Roku, livetv buffering

Live TV & DVR
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1

I need to open a thread about an increasing issue with livetv buffering on my roku devices, and web players. I have been watching the console view in plex, and when the issue happens, there are a bunch of errors that occur. In the attached logs, please check during 15:46. This was the time of the latest issue. I just upgraded everything I could think of, and the issue is still occuring. This is happening with other users outside as well… So the issue isn’t isolated to my local connections, or remote connections. I also see that the plex server basically hangs. And CPU usage goes to 0% for plex.

I am using the official plex docker image on the latest Unraid server build.
Roku is up to date on OS 9.2.
Everything is hard wired. minus a few roku premiere’s
Lastly, there is no specific channel this happens on. And it is random. Sometimes within a couple minutes, or sometimes an hour.

.Plex Media Server Logs_2019-12-11_15-47-06.zip (2.8 MB)

2

Here are some additional logs that show some additional errors. They must be coming from another stream that is running.Plex Media Server Logs_2019-12-11_16-02-53.zip (2.9 MB)

3

BUMP… This is getting really frustrating. the pixelation/audio going out of sync, constant buffering every 5-10 minutes… It is making it very difficult to continue using plex. I really need a response here.

4

Which version of PMS do you have installed and on what OS?

5

Version 1.18.3.2129 Up to date

I am running the officialPlex docker image on Unraid 6.8.0

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image905×552 27 KB

6

Bump. What other data is needed to get this transcoder issue fixed. I really feel that this is a more widespread issue than just me…

7

Bumping. I really wish there was more of a response as this being basically the only form of communication with support. Working in support, if I responded to my customers this slowly, I wouldn’t have a job…

8

Could you enable Debug (not Verbose) logging on the server (Settings -> General), reproduce the error, and then upload the resulting logs? There are plenty of errors (primarily ffmpeg/transcoder) errors in the logs, but no context. Some of the errors are innocuous and are seen even on perfectly watchable streams. Some of the errors I see occasionally in my own logs when I’m viewing an OTA channel with marginal reception.

Also, can you provide some additional detail:

  • What tuner(s) are you using?
  • What Plex Roku app version(s) are you using?
  • Does the buffering occur using any other clients, like the web client?
  • Are you using hardware accelerated transcoding on the server?
1 Like
9

Setting changed. While I wait for the issue to occur Here are the answers to your other questions:

  • What tuner(s) are you using?
  • I have two hdhomerun Prime cablecard tuners
  • What Plex Roku app version(s) are you using?
  • The current version. The preview version does the same thing.
  • Does the buffering occur using any other clients, like the web client?
  • Yes, I watch tv on my other windows pc monitor as I work from home. I get buffering all the time with it as well.
  • Are you using hardware accelerated transcoding on the server?
  • I have tried it on and off. It has made no difference unfortunately.

I am watching the console now. once the issue occurs, and I see the transcoding errors in the logs, I’ll zip them up and provide them.

10

Another test you can try in addition would be to open a stream from the HDHR directly, in VLC. From VLC’s Media -> Open Network Stream dialog, try the following URL:

http://[IP of HDHR]:5004/auto/v31.5

Replace 31.5 with the channel you want to watch. It’s not definitive, but it give you an idea of whether or not you’re getting a consistent, high-quality stream from the HDHR.

11

First. I KNOW for a fact this isn’t anything to do with my setup. It’s Plex. So please let’s not go down that path. I have had this setup for years now, and used windows media center until recently. This also has started happening over the last few updates. maybe the last 4 or 5. I can watch tv from media center still, or straight from the hdhomerun itself.

Attached are logs. between 9:29 and 9:31. It started buffering and stopped on 55% and actually didn’t even come back. I received the message that plex could not reliably play live tv. This is inaccurate. Additionally this doesn’t always happen. usually it just takes forever and continues playing. Here are the logs:
Plex Media Server Logs_2019-12-17_09-33-39.zip (5.3 MB)

12

Just for a little more data. Here is a snippet of the tuner signal right now that is streaming to my roku through plex:

Virtual Channel 749 FBNHD
Frequency 345.000 MHz
Program Number 2
Authorization subscribed
CCI Protection unrestricted
Modulation Lock qam256
PCR Lock locked
Signal Strength 96% (-2.9 dBmV)
Signal Quality 100% (37.4 dB)
Symbol Quality 100%
Streaming Rate 3.401 Mbps
Resource Lock 192.x.x.x
13

Sorry, I hope you don’t mind all the data. But the issue happened again. Issue should be in the 10:00 - 10:01 timeframe. Also I was able to refresh and capture the signal going to the stream:

Virtual Channel 749 FBNHD
Frequency 345.000 MHz
Program Number 2
Authorization subscribed
CCI Protection unrestricted
Modulation Lock qam256
PCR Lock locked
Signal Strength 95% (-3.1 dBmV)
Signal Quality 100% (37.6 dB)
Symbol Quality 100%
Streaming Rate 3.885 Mbps

So clearly plex isn’t buffering/having issues do to the stream coming from the tuner. I refreshed the hdhomerun page the instant that the tv stream stopped, and started buffering. This time it made it to 78% before dying.

Thanks for looking at the data!!! Hopefully there is something in there that shows what is wrong.
Plex Media Server Logs_2019-12-17_10-02-41.zip (5.7 MB)

14

No problem, I’ll have a look. Another question I meant to ask earlier: Do you use the DVR feature? If so, do you see problems with the recordings created by PMS? I’m thinking of things like video stutters/glitching, blocking/distortion, audio de-sync, etc…

Also, I don’t use my Roku Premiere very often for Plex live TV, but I’ve started a stream and will let it run in the background to see what happens.

1 Like
15

For the most part a recorded show works ok. Sometimes the commercial removal process pulls a bit more than just commercials so the end of the scene, or the beginning of the scene of the recorded show is clipped. But I don’t feel that is a result of whatever is going on here.

My browser has very bad audio de-syncing. And has ever since I started using livetv. But I don’t care about that as much as what is happening to my users, and my family using roku’s. I am also running a stream through vlc to see what happens too. watching the same channel as on my roku.

I am already noticing that the roku stream is falling behind from the vlc stream. But I the audio isn’t out of sync. Not sure if this is relevant. Just providing as much as I can :slight_smile:

16

Just had some buffering in plex/roku, but not the vlc stream from the same channel…

17

I’m sorry to say that the logs don’t show (me) anything definitive as to being the cause of the problem. They just show the stream plugging along fine and then, around the times you’ve noted, the stream state transitions to “buffering.” For example:

Dec 17, 2019 09:29:43.936 [0x15057cbb4700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.1.200:39845 (Subnet)] GET /:/timeline?playbackTime=851000&time=0&duration=0&state=playing&ratingKey=11309&key=%2Flivetv%2Fsessions%2F1b22a102-630d-4bf8-8401-52d037f153e2 (27 live) TLS GZIP Signed-in Token ()
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:44.745 [0x15057f9fc700] DEBUG - Completed: [192.168.1.200:39845] 200 GET /:/timeline?playbackTime=851000&time=0&duration=0&state=playing&ratingKey=11309&key=%2Flivetv%2Fsessions%2F1b22a102-630d-4bf8-8401-52d037f153e2 (25 live) TLS GZIP 809ms 862 bytes (pipelined: 41)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:45.916 [0x15057e7c2700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.1.200:39845 (Subnet)] GET /:/timeline?timeStalled=0&playbackTime=860000&time=0&duration=0&state=buffering&ratingKey=11309&key=%2Flivetv%2Fsessions%2F1b22a102-630d-4bf8-8401-52d037f153e2 (24 live) TLS GZIP Signed-in Token ()
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:45.920 [0x15057fbfd700] DEBUG - Completed: [192.168.1.200:39845] 200 GET /:/timeline?timeStalled=0&playbackTime=860000&time=0&duration=0&state=buffering&ratingKey=11309&key=%2Flivetv%2Fsessions%2F1b22a102-630d-4bf8-8401-52d037f153e2 (24 live) TLS GZIP 4ms 852 bytes (pipelined: 42)

The transcoder continues doing its thing through this buffering:

Dec 17, 2019 09:29:44.708 [0x15057dbbc700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 597 - 898 (898)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:45.182 [0x15057e5c1700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 0 - 908 (908)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:48.519 [0x150517bfd700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 0 - 909 (908)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:48.522 [0x1505175fa700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 0 - 909 (909)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:48.852 [0x15057cbb4700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 0 - 910 (909)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:48.852 [0x15057dbbc700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 597 - 899 (898)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:48.856 [0x150482df6700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 0 - 910 (910)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:48.856 [0x1504821f0700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 0 - 911 (910)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:48.859 [0x150517bfd700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 0 - 911 (911)
Dec 17, 2019 09:29:48.859 [0x15057e5c1700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 0 - 912 (911)

This continues until the transcoder exits, presumably when the stream actually stops:

Dec 17, 2019 09:31:50.808 [0x150517bfd700] DEBUG - Transcoder segment range: 731 - 1034 (1033)
Dec 17, 2019 09:31:50.994 [0x15057ffff700] DEBUG - Jobs: '/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Transcoder' exit code for process 31206 is -9 (signal: Killed)
Dec 17, 2019 09:31:50.995 [0x15057ffff700] DEBUG - Jobs: '/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Transcoder' exit code for process 31201 is -9 (signal: Killed)

There are no errors in the timeframe fo the buffering, and just a couple of warnings. This is the one immediately before the buffering:

Dec 17, 2019 09:29:45.616 [0x15057dbbc700] WARN - Overzealous client asked for end range of 570203, content size is 470376; we'll clip.

But that particular warning appears many times during the logging period however, even during the early parts of the stream where it is not buffering. The latest set of logs are very similar. However, there is a second (remote) stream which starts to buffer 2-3 seconds before the local one.

All that to say, I don’t know what is causing the issue. It’s possible that the stream data is not making it to the client(s) in a timely manner and that causes the buffering. That doesn’t seem all that likely if it is only live TV where you’re seeing buffering issues. However, my experience is that Plex clients seem to be more sensitive to stream disruptions for live TV as opposed to other content.

Sorry I couldn’t be more help. Hopefully some others can put eyes on the new data and provide some ideas.

[Edit to add]
This may be one of those rare cases where Verbose logs would actually be useful. If you’re up for collecting one more set with it enabled, I’m happy to take a look.

1 Like
18

I don’t mind. The issue just happened and my vlc stream continued without issue :frowning:
I just enabled verbose, and got the plex stream going again. So when it does it later. OH it just fixed itself… So next time it starts buffering, verbose logging will be in play :slight_smile:

19

It just messed up. 13:34. buffered twice, and now the audio is all out of sync. Here are some verbose logs:
Plex Media Server Logs_2019-12-17_13-35-07.zip (4.9 MB)

Interesting. I was expecting a larger log set lol.

20

Also. Thanks soo much for looking at this!! I know you are just volunteering your time. But it is much better than the support that Plex has been giving us :frowning: