topic Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering in Android TV

4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Mchaggis69 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 19:47:42 GMT

Setup is a QNAP TS-251A
1Gb internet connection
fully wired (cat 5e) setup to a new Sony KD-55AF8 Television

I've been trying to stream 4k content from the QNAP to the TV.

I've tried
Kodi (on the TV)
Plex (on the QNAP)
VLC (on the TV)
I've even tried the Sony media player via DLNA to the QNAP
and various other so-called media players.

For the record, Kodi is my system of choice and plays my 1080p content flawlessly.
I have disappointingly found out the TV does not have gigabit network hardware built in, but I've also tried wireless which I was suggested would get me better speeds/playback.

However on high bitrate 4k files (80Mbps) no matter what I do, I'm getting varying levels of buffering and stuttering playback (depending on what media player I'm using).
4k playback via the internet (youtube etc) plays fine, so why can't I stream 4k from my NAS properly?

Any clues or things to try very much appreciated.

Is it possible to plug a gigabit network adaptor into the TV via USB to give me more bandwidth?

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

IamNic — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 23:52:53 GMT

Hello @Mchaggis69,

depending on the NAS, there are different tiers of harddrive read speeds.

So no matter how fast your LAN network is, the bottleneck could be the NAS itself.

If you can play the files from your NAS with another device flawlessly, I would try to check every component and monitor network speeds from every part of the network.

- Nic

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Mchaggis69 — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 10:35:17 GMT

The NAS transfer speeds across the network (1Gig) are all fine (tested).

I have managed something of a solution to some 4K content which is to disable AC3 transcoding on Kodi.

However on test 4K files (including Sonys own HDR and other 4K demos) I am still getting buffering and stuttering on high bitrate material. Kodi installed on the TV actually reports the source as being too slow, but as noted above, the network is all gigabit and wired and the hard drive speeds from the NAS are fine. I can only assume the 10/100 adaptor on the TV is to blame. Who the hell in this day and age on a £2,700 TV puts in a 10/100 network adaptor?

To get any software issues out of the way, I will try again on VLC player (installed on the TV) and see if the 4k samples I have play smoothly.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Newtothis — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 05:57:37 GMT

I am still in the same situation, my server is gigabit and is not casuing the bottleneck. its obviosly to do with the £0.50p 100mbit network adapter in my £2500 TV. Why didnt they spend an extra couple of pounds to enable us to watch high bitrate videos.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Kuschelmonschter — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 08:05:49 GMT

The built-in MediaTek SoC only has 100mbps Ethernet MAC. It is nothing you can easily change by spending a few cents.

Indeed the BRAVIA has been designed for the relatively thin 4K 24p OTT streams. The processor stuggles hard when attempting to stream some high bitrate content, especially at 4K 60p.

depending on the NAS, there are different tiers of harddrive read speeds.

The HDD is hardly ever the bottleneck.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Mchaggis69 — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 12:05:47 GMT

I have read I might be better switching to wifi, but that seems counter intuitive. My wifi signal to the TV is good and measures at about 200-240Mbps.

Although I think I am going to bite the bullet, get an nvidia shield and 4Tb USB drive and just use that to watch movies (HDMI to TV) to cut out the network bottleneck altogether.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

stormyuk — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 12:11:31 GMT

@Mchaggis69 wrote:
I have read I might be better switching to wifi, but that seems counter intuitive. My wifi signal to the TV is good and measures at about 200-240Mbps.

Have you tried the same files via wireless?

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Newtothis — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 12:40:11 GMT

The processor in my kd75xf9005 copes fine with massive bit rate movies, when the files are being play from a usb hdd plugged into the tv.

The only issue is the network controller. Surely a usb to lan adapter is the answer, providing it's compatible.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Mchaggis69 — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 18:50:22 GMT

OK, so I nipped out and bought a USB to Lan adaptor (1Gb) and tried it in all the USB connections on the back of the TV.

It works with none of them.

Do SONY support read these forums? Is there a note of any LAN adaptors that are compatible or will none work?

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Newtothis — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:27:29 GMT

Which one did you try?

I have asked sony support which brands/models will work , but they just keep ignoring my question and asking silly questions about internet speed and firmware. Not sure why they think internet speed will impact my local network performance.

If I get anywhere with them I'll post here.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Mchaggis69 — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 20:18:47 GMT

OK, the model of USB-LAN convertor I tried was from Currys -

TP-LINK UE300 USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Universal Adapter

It looks like it works when you plug it in (light flashes white), but the TV doesn't recognise it is connected to the network.

I contacted Sony support who told me thry couldn't give a note of compatible adaptors as the USB slots are designed for USB storage/cameras etc only.

They also told me to turn my TV and router off and on again... lol

and then a list of 'troubleshooting' items, like I've never tried any of it myself.

I'm resigned to my Nvidia shield and will use that for my Android interface and together with a 4Tb drive will (should) be able to stream 4k content easily to the TV via HDMI.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

stormyuk — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 07:18:21 GMT

Have you tried the same files via wireless?

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Newtothis — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 07:25:10 GMT

I have tried wireless, it was slightly better, but not good enough.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

stormyuk — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 07:30:28 GMT

@Newtothis wrote:
I have tried wireless, it was slightly better, but not good enough.

Thanks, I thought about trying it but gave up and just end up copying files to USB and playing them off a drive. Still can't understand in this day and age 10/100Mbps ethernet ports! I wonder if the 2019 models will still be shackled with these or finally upgraded to gigabit.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Newtothis — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 06:23:49 GMT

I have managed to get some higher bitrate clips playing, using VLC. I select UPnP for my nas rather than smb, this speeds things up a little. Still not good enough for 80mbit videos though.

Considering a multi device usb switch and just using an external usb hdd.

So annoyed with Sony!! They should have added gigabit network.

Betreff: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

Mchaggis69 — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 09:21:44 GMT

Can confirm that VLC with UPnP connection to server plays back high bitrate content smoothest, but as you say, still not perfectly.

Also, for all its faults, I do like Kodi as a front end for my content so will try and get it working.

Re: 4k streaming to TV buffering and stuttering

jeffhar1 — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 16:22:08 GMT

My experience is that the buffering in my case were network and NOT the TV related. 
Both wired and WiFi, my TV reaches my maximum internet speed of 60mbs via speed test. 
An HDR10bit, H265 4K DD5.1 movie of 20mbs bitrate in total could therefore be played flawlessly via the LAN. 
Still, I suffered from buffering with KODI. 
I switched from wired LAN connection to Wifi (5ghz) and sudenly all has solved!!. 
Since I have not checked the cables (CAT5E), my conclusion for now and in my case, is that the standard provider modem / router is the limiting factor. 
The router apparently cannot correctly handle 2 wired LAN ports at once with 20mbs each (1x20 upload from the server PC and 1x20mbs download at the TV).

My TV is a KD65XH90 ..  
Test file played with Kodi 18.9 over the LAN as a Windows smb share. 
Via DLNA (Serviio) HD and 4K streams flawless without buffering, but at 4K transcoding takes place, resulting in no HDR. 
This is a Serviio problem (no recent Sony TV tuned profile available).

Hopefully someone will benefit from my experience.

UPdate:

I was still able to quickly do a cable and network infrastructure check. 
Now connected both my PC server and TV directly to the LAN ports of my modem / router. The server was first connected behind a TPlink modem / router (configured as switch). 
This also solved problem with buffering.

Conclusion:
4K HDR H265 of 20mbs over LAN is no problem for the TV with Kodi, both via WiFi and wired.
The moden / router of my privider can therefore also handle 2x LAN ports of 20mbs each.
Extra hardware in the netwerk do effects performance (if mot properly tuned 😞