Plex remote access is...broken

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Lizard1977

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#296041 16-May-2022 20:55

After having my Plex server being accessible remotely without a hitch for years, it has suddenly broken. None of the clients outside my home network can see my server, despite it showing as "Fully accessible outside your network" in the settings on my server. Nothing has changed, and I'm at a loss to explain what's gone wrong.

I don't have a static IP, but this hasn't been an issue for years. I haven't changed ISPs (still with 2Degrees, and it continued to work even after I shifted house and setup a new broadband account), and nothing in my network has changed.

Any suggestions?

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#2914746 16-May-2022 21:17

Are you now on a CG-NAT IP address? Check out this sticky thread

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=85&topicid=291934

Lizard1977

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#2914748 16-May-2022 21:24

Yep, my address falls into that range. Does CG-NAT mean Plex remote access won't work without a static IP?

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#2914752 16-May-2022 21:33

Lizard1977:

Yep, my address falls into that range. Does CG-NAT mean Plex remote access won't work without a static IP?

Correct

Lizard1977

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#2914753 16-May-2022 21:34

Well, I guess I gotta get me a static IP then!

xpd

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#2914809 17-May-2022 07:29

Yes and no.

It does work (or did for me) when I was on 2D CGNAT, but it was using the relay option and was slow and lacking quality.

Switched to static, and all good again (Plex was not only reason I got the static though).

Also I find that allowing Plex to set the remote IP/port itself never worked, I manually entered the IP and port.

XPD / Gavin

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Lizard1977

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#3010154 15-Dec-2022 10:38

Things have been going well for the last few months, since I got a static IP from 2Degrees. But my contract is now up, and I'm looking for better prices from other providers. Skinny and Orcon look like competitive offerings - I'd be happy to go with Skinny as I use them for my mobile so I get an extra $10/month off. But Skinny don't offer a static IP by the looks of it. So if I switch to Skinny, is there any alternative for ensuring that Plex remote access continues to work, or is a static IP the only way? If it is, then I guess that makes Orcon the better deal (through Glimp), as they do offer a static IP service.

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#3010168 15-Dec-2022 11:04

I've found that being with Orcon & Slingshot (same company in the background), that even with a dymanic IP address, it's a very sticky one and has never changed at all in the time I've been with either of them. So there's no need to pay extra for the static IP address option so far.

I bounce between them each year to take advantage of the new customer deals.

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#3010176 15-Dec-2022 11:30

Orcon / Slingshot have merged with 2Degrees, so I wouldn't put it past them to pull the same CG-NAT nonsense at some point.

I've been very happy with Skinny, they're amongst the cheapest. Their dynamic IPs are very dynamic (changes every time I restart my router), but its not CG-NAT'd so I'm not too worried about it.

The other ISP I would consider is Quic broadband who are more oriented to tech enthusiasts, and seem to have a good presence on here.

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#3010303 15-Dec-2022 13:13

I am a huge Voyager fan and a one off $15 for a static IP it is well worth it.

I have had Zero issues with my plex remote access

John

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jonathan18

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#3010310 15-Dec-2022 13:21

Lizard1977:

Things have been going well for the last few months, since I got a static IP from 2Degrees. But my contract is now up, and I'm looking for better prices from other providers.

It's funny that you're doing this the very week I've finally got remote access for my NAS, including for Plex, sorted.

I had re-signed with 2D for a further year back in Jul, after I'd told them I was leaving for another RSP - they offered me a decent deal including a year of free static IP (which I had previously but had lapsed a few months prior). It could be worth asking them what they can offer you (if you can get through, that is!) Mine was as good as the offers for new customers - something like $200 credit plus 12 months of Amazon Prime, plus the additional sweetner of the 12 months static IP.

Anway, in my case, after I re-signed I realised pretty early on that remote access to the NAS wasn't working and I tried fixing it - but never checked to confirm I indeed had a static IP. After that long-term brain fart I checked this week and low and behold 2D hadn't loaded it so I was still on CGNAT! Really pleased that a 2D rep here on GZ was able to get this fixed for me within half a day, and now access for Plex and all the Synology apps is sorted.