I have a double gnat set up with my IP, as such for the past few years anyone who has been on my server pretty much everything they have watched has been via transcoding, so they werent able to watch anything at the proper quality. I recently contacted my IP to see about gettiing a static IP, they said that the Dynamic IP (which was free and done all on their end) solved the issue about 90% of the time. The Dynamic IP has completed its setup and now my Remote access is constantly green with the same public IP everytime i sign in and yet my friends are still getting the videos via transcoding. Their remotes are set to receive the maximum on their end. I will attach a few pics of my setup.
Am I set up incorrectly? Are there other steps I an take to fix this issue? I had issues with my server, where they couldnt access it, I am happy they can access it but i really would like them to enjoy proper quality.
Any help would be appreciated…
mod edit: pic removed. displayed public IP address.
TBH i just did that with my brother and just paid attention to the fact that it was transcoding still. Ill check it tonight after work and post a screen shot. Thx
Note that transcoding can happen for many reasons. It does not mean something is wrong.
In the example above, the mobile phone does not support VC1 video, so Plex has to transcode it.
When you are testing, pick something that the remote device should direct play. H.264 video, AAC or AC3 audio, and no subtitles usually direct plays on most devices.
I changed my email address and suddenly no one could access my server.
I re-invited everyone, they were accepted, showed they had access but still on their end it said i was unavailable.
I tried several times to start new plex accounts and start over with new servers, each time the same thing happened…they would be accepted, but my Old server would show up and they would get messages saying i was unavailable.
With some help here i tried to clean my system of any remnants of Plex (Registry as well). At the same time my IP provided me with a Dynamic IP.
For the past two years my remote access was red and yet everyone was able to contact my server albeit via transcoding. I am using my PC, they are watching it on TVs no other media.
After (4) above, suddenly my remote is constantly green, saying they have access, my Public IP has remained the same. My brother IS able to access my media albeit transcoding and at a horrible rate (see attached). Originally my transcoding was at between 1-2 GBs, now its like 300 KBs and is unwatchable.
So im wondering if im still having an issue because its my old server (reclaimed or so i thought). Ive attempted several times to simply start over from scratch although i have been discouraged from doing so. But it seems that my server “DOCE” may still be the problem? Idk
On the surface, this looks like a settings issue, not a remote access issue.
The dashboard shows the connection is Remote, which is good. If it had been Indirect, then remote access would be using Plex Relay, which is not desirable (and most likely how people were previously accessing your server).
Regarding old servers, check your list of Authorized Devices: https://app.plex.tv/desktop/#!/settings/devices/pms. Do not delete your current server (that will unclaim it). Delete any entries for servers that no longer exist.
Do you have an Android or Apple phone? If so, have you tried streaming via the mobile network?
Be sure the check the Quality settings.
Automatically Adjust Quality = off
Limit cellular data = off
Remote Streaming Quality = Maximum
Have your brother check the quality settings on his Roku stick as well (it won’t have the cellular data setting).
Try the following:
Configure your Internet upload speed in Settings → Remote Access.
Verify client app quality settings as mentioned.
Verify Plex is set for debug, not verbose, logging.
Settings → Server_Name → General + Show Advanced.
Start Plex Media Server and wait three minutes (to capture startup in the log files).
Play a video remotely for ~30 seconds and monitor via Plex Dashboard.
If it is transcoding when it should direct play / direct stream, then pull the server log files (settings → troubleshooting), and upload the zip file to the thread. We’ll see if they show anything.
You kind of lost me (too technical) but ill respond as best i can. First off trying to fix this mess, i likely made it worse, i deleted my server and was finally able to claim it but on a different account. I re-invited my brother, he was accepted, it showed up on his TV but said i was unavailable like before (server conflict?)
I did notice the debug was disabled, i changed it
Auto adjust quality was not enabled
I did not see cellular data, i did not see remote streaming quality, just internet streaming quality (same?) I had it on 1080p 8gb i changed it to maximum
I no longer see my upload speed section, it stops at manually specify port nothing beneath it…
Now before i can check quality again i have to figure out why my brother cannot access my server…
Not that i want to but if i re-set my PC would that for sure remove all Plex from my pc allowing me to start fresh?
In a nutshell I re-claimed my server and suddenly everyone had crappy streaming, without anything else being changed on my end or theirs. Im a bit confused why it didnt at least revert to 1-2mb transcoding
Ok i just managed to get the server back to the account it was previously on. I checked the debug, on this account the upload is there…what should i set it on? how about remote stream bitrate (now its on original/no limit). I made sure adjust quality was off and video quality was at max.
OK i have a break through, i think the issue is on my brothers end (how or why i dont know), ill have to try and get with him on it tomorrow. I just re-invited my friend and had her play something and it came up better than ever before…
The screenshot you posted as the very first up on top, is specific to your web browser. And the settings in there only affect your own Plex web client.
If your brother is also using the web app, ask him to etner the same settings dialog on his side and verify that the Internet Streaming - Video Quality is not set too low.
My brother is watching on a tv, the last we checked (his remote) the settings seemed right, but i wanted to check again today. He hasnt changed them himself since this all happened though so idk Is TV considered Web? And what are we looking for? I myself on my TV have:(for video)
local quality - original
quality Suggestion enabled
Max Remote Quality - unlimited
Direct Play - Auto
Allow Direct Stream enabled
Max H.264 Level - 4.1 recommended
Allow Mpeg - disabled
What should he (or I have)? Any other settings to check?
TY Again its important to me that i can get this set up for him right, he really needs this…
The one problem we had yesterday is that when i swtiched my server to a different account and back he was no longer able to access it even though he was on the account the server was. It got too late last night i was trying to get him to log all the way out of his tv, and manually re-enter his log in info (with him is a challenge alone). Im hoping then when he re-logs in he should be able to access the server (I already tried removing and re-inviting him). When we checked the other day while having these issues his remote was set on maximum. He said he was getting error messages on his TV saying the server was not strong enough so his tv was changing the settings. Is it possible they were changing something not specific to his remote and somehow somewhere else in his tv setup?
My PC is definitely strong enough as i have said they have been using it for two years (ive had a max of people on at once with no issues)
All my transcoder settings appear correct, theonly difference is they suggest 2 max im on unlimited. But i seldom have more than 3 people at once on, but could have up to about 5.
Now keep in mind he was getting that error message at the same time my other friend was getting a direct stream for the first time ever (3mbps highest ive ever seen). So i doubt its me.
Im pretty sure its him, he said the message said his tv changed settings, im just hoping it shows up in the remote when we check.
Under transcoder settings they suggest that the maximum you set it at is 2 simultaneous transcodes, i have it on unlimited.
I will check that with my brothers settings ty.
Ok here is the good news, i just re-invited a friend, they got access with no problems and i ran 2 tests. They do not have a 4k tv. I had them watch two test videos, One direct streamed at 1080p, the 4k correctly downgraded to 1080p
I ran a speedtest. How much do you think i can reasonably stream. I only have about 5 people with access. If i can upgrade my content to mostly 1080p and some 4k id like to
its important to me that i can get this set up for him right, he really needs this…
