Androidtv stuttering 4k High bitrate files

[ouraman 0]

hi,
i have a setup:
NAS > with the media files and an OpenVPN
NUC > built with Ubuntu and Emby Server there

i have the OpenVPN,  to give access to my friend which is outside of my network for him to be able to play directly instead of transcoding
and i have the  NUC with the Emby server, so, is mounted through SMB
(i had to create a shortcut in the NUC to fix the mount/path from the NAS and the path for the files in the Emby server goes through there)

* so, initially i had a problem similar to my friend, but mine is solved  (direct play)
but my friend still has some problems with some files... (4k hevc10 for example)

initially my problem was in my laptop (emby theater)
inside of my tv through the app, was working well..
but in my laptop (with emby theater) was always stuttering , especially the files with high bitrate ... even if in the same network or through VPN

the solution was to change the video output to GPU and the hardware aceleration do d3d through the Emby Theater...
(and everything is working 100% since there, i can play any file directly , even with a vpn outside ... files like 4k with 10 bitrate)

** but my friend which has the app androidtv don't have that option
(he's in my network through openVPN), i think he don't have those options in the app to change like the emby theater

so he can't play directly without any stuttering , especially the high bitrate files, like i had too ... transcode works fine, but we wants direct play, that was the purpose of creating the VPN
not sure if there is an option which he can try to change through the app (androidtv)... 
(he has all the codecs/updates)

any help i would appreciate it,
really thanks once more 
 

[ebr 16178]

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

Also, what is the bandwidth UP from your server and DOWN to his Android TV?

[ouraman 0]

sure , no problem
well, i played a particular file (with high bitrate) , which is causing some troubles to him and now myself...  
for example an episode of Loki .. (4k hevc10)

my bandwidth is a gigabit fiber internet:
my network: 1000 down / 400 up (server)
his bandwith: 500 down / 100 up
4g network (with VPN): about 100 down / 20 up  (to test)

i'm going to send the log with my attempts  , which can help him later ...

i tried in 2 different ways play the same file:
1) in my network, which is working great ...
2) with 4g network (using VPN), which is causing some stuttering and dropping frames

* however and not sure if is relevant, the VPN bandwith is only about 20 or 30mbps UP   
(thats when i try to use my device with VPN to download something from the NAS)... however the DOWN from the NAS is working well ... strange  

* below from the screenshots in the left i'm in my network directly... which is working great 
in the right using a 4g connection (through VPN)

in the logs ... the last attempt is from my network
and 2/3 minutes before was from 4g connection (VPN) which stutters 
my device is: desktop using the Emby Theater

thanks again 
  

embyserver.txt ffmpeg-transcode-58eb5a3c-33ab-4f85-b1f7-943f0bd123cc_1.txt

[ebr 16178]

11 hours ago, ouraman said:

the VPN bandwith is only about 20 or 30mbps UP

Okay, and you are trying to deliver from  your server (UP) an item that is right at or over that bitrate, correct?

If he sets the app bitrate setting to auto, does it transcode and play properly?

[ouraman 0]

yes, correct

i think he already had  in auto....
he always play directly (through vpn) ... but some of them without any problems, and others like these ones , has some stuttering   
(i'll ask him)
* but when he transcodes, everything works well  ... 

i have the same problem with that particular file too..
testing by 4g  through VPN, with just a few stuttering / big dropped frames
like the screenshot above (in your right) 

i've changed the bitrate to 4k/100mb ... (the 4g has about 100mb/20mb) , but same result 

 

Edited February 10, 2022 by ouraman

[ebr 16178]

5 hours ago, ouraman said:

i've changed the bitrate to 4k/100mb ... (the 4g has about 100mb/20mb) , but same result 

The constraint is the 20 up from your server.

[ouraman 0]

hi,
well i made a few tests with iperf between the server NAS (with openvpn) and the clients to measure the real bandwith
(the NUC with the emby server stays righ next to the NAS, so is the same) 

below i have a screenshot with the test
* above i'm using an Access point limited to 100mbps in my network (that's why you don't see the full Gb)
* below i'm using the VPN ... so, limited to 20mbps 

so, this could be the reason?

so strange, every movie like 4k i can see without any problems but some series i can't without some stuttering
i guess most of the movies goes around 20mb bitrate and some of the series goes above that, could reach the 30 etc etc 

if that's the reason, i tried without any luck to improve the bandwith..
i guess i'll try to change the VPN from the NAS to the NUC, just  to see if i can improve something or probably changing to another vpn like wireguard ...

[ebr 16178]

8 hours ago, ouraman said:

so, this could be the reason?

Yes.  If the bandwidth is limited to 20mb/s and you are trying to play items with higher bitrates than that, you will get stuttering, buffering and delays.