Remote Access Using TP-Link Deco mesh router

Server Version#: 1.42.1.10060
Player Version#: Roku 8.6 Build 5
I have been a Plex Pass user since 2015. I have used the remote access feature frequently when travelling. This all worked fine with my old Netgear Orbi mesh router and the old Plex app. Recently, I replaced the Orbi with a TP-Link Deco BE95 Quad-Band WiFi 7 BE33000 Whole Home Mesh System. Also recently, the Roku Plex app has been changed extensively. So, I don’t know if this has something to do with the BE95 or with the new app.

Remote direct connection to my Windows Plex server no longer works on Roku or IOS. If I enable Plex Relay, I can connect but only at 1Mbps. My Plex server says my server is “Fully accessible outside your network”. It does not appear that Plex set up the port forwarding for me so I did it through the Deco app. I checked with the Port Forwarding Tester at Open Port Check Tool - Test Port Forwarding on Your Router and it says Port 32400 is open. However, the Roku says, “No content to display based on available services”. My internet provider is not using Double Nat. I also set up a TP-Link DDNS which successfully connects when I use a browser to go to http://”your server name”.tplinkdns.com:32400/web. Why doesn’t direct connection work?

If connecting via the DDNS works then the port forwarding is working. Can you try with any other client to confirm it works? maybe a mobile client.

I have Decos and they work correctly.

PS. Did you forward TCP & UDP?

Glad to know it works for others using Deco. I think I have tried about every combination there is. I have tried with IOS on my iPhone and I have 6 Roku’s. They all resort to the 1Mbps Plex Relay. If I disable relay, the connection fails. I have tried forwarding TCP only and both TCP and UDP. No difference.

I connected my iPhone, Windows 11 Laptop and a Roku to my guest network which is set up not to have access to my home network. They all function identically. On Windows, both the Plex app and accessing through a browser, Roku and IOS all will work using the Relay and the server dashboard indicates it is running Indirect at 1Mbps. There is no direct play and the video and audio streams are being transcoded. The video stream is transcoding from HD 1080p to SD. If I disable the relay, I get “No content available, check your network connection”. YouGetSignal.com still shows port 32400 as being open.

I’ve got to believe that my plex server is rejecting the direct connect for some reason. I enabled Plex Media Server debug logging and I’ve downloaded the logs but I’m not sure what to look for. When I watch the Plex server console, it doesn’t even look like Plex is attempting a direct connect but instead is going directly to relay. I’ve seen some suggestions to use a reverse proxy using Caddy or Nginx but that could be a whole new can of worms. I just want Plex to work the way it is supposed to :face_with_diagonal_mouth:

Also, I was mistaken about my TP-Link DDNS working remotely. It only connects when I am on my home network. I was using a VPN for testing but I guess that doesn’t really duplicate remote access like my guest network does. When I connect using:

http://”your server name”.tplinkdns.com:32400/web

http://”external IP address”.tplinkdns.com:32400/web

Somehow Plex figures out this is connecting to a local server so video is displayed at full speed with no transcoding.

Guess network can be the problem, it isolates your guests from the rest of your local network, and probably the port forwarding won’t work because you are not coming from outside (the Internet). Another check you can do is just using mobile data on your phone, if the videos play as they should (no relay) then that will confirm that remote access is working.