PlexConnect Optimization

Dev Community Apps & Creations
1

I've been using PlexConnect for a few months now and I am endlessly impressed with how well the system works together. However, I did have a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers to throughout the forums:

 

  • What's the optimal video format for streaming via PlexConnect? As I understand, the transcoder runs server side and makes it playable regardless, but I want to minimize transcoding as much as I can and play what the ATV plays best natively. With that said, is there any benefit to converting existing files to a "better" format? Will load/buffer times decrease, or streaming be made easier?
  • How do I determine the best streaming quality? The settings menu has a number of options based on network bandwidth, but I've struggled to find a setting that works consistently. Unable to hardwire my apartment, I use powerline adapters (rated at 500 Mbps) to connect everything. Is there a prescribed method to figure out exactly what kind of load my network can handle?

Any input and insight would be greatly appreciated. I'm generally pretty good at working out the kinks on my own, but definitive answers to the above have escaped me. Thanks in advance!

2

Personally I stream mp4’s on my atv2 with no issues.

3

I have had no issues with mkv, mp4 or avi, though one of the codecs for sounds in the containers wont play…AC3 or AAC something, but depends what container they are in…

I have a wired network to the AP and N to the aTV3…from memory stream is set to 4mb, but I thought that was for remote access not local…

4

I'm totally wireless.  iMac running PMS and plexconnect connected to wireless router. Running ATV3 5.3 via wireless.  I stream blu-ray ripped mp4s (12-17GB) files via 2.4ghz 802.11n, and no buffering.

5

200Mbps power line adapters should be good enough to stream full 1080p, unless you have dodgy wiring or are using them through filtered extensions.

H264 in MP4 container is probably the best as it ensures that you will see a full preview when fast forwarding or rewinding and will not put your server under any real load and it will only be streamed, that said and C2D or above from the last few years should be fine to convert any format.