Modifying the cache settings according to HOW-TO:Modify the video cache - Official Kodi Wiki did not seem to help.
Videos stop playing all the time (sometimes it says it's buffering and sometimes it just stops).
Also, sometimes RPi won't start after a reboot, so I will have to reboot it again, or it will start but will not connect to the wireless network. I even tried replacing the WLAN USB.
Could this be something related to power supply? Is there a way to check this?
Generally mucking about with the video cache will have little effect unless you know what you are doing. Any changes usually have a knock on event elsewhere.
In you case, you have memorysize of 0. So unless you have LE booting from a USB HDD/SSD with at least 16GB of free space, you will run into issues with Kodi stalling or even crashing. If booting from SD then you are putting a lot of wear and tear on your card, which could also be causing problems.
I would remove your changes in advancedsettings.xml and look at your SMB server and Wifi connection.
I had similar issues which was resolved by buying a decent Wifi adapter (With a large aerial) and using 5GHz
You could also try "native" SMB connections Wiki rather than the Kodi internal SMB connection.
@ghfy4: What example did you use?
I use example 4 when I experienced the same video problems as you. It works fine now.
About the boot problems I can't help you. Wifi the same, since I use the ethernet port.
TonP: I initially used example #4 too. Afterwards I changed the memorysize to 0, just to see if it helps. Obviously I also tried the defaults (not setting cache at all)).
@Iridium: Thanks for the reply. I will try the "native" SMB method. Obviously I did try the default caching settings (by not setting them at all) before started messing with them.
Is there a way to check if it really is a WiFi issue, other than connection the device to Ethernet, which is not possible in my scenario?
Like some sort of a command or a script I can run to test the WiFi signal strength and stability..?
I tend to use "native" NFS not SMB for preference but if that is not possible - try the SMB native, Also 5GHz if not already (Depends on location, distances etc.)
To test the Wifi strength use:
watch -n 5 iwconfig or use one of the many apps on your phone.
If you want more detailed information, boot Raspbian and install wavemon.
Also you didn't explain what your NAS is - maybe that is the issue.
Can you also explain what USB Wifi you are using. If using a "small" dongle, then you're not going to get much better reception than the internal one. Get one with a big antenna.
Try to move the adapter (with a extension cable) so that it is not blocked by anything - eg. TV, bookcase.
As TonP mentioned No. 4 is the one to go for if you have to, but Kodi, with all their years of experience probably know more than us mere mortals.
Just to be complete, I have always been using NFS for the streaming from my NAS.
Also, I didn't have any video problems when using dumb switches (non-managed switches). Only when I replaced the simple switches for managed ones did the problems appear. I have never been able to figure out what the cause was, but the buffer setting as in example 4 did the trick.
@Iridium: My NAS is simply my Windows 10 PC and the files are on an NTFS drive.
I did not have this issues in the past, they have started recently after I moved to a new home.
The WLAN router is relatively close to the RPi, and I am using a simple USB dongle (no antenna) purchased with my RPi.
I will test your suggestions to eliminate the most probable causes. The one thing that still bugs me is the power supply issue. I remember reading that RPi is extremely sensitive to power supply. Anyway to check if this is part of the problem?
Unless you see a yellow lightning bolt on boot then you *should* not have a problem.
To be SURE:
vcgencmd get_throttled.
If 0x0 then you are fine.
However that is just the RPi, not an overall quality. Check dmesg for -7xx issues.
I've ALWAYS used official RPi power supply without any issues.
If your network functions correctly there is never any need to fiddle with cache settings, and the solution to a network that doesn't function correctly is to fix the network, not fiddle with cache settings. RPi 3B+ has weak wifi performance so it's best to use Ethernet or an external wifi bridge that presents Ethernet. I use some Apple A1rport Express WiFi routers in bridge mode for this .. they are fairly cheap (second hand on eBay), easy to set-up, they out-perform all USB wireless dongles for range/throughput, and no drivers are needed.
