What is the highest remote bitrate anyone has ever achieved?

Plex Media Server Remote Access
1

Server Version#: 1.16.6.1592
QNAP TVS-472XT (firmware 4.4.1.1031)

I have a PMS installed on a QNAP NAS that serves 30mbps internally, without a hitch. And it is beautiful.

However, when I try to remotely stream the same bitrate, I am get lots of buffering. This is despite having gigabit at home and 300mbps at the remote location.

Typical speedtests verify bandwidth at home and remotely.

I have confirmed direct play for both audio and video.

I’ve searched for other reports of similar issues and, of course, run through the litany of standard issues such as QoS, other devices using bandwidth, setting a limit on remote stream quality (and total upload bandwidth - which is set to 99999 Mbps of upload bandwidth and Original - No Limit), jumbo frame configuration, remote access not being configured properly, people not being aware of how much bandwidth they need nor how much bandwidth a stream requires.

I’m hoping someone can help me head in the right direction for trouble shooting. Is all Plex streaming TCP based or UDP? What’s the highest remote bitrate that anyone has ever achieved? Do I need to try something like CloudFlare and reverse proxy to eliminate the “remote” portion of remote streaming?

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Do an iperf speed test between locations. Just a generic speed test might not paint the whole picture.

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you need to confirm whether its a bandwidth issue, or a transcoding issue and your server can’t keep up with the transcode load.

what does your Plex Web > settings > status show while trying to stream remotely ?

is it only this one particular location ?

have you tried streaming to a mobile phone? over both cellular, and wifi at the remote location ?

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Hi @razvan.constantin,

Yes, I use iPerf3 for all speedtest/bandwidth analysis and don’t rely on things like fast.com or speedtest.net to validate my internet connections.

Do you know if Plex uses TCP or UDP to stream? I believe I read it is TCP, but that post was from many years ago.

Thanks!

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I have direct played 35mbps avg files that have spikes into the 90’s

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Hi @TeknoJunky,

You have an interesting thought. I have been estimating whether my TVS-472XT can handle the load based on the Resource Monitor on the web console of QTS. Looking at Plex Web > Settings > Status > Dashboard, I see less than 20% CPU load on the system with Plex using less than 2%.

With RAM, I see 60% use with Plex using less than 2%.

This is to two different locations. I don’t have mobile phone or cellular with bandwidth greater than about 5mbps, so I would expect to see the buffering if I’m trying to stream a 30mbps stream.

Anything else I can check to rule out any issues with Plex?

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Hi @BigWheel,
Is that a remote or local connection?

Thanks

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remote . i turned off wifi on my cell phone so only using cellular.

9

I can remote DirectPlay any 4K remux I have without any problems

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10

Out of curiosity is this with Plex running remotely with Gdrive mounted to it or Plex and the Gdrive mount running on your local system?

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my PMS is always remote

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@BigWheel,
You are streaming 35mbps over cellular? Are you in North America or Europe? That is amazing cellular bandwidth.

It seems like my issue isn’t Plex related, but someone internet related…

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Hi @hthighway,
Thanks for the reply. What’s the highest bitrate you’ve successfully used remotely?

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Hi @Xhaka,
I don’t use Gdrive. All storage is local (on the same QNAP NAS) to PMS.

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Yes. I think i just live really close to a cell tower I always have a really strong signal. I live in central California. I have 100/100 mbps fiber internet at home.

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@eJonnydotcom the highest 4K film I have states it has a bitrate of 98.2Mbps and it streams (DirectPlays) just fine

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@hthighway,
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. It helps me narrow down where I need to focus my troubleshooting.

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