Plex transcodes every remote stream first to 480p by itself

Plex Media Server Remote Access
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Hi there,
Since a couple of weeks my plex server starts every remote stream in a transcode to 480p.
On the client you manually have to tick a higher quality.
I havent changed any settings on the server for over a year.
All the “auto” and “limit” option for transcoding are disabled or set to max so i have no idea why plex first serves 480p.
I myself and the remote location have fiber internet 1Gb up and down.
The remote acces is on the server states that my server is fully accesible from the internet.
The remote devices all can handle 4K streams.
On the remote device when i open quality i see that the file should be playing in original quality with 10,2 Mbps (this is the original file in 1080p) but in reality the file is being transcoded to 480p with a bitrate of 713Kbps.
When i chance the quality manually to 1080P and back to play in original quality it starts direct playing from my plex server as it should have done in the first place.
Can anyone help me fix this?
Thanks!

2

Make sure that your server is as “responsive” as possible.

Otherwise you may end up with the behaviour you are observing: the first response to a query from the outside is delayed so much, that the client is falling back to a relay connection (which is bandwidth-limited to 1 mbps without Plex Pass).

Measures which can help to achieve that:

  • use only wired network connections between your Plex server and your router. Avoid PowerLAN or MoCa, or wireless bridges and similar crutches.
  • don’t allow the server machine, nor the router, to switch the network connection to a slower link speed when idle
  • at least disable power saving for the network adapter in Windows
  • give your Plex server machine a static local IP address (or enable DHCP reservation in your router settings)
  • set up a manually defined port forwarding from your router to the server machine, instead of relying on UPnP
  • don’t allow the server machine to enter hibernation mode, of course
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Hi Otto,
Thanks for the swift respond.
My server is very responsive, its on 24/7, has a 2,5Gbe nic and my whole network is 2,5Gbe also i have no powersaving options on the server.
I have commented on all the options below:

  • use only wired network connections between your Plex server and your router. Avoid PowerLAN or MoCa, or wireless bridges and similar crutches. My server is wired through a 2,5Gbe port directly into my main switch

  • don’t allow the server machine, nor the router, to switch the network connection to a slower link speed when idleNo powersaving options have been set, also it always worked flewlessly and no settings have changed

  • at least disable power saving for the network adapter in Windows Plex is running on an Unraid server for a few years and no options have been changed

  • give your Plex server machine a static local IP address (or enable DHCP reservation in your router settings) The server has an internal static IP

  • set up a manually defined port forwarding from your router to the server machine, instead of relying on UPnP I’ve always had a manual port forward in my router for plex remote acces

  • don’t allow the server machine to enter hibernation mode, of course The machine doesn’t, its on 24/7

I think i meet all the requirements above but still no luck.
Isn’t there a way to disable the relay connection?

Thanks

PS: i do have a Plex Pass (for years already) and i use the official Plex docker container on my unraid server

PPS: some more info:
Im using the latest version: 1.40.1.8227
When playing remote the info says that the reason for transcoding is: bitrate or resolution is higher than permitted.
The actual bitrate of the file is 640kbps and resolution 1920x1080 (3,54Gb H264 HEVC) but it happens with any file i play remotely.
Also in the server settings ive maxed everything out so there should be no limit on bitrate or resolution imho.

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You have tagged your post with server-windows. So I assumed you were using Windows.

Sometimes the drivers are enabling these things by default. Better verify they are actually disabled.

You can find the setting under
Settings - Server - ‘Show Advanced’ - Network

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