Plex Converts Video Quality Of 4K / HD Movies To 480P Also Unable To Enable Remote Access

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Hi Plex:

Version Info:

  • Latest Server For QNAP
  • Latest Player For AppleTV
  • Latest Player For MacOS
  • Latest Player For iOS.

I have placed my Plex server on one network (VLAN = 123). As for my Plex player, it’s on IoT network (VLAN = 145). It seems that the player can see my Plex server and play the movie…but the quality is convert to 480P. This does not matter if the movie if 4K or HD,

Now, if I placed my Plex player in the same VLAN as my Plex server…the quality of play is 4K using the web browser. But if I play it via Plex player app, the movie again converts to 480P.

First, I would like to have Plex play the movie locally…not stream over internet. I think it’s streaming.

Second, I would to have Plex play at the best video quality as possible and not downgrade the quality to 480P.

Third, I’m unable to enable remote access…

NOTE: I have going into Plex’s setting include my VLANs in the Network list. I also have set my firewall to access the specific IP address of my Plex server with the port inclusion.

Please help…

Sincerely,
Tom

2

With your VLANs, Plex considers the connection from the client to the server to be remote… hence applying remote streaming restrictions (e.g. applying “remote quality” instead of “local quality”). If your remote access setup is messed up / not working, the stream might get redirected through a Plex relay server (“the internet”).

If you depend on having server and clients distributed across different subnets/VLANs… at least tell Plex that those other VLANs are supposed to be considered as local networks.
Settings > [Server Name] > Network > LAN Networks

If that’s what you mean by “I have going into Plex’ setting include my VLANs in the Network list” – please double-check the notation is correct (no unnecessary spaces, letters/digits…). Also verify the clients are allowed to access your server through the different VLANs.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/200430283-network/

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Hi Plex Ninja:

I appreciate the reply and info.

Yes, I have a VLAN ID 123 for my Plex server and VLAND ID = 145 for my Plex players. Yes, both are individual network that cannot see each other. But I have a firewall specifically from Plex player to Plex server using port 32400. But the video quality is still 480P.

Yes, I also add the Plex player network IP in Plex setting (Setting / [Server Name] / Network / LAN Networks.

I can ping from 145 (Plex Player) to 123 (Plex Server) with the firewall set.

What am I missing?

Sincerely,
Tom

6

I think for starters that VLANs aren’t subnets and that might be causing some of this issues for you. They operate on a different network level.

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If I may augment?

  1. VLANs are Layer 2 constructs – at the switching layer
  2. Subnets are Layer 3 constructs – which is where the IP layer lives
  3. Broadcast packets - used for SSDP & device discovery - Do not cross subnet boundaries
  4. Plex was written for a single subnet LAN.
    – Multiple VLANs must be invisible to the server
    – Multiple subnets must be invisible to the server

If I may make a suggestion, based on my own equipment

  1. Make your home LAN (ALL of it) the same subnet (e.g 192.168.0.0/16)
  2. Use the first octet for grouping purposes (everything is still one subnet)
  3. Leave the server on VLANID 1 (the default VLAN for all switches)
  4. Put those specific devices needing special control on separate VLAN(s)
  5. Use VLAN tagging to control which devices/switch ports can pass traffic to VLAN 1.

The result is that all in-home devices will be local and not hair-pinning through your modem/router as they are now (making them remote)

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Hi Chuck:

I hope you are well. You helped me in the past…and I appreciate your help.

Let me digest what you stated about VLAN. I’m using the private network 10.0.0.0/8.

When Plex setting for the [Server] Remote Access is RED (Not Available Outside Your Network)…and I’m unable to turn that on. I wonder if this should be of a concern?

To simplify the complexities of multiple VLANs…and interacting across VLANs, I placed my computer and Plex server on the same VLAN 123.

Using the web browser to watch the movie…I’m getting high video quality - 4K. But when using the Plex Player, the same movie plays at 480P.

In summary…computer and Plex server on the same VLAN 123…it seems that the web browser versus the Plex Player using different routes to stream the movie.

What am I doing wrong? What am I missing here?

In general, I would just like for the Plex Player to play my movies on the Plex Server locally…even without internet. I would the option to turn on the Remote Access, All the years that I have Plex, I never used Remote Access.

Sincerely,
Tom

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Are they on the same subnet ?

EDIT

I have 7 servers, 3 TVs, 2 tablets, 6 different players, 2 phones and my remote access on all of them never blinks.

After we get your LAN sorted out, I’m sure Remote Access will work when you want to turn it on (if you ever do)

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Hi Chuck:

This morning, I removed and install Plex server several times… I think that I hung up the server now. After installing a new Plex server…I launch it to make the initial setup, the web page does not take me to the setup…

May I ask for your help?

During my troubleshooting this morning. I moved my Plex server to the same IoT VLAN… It seems that my Plex Player plays in 4K. I was in the middle of setting this up…and now, I’m hung up on the initial Plex setup.

Sincerely,

11

@tom.cohen

I have cleared all the sunken Bismarck wreckage. :rofl:

  1. Put this in /share/Public
    GitHub - ChuckPa/UserCredentialReset: User Credential Reset utility for Plex

  2. SSH into the box

  3. Stop Plex

  4. Start the script

  5. Get a Plex Claim Token (https://plex.tv/claim)

  6. Quickly paste it into the terminal where the claim tool is waiting

  7. Let it do its work

  8. Start Plex

Be advised.

With the server in an IoT configuration, it will always be “Remote” from your local desktop.

If all your devices are in that same IoT configuration, they will be local to the server.

This is what happens in these cases and why I don’t do it.

1 Like
12

Hi Chuck:

All is working now…thank you for the fix.

So, yes, for testing…I moved the server over to VLAN 145 where my Plex players are. Now, Plex players are able to play movies in 4K.

My end result is Server on VLAN 123 and Plex players remain on VLAN 145….and it plays in 4K. Is this achievable? I want to get the best experience…but at the same time, secure my network.

I would like to hear your thoughts on the best approach. Do you implement VLAN in your network? Is your PMS in one VLAN…and your 6 players, 2 tablets, 2 phones are in different VLANs?

Sincerely,
Tom

13

First,

  1. Yes, I implement physical VLANs on my network in the switch.
    Everything exists on VLAN 1 (the default) as maintenance and normal ops
    “just work”.
    – WiFi AP supports two VLANs (perfect for my needs. VLAN ID 1, VLAN tag 1003)

  2. My LAN is completely FLAT (same subnet) except for the “Guest WiFi”
    – Separate subnet
    – VLAN 1003 (Apple Guest network VLAN ID) – connects only to modem/router.
    – NO ability whatsoever to see anything on my LAN

  3. Plex testing devices are their own VLAN,
    – Have access to Server (Server switch ports are VLAN tagged to pass their traffic)
    – Modem/Router switch port is VLAN tagged to pass the traffic out to Plex’s internal VPNs
    – My modem/router Virtual Interfaces are tagged for that Plex VLAN

My network, during normal operation,

  1. The guest WiFi can only see the internet.
  2. my workstation can get to anything except the Guest WiFi
  3. My TVs, etc cannot see anything Plex-related.
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Hi Chuck:

My apologies for not responding sooner. I appreciate the info.

First, with my Plex server on the same VLAN (VLAN ID = 145) as my Plex player (VLAN ID = 145), I’m able to movie my movies at original resolution (4K / HD / SD). My VLAN ID = 145 is where all my IoT devices located…where my TVs and Plex players are located.

I would prefer to place my Plex server back to the intended VLAN (VLAN ID = 123). Now, when I place the Plex server back in VLAN ID 123, my resolution is downgraded to 480P. I have created firewall rules where IoT (VLAN ID = 145) can talk to Plex server (VLAN ID = 123). I can ping to the specific Plex server IP address. In addition, I went to Plex’s settings / server / network…and included my IoT IP & subnet. I thought by doing this (opening firewall to Plex server & adding IP address / subnet in Plex server), the Plex player can access the Plex server locally without going to the internet…without “remotely” access the movie contents.

Am I missing something here? I truly appreciate your insights.

Sincerely,
Tom

15

Two rules apply here and always will:

  1. When same subnet & same VLAN — LOCAL/NEARBY
    – else REMOTE (Applies to server AND App settings <—)

  2. Settings - Server - Network
    – Make use of the ‘LAN Networks’ field for multiple subnets
    (no leading spaces, comma sep – confirm in your logs because this is sensitive)

You might also need to enable Treat WAN IP As LAN Bandwidth because of your VLANS and subnets.

I’m still of the belief that you can use VLAN 1 (the default) and then one IOT VLAN with everything still on one subnet. It’s worked for me.

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