Video freezes when streaming 4k to FireTV(s)

[smitbret]

I have a few 4k titles (HDR and non-HDR) that I stream to a FireTV 3 and a FireTV Stick 4k. Everytime I stream a 4k file the video will freeze every 27-32 minutes. The audio will continue without issue or chop up a bit but the video just freezes on screen. If I rewind or jump back about 20 seconds, it will correct itself and play normally for another 27-32 minutes and then do it again.

I normally uses VIMU Media Player for playback so I switched to the Mezzmo Internal Video Player but I get the same results with either one. I also wondered if it might be a network issue but the FireTv 4k Stick is wired while the FireTV3 is wireless and it happens consistently on both. I even disconnected the wire from the 4k stick and tried to stream wirelessly instead but the result was still the same.

I am curious if anyone else has run into this and if anyone has any idea what is causing it. The files seem to freeze after the same amount of playback time but that amount of time could shift between files. For instance 21 Jump Street will freeze every 31:06 (for example) but the Dark Knight Rises will freeze every 27:33.

It's strange.

[jbinkley60]

I don't have a FireTV but I don't have any issues playing 4K content (HDR, nonHRD, Dolby Atmos etc..) on Vero 4K+ and an Intel NUC running LbreElec. I've tested successfully a Raspberry Pi 4 but not for extended periods of viewing. I have played across wired gigabit and 5Ghz wireless. No issues. Have you checked the device performance setting in Mezzmo ? I have 50 4K files, including The Dark Knight Rises. So far no issues.


Jeff

[ftanner]

To add to toe "not me" part of this, I am running a mix of Roku Ultras, nVidia Shield Pro devices, and LG TVs and have not had the same issue with any of these.

Is it possible that it is something related to the FireTVs themselves? Do you have another device you can test by plugging it into your TV via HDMI? I used to have strange issues with my old first generation Samsung smart TV, including things like not being able to list all of my movies. It would stop at a certain point. I just had too many for it to list. I've noticed that TVs themselves have very limited resources compared to dedicated streaming devices.

[smitbret]

To add to toe "not me" part of this, I am running a mix of Roku Ultras, nVidia Shield Pro devices, and LG TVs and have not had the same issue with any of these.

Is it possible that it is something related to the FireTVs themselves? Do you have another device you can test by plugging it into your TV via HDMI? I used to have strange issues with my old first generation Samsung smart TV, including things like not being able to list all of my movies. It would stop at a certain point. I just had too many for it to list. I've noticed that TVs themselves have very limited resources compared to dedicated streaming devices.

The FireTV is the direction I am leaning. I tested the different network configurations and even benchmarked all of the HDDs on my server to make sure everything was performing correctly and I couldn't find a reason. I wonder if it has something to do with the way the FireTV buffers the stream. I can't really think of any other explanation.

[jbinkley60]

You can adjust the buffering for a device in the Mezzmo device profile on the server. That may or may not be the issue. Which profile are you using and which container format ? I presume Matroska / MKV. I looked through some of the device profiles and don't see any of them which have a buffer size setting for the MKV container but they do at the device level.

Jeff

[smitbret]

You can adjust the buffering for a device in the Mezzmo device profile on the server. That may or may not be the issue. Which profile are you using and which container format ? I presume Matroska / MKV. I looked through some of the device profiles and don't see any of them which have a buffer size setting for the MKV container but they do at the device level.

Jeff

I am just using the standard Conceiva (Mezzmo) profile and everything is in .mkv files and don't transcode anything.

[jbinkley60]

The standard Mezzmo profile has very little in it and Peter might be able to suggest something better for a FireTV 4K device.


Jeff

[Peter]

If you are not transcoding then the problem may be in the Windows tcp settings, try the fix at https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-10-internet-speed-half-of-what-windows-7-is-on-exact-same-hardware.3249068/