EDIT: Update here. This no longer seems to be caused by a different subnet.
Server Version#: 1.21.0.3616
Player Version#: Web 4.47.1
Logs: (File removed)
For quite awhile now, Plex has seemed to ignore “LAN Networks” addresses when it comes to “Limit remote stream bitrate”. Even though I have my PC’s subnet entered into “LAN Networks”, my stream is capped to my remote stream bitrate limit (2Mbps). Any devices on the same subnet as the server have no issues.
My server is on 192.168.10.39, while my PC is on 192.168.69.100. I have 192.168.69.0/24, 192.168.10.10/24, 192.168.69.100 entered into “LAN Networks”. When playing something, Plex status recognizes the stream as ‘Local’… but the limit is still imposed.
Unfortunately I can’t quite pinpoint when this started happening, but it has been for awhile now. My main client at the moment is chrome (for watch2gether), but I’ve also tried Plex for Windows and Firefox, which lead to the same result.
Because of this issue, I can’t direct play any content. However, when I set my internet settings to 1000Mbps, remove the stream bitrate cap, and restart PMS… I can direct play just fine. Any quality I so choose.
I’ve even tried messing with the quality options under the “Plex Web” category in the settings with no luck. I’m a bit at a loss here. PMS is hosted on unRAID.
Randomly, out-of-the-blue, it just started working again. So strange. I think your answer might have been the ticket. Thank you so much, that was driving me nuts.
Edit: Nevermind… It’s back to ‘normal’ again, being bandwidth limit imposed… Nothing has changed since 15m ago…
That doesn’t sound weird at all - Plex is (too) sensitive to how this field is formatted. It hates spaces.
Check the logs for allowedNetworks. It logs a message if it can’t parse that setting.
192.168.10.10/24 is a little weird because it doesn’t start at a network boundary. Perhaps 192.168.10.0/24?
Or perhaps replace all three entries with 192.168.0.0/16?
How is traffic routed between your subnets? When streaming, what IP address is shown for the client in the Plex dashboard?
There was another recent thread, I’ll try to find it, where a Plex person mentioned that the Client is also involved in the Local vs. Remote quality selection process. But you say that changing the stream bitrate cap addresses this …
I didn’t catch that actually, but yeah, I totally have the same!
Nov 25, 2020 16:58:21.878 [0x1514fd96b640] DEBUG - [Transcode] Streaming Resource: Calculated bandwidth of 2369kbps exceeds bandwidth limit. Changing decision parameters provided by client to fit bandwidth limit of 2000kbps
Nov 25, 2020 16:58:21.878 [0x1514fd96b640] DEBUG - [Transcode] Streaming Resource: Determining preferred transcode encoders through transcode only decision.
Nov 25, 2020 16:58:21.878 [0x1514fd96b640] DEBUG - [Transcode] Scaled up video bitrate to 13506Kbps based on 1.500000x fudge factor.
Nov 25, 2020 16:58:21.878 [0x1514fd96b640] DEBUG - [Transcode] Scaled up video bitrate to 13506Kbps based on 1.500000x fudge factor.
Nov 25, 2020 16:58:21.878 [0x1514fd96b640] DEBUG - [Transcode] Streaming Resource: Reducing playback quality for 1904kbps stream bitrate: video resolution to 720x406, audio channels to 2, quality to 41
When under the bandwidth limit, I actually can’t choose my quality at all. The option is completely gone. If I up the limit under the network settings however, it does default to original (and lets me pick). I have also set the quality to maximum under Settings > Plex Web > Quality
Well this is frustrating. I may have been barking up the wrong tree. I switched my PC to the same subnet as the server (now 192.168.10.50)… and the same issue persists. Server restart, client change, settings all set to max…
I did however find out that if I turn on the beta “auto adjust”, I now have the capability of picking my transcode quality while watching something (up to 2Mbps, my remote stream limit)
It’s very interesting that you have the same experience in different browsers and in the desktop apps.
And now on the same subnet.
I hope the Plex folks pop up with better advice. I almost wonder if there’s something else going on with your system or network that is convincing the systems that they are “remote” from each other.
What are you using as a router? Any fancy network security features, isolation, DNS rebinding protection?
Funnily enough, I’ve actually had this issue with two entirely different network setups. First it was with a stock AT&T-provided router. The only settings that were changed were port forwarding, SSID, and password. Now I’m running with a pfsense router, a netgear switch, and a Unifi AP. My PC and server are plugged into the switch, which in turn is plugged into the router.
I have some custom firewall rules, but both vlans have unrestricted access. And now I’m on the same vlan with the same issue, too. No other devices have this issue. I’m tempted to test whether another device on the network with the 69 vlan has the same issue or not. No isolation. DNS rebinding I’ve actually attempted a fix for before, on someone’s unrelated issue, they found adding private-domain: "plex.direct" solved their access issues. Did nada for me though.
Only windows defender is on this PC, with chrome and plex both having private and public network access.
It’s alright, I’d like to thank you and the others for attempting to help me though. I’ll keep updating this thread with more information as I test things, in hopes a plex jockey or employee can point out whatever dumb mistake I’m making ha.
