Plex live TV 720p channels work, but 1080i channels fail after about 2 minutes on a Roku Streambar and a Roku Ultra that are both on Roku OS 12.5, build 4169.
No channels fail on a different Streambar and a Roku 3 that are still on Roku OS 12.
Plex settings for video on all my Roku devices:
Local Quality: Original
Direct Play: Auto
Allow Direct Stream checked
Allow MPEG2 checked
(All Ethernet connected)
While streaming, the Plex server shows for both Streambars (one on OS 12.5, the other on OS 12):
Local – 10 Gbps
Video: 1080i (MPEG2VIDEO), Direct Stream.
Audio: English (AC3 5.1), Direct Stream
I recreated the problem on the OS 12.5 Streambar. Plex server log said “Client stopped playback”, indicating the Roku device.
Model 9102R Streambar
Serial YL009P520607
Device ID 2A1149520607
OS 12.5.0 Build 4172-95
GC version 10.1.517
Issue ID # 07-411-353
Plex Version 7.9.3.8721-780c139bf-Plex
(Oddly, highlighting the Plex channel and pressing * did not bring up the usual Move App, etc screen. This was after deleting the channel and re-installing per previous directions. I got the version from the Plex app Settings/General.)
Model 9102R Streambar
Serial YL008L451772
OS 12.0.0 Build 4184-95
Model 4660X Ultra
Serial YJ006F636837
Device ID CK4896636837
OS 12.5.0 Build 4172-46
GC version 10.1.517
Issue ID # 37-411-361
Plex Version 7.9 Build 3
Model 4230X Roku 3
Serial 4E7562098271
OS 12.0.0 Build 4184-04
I believe we are having the same problem on multiple Rokus in our house. It just started happening recently. While watching live TV the Plex app for Roku crashes and goes back to the Roku home screen. We have made no changes to our Plex server, network, TV Tuners.
Since you pointed out it happens during a 1080i stream I tried tuning into a live tv channel that has a lower resolution from the Roku device that started having this problem. Sure enough it crashes while tuned into a 1080i broadcast and does not crash when tuning into a 480i broadcast.
When you say playback fails does the Plex app for Roku close for you?
TLDR version of what I found in my situation:
Plex for Roku App crashes after 2 minutes of playing back 1080i Live TV with these video settings: Local Quality set to Original and Allow MPEG2 enabled. This results in direct stream with no transcoding. This problem happens across all 3 Rokus running Roku Software version 12.5.0 and not on a Roku running 12.0.0 software. Direct stream has been working for years on my Rokus. It seems to have stopped working when my Roku software updated to 12.5.0.
More detailed information:
2 identical model TV Tuners:
HDHomeRun
Model: HDHR4-2US
Firmware: 20230713
Plex server version: 1.32.7.7621
Plex server Transcoder settings: Transcoder quality: Automatic, Transcoder Temporary Directory: [not set], transcoder default throttle buffer: 60, background transcoding x264 preset: Very fast, Enable HDR tone mapping: Checked, Disable video stream transcoding: not checked, Use hardware acceleration when available: Checked. Use hardware-accelerated video encoding: Checked. Hardware transcoding device: Auto, Maximum simultaneous video transcode: Unlimited
The following 3 Video settings were tested on all 4 Rokus tuning into three channels each having a different resolution resulting in 9 tests per Roku:
Plex for Roku App Video Settings 1: Local Quality: Original, Quality Suggestion: Checked, Minimum Remote Quality: Unlimited, Direct Play: Auto, Allow Direct Stream: Checked, Burn Subtitles: Automatic, Maximum H.264 Level: 4.1 (Recommended), Allow MPEG2: Checked.
Plex for Roku App Video Settings 2: Same as above except: Local Quality: 2 Mbps 720p (and therefor Allow MPEG2 is not applicable)
Plex for Roku App Video Settings 3: Same as above except: Local Quality: Original, Allow MPEG2: unchecked.
Testing results for Rokus with 12.5.0 software:
Plex Video Settings 1: 1080i Channel: Plex crashes after about 2 minutes. 720p Channel: Plex does not crash. 480i Channel: Plex does not crash.
Plex Video Settings 2 (dashboard shows HW transcoding is taking place on all three resolutions): 1080i Channel: Plex does not crash. 720p Channel: Plex does not crash. 480i Channel: Plex does not crash.
Plex Video Settings 3 (dashboard shows HW transcoding is taking place on all three resolutions): 1080i Channel: Plex does not crash. 720p Channel: Plex does not crash. 480i Channel: Plex does not crash.
Testing results for Rokus with 12.5.0 software:
All 9 video settings and channel combinations were tested as on the 12.5.0 Rokus and no crashes occurred.
All 4 of the Plex for Roku apps were tested with the exact same video settings. 3 Rokus have the issue playing 1080i channels with Local Quality set to Original and Allow MPEG2 enabled. They are all running Roku OS 12.5.0. On our main TV Live TV in the Plex for Roku app was working fine yesterday afternoon. We went to dinner and when we returned in the evening and watched live TV the Plex app started crashing. I notice the uptime on that Roku shows that it was up since right before we started watching Live TV in the evening when the problem started. Could Roku OS have updated to 12.5.0 while we were away and now that it is running 12.5.0 it is causing the Plex to crash?
1 Roku in our house does not have the problem with playing 1080i channels with Local Quality set to Original and Allow MPEG2 enabled. It is running 12.0.0
I tried using the preview version of the Plex for Roku app 7.10.1.8770-ef4c24d54-PlexPreview on one of the devices running the Roku 12.5.0 OS and it still crashed during live TV playback of 1080i content with Local Quality set to Original and Allow MPEG2 enabled.
These are the Roku models I tested it on:
Kitchen
Model: 3920X - Roku Premiere
Software version: 12.5.0 build 4178-91
Plex for Roku app version: 7.9.3.8721-780c139bf-Plex
Connection type: Wi-Fi
Living Room
Model: 4660X - Roku Premiere
Software version: 12.5.0 build 4178-46
Plex for Roku app version: 7.9.3.8721-780c139bf-Plex
Connection type: Ethernet
Bedroom
Model: 4200X - Roku 3
Software version: 12.0.0 build 4184-04
Plex for Roku app version: 7.9.3.8721-780c139bf-Plex
Connection type: Wi-Fi
Den
Model: 4662RW - Roku Ultra LT
Software version: 12.5.0 build 4178-46
Plex for Roku app version: 7.9.3.8721-780c139bf-Plex
Connection type: Ethernet
The issue with playback of recorded episodes as well on Rokus with 12.5.0 software has been mentioned on another thread. Perhaps this is not just limited to just live TV playback:
Having this exact issue. I’m going to test the 720 settings you mentioned… but yes. Similar setups.
PLEX app on my ROKU Ultra has started dropping out to the ROKU menu after a minute or two of LIVE OTA TV (HDHomeRun FLEX 4K). I’ve been running this set up for a few years without issue. Happening on all ROKU devices in the house.
TV channel will play, buffer once or twice, then either fail out to the ROKU menu or throw up a “weak signal” warning which I know is not the case. The HDHomeRun app plays flawlessly on the same devices.
ROKU update in the last week or two? I don’t watch much TV so I just caught it today.
4660X ROKU Ultra 12.5.0 build 4178-46
ROKU PLEX client: 7.9.3.8721-780c139bf-Plex
HDHomeRun FLEX 4K Model: HDFX-4K
Firmware: 20230719
I did test forcing 720. Did not help my problem at all. I also tried 480. I tried this both in the PLEX app and in the ROKU system settings. PLEX app still quits.
HOWEVER… I tested about a dozen channels over the last hour and stations broadcasting natively in 720i or 480i (which allows for direct MPEG2 streaming) do not crash the PLEX app. Only 1080i.
From another thread I read complaints about PLEX being laggy lately… with this Live TV issue it feels like PLEX can’t keep up, so it just gives up.
Server log from the last session that failed out to the ROKU menu (filtered for session ID):
Blockquote
Nov 05, 2023 22:51:44.259 [140708380752696] DEBUG - [Req#1dbc31/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Adding session 0x7ff946456038:nkhmsxox8x39sb36ybxfiqgw which is using transcoder slot. Used slots is now 1
Nov 05, 2023 22:51:44.259 [140708380752696] DEBUG - [Req#1dbc31/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Added session 0x7ff946456038:nkhmsxox8x39sb36ybxfiqgw
Nov 05, 2023 22:53:14.096 [140708362054456] DEBUG - [Req#1ec052] Streaming Resource: Terminating session 0x7ff946456038:nkhmsxox8x39sb36ybxfiqgw which is using transcoder slot. Used slots is now 0
Nov 05, 2023 22:53:14.096 [140708362054456] DEBUG - [Req#1ec052] Streaming Resource: Terminated session 0x7ff946456038:nkhmsxox8x39sb36ybxfiqgw with reason Client stopped playback.
Nov 05, 2023 22:53:14.096 [140708362054456] DEBUG - [Req#1ec052] Streaming Resource: Removing session 0x7ff946456038:nkhmsxox8x39sb36ybxfiqgw
Seems like the server waited 2 minutes and decided the client was no longer listening?
Server Version#: 1.32.7.7621-871adbd44 (Just upgraded from 1.32.6, which also had the issue)
Player Version#: 7.9
It appears that disabling “Allow mpeg2” fixes this (as suggested in the Reddit page), but this wasn’t needed before. This also makes the live TV lag (presumably since I have to now do live transcoding), which is not desirable.
On 2 of my Rokus I did a quick test with the 7.11.2 version of the Plex app. The Plex App still exits to the Roku home screen after two minutes of streaming with Allow MPEG2 enabled. Still not fixed for me.
I’m having a similar issue to @GHouse and @robkosinski. Watching live TV on Roku via the Plex app, for OTA TV from my HDHomerun Quatro, I get about 2 minutes of 1080i video before the Plex app crashes to the Roku home screen. I don’t have any problems with 720p live TV (OTA), and the HDHomerun app on Roku works just fine with no issues for all channels I get. I don’t have any problem watching 1080i recorded TV via the Plex DVR function, which is mostly how I watch TV now. I can also watch the same live 1080i channels using the Plex app on my PC with no problem. I’ve restarted the Plex app and the Roku but that didn’t help.
I’m thinking the problem is between the Plex app and the Roku, maybe the Roku OS. The problem started around November 5 or so, but I’m a bit fuzzy on that.
My setup:
Roku Streaming Stick+
Software version 12.5.0, build 4178-50
Connected via WiFi with massive bandwidth and excellent signal strength
Roku Plex app version 7.11, build 2
Settings > Quality = 1080i (Original)
Direct Play = Auto
Allow Direct Stream = Yes
Allow MPEG2 = Yes
While troubleshooting this issue with 1080i video causing Plex to exit to the Roku Home Screen after a minute or two, i found an interesting solution. I paused the playback for a bit as I took pictures of the video settings and then went back and let the channel play while I made the previous post to this forum. I came back ~15 minutes later and Plex was still playing that channel and hadn’t crashed. Then I fast forwarded all the way forward to live, and playback crashed to the Roku Home Screen in a minute or two. It seems the issue is with immediate playback of live tv that gets fixed by having a time buffer for the video. I’m not sure what the minimum buffer time is yet.
Do you have an estimate of how long you waited? I also tried this, up to 5 minutes, it eventually still crashed. Not that I want this to be our solution, but I was just curious.
I also have no problems with DVR playback of 1080i OTA recorded media. It’s definitely 1080i live direct stream, original, allow mpeg2.
Just a guess because I didn’t pay much attention, but I probably had it paused for 3-4 minutes. But I’m also came back after only about 15 minutes of play, so I can’t say that it really fixed the issue because I only allowed it to play while I posted my problem details to this forum. I agree that I don’t want this to be the fix!
I have the same issue and it’s driving me crazy. About to rip out my Roku and get something else because live tv forces the Plex app to crash after watching anything for only a few minutes. Doesn’t matter the channel. I tried restarting the app and roku and neither fixes the problem.
Roku Ultra 4660RW
Software version 12.5.0
Plex Roku app
Version 7.11
Build 2
Connected via Wifi.
Edit: This issue is NOT occuring on my other newer Roku ultra.
Roku Ultra 4800X
Software version 12.5.0 Build 4178-C2
