Plex often stops connecting to media server, on Smart TV

Plex Players
1

Server Version#: Latest
Player Version#:Samsung Smart TV

A few times a month I will switch on my TV, load the Plex app - and it will show that there is no connection to my media server - even though the media server is working, and the browser player can connect to it. (NB This is clearly not a local config issue, it occurs without my changing anything)

The next day, or day after that, it just starts connecting again.

So I tried an experiment - the next time it broke I did nothing, watched other stuff. The day after it was working again.

This strongly suggests to me that it is because of the way MS rolls out upgrades. Switching off server updates made no difference - it seems that MS breaks the Smart TV app every time it upgrades. Then, perhaps, after enough complaints it rolls out a fix… with MS we will probably never know.

Anyone else experiencing this? Maybe also on other smart TVs?

And - most importantly - can anyone suggest a replacement for Plex, I’ve really had enough of its lack of reliability.

2

… and one week later, its broken again.
An annoying thing is that Plex claims its a network connection (so they can put the blame elsewhere?) - although my PC and TV are connected via an ethernet cable. Other apps, as always, working just fine.
And they keep encouraging me to buy a subscription??? But of course I wont - because - if they can’t manage the simple task of streaming my media across an ethernet cable, I can be pretty sure that the more complex stuff like being Netflix-ey will be WELL beyond them.
Fortunately, Google to the rescue, I can cast me media to my TV…

3

Yup, constantly, intermittently get the “Diskstation is Currently Unavailable” message on my dumb LG tv. Plex works fine on the Android app, xbox, pc, etc. Server is running on a Synology. It’s been doing this on and off for YEARS. Wish there was another server to use and ditch Plex. Totally unacceptable,