Server Version#: 1.18.5.2309
Player Version Android#: 8.16.2.24953
Player Version Tizen#: Can’t determine, the latest available.
I’m running a Plex server on a Synology DS920+. As a DSM package (so not in a docker container)
When viewing on my TV, phone, or desktop on the same network as the server there are no issues whatsoever. Transcoding works fine, no lag, no artifacts on playback, etc. When connecting from an outside network though I’ll only get one, or a couple of frames, with so many artifacts it’s barely legible. This frame remains, but there’s no issue with streaming the audio. This issue is the same on my account and a friend account. Looking at the dashboard, the bandwidth used during playback is very low, 12-60Kbps. My local network has a 50Mgbs upload capacity. The outside network that I’ve tried has a 30Mgbs download capacity. I’ve also tried using cellular (~10Mbps). Both have the same issue.
Remote access is enabled. I’ve got the green text saying “Fully accessible outside your network”. Secure connections are set to preferred. I’ve tried using insecure on playback devices, this doesn’t make any difference. I don’t know what other settings would be relevant. Ask and I’ll supply them.
I’ve got a ton of logs, but I don’t know which would be relevant, so please advise and I’ll supply them as well.
Does anyone have a clue? Help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much for taking the time and responding.
I was maybe a bit quick and should have tested things more thoroughly before asking here. I’ll explain what I found for posterity in case someone else runs into the same issue. I didn’t realize Plex wasn’t transcoding anything while I was on the same network as the server, regardless of player device. Maybe this was a fluke due to the videos chosen, I thought I did try and view a 4k source on my phone, but maybe not. I realized this when I tried to view something at the original quality on an outside network and everything worked fine. In other words, this was a transcoding issue.
I fixed this by going into the settings XML file and adding VAAPI as the default transcoder. Seems like Plex was using software transcoding. So the question really then is, why isn’t this option available in the server GUI?
At the bottom of this page it states the priority order of hardware-accelerated decoders, but none are listed for DSM. Maybe Plex should default to VAAPI for Synology machines as well?
I assumed Synology would keep packages in the Package Center reasonably up to date, this is my fault though for not looking it up myself. 15 months is ridiculous.
