RPi 3B+ not buffering

  • 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?

  • 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.