Unable to start/watch content on FireTV (Android) clients

[wsgolfer]

Hello, I'm hoping this is just a simple config issue on my end, but I've tried various things and am stumped, so asking you all for some help.

I run the Jellyfin server (v 10.8.12) in docker on a little mini PC running Ubuntu 20.04. The mini PC has an Intel Core i5-7400T and 32 GB of ram.

My docker compose to spin up the Jellyfin server is below. As you can see below I've got /dev/dri mounted into the jellyfin container.

Code:

  
jellyfin:
    image: linuxserver/jellyfin
    container_name: jellyfin
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=100
      - TZ=America/Los_Angeles
      - DOCKER_MODS=linuxserver/mods:jellyfin-opencl-intel
    ports:
      - 8096:8096 # Jellyfin
    volumes:
      - ./config/jellyfin:/config
      - /media/data:/media
    devices:
      - /dev/dri:/dev/dri
    restart: unless-stopped

The content lives on my NAS which is mounted over NFS to /media/data. The NAS and the mini PC are both on wired ethernet connections.

On my client (FireTV stick 4K, Fire OS 6.7.0.0), when I attempt to watch anything (I've tried both movies and a few shows), playback either never starts, or will start after a long delay, and immediately stop again. I haven't been able to watch anything on the TV as a result.

I'm running the latest Jellyfin App for the FireTV (v 0.15.12).

Here is how I have the hardware acceleration configured.

Code:

Hardware Acceleration : Intel QuickSync (QSV) (I've also tried VAAPI)
Hardware Encoding enabled for :
x H264  
x HEVC
x MPEG2 
x VC1
x VP8
x VP9
   AV1 
x HEVC 10bit
x VP9 10bit 

x Prefer OS native DXVA or VA-API hardware decoders

Hardware encoding options:

x Enable hardware encoding 
   Enable Intel Low-Power H.264 hardware encoder  
   Enable Intel Low-Power HEVC hardware encoder

Example 1. When pressing play on this movie, it never starts.

Code:

Video
Title: 4K HEVC HDR
Codec: HEVC
Profile: Main 10
Level: 153
Resolution: 3840x1600
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Interlaced: No
Framerate: 23.976025
Bitrate: 20081 kbps
Bit depth: 10 bit
Video range: HDR
Video range type: HDR10
Color space: bt2020nc
Color transfer: smpte2084
Color primaries: bt2020
Pixel format: yuv420p10le
Ref frames: 1

Audio
Title: English - TRUEHD - 7.1 - Default
Language: eng
Codec: TRUEHD
Layout: 7.1
Channels: 8 ch
Bitrate: 3218 kbps
Sample rate: 48000 Hz
Bit depth: 24 bit
Default: Yes
Forced: No
External: No

Subtitle
Title: English - Default - PGSSUB
Language: eng
Codec: PGSSUB
Default: Yes
Forced: No
External: No

Server log (there's nothing in the FFMpeg log at the same time)

Code:

[2023-11-26 18:58:46.783 -08:00] [INF] [122] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "redacted". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-11-26 18:58:46.783 -08:00] [INF] [122] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-ExoPlayer", Path="/media/media/Movies/REDACTED.Multi.UHD.2160p.Bluray.x265.HDR.Atmos.7.1-DTOne/REDACTED.Multi.UHD.2160p.Bluray.x265.HDR.Atmos.7.1-DTOne.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/9fab3494-68df-7968-33e6-b0f3143a4184/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=9fab349468df796833e6b0f3143a4184&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=truehd&AudioStreamIndex=1&SubtitleStreamIndex=6&api_key=<token>&SubtitleMethod=Embed&Tag=daa53d20f53aff921a73e706efe41875"
[2023-11-26 18:59:04.841 -08:00] [WRN] [126] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/9fab3494-68df-7968-33e6-b0f3143a4184/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=9fab349468df796833e6b0f3143a4184&Static=true&api_key=cREDACTED&Tag=daa53d20f53aff921a73e706efe41875" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:08.9213071 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 18:59:04.858 -08:00] [WRN] [127] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/9fab3494-68df-7968-33e6-b0f3143a4184/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=9fab349468df796833e6b0f3143a4184&Static=true&api_key=cREDACTED&Tag=daa53d20f53aff921a73e706efe41875" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:16.9633322 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 18:59:14.623 -08:00] [WRN] [118] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/9fab3494-68df-7968-33e6-b0f3143a4184/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=9fab349468df796833e6b0f3143a4184&Static=true&api_key=cREDACTED&Tag=daa53d20f53aff921a73e706efe41875" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:09.6130393 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 18:59:21.313 -08:00] [INF] [114] Emby.Server.Implementations.Session.SessionManager: Playback stopped reported by app "Android TV" "0.15.12" playing "Ready Player One". Stopped at "0" ms
[2023-11-26 18:59:23.901 -08:00] [WRN] [118] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/9fab3494-68df-7968-33e6-b0f3143a4184/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=9fab349468df796833e6b0f3143a4184&Static=true&api_key=cREDACTED&Tag=daa53d20f53aff921a73e706efe41875" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:08.9809081 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 18:59:24.399 -08:00] [INF] [118] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "redacted". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-11-26 18:59:24.399 -08:00] [INF] [118] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-libVLC", Path="/media/media/Movies/REDACTED.Multi.UHD.2160p.Bluray.x265.HDR.Atmos.7.1-DTOne/REDACTED.Multi.UHD.2160p.Bluray.x265.HDR.Atmos.7.1-DTOne.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/9fab3494-68df-7968-33e6-b0f3143a4184/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=9fab349468df796833e6b0f3143a4184&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=truehd&AudioStreamIndex=1&SubtitleStreamIndex=6&api_key=<token>&SubtitleMethod=Embed&Tag=daa53d20f53aff921a73e706efe41875"
[2023-11-26 18:59:25.003 -08:00] [INF] [114] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "redacted". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-11-26 18:59:25.003 -08:00] [INF] [114] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-ExoPlayer", Path="/media/media/Movies/REDACTED.Multi.UHD.2160p.Bluray.x265.HDR.Atmos.7.1-DTOne/REDACTED.Multi.UHD.2160p.Bluray.x265.HDR.Atmos.7.1-DTOne.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/9fab3494-68df-7968-33e6-b0f3143a4184/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=9fab349468df796833e6b0f3143a4184&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=truehd&AudioStreamIndex=1&SubtitleStreamIndex=6&api_key=<token>&SubtitleMethod=Embed&Tag=daa53d20f53aff921a73e706efe41875"
[2023-11-26 18:59:35.883 -08:00] [WRN] [118] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/9fab3494-68df-7968-33e6-b0f3143a4184/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=9fab349468df796833e6b0f3143a4184&Static=true&api_key=cREDACTED&Tag=daa53d20f53aff921a73e706efe41875" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:10.1895063 with Status Code 200

Example 2, TV Show. This will sometimes start, after many minutes, but will almost always stop immediately.

Code:

Video
Title: 4K HEVC SDR
Codec: HEVC
Profile: Main 10
Level: 150
Resolution: 3840x1920
Aspect ratio: 2:1
Interlaced: No
Framerate: 23.976025
Bitrate: 6683 kbps
Bit depth: 10 bit
Video range: SDR
Video range type: SDR
Color space: bt709
Color transfer: bt709
Color primaries: bt709
Pixel format: yuv420p10le
Ref frames: 1

Audio
Title: English - Dolby Digital+ - 5.1
Language: eng
Codec: EAC3
Layout: 5.1
Channels: 6 ch
Bitrate: 768 kbps
Sample rate: 48000 Hz
Default: No
Forced: No
External: No

Subtitle
Title: English - SUBRIP
Language: eng
Codec: SUBRIP
Default: No
Forced: No
External: No

Server log (there's nothing in the FFMpeg logs for this time

Code:

[2023-11-26 19:05:58.747 -08:00] [INF] [144] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "REDACTED". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-11-26 19:05:58.748 -08:00] [INF] [144] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-libVLC", Path="/media/media/REDACTED.2160p.10bit.ATVP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.HEVC-Vyndros.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=eac3&AudioStreamIndex=1&api_key=<token>&SubtitleMethod=Encode&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118"
[2023-11-26 19:05:59.443 -08:00] [INF] [144] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "REDACTED". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-11-26 19:05:59.443 -08:00] [INF] [144] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-ExoPlayer", Path="/media/media/REDACTED.2160p.10bit.ATVP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.HEVC-Vyndros.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=eac3&AudioStreamIndex=1&api_key=<token>&SubtitleMethod=Encode&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118"
[2023-11-26 19:06:05.760 -08:00] [INF] [144] Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.WebSocketManager: WS "192.168.1.117" closed
[2023-11-26 19:06:08.659 -08:00] [INF] [118] Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.WebSocketManager: WS "192.168.1.117" request
[2023-11-26 19:06:14.661 -08:00] [WRN] [139] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&api_key=REDACTED&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:14.6865608 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 19:06:19.022 -08:00] [WRN] [148] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&api_key=REDACTED&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:10.8933731 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 19:06:28.482 -08:00] [WRN] [120] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&api_key=REDACTED&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:11.1181577 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 19:06:36.596 -08:00] [INF] [139] Emby.Server.Implementations.Session.SessionManager: Playback stopped reported by app "Android TV" "0.15.12" playing "Fortress of Solitude". Stopped at "0" ms
[2023-11-26 19:06:36.647 -08:00] [INF] [75] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "REDACTED". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-11-26 19:06:36.647 -08:00] [INF] [75] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-libVLC", Path="/media/media/REDACTED.2160p.10bit.ATVP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.HEVC-Vyndros.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=eac3&AudioStreamIndex=1&api_key=<token>&SubtitleMethod=Encode&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118"
[2023-11-26 19:06:37.198 -08:00] [INF] [140] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "REDACTED". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-11-26 19:06:37.198 -08:00] [INF] [140] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-ExoPlayer", Path="/media/media/REDACTED.2160p.10bit.ATVP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.HEVC-Vyndros.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=eac3&AudioStreamIndex=1&api_key=<token>&SubtitleMethod=Encode&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118"
[2023-11-26 19:06:39.540 -08:00] [WRN] [120] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&api_key=REDACTED&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:11.9755368 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 19:06:44.278 -08:00] [INF] [139] Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.WebSocketManager: WS "192.168.1.117" closed
[2023-11-26 19:06:47.692 -08:00] [INF] [131] Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.WebSocketManager: WS "192.168.1.117" request
[2023-11-26 19:06:49.764 -08:00] [WRN] [140] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&api_key=REDACTED&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:12.3028439 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 19:06:56.058 -08:00] [WRN] [148] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&api_key=REDACTED&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:10.3794774 with Status Code 200
[2023-11-26 19:07:03.952 -08:00] [WRN] [120] Jellyfin.Server.Middleware.ResponseTimeMiddleware: Slow HTTP Response from "http://192.168.1.210:8096/Videos/903a3d9d-963c-4958-60bc-f585c23bd1c0/stream.mkv?DeviceId=4fc4fd6960abe4176e64395190171acdfe4119c6&MediaSourceId=903a3d9d963c495860bcf585c23bd1c0&Static=true&api_key=REDACTED&Tag=52c865cae63332f39b9d34fbc1d48118" to "192.168.1.178" in 0:00:08.4344522 with Status Code 200

Any suggestions for things I can try? I'm fairly computer savvy but new to the world of digital media/transcoding/hardware acceleration etc. I'm trying to ditch Plex which so far is able to play both those pieces of content just fine.

Thanks in advance!

[TheDreadPirate]

Just throwing some things out there before I head to bed.

Make sure you are on the latest Fire OS for your device. Try resetting your app cache. Give the 0.16-beta5 a try.

[tmsrxzar]

PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0

transcoding isn't in use so none of that is going to help, in some occasions i have personally had issues with some subtitles, recommend running a quick remux with ffmpeg for testing

ffmpeg -i input.mkv -map 0:v -map 0:a -c copy testfile.mkv

edit

on second thought, if you are using a FireTV stick gen3 or older it doesn't support main 10 https://developer.amazon.com/docs/fire-t...vstickgen3

so which fire stick do you have?

[wsgolfer]

Thank you for the suggestion TheDreadPirate! I ensured my FireTV is up to date. I then installed the 0.16-beta5 version a try, and unfortunately it still behaves exactly like it did on the previous version.

---

Thanks tmsrxzar, I have a FireTV Stick 4K - 1st Gen. Sounds like I might need to upgrade then? Is there any way to transcode the data automatically so this older FireTV stick can handle this content?

[wsgolfer]

Thanks tmsrxzar! I took a look and have a Fire TV Stick 4K - 1st Gen. Sounds like I might need to upgrade? Is there any way to use transcoding automatically so I don't have to buy a new Fire TV Stick right away?

[tmsrxzar]

excellent that you at least know why, yes perhaps an upgrade is in order

you could try to force transcoding by changing the bandwidth limit in the jellyfin app settings (on firetv) and lower it below the bitrate of the video; i expect ~15M should do it but you can fine tune to what works for you