Streaming to Roku Issues

[Jeff]

I am running Mezzmo on Windows 10 that serves exclusively as a media server for streaming. The machine has a fresh install of Windows 10 and virtually nothing else on it. We stream to a Roku stick. The app has worked sometimes and other times it has not. I have reviewed lots of posts about possible issues. I have tried almost everything from those posts (some did not apply).

I have the app installed on my android phone and it has always worked. To be clear, I have tried it a few times on its own as well as every time there is an issue with the Roku app. The roku app will be stuck in the green loading bar screen. I wait a minute or two and then try it on my phone.

I have tried both the 2.4 and 5 connection from my wireless router. The roku app streams movies from Vudu, Amazon and Youtube easily and with little trouble. So, there is not a connection issues in terms of speed or bandwidth.

There could be a transcoding issue. However, I have pre transcoded some files and those files also sit stuck in the green loading bar screen.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[Peter]

Hi Jeff,
can you please enable diagnostic logging http://www.mezzmo.com/wiki/doku.php?id=using_logging&s[]=diagnostic then after restarting your Mezzmo media server try streaming a file using the Roku app where the problem occurs then send the logs to support [at] conceiva [dot] com so we can investigate. It could also be an issue with the hls format for transcoding, when you pre-transcode do you use hls, matroska or mp4? mp4 is the best choice for pre-transcoding as it contains the content in a single file where hls splits the file into segments.

[Jeff]

I didn't check the forum last night, but I am just checking it now. I will do this when I get home tonight. About the format for the transcoding, I do not remember. I will choose a different file to transcode to mp4 and see what happens.

We are currently using Mezzmo in a trial to see if we want to purchase it. Of course, I don't want to pre-transcode what will end up being 200+ dvds and dozens of seasons of tv shows. In other words, if the only work around is to pre-transcode whatever we want to watch, immediately before we watch it, then we will might as well not stream to the roku and just use the media server to watch the isos.

[jbinkley60]

Roku's are not the best streaming media clients due to a limited set of codecs they support. With their version 9.0 code they did add in MPEG2 finally which will help. You might look at what version of Roku code you are running. I also, as a practice, rip my DVDs to a common format. I use M2TS, which is the native Blu-Ray container. MP4 and MKV are equally good. Using a common format will make the streaming client decision much easier going forward. It has worked for me.

[Jeff]

Thank you jbrinkley60 for your thoughts. We are in the process of ripping a bunch of dvds (well over 50 individual discs already done with 200+ more to go). We had decided on the iso format since that is something that can be burned to a disc in the future (if needed) and everything from the dvd would be kept the same.

Would you, or anyone for that matter, have a suggestion for a different format for the dvds? We have "limited space", so we can't do both isos and another format. Of course, a different format could make transcoding unnecessary, which may or may not be the issue we are having.

[ftanner]

I have three Roku Ultras in my house. I, personally, prefer the MP4 format, so it hasn't been an issue for me. They work great. I have two on 2.4 and one on 5.

[blackhawkfan42]

I was going to post about this today. We recently cancelled cable and are using 6 Roku's throughout the house. We have 5 Roku Express (wireless) and 1 Ultra. The express version never has an issue connecting and showing my media. I recently noticed that the Ultra 9/10 times won't find the media server when you click refresh on the opening page (connected via Ethernet). The Roku connectivity test says everything is good. Directv Now, Netflix, Amazon Prime all work great. If I connect the Ultra to wireless, it sees the server and I can see my media. I don't have much experience with these devices as they are a couple weeks old. Any suggestions to get this working via Ethernet?

[Peter]

There may be an issue with the router settings, is the Ultra connected directly to the router or through a range extender?

[blackhawkfan42]

There may be an issue with the router settings, is the Ultra connected directly to the router or through a range extender?

It's was connected directly to the router. I had a previous android box connected the same way

[Peter]

Can you please check to see if UPnP is enabled in your router and if it is then try disabling it to see if this helps as the router's UPnP messages can create network congestion and interfere with other UPnP packets.

[hsbrown2]

I seem to be having better luck after the latest Roku update, and having installed a 1050Ti in my dedicated server and enabling NVEnc.

Roku devices force transcoding A LOT under all sorts of circumstances. Transcoding needs pretty robust hardware especially for Blu-ray content. I moved to Nvidia SHIELD devices in my main viewing are and my room, tweaked some settings in Mezzmo for the Roku profile (i.e. disable subtitles entirely) and the Rokus work fine where they are.

I got nuthin' on the inability to find your Mezzmo server. Usually UPnP is only an issue from the outside world. Disabling it can mess with older gaming consoles, or if you don't have IPv6 enabled in your home.

[jbinkley60]

The problem with Roku devices, especially the Ultra's, isn't hardware processing, it is their limited codec set. The Roku 9.0 update fixed a chunk of that and an updated Mezzmo profile will help with reducing transcoding. Maybe Peter can provide a new Roku 9.0 Mezzmo profile ?

I prefer Kodi as my streaming software because it has full codec support. I have multiple Raspberry Pi 3B+ devices running Kodi (wired and wireless) and they can play any format at 1080P with no issues. I use Intel NUCs running Kodi for 4K upscaling.

[Peter]

We have newer profiles for the Roku devices that include native support for h265 and vp9, send an email to support [at] conceiva [dot] com and we will send them to you.

[ftanner]

We have newer profiles for the Roku devices that include native support for h265 and vp9, send an email to support [at] conceiva [dot] com and we will send them to you.

E-mail sent. I'd like to get my hands on the new profile.

[jbinkley60]

Peter and I spent the last few days tweaking the Roku profiles further to match their updated v9.0 codec sets including native support for MPEG2, WAV audio etc. They work pretty good now. The Roku devices still don't have the same level of support as Kodi but they are much better.

[billyandrews]

Glad that I landed on this thread!! Had the same issue and as stated by Peter I checked UPnP in my router. It was enabled in the router. I disabled it and Roku is working absolutely fine.

Thanks, Peter.

[Askme06]

Could I also get this latest profile? Thanks

[Peter]

The latest Roku profiles are included in the current version of Mezzmo