only to find out you still have a WiFi issue (if you are using WiFi).

Please do be on the lookout for that as you transition to the Shield Pro 2019 when it arrives.

I will also advise to not run the server module on the Shield Pro.
Yes, it’s capable, but you’d be putting a heck of a load on it and burn out the SSD in short order unless there’s an external HDD/SSD for the metadata.

1 Like
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I have just gotten the pro so I’ll advise and provide logs of it occurs.

If I’m understanding correctly, are you saying that I should use Plex to play media? Or it will destroy my computer? Isn’t that the point of Plex?

All my media is on external device connected to the computer

21

  1. Leave your PMS server wherever it is. The Shield Pro will take a significant load OFF the computer

  2. The shield pro is a top notch PLAYER (set top box) which, for light duty use, could also be a PMS server. You’re best not to do that unless you want to add external storage to the shield (to protect it internal SSD)

  3. I’m telling you this because, as you install the Plex shield’ PLAYER app, you’ll also be prompted to install / enable PMS. This is what I recommend you don’t do.

  4. Let the shield do what it does best – be a player.

To give you examples, I have PMS on:

  1. QNAP TS-128 ARMv8 development system (no hardware acceleration)
  2. Synology DS418play ARMv8 development sytem (no hardware acceleration)
  3. DS1815+ (C3528 CPU)
  4. NUC8 Skull Canyon
  5. QNAP TVS-1282
  6. Home built Xeon E5 system (also my NAS)

EVERY single one of these machines can play full UHD to my Shield Pro 2019 with “Direct Play” mode meaning there is nothing for those devices to do but send the data over the ethernet …

It says a lot when an ARMv8 can stream 100+ Mbps video (59.94 fps) perfectly without a single flutter. The shield pro 2019 is what’s making that possible.

Here you are. TS128 (as the PMS server), ARMv8 CPU, Direct Play to the Shield (the player) into my OLED…

Screenshot from 2024-05-26 21-39-45

This is the QNAP… 19% CPU to play this movie.
Screenshot from 2024-05-26 21-42-31

1 Like
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Exact same thing happens with the shield pro, whenever I select a playlist, shuffle or not, it just spins endlessly
It will either just spin forever (when I check, it has chosen an episode) or just say error can’t play, have tried multiple different version to rule out
It can shuffle single shows
Seems like a massive client error if so
I can do it on my Xbox and Tv
I’m using an Ethernet connection, same network as sever, which is on my pc which is also Ethernet

23

Server DEBUG logs ZIP file which captures it happening is now required.

24

Could you please advise how to do this?

25
  1. Settings - Server - General - Show Advanced →
  2. Make certain the DEBUG logging box is checked, VERBOSE logging NOT checked.
  3. SAVE if you make any changes there.
  4. Also, If changes are made – Restart PMS and wait 3 minutes

Now,

  1. On the Shield, recreate the problem.
  2. Come back to the Plex/web interface -
  3. Settings - Server - Troubleshooting (lower left corner) - Download Logs
  4. It will present you with a ZIP file
  5. Attach that ZIP here.