What is the best video format for DLNA in home LAN network?

Hi,
What is the best video format for the DLNA in home 100MB LAN network?
when i watch this video, it will buffer almost every 2 miniutes:

  Code:

H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1) - 2.48GB

when i watch this video, it is very smooth:

  Code:

H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1) - 541MB

[atc98092]

Unfortunately, that isn't sufficient information to tell what's happening. The two examples you list are both the same codec, but there must be something different between the two.

There really is no ideal "format", as it is completely dependent on the capabilities of your player. Some devices can play virtually anything (Nvidia Shield for example), while others only support a small number of containers and codecs (Roku, Fire TV) and even those had differences between the various models.

In general, H.264 works with virtually anything, but the container can cause problems. Usually the MP4 container works with almost everything, the MKV container a little less, MPG and AVI are less supported, etc. For audio, Dolby Digital (AC3) is supported almost universally.

Buffering usually occurs because the bitstream is exceeding the player's ability to keep up. Unless you are playing uncompressed 4K material, your 100 Mbs network should be fine. But some players, especially as you get into older devices, might not be able to keep up with even 1080 material. For example, the earlier Roku players (say older than 2016) really couldn't accept a bitstream much over 12 Mbps. Ripped Blu Ray movies can reach 30-40 Mbps, so the less capable boxes need the video transcoded to a lower bitstream.

For your video examples, we need more detailed information. See the link in my signature to see how to get the media information.

Hi Dan,
Thank you, here is the information:

  Code:

H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1) - 2.48GB
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : isom
    minor_version   : 1
    compatible_brands: isomavc1
    creation_time   : 2018-05-13T19:01:55.000000Z
  Duration: 01:54:04.12, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 3123 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1280x694 [SAR 1:1 DAR 640:347], 2999 kb/s, 24 fps, 24 tbr, 24k tbn, 48 tbc (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2018-05-13T19:01:55.000000Z
    Stream #0:1(iii): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 120 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2018-05-13T18:09:57.000000Z

  Code:

H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1) - 541MB
    major_brand     : isom
    minor_version   : 512
    compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41
    encoder         : Lavf58.27.103
    comment         : www.mp4ba.com
  Duration: 00:45:32.50, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1385 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1920x820 [SAR 1:1 DAR 96:41], 1253 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 90k tbn, 50 tbc (default)
    Metadata:
      handler_name    : VideoHandler
    Stream #0:1(und): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 125 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      handler_name    : SoundHandler
    Stream #0:2: Video: png, rgba(pc), 1500x500 [SAR 2835:2835 DAR 3:1], 90k tbr, 90k tbn, 90k tbc

OS: Microsoft Windows 10 ver1903;
Renderer device: Unknown (a kind of television internet media box);

Is there an option that Serviio server could reduce the video quality automatically to make the play smooth? The greatest need for me is no delay.

[atc98092]

OK, the one that's buffering has an average bitstream of 2999 kb/s (2.99 Mbps). That is virtually nothing. That's really the only difference between the two files, with the second one at 1253 kb/s. Honestly, I wouldn't be satisfied with the image quality of something streaming at that low of a rate. On Netflix that rate barely gets you 480 SD (DVD quality), and both of your videos are at the low end of HD. Like I said, even the older Roku devices could accept 12 Mbps, which is four times higher than you're trying to stream here. I checked a few of my ripped DVDs (again, SD quality) and their bitrates are around 5 Mbps, with peak rates of almost 10 Mbps.

I can't believe your device can't stream this media without buffering, unless there's an issue with your network. I have a 10 year old Sony Media player that can handle well higher rates than that. Assuming there's no issue with your network, I would strongly consider using something different to stream. Both Roku and Fire TV has boxes as low as $30 that can far outperform that.

To test the network, could you attach a computer to the same Ethernet cable you're using for your player and run an Internet speed test?

Hi,
I will try this:
- link the computer to the television internet box(similar to AppleTV) with an Ethernet cable directly.
If this does not work, I will buy a better television internet box or copy the video to the mobile hard disk and plug it into the current television internet box.
Thank you.

[atc98092]

Hi,
I will try this:
- link the computer to the television internet box(similar to AppleTV) with an Ethernet cable directly.
If this does not work, I will buy a better television internet box or copy the video to the mobile hard disk and plug it into the current television internet box.
Thank you.

That would be a perfect test, to see if the box can play the video straight from a hard drive. I didn't suggest that since so few players can do that. I was also assuming you we already using a wired connection, since you mentioned your network speed. With wireless, there are many things that might have been causing an playback issue. Great plan to try a wired connection.

Hi,
I will try this:
- link the computer to the television internet box(similar to AppleTV) with an Ethernet cable directly.
If this does not work, I will buy a better television internet box or copy the video to the mobile hard disk and plug it into the current television internet box.
Thank you.

That would be a perfect test, to see if the box can play the video straight from a hard drive. I didn't suggest that since so few players can do that. I was also assuming you we already using a wired connection, since you mentioned your network speed. With wireless, there are many things that might have been causing an playback issue. Great plan to try a wired connection.

The video plays smoothly when I use a wired connection between computer-router-television, the reason for the delay is wireless network quality is not good.

[atc98092]

The video plays smoothly when I use a wired connection between computer-router-television, the reason for the delay is wireless network quality is not good.

Ah, that will do it. Must be interference from other wireless devices. Glad you sorted it out.

[freaknik]

maybe it depends on the device?

When i was into serviio i used chromecast and the choice was basically watch transcoded hls in 720p or like in the OP.

Chromecast you get what you pay for, the tv could do more than 720 but the chromecast could not hahaha doesn't say that on the box, at least the version I used.

I thought about this once but pretty much each series I have is a different format and some are really old and re encoding idk doesn't seem like it will help them.

Some are 4:3 ratio and in realvideo/cookaudio format hahaha really dating myself there, probably got them from ftp search when the year had a 19 in front......

Granted I have not tried Serviio since 2.0 but usually the only thing that is hard to play on the well known players are the most new formats that come out.

h264 seems bulletproof.

[atc98092]

Yeah, the device can make a huge difference. My primary streaming is done with either a Roku player/TV, a older Sony BD player, or the Nvidia Shield.

The Sony is what the wife used in the bedroom, solely because she's comfortable with it. But it doesn't support DTS-MA over DLNA, and the user interface is sparse, with no metadata information available.

For streaming from the Internet, Roku does a great job with a simple to use interface. But it is lacking in several key areas for local DLNA. It has limited codec support, so transcoding is necessary for many of my Blu Ray rips, it has limited caption support, and I can't get my UHD movie rips to play without buffering. The wired devices only support 100 Mbps, which the UHD rips can exceed easily. And for some unknown reason my wireless is even slower.

For home DLNA streaming, I don't think there's a better box than the Shield for the price. Gigabit Ethernet, supports every codec and contain I've tried, full closed caption support, and no transcoding required for anything. Plus, there's a brand new Shield that was supposed to be released next week that has leaked out at some Best Buy stores. The most notable update is the addition of Dolby Vision, and a much more user friendly remote. All with no price increase ($199). There's also a new "dongle" version that has limited storage memory, but has the same computing power and about $40 cheaper (haven't seen the actual price).