Plexamp buffering on cell signal since updating to 4.7x

Plex Labs
1

I’ve been having issues with Plexamp since updating the local client to 4.7.x

When using my device remotely, tracks are buffering every few seconds. Test track (Beck Heart Is A Drum). There are no issues playing on internal network.

Prior to 4.7.x the same files have played perfectly when streaming.

Cell signal has good signal strength, other serves reliant on an internet connection works fine… Even normal Plex (I.e. Video content). Plex server has the lovely green tick to the outside world, eliminating from my perspective any home network firewall issues.

ISP connection has no issues (no throttling, not a line fault etc).

I’ve attached the log file, but I’m not 100% certain how to interpret what it’s telling me.

Any help is appreciated :+1:

149848438545864.zip (811.7 KB)

2

same exact problem. When I’m on cellular playing and pausing. Something is wrong with the buffering algo?

3

I went through the logs, and there is buffering. However, nothing changed in 4.7.x with respect to buffering that I’m aware of and the logs look normal for a situation with poor network bandwidth.

It’s possible your ISP changed some throttling rules. Run your server at port 443 or 8443 to try to avoid this, as they are more prone to punishing other ports.

4

Elan, thank you for the response, it was the wrong answer… But it did give me an idea and put me on the right track.

Looks like my cell network provider has decided to mess up the data plan. Switched to another network and the buffering has gone.

To you and your team, please keep up the excellent work. Loving all the updates - and enabling chatgpt on personal libraries is brilliant!

5

Glad you figured it out, thanks for coming back and letting us know!

6

Ah that was short lived. Getting buffering yet again just in plexamp.

If I use the Plex application, I can stream video no problem. Appreciate that there may be different underlying tech.

I also downgraded to our 4.7.x APK and still have the buffering.

Any chance it could be a PMS issue? I could try rolling back to an earlier version if that’s of any benefit.

1849169525885.zip (252.2 KB)

7

Hmm, I think it’s potentially a server issue, I’ve raised it internally. Do you have any bandwidth limit set? It seems to affect transcoded streams so you can test with quality up and see if that makes a difference.

If you figure out it was a server issue, please let us know which version you’re seeing the problem in and which one you’re not.

Thanks!

8

We heard the following from a tester:

Also noticed the slow streaming, buffering while transcoding the opus on cellular. Server downgrade from 1.32.1.6999 to 1.32.0.6918 seems to resolve.

9

I’m running into issues downgrading the PMS as Synology DSM 7 is preventing me to install a lower version (typical!).

I’ll look at setting up plex in a docker and see what more testing I can do.

Current PMS 1.32.1.6999-7000, which I installed on 9th, and this does align with when I started getting the buffering issues.

10

You must uninstall the current version, then install the older version.

When uninstalling, use the first, Uninstall Only option.

After installing the older version, you may initially see a 503 Maintenance message when connecting to PMS via Plex Web. That is expected. Plex is adjusting the database schema. Wait a few minutes and try again.

11

Downgraded to 1.31.3.6868-28fc46b27/synology-dsm7 and after 30 mins plexamp is back to its normal behaviour.

I can’t seem to find any higher versions of the package, only the latest. Happy to test others if necessary.

Fyi, before downgrading the PMS I did try streaming in original quality on cellular data, this made no difference.

Before testing after downgrading I cleared my cell’s plexamp cache.

Additional Detail
Broken PMS: 1.32.1.6999
Known Working PMS: 1.31.3.6868
Server: Synology DS918+, DSM 7
Plexamp: 4.7.4
Device: Android 13, Security Update 5 May 2023

12

Well that’s what I get for playing Zelda while doing server admin. Tip helped, thanks!

13

Hopefully the next PMS update will resolve this issue. I’ve downgraded in the meantime as I was also seeing this issue after updating to 6999.

14

I guess I’m going to stay at Plex Server level 6918 until I get confirmation that a new server level won’t adversely affect my Plexamp remote streaming. I use Plexamp in my car every day.

15

Can confirm this is happening to me as well. Occuring on 1.32.2.7100 Windows host w/ Android client 4.7.4.

16

Same here, not just on mobile/cell but when I’m transcoding on remote wifi as well. If I turn off remote access and use Tailscale to connect it transcodes fine on all networks. 1Gbps ISP connection at the server, at least 50Mbps everywhere else. Lossless streams just fine as well, so it seems to be a transcoding/networking problem.
Using PMS 1.32.3.7089, plexamp 4.7.4 on iphone and linux
Happy to provide logs if someone tells me what to do!

17

Bug has been fixed in the server, look for it in the release notes.

18

That’s interesting, thanks. Still having the same problems though - extremely slow buffering while using remote access. Which server version fixed it? As far as I’m aware, I’m on the latest beta.

Still trying to figure out if it’s a problem with my setup or not

19

It’s not in beta yet.

20

Ah that’d explain it! Thanks!