I have an RPi 2b with Rasplex on it, and while my Plex server does have video on it, my intent with the Rasplex box is to use it solely as an audio player. As such, because I’m running it without a connected monitor, I need to connect to it via Android apps, or via the web (I seem to have similar problems with that).
The problem I’m running into is that the Rasplex box doesn’t always seem to be very responsive, and it will often drop the connection between it, and the cell phone I’m using as its remote, requiring that I reconnect to it through the Android app. I haven’t had a chance to do much testing of it myself, but I’m wondering if this is a known issue with Rasplex, or if it’s perhaps a problem with my setup? I have a suspicion that it could be the wifi in the house. My router is in the basement, and the Rasplex box is upstairs. The signal is strong enough that my HTPC, also upstairs, runs just fine off the wifi signal, but the Rasplex box is running off a USB wifi adaptor, and well - it’s no secret that cell phones tend to have weaker wifi adaptors than computers do.
So, I suspect it’s a wifi issue, but until I have a chance to test that theory out, I just thought I’d ask for opinions and insights that others may have.
The server is running on ethernet. My HTPC, and my Rasplex box are running over wifi - and it’s rare for them to be running simultaneously, so shared bandwidth shouldn’t be an issue.
I know this is way after the fact, but I thought I’d come back, and update it, so that anyone else who had a similar issue has something to work with.
So YES, the issue WAS a wifi issue. To reiterate what I said previously, NO, it was NOT an issue with the server being on wifi, the server was NOT on wifi, rather the Plex clients are.
What was creating the problem was that my router was downstairs, and my Rasplex box was upstairs, and using a cheap USB wifi adaptor.
I have since remedied the problem. The Rasplex box is now using a Belkin USB adaptor that has a better antenna. I also bought a second router, put it where the first one was, and then cascaded the old one to a room upstairs, meaning the Rasplex box now has a better wifi adaptor, and is in an area that now gets a stronger signal from having a router closer by. The Android app isn’t perfect, and has its glitches sometimes, but it’s far better now with that problem resolved.
