Advice on new build for Plex Media Server

[micmal]

I would strongly advise you don't waste any money on any hardware at this particular time. I think you would only end up frustrated that it didn't make any odds.

Thanks @Scott

Synology support are actually on the ball and they reply to support tickets within a day or 2 and they are happy to connect into my PC to troubleshoot. Might drop them a line and see what they say

 

[micmal]

Thanks @Scott - just raised a ticket with Synology as they are quite good and they can often link into your machine to check on various settings.

Will keep you all posted!

 

[micmal]

@Scott looking into this a bit further turns out Synology has messed up a few things recently with some updates according to this thread: https://community.synology.com/enu/forum/2/post/129767?page=2&reply=430007 so maybe i should just upgrade to a recent asus and see how we get on!

 

[SpyderTracks]

@Scott looking into this a bit further turns out Synology has messed up a few things recently with some updates according to this thread: https://community.synology.com/enu/forum/2/post/129767?page=2&reply=430007 so maybe i should just upgrade to a recent asus and see how we get on!

If you’re going to upgrade your network, I’d strongly recommend ditching any repeaters as they’re old tech and not very reliable. Check out mesh WiFi setups, transformed my wireless connectivity, so worth it. This is separate to the router.

 

[micmal]

If you’re going to upgrade your network, I’d strongly recommend ditching any repeaters as they’re old tech and not very reliable. Check out mesh WiFi setups, transformed my wireless connectivity, so worth it. This is separate to the router.

@SpyderTracks The current setup i have now...is a Mesh network...but not one of the more obvious/popular ones. I am looking at the Asus AX6100 just now but not sure if it is overkill...maybe Nest Wifi will be better...go simple instead?

 

[SpyderTracks]

@SpyderTracks The current setup i have now...is a Mesh network...but not one of the more obvious/popular ones. I am looking at the Asus AX6100 just now but not sure if it is overkill...maybe Nest Wifi will be better...go simple instead?

Nest is definitely simple, although the ASUS setup is usually very user friendly. I’m a huge fan of the ASUS networking range (I have an Asus RT-AC88U router linked to google WiFi mesh) and it’s WiFi 6 which may not affect your current devices but certainly will within a couple of years. If the price doesn’t put you off, I’d say the ASUS is a strong contender, has excellent reviews.

 

[micmal]

Thanks @SpyderTracks ..i was tempted by the single AX11000 router but i need an ethernet port in the study for my Plex machine so might have to settle for the AX6100 instead. The thought about switching all the network gear however....its a thought.

Only thing that put me off my previous ASUS was that it pretty much stopped getting any updates after 2 years and for a router that is pretty short time. Synology has always been good with long term support but i fear their NAS is better than their routers! ASUS supports WRT hacks though which i have done before.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thanks @SpyderTracks ..i was tempted by the single AX11000 router but i need an ethernet port in the study for my Plex machine so might have to settle for the AX6100 instead. The thought about switching all the network gear however....its a thought.

Only thing that put me off my previous ASUS was that it pretty much stopped getting any updates after 2 years and for a router that is pretty short time. Synology has always been good with long term support but i fear their NAS is better than their routers! ASUS supports WRT hacks though which i have done before.

That’s odd, my router has been running for 6 years now and still receiving updates, think that was a problem with the router itself rather than Asus stopping updates.

 

[micmal]

Thanks @SpyderTracks Yes it was the RT-AC3200 which i cannot even find on their site now. I am rather tempted to get the beastly
ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 and add a single AX6100 but the cost is pushing £500 at this stage!

Really all i want is an ehternet cable to my study but doing this manually will be an issue!

 

[micmal]

@SpyderTracks and @Scott ....it will appear you were both correct troubleshooting the router. After following the advice recommended on the Synology Forum to change a setting on the router, last night i was playing 2 simultaneous 4k encodes, one locally and another on my 4g connection on my phone and they were both transcoding and playing with no pauses. I think after about 30 minutes my local movie paused but to be fair it is unlikely i will have simultaneous streams of 4K encodes too often.

I attach some more screenshots during that session and looks like an improvement.

Same as i ordered the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 yesterday along with a USB Asus AC1900 adapter for my Plex box. Apparently the Rapture has its own faults so i may just leave it in the box for now and continue testing my current setup.

Thanks again everyone

 

[Tony1044]

@SpyderTracks and @Scott ....it will appear you were both correct troubleshooting the router. After following the advice recommended on the Synology Forum to change a setting on the router, last night i was playing 2 simultaneous 4k encodes, one locally and another on my 4g connection on my phone and they were both transcoding and playing with no pauses. I think after about 30 minutes my local movie paused but to be fair it is unlikely i will have simultaneous streams of 4K encodes too often.

I attach some more screenshots during that session and looks like an improvement.

Same as i ordered the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 yesterday along with a USB Asus AC1900 adapter for my Plex box. Apparently the Rapture has its own faults so i may just leave it in the box for now and continue testing my current setup.

Thanks again everyone

Glad you got there... what was the setting in your router? It might help others searching for the same issue.

 

[SpyderTracks]

@SpyderTracks and @Scott ....it will appear you were both correct troubleshooting the router. After following the advice recommended on the Synology Forum to change a setting on the router, last night i was playing 2 simultaneous 4k encodes, one locally and another on my 4g connection on my phone and they were both transcoding and playing with no pauses. I think after about 30 minutes my local movie paused but to be fair it is unlikely i will have simultaneous streams of 4K encodes too often.

I attach some more screenshots during that session and looks like an improvement.

Same as i ordered the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 yesterday along with a USB Asus AC1900 adapter for my Plex box. Apparently the Rapture has its own faults so i may just leave it in the box for now and continue testing my current setup.

Thanks again everyone

Amazing! That’s such good news! And a testament to Synology Forum!

Obviously you may find your current build suffices for a while longer.

I’d be very interested to know what setting was adjusted too?

 

[micmal]

@Tony1044 & @SpyderTracks apologies but the synology forum does not allow the post to be linked so i took a screenshot instead of the post. Networking is certainly not my strong point and i will let you make the most of this information.

The thread itself was linked earlier at https://community.synology.com/enu/forum/2/post/129767?page=2&sort=oldest

Worryingly however, it would appear that the person who identified this 'fix' has reported that after a few days he is seeing some issues again.

This is all very strange. Part of me wants to hook up the ASUS but looking at smallnetbuilder forums they are having some issues as well. Theoretically however the ASUS is far stronger than my Synology

Especially in my house...my fiber to the home stupidly comes into a cabinet in the kitchen and that is where the main router has to go hence the need for mesh networks etc. But then again, for a while i had an Arlo Pro 2 base in there and that hooked up to all the cameras no issue.

I think further testing is necessary!

Thanks again

 

[SpyderTracks]

@Tony1044 & @SpyderTracks apologies but the synology forum does not allow the post to be linked so i took a screenshot instead of the post. Networking is certainly not my strong point and i will let you make the most of this information.

The thread itself was linked earlier at https://community.synology.com/enu/forum/2/post/129767?page=2&sort=oldest

Worryingly however, it would appear that the person who identified this 'fix' has reported that after a few days he is seeing some issues again.

This is all very strange. Part of me wants to hook up the ASUS but looking at smallnetbuilder forums they are having some issues as well. Theoretically however the ASUS is far stronger than my Synology

Especially in my house...my fiber to the home stupidly comes into a cabinet in the kitchen and that is where the main router has to go hence the need for mesh networks etc. But then again, for a while i had an Arlo Pro 2 base in there and that hooked up to all the cameras no issue.

I think further testing is necessary!

Thanks again

The forum links fine, so it’s quite a major bug in their firmware, that’s pretty significant, I’m amazed they haven’t corrected that immediately.

 

[micmal]

The forum links fine, so it’s quite a major bug in their firmware, that’s pretty significant, I’m amazed they haven’t corrected that immediately.

@SpyderTracks Yes it would appear so. I am still testing as i say so lets see how we get on over the weekend...tempting as it is to keep the Asus, Synology has been playing ping pong with me today over my support ticket as we continue troubleshooting this and another coverage issue i had for my driveway Nest Cam. I really do appreciate all this work they put in. Dont think you will get that with Asus.

Also i forgot to say earlier, as well as changing that setting, i also made the following changes to my PC as described here as after i did the latest 2004 update to Widnows 10...i lost all my shared drives...thanks Microsoft.

So all in all 2 changes at the same time.

Thanks

 

[Scott]

Good news that you've got to the bottom of the matter. Fingers crossed it can be remedied with software rather than hardware.

A new router/infrastructure may be worth it but make sure if you do buy you buy with the future in mind (at least Wifi 6).

 

[micmal]

Hi @Scott

More testing required but i am hopeful...the ASUS GT-AX11000 is certainly Wifi6. Just trying not to open the box when it arrives till i finish my testing as it is a very expenisve purchase for me and not sure i can recover a lot from the Synology. It is not a mesh but a single router so might need to spend even more to create a mesh, so if the current setup can cope...i am not in ahurry to change it all!

Forgot to add...the Plex machine will not be WIFi 6 but instead utilising an AC USB stick: ASUS USB-AC68 AC1900 USB3.0 Wireless Adapter, 600+1300Mbps

 

[Scott]

I've got the GT-AC5300. It's a really good router but I think ASUS were too soon with it. The AX11000 looks fantastic.

 

[micmal]

I've got the GT-AC5300. It's a really good router but I think ASUS were too soon with it. The AX11000 looks fantastic.

@Scott are you trying to tempt me to open the box and set it up now?

 

[micmal]

@Scott @SpyderTracks @Tony1044 I did a lot more testing over the weekend both in network as well as from a different location forcing my Plex box to transcode to 1080P Medium & High.

It did perform admirably on all tests with no slow downs and a minimal loading buffering screen at the beginning of each stream.

Thanks all for your input. For now it will appear the Synology settings i have changed were the issue here and i will let Synology now so as they can adjust accordingly.

I reckon i have another couple of years left if not more on my current Synology setup so might just stick with it for now!

Many thanks