Shared videos are blurry

[jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com]

My friends are saying that the videos that they are streaming from my server are blurry. Not unwatchable blurry, but noticable. I am new to Plex and don’t know whether there is a setting I am missing. I have changed some settings but it doesn’t seem to help.

Setup:
Synology DS920+ NAS
Internet 200+Mbps Up and ~10Mbps Down
Plex Server 1.22.3
Plex Web Quality Settings
Automatically adjust quality
1.5Mbps 480p (i changed this from 2 originally)
Play smaller videos at original quality
My videos are only DVDs (no BluRays yet)…i mean if I can’t stream a DVD then forget the BR

I believe both friends are using Plex player on their TV or a computer. I am using a ROKU player and have no issues watching their shared content. Their upload speed is in the 20+Mbps so maybe that is it. I can get a different service provider if needed but don’t want to jump to that until I know there is not another setting that I could make that would allow them to see a high quality video. Oh…when one of them came to my house they were able to see high quality videos as I can see them in my house. So I think it is something to do with the internet connection or how Plex is transcoding or whatever it is doing to stream the selected movie.

I have scoured the internet but can’t find anything that seems to help. Thoughts??

[FordGuy61]

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

Internet 200+Mbps Up and ~10Mbps Down

This is a typo, correct? Really 200 down & 10 up.

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On their Plex clients:

• Auto Adjust Quality = Off
• Remote Streaming Quality = Maximum / Original (Plex defaults to 2 Mbps on most clients)

If their streaming overloads your upload bandwidth, they may experience buffering, waiting for the stream to catch up with their Plex client.

If this happens, have them reduce the Remote Streaming Quality to 720p/4 Mbps. This will allow both of them to stream without overloading your Internet connection.

Plex Pass holders can limit the amount of bandwidth per stream from their server. See the Internet Upload Speed and Limit remote video quality sections of the Remote Access support document.

This may be something to consider if you plan to support additional remote users. You can use the $4.99 USD per month option to try it out. If it helps you can then decide whether or not to sign up for a longer term. If it does not help, then you can cancel the monthly plan and you’re only out $4.99.

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

Plex Web Quality Settings
Automatically adjust quality
1.5Mbps 480p (i changed this from 2 originally)
Play smaller videos at original quality

These are quality setting for watching video on that specific web browser.

They are not Plex Server quality settings and have zero effect on streaming quality from your server to your friends.

[jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com]

No typo…200+ down 10 up.

So i had 1 friend try these new settings and they said it is a little better but still thinks it looks blurry. I am obviously not wanting to host a lot of friends to my library but would like to do so for a few. From what you are saying…my 10 upload speed should be more than enough correct?

I watched one of the videos from one friend that he is sharing with me last night and the video was great. His upload speed is like 20-30 UP. He is also running Plex server on an old computer. Could that old computer be transcoding faster than my Synology DS920+. Is that a factor? Every review that I looked at suggested that this NAS should be able to handle 2 streams no problem. If the issue is simply get better upload speed I am happy to do that but I don’t want to do that before I know for sure that some other setting is not needing to be adjusted. Everything I have read suggests that 10mbps upload speed should be more than enough for one stream.

Those Plex settings I shared were the Plex server running on the NAS. You are saying that these settings are only for the web browser if you are watching a movie from the browser? So you really have no control over what the server is actually doing…right?

Could there be some settings on my network that would give priority to the Plex stream? It is weird because there is no lag or buffering on their end. it is just a little blurry and not sharp like it is when I view the movie in my house.

[FordGuy61]

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

So i had 1 friend try these new settings and they said it is a little better but still thinks it looks blurry. I am obviously not wanting to host a lot of friends to my library but would like to do so for a few. From what you are saying…my 10 upload speed should be more than enough correct?

10 Mbps is more than adequate for streaming video from a DVD.

If they are watching on a Mac or Windows PC, have them use Plex for Windows/Mac instead of a web browser. Plex for Win/Mac is a superior client to Plex Web. Most video will direct play (i.e. not transcode) when using Plex for Win/Mac. This will lighten the load on your server and your friend will receive better quality video. Remember to have them check the Remote Streaming Quality settings and adjust as necessary. The settings for Plex clients are independent of each other. For example, a change made in Plex Web is not carried over into Plex for Win/Mac, Plex Smart TV clients, etc.

While your friend is streaming, monitor playback in the Plex Dashboard. Toggle the button on the right to expand the view.

What does it show? Is the video or audio transcoding? Is the connection local, remote, or indirect?

Attach a screenshot if possible (blur or cover the IP address if one is shown). See sample below.

If direct play or direct stream, then Plex is not altering the video in any way. The quality your friend is receiving is the quality of the file on your NAS.

Maybe they just have bad eyesight.

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

Those Plex settings I shared were the Plex server running on the NAS. You are saying that these settings are only for the web browser if you are watching a movie from the browser?

The settings you shared are not Plex Server settings. They are settings for the player (client), Plex Web. Look at them again. They are listed under “Plex Web,” not under your server name.

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

So you really have no control over what the server is actually doing…right?

In the context of controlling bandwidth, no, not without a Plex Pass.

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

Could there be some settings on my network that would give priority to the Plex stream? It is weird because there is no lag or buffering on their end. it is just a little blurry and not sharp like it is when I view the movie in my house.

If there is no lag or buffering then there is no need to prioritize the stream.

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[jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com]

If they are watching on a Mac or Windows PC, have them use Plex for Windows/Mac instead of a web browser.

One friend is running Plex on an Apple TV at 1080p. The other friend is running it on a 4K smart TV. No one is running from Plex Web and a browser.

While your friend is streaming, monitor playback in the [Plex Dashboard].
What does it show? Is the video or audio transcoding? Is the connection local, remote, or indirect?

I will confirm this tomorrow but I think it was transcoding both the audio and the video. I don’t remember exactly what it said though. Stay Tuned…

If direct play or direct stream, then Plex is not altering the video in any way. The quality your friend is receiving is the quality of the file on your NAS.

Again, when my son was here at my house he played several videos using probably Plex for windows on his computer. The video seemed to be independent whether he was watching on his 4K TV or the computer. Both were the same blurriness while at his apartment but crystal clear when in my house. This is the part i don’t understand. Especially if the 10mbps is adequate for DVD quality.

Can I get Plex Pass by just paying the $150 for the lifetime gig?

**

The settings you shared are not Plex Server settings. They are settings for the player (client), Plex Web. Look at them again. They are listed under “Plex Web,” not under your server name.

**
I see that now. That was a bit confusing. I will get a screenshot of the dashboard tomorrow.

[FordGuy61]

Thanks for the update.

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

Can I get Plex Pass by just paying the $150 for the lifetime gig?

Yes, but you are getting ahead of things.

Bandwidth may not be the problem. A Plex Pass may not resolve the issues you are experiencing.

Let’s see what the dashboard indicates.

Also, check that your system is set for debug level logging, in case log files are needed.

Settings → Server_Name → General → Show Advanced.

Check the box for Enable Plex Media Server debug logging. Do not check the box for verbose logs.

[jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com]

Debugging is set.

Apparently I was mistaken. My son is apparently using Plex Web (see Dashboard results). I will confirm with my brother in law later today.

[jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com]

Again, my son was testing by running the same video from hulu on his laptop and plex streaming from my library side by side. The contrast in video he said (this morning) is obvious. As shown above, he is clearly using Plex Web. I read your post to him so he will try and change clients when he gets off of work.

When he ran that same test in my house, the videos were identical (meaning…he could not tell the difference). So I don’t think the quality of my video library is the problem. I have also tested the quality of the encoded movie by comparing to the DVD/BluRay (I am starting to encode the BluRay’s that I have) and there is not signficant difference.

Here is what it looks like when playing from the Roku in my house.

Here is the first BluRay I encoded. Clearly more bandwidth is required to play it than the DVD. Also what does taht little green lock symbol mean? on my son’s Plex Web it was a yellow exclamation mark.

[FordGuy61]

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

Again, my son was testing by running the same video from hulu on his laptop and plex streaming from my library side by side

In no way is that a valid test. Hulu should look better. Especially when compared to a DVD.

Hulu’s source is most likely 4K or higher directly from the studio, which they send at 1080p.

Your source is a low resolution 480p DVD that has been further reduced in quality by transcoding the video from MPEG2 to H264 before putting it on your Plex server.

Also, your remote access is not working correctly, forcing the stream to pass through a server at Plex. This further reduces the video quality seen by your remote users.

Step One is to get your remote access working correctly.

Look at the dashboard screenshot for Jurassic Park. Notice the connection is “Indirect.” This means the stream is using Plex Relay, which passes the stream through a server at Plex. This happens when remote access is not working correctly. This also limits the bandwidth to 1 Mbps maximum.

Look at the dashboard screenshot I posted earlier. Notice the connection is “Remote” and has an IP address (blocked out). This is what you want to see. It means the stream is going from the Plex Server directly to the Plex client, not passing through a server at Plex.

Have you configured remote access on your Plex Server?

If not, review the Plex Remote Access documentation.

If you have configured remote access:

What is displayed on the Remote Access settings page? Does it show as “Fully accessible outside your network”?

Please attach a screenshot of your remote access settings. Cover any public IP addresses.

Example:

[FordGuy61]

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

Also what does taht little green lock symbol mean?

It means the Plex client is using a secure (encrypted) connection.

Secure connections are desirable when streaming remotely. They are not necessary when streaming locally, but do no harm.

Secure connections are configured in Settings → Network. You want either Preferred or Required.

@jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com

on my son’s Plex Web it was a yellow exclamation mark.

He was connecting indirectly, via Plex Relay.

It will show a green lock once remote access is working correctly.

[jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com]

Ahh, now we are getting somewhere. At least from before you so graciously chimed into my question. Thanks by the way!! I owe you a Crumbl cookie.

Here is my remote settings page and clearly it is not setup. I did not want to open it up due to paranoia about opening a port in my firewall but that makes total sense what you are describing. I will read the documentation and get it setup and then try again.

I know in principle that higher resolution means better quality but I don’t know that I can see a difference between 1080p and 480p unless it is on my high def 60" TV. I think we are getting there.

[FordGuy61]

There are two ways to setup remote access: UPnP and Manual.

UPnP is supposed to be automatic and easy. Enable UpnP on the router, click “enable remote access” and you’re done. Port assignments and port forwarding is performed automatically (the Plex server and the router negotiate things in the background). Many people use this method.

My experience is that manual is more reliable than UPnP. The downside is that more setup work is involved.

Your server must have a static (fixed) IP address configured manually on the server or assigned by the router. Either will work OK.

You’ll then have to configure a port forwarding statement in the router. I suggest leaving the port at the default, 32400, during initial configuration (ease of setup & troubleshooting). You can change it later if desired.

On the server remote access page, check the box for “Manually specify public port.” This tells Plex you’re using a manual port assignment, not automatic.

You should then be able to enable remote access.

Here’s an example of a port forwarding rule from an Asus router. The layout will look different on other routers, but the info will be the same.

Service Name: Descriptive. Can be anything.
External Port: The port you want to use for remote streaming.
Internal Port: Always 32400, even if external port is different.
Internal IP address: The IP address of your Plex Media Server.
Protocol: TCP. UDP is not needed.
Source IP: Always blank (or maybe “all”). The IP addresses of remote clients is generally unknown and subject to change due to how carriers/ISPs assign addresses. You do not want to limit/filter the client addresses.

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Here’s an example of a router assigned IP address, again from an Asus router. It is pretty straightforward. You pick the server name or MAC address, then enter the desired IP address. The Plex server should be set for Automatic/DHCP addressing.

[jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com]

Super. I will be back in touch when I go through all this. My wife says I have to get my gardening done before i get to play. Thank you for the details.

[jjones_climbrocks_gmail_com]

YES!!! That was it. Setting up my remote access to be “Fully accessible outside my network” was the solution. Now everyone is streaming via “Direct Play” and the quality is what we expect. Thanks so much for all your help!!