Remote Playback Issues - Constant Buffering or Complete Failure

[audiom3 11]

Hi guys.  I really want to switch from Plex to emby, but compatibility with emby is causing all sorts of issues for me.  Basically, no remote user can play anything without constant buffering.  Well, just two remote and one home user so far, since my server is pretty new.  These users experience no issues with my Plex server. 

I am taking a guess that it's related to the PGS subs and transcoding of audio since I only rip one audio track (lossless multi-channel).  I just want to make sure this is what the issue is as I don't understand the logs.  And if so, is there anything I can do short of re-ripping 1700 movies and over 100 TV series to add a stereo PCM track.  It would be far more advantageos to stick with Plex if that is the only solution.  One remote (Win 11 PC) and one LAN user (TCL/Roku TV) logs are attached.  Thanks for any insight.

Note: I have made some changes on the server side since the local user log was created.  I removed all optional user and global bandwidth settings and I tried CUVID instead of NVDEC where available, to see if it made any difference.  It didn't seem to help via a remote PC.  The error that I get is: PLAYBACK ERROR - No compatible streams are currently available. Please try again later or contact your system administrator for details.

ffmpeg-transcode-94491b13-c4ff-4198-9f97-84105189a71f_1.txt ffmpeg-transcode-a41a5514-54fc-47c1-95a5-957fac86a25c_1.txt

[Luke 42077]

Hi there, please attach the main emby server log as well. thanks.

[audiom3 11]

@Lukethank you.  Here it is.

embyserver (1).txt

[Luke 42077]

OK in these examples I would suggest lowering the in-app quality setting. That will usually help with issues such as buffering. Please let us know if this helps. Thanks.

[Luke 42077]

@audiom3?

[audiom3 11]

Hi Luke. I've determined that the problem is with emby on a TCL/Roku TV. They just don't go well together. I gave my daughter my fire cube and she has been fine. My friend (remote) still has issues. I've asked him to buy a cube. Thanks for the follow up. 

[Luke 42077]

On 8/26/2024 at 5:39 PM, audiom3 said:

Hi Luke. I've determined that the problem is with emby on a TCL/Roku TV. They just don't go well together. I gave my daughter my fire cube and she has been fine. My friend (remote) still has issues. I've asked him to buy a cube. Thanks for the follow up. 

Hi, did you try lowering the in-app quality setting? Usually that will help with that kind of issue. Thanks.

[audiom3 11]

@Lukeabsolutely. It did not help at all, on either TCL - remote or my daughter's located within my LAN.  I'm telling ya, there is an issue with TCL/Roku and emby.  Plex isn't perfect either but most rips play via Plex and not via emby on TCL.  I do not give up easy but this was futile after many, many hours of trouble-shooting and experimenting.  It seemed the biggest issues arose when subtitles were being burned into the stream.  I tried that function on and off as well.

[visproduction 315]

Maybe some DLNA setting change inside Emby might help.  Just a guess.
Roku info on playback:  https://support.roku.com/article/208754908

[Luke 42077]

On 8/29/2024 at 2:16 PM, audiom3 said:

@Lukeabsolutely. It did not help at all, on either TCL - remote or my daughter's located within my LAN.  I'm telling ya, there is an issue with TCL/Roku and emby.  Plex isn't perfect either but most rips play via Plex and not via emby on TCL.  I do not give up easy but this was futile after many, many hours of trouble-shooting and experimenting.  It seemed the biggest issues arose when subtitles were being burned into the stream.  I tried that function on and off as well.

HI, can we please see a log example from that? Thanks !

[audiom3 11]

@Luke I will see if I can talk my friend into another go with emby.  He gave up and is using my Plex Server right now.  

[Luke 42077]

4 hours ago, audiom3 said:

@Luke I will see if I can talk my friend into another go with emby.  He gave up and is using my Plex Server right now.  

Thanks. doesn't he want a personal media server and not one that puts all of his information into the cloud?

[audiom3 11]

On 8/31/2024 at 9:10 AM, Luke said:

Thanks. doesn't he want a personal media server and not one that puts all of his information into the cloud?

Well Luke, first he just wants a server that works without constant buffering.  Plex works for him on his TCL, emby does not. 

He is a good friend, so I just ordered him a 3rd Gen (current) FireTV Cube and it should deliver to him today.  He (and I) gave up on TCL/emby.  I can't even get him to try a movie with lower quality settings so I can get the server logs.  He's just over it and I can't blame him. 

[visproduction 315]

Audio,

I think you are already aware of the difference of a private server vs cloud server.  Emby will work for basic playback without any Internet. That could either be a local network failure or the user may want to be on the road, without easy Internet access.  Some features with Premier do require a license check in with Emby, but straight direct playback does not.  Plex cannot do that.

[audiom3 11]

19 minutes ago, visproduction said:

Audio,

I think you are already aware of the difference of a private server vs cloud server.  Emby will work for basic playback without any Internet. That could either be a local network failure or the user may want to be on the road, without easy Internet access.  Some features with Premier do require a license check in with Emby, but straight direct playback does not.  Plex cannot do that.

Hi vis.  Yes, I am aware of the differences.  I have no issues with emby on my LAN (whether my switch is connected to the router or not, it works from NAS to end point).  And I can play any/everything perfectly without an issue on my ShieldTV.  But why would I when I have a great video player in Zidoo UHD3000?  emby will not work right on it, so I have no choice but to use Zidoo's HT5.0 instead of emby...  My daughter now has no issues with emby via wifi with our FTV Cube.  She could not play emby via her TCL/Roku TV on the same network/wifi/LAN.  Which is why I gave her my FTV cube and now she is fine. 

My friend is an hour and a half away from me with the same issue with his TCL.  So, like I said, I bought him a FTV Cube as well.  We wasted enough time trouble-shooting emby/TCL.  Bottom line?  I can guarantee anyone reading this, there is an issue with emby on a TCL TV.  I could care less if it's a TCL problem or an emby problem.  They are just not compatible, period.  Believe me, I literally have tried everything over the course of many, many hours...  For reference, I don't DL low bitrate, poor quality movies/shows.  Mine are all ripped from my own media (mkv format) without compression.  I only rip the surround (lossless) audio due to space and English & Spanish subs because my amazing GF is Mexican.  I've already filled (10) 18TB HDDs in my NAS, so I don't bother with 2ch PCM audio even though this may help matters.  Space is at a premium.

On the subject of Plex, well, it just works for all the titles that emby does not via TCL TVs.  So they are clearly doing something different and right that emby is not.  My friend has turned his settings down to 2mbps and it still buffers with emby.  'Auto' with Plex settings and the same title normally plays fine.  There are a few exceptions.  Baby Driver and a few other Sony Pictured 4k rips are and always have been an issue.  My guess is that the bandwidth is just too great for the server hops.  But again, I do not want him on Plex for privacy reasons.  When you tell your buddy, 'hey I have this new platform that I want you to use instead of Plex that's worked for the last 4-5 years' and all it does it buffer, what kind of impression do you think that'll leave for them?  I have Premier, btw.

[visproduction 315]

Audio,

Related forum post TCL of interest: https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/103774-recommended-tv-for-best-native-emby-client/

I think a lot of TV's have built in blocks to stop incoming streams for browsers and even for some apps, especially if there is a direct IP address involved.  TV browsesr apps are terrible trying to go to an IP address.  It just goes to a search engine, even using incognito.  If you have a domain name, it's a little easier.  Getting the Emby TV app up and running seems like the best solution.  I think TV and plug in boxes block everything, so they don't have to support it and to make media distributors happy that all outside streaming is blocked.   It's often easier just to connect a notebook computer directly via HDMI and just screen share the media.  That does not get blocked.

[audiom3 11]

17 hours ago, visproduction said:

Audio,

Related forum post TCL of interest: https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/103774-recommended-tv-for-best-native-emby-client/

I think a lot of TV's have built in blocks to stop incoming streams for browsers and even for some apps, especially if there is a direct IP address involved.  TV browsesr apps are terrible trying to go to an IP address.  It just goes to a search engine, even using incognito.  If you have a domain name, it's a little easier.  Getting the Emby TV app up and running seems like the best solution.  I think TV and plug in boxes block everything, so they don't have to support it and to make media distributors happy that all outside streaming is blocked.   It's often easier just to connect a notebook computer directly via HDMI and just screen share the media.  That does not get blocked.

Although that might be true (I have no way to test it with TCL from where I am) I have never seen apps get blocked via a TV.  I have only had Panasonic, LG and Samsung sets though.  Never low-end models.  But like I said, I don't care who is to blame, TCL and emby do not gel together.  Maybe there is something the devs can do to remedy this?  I have no idea.  But a FTV Cube will be my buddy's answer.  He is home sick today, so he's getting the Cube all set up right now.

[audiom3 11]

Updating this thread with recent findings.  My ISP (local company who offers 1G fiber) just upgraded my neighborhood to (up to) 10G fiber.  So I signed up immediately.  Installed the new ONT and reset all network devices.  Did some tests and found I could download (ie. click the download link under movie options) at a very fast rate.  With 1G, my DL rate was capped at ~10MB/s.  I achieve this loopback by tricking my network with a VPN and then connecting to my remote emby server address. 

Anyway, now I can hit 200+MB/s on downloads.  My remote users finally seem to be good, at least so far.  I haven't checked with everyone in my family yet but the few I have, are streaming 4k movies without dreaded buffering.  So, it appears that I was being throttled.  Badly.   I would do speed tests from my network PC, NAS and router and they'd all check out just fine.  Nothing showed any hint of being throttled except emby.  I even use a high remote port number... 

Now, at my business, if I try to DL a file, I am able to instantly hit 60-70MB/s and then in seconds, I'm down to 1500kBps (1.5MB/s) which seems to be Communist-Cast's throttling speed.  No way around it as I already put their crap into bridged mode with my own router doing the duties.  So it's as if this was happening around my home/server network as well but I have no way to know for certain.  But if it returns and the server has issues with remote playback, I'll raise hell with my ISP who claims they NEVER throttle being a local and iber optic network provider.  Thanks everyone.