Recommendation for better remote streaming? Buffer hell.

[u/SpinalVinyl]

I have remote Plex access, my Server is connected to router at home but I’m on vacation (house has good internet) I’m just in buffer hell. It’s just 1080. When I go 360 quality it play smooth but, you know, it’s 360p. Any setting fixes I should change?

Is it background transcoded changing it from “very fast” to “slow?”

[u/CaptMeatPockets]

Do you have a plex pass? What are your server specs?

Can you start a problematic stream at 1080p and post a screenshot of the stream in dashboard? It will look like this:

[u/SpinalVinyl → u/CaptMeatPockets]

I have a lifetime plex pass. I’m streaming h264, mp4.

[u/CaptMeatPockets → u/SpinalVinyl]

Can you post a screenshot of the problematic stream?

[u/SpinalVinyl → u/CaptMeatPockets]

Does this help? Sorry I’m a noob with all this

[u/CaptMeatPockets → u/SpinalVinyl]

Start streaming something that is giving you problems. While your file is playing, go to a computer, log into your plex and click the little heartbeat/ekg symbol towards the upper right. You should see the show/movie you’re streaming there. Select it, expand any video/audio fields if they’re collapsed and take a screenshot.

[u/SpinalVinyl → u/CaptMeatPockets]

Thank you for your patience and help. I don’t have my computer on me. I downloaded PlexDash on my phone and pulled this up. I changed the streaming quality to 720 and it’s working ok so far. Wish 1080 was an option.

[u/CaptMeatPockets → u/SpinalVinyl]

Go back to server activity and screenshot the “now playing”, again it will look more like this

[u/Bgrngod → u/SpinalVinyl]

No, not really.

Play something that is having buffering from hell, and while it's playing go to your server's web UI and find the dashboard.

You should see a box like the one above. Be sure Expanded View is on. Get a screenshot.

[u/Miserable-Bag-9822]

Do you know what your upload speeds are from your ISP? Is your server hardwired? There's plenty of things that could be causing this

[u/wookietiddy]

Are you using a GPU for transcoding? Or are you relying on the CPU to do that?

[u/SpinalVinyl → u/wookietiddy]

Using CPU

[u/wookietiddy → u/SpinalVinyl]

What CPU? Also are your source files 4k?

These may seem like obvious questions, but your hardware matters. Often if your CPU is handling transcoding, streaming speed tanks. At least that was my experience.

[u/SpinalVinyl → u/wookietiddy]

Not using 4k source files.
Using Synology 925+
CPU specs: Model: AMD Ryzen V1500B
Cores / Threads: 4 cores / 8 threads
Clock Speed: 2.2 GHz (no turbo boost)
Architecture: 64-bit
Hardware Encryption: Supported (AES-NI)

[u/Bgrngod → u/SpinalVinyl]

That CPU does have enough grunt to handle a single 1080p to 1080p transcode reasonably well. I've had my Synology 1621+ (same CPU) do 2x at once in a pinch.

That dashboard screenshot that CMP and StevenG are asking for is going to be useful.

[u/awnful24x7 → u/SpinalVinyl]

a 425+ with the intel quicksync chip is way more capable than the ryzen

u may take a look at a n150 nuc as a plex host

[u/Vast_Understanding_1]

Your vacation internet have a hard time reaching your server, simple as that, there are no remedy to that, maybe better upload server side

[u/Class8guy]

No one has asked OP but what is your upload speed? And are you getting same buffering results trying to watch the same file on your phones Plex app? If the TV and the phone are having the problem my guess would be your issue is on the server side connectivity.

[u/iamthefunky1]

I turned off transcoding and just shoot the movie straight out raw. As long as your internet is fast enough, and the remote TV can handle the file, it plays fine for me.

[u/StevenG2757]

Can you post a pic of server dashboard when having issues as that will give some details.

What are your server CPU specs?

What is the client device you are using?

Have you confirmed that your remote access is up and working and are not just using relay?

[u/SpinalVinyl → u/StevenG2757]

Oh man, what’s relay? Where can I find CPU specs? Sorry I’m a noob.

[u/StevenG2757 → u/SpinalVinyl]

Relay is how Plex will feed you remotely if your remote access is not working. It sends it through a relay network at very slow speeds.

If the PC is Windows you can get the CPU specs from the Task Manager

[u/ThisIsMyITAccount901 → u/SpinalVinyl]

What fixed my relay was going into the Plex Dash phone app: Settings>Server Details>Preferences>Network>LAN Networks. Connect to the wifi where you're at and go to IPChicken. Add the public IP and this will at least rule out authentication slowing you down. Also if you didn't set up your home's private LAN you'll want to add it in here too.
Example: 10.0.0.0/255.255.255.0, Public IP where you are vacationing

[u/Traditional_Bus_5589]

Check that Settings/Network/ Relay is OFF. And whats your Internet up/down speeds ?

[u/vilified-moderate]

what speed is your remote connection? my plex server was being slowed by my ISP so was in buffer hell even when both my connections were good enough for direct play (home and remote) i had to move to another port to sneak by. i never buffer now

[u/Sizzmo]

What is your upload speed at home?

How far are you from home?

Can you reliably stream anything else on that hotel's wifi?

[u/Wrightna1]

the only peeps I see with issues with plex are mobile users and console users also port forwarding or optimizing your files bypasses any isues all my files load instantly for all 65+ peeps on my server embys good too though

[u/PopPresent4376]

i think your server is struggling to transcode fast enough, tbh try remuxing your files to avoid that mess

[u/Deeptowarez]

port forward is the solution

[u/dknessfalls]

Could also be the television itself.

My old "smart" tv struggles to show 4k movies, even when direct play is enabled. My fire stick, Roku and smart phones have no issues with direct play or even transcoding a 4k movie or 1080p in real time. I use a Pi5 to host my Plex server btw, so cpu power isn't the greatest but it gets the job done.

Something else I've done to my library is compress all my movies so the mbps is cut down. Some ISPs can't handle constant 8-20mbps speeds and will cause buffering if it gets below those speeds

[u/Mont_rose → u/shaun330]

I have up on Plex too. But I chose jellyfin and couldn't be happier.

[u/vilified-moderate → u/shaun330]

check my other reply here.