Server Version#: 3.69.1
Player Version#: 1.13.8.5395
Why?!
On a gigabit LAN between a local server on a relatively competent gaming PC. Is the server just bored and feels that it needs something to do?
I’m using Chrome browser web thing @ https://app.plex.tv/desktop, not the app. The server says up-to-date. I can toggle it right to Play Original. But any time I’m watching something and everyone looks too flat and slightly blurred, guaranteed I can go to the settings and it will be down converting everything to 720 @ 3Mbps. I can play original whether it’s 1080 or 720 originals and they will look and play back fine.
I’ve tried this on or off. It’s sure I need 720s @ 3Mbps either way.
If feasible, suggest you try Plex Media Player. It is a much more capable Plex client and direct plays many things that transcode in Plex Web.
Regarding Plex Web, there are several things that can cause transcoding. Some items to check:
Auto Adjust Quality: Enabling Settings -> Web Client -> Quality -> Auto-adjust results in video transcoding. Disable it if you have it enabled.
Subtitles: Enabling subtitles may result in transcoding.
HEVC Video: HEVC video is transcoded when using Plex Web/Chrome.
Also, any chance you have an indirect connection to your Plex server? You would see a yellow, instead of green, symbol next to the name of your PMS server and some text stating a direct connection is not possible. Connections via Plex Relay are bandwidth limited and could result in a transcode.
What is your internet streaming quality set to? It may be that the computer you are playing from cannot see your server as being local. Recreate this and provide your PMS log and I can check if this is the case.
This is probably the likely culprit. Though I cannot imagine why. I was previously getting to the server via local IP, but in an effort to troubleshoot some annoying subtitle issues I started going via app.plex.tv. But as someone recommended I am trying the Actual Plex App and that seems to be 99% less annoying. I’ll have to see how it does with subtitles before I’m 100% satisfied.
With Plex Media Player you need to enter TV Full Screen mode to change settings.
Launch PMP, click on the TV icon in upper right corner. It will say “Enter TV Full Screen” when you mouse over it.
Click on your user name (or use keyboard arrow keys to navigate), choose settings. Set as appropriate for your system. In the video section, set Local Quality to Original.
I can get to the settings in PMP no matter what the window size is, full screen or not. Getting to or changing settings is not the problem I am having.
How is this other computer connected in your network? Do you have some other box in the way that might be creating a second network, so it doesn’t treat the server as being local?
Though I can forgive the desire to confirm details, please be assured, I’m no neophyte.
Various PCs and a Win 2016 server are interconnected via the 2 unmanaged Netgear GS108 switches. CAT 5 or 6 cables all around.
A single CAT 6 from one switch to the router.
Everything is on the 192.168.55.0/24 network.
Is it transcoding even when using Plex Media Player? If so, replay the video, let it play for about 30 seconds, stop it, then grab the PMS logs and upload the entire zip file.
