Firstly, my set-up.
Broadband internet with 100mbs dl and approx 20mbs upload speeds. Cable internet running to router/wifi point (bandwidth of approx 300mbs) which then connects to a previous generation AirPort Extreme. Attached to the APE is a Samsung external (spinning) drive that holds all of my media files.
Plex Server installed on my late 2013 MacBook Pro and a new Apple TV is attached to the network via wifi.
No hardware, software or network changes have been made over the last 6 months or so that I've been using Plex.
Previously, I had no problems with Plex or streaming content, but over the last 3-4 weeks Plex has become unusable.
Essentially, I'll add media to my external drive on the network, 'Update Library' on Plex Server (even though it's set to automatically detect changes, but doesn't in most cases these days), the media will then appear in the Plex app on my Apple TV but I can't play anything. Files refuse to load, and on the VERY rare occasions they do load, they buffer every few seconds for ages and eventually end up crashing due to 'low bandwidth'.
I tried reducing the streaming quality, but still got the same issue even on the lowest settings,
I also completely removed the Plex Server (including all other files and folders as recommended and detailed in the Plex FAQs), removed the app from the Apple TV, rebooted everything, re-installed the server and app and then left it alone to re-index everything again. I added some new content today and it showed up in the Plex app as it should. Went to play it ..... as usual, it wouldn't even load. After about 20 attempts it loaded, played for approx 20 minutes and then crashed and now won't load again.
This happens with all media files via Plex. As mentioned, nothing in my set-up has changed, and this set-up worked perfectly for many, many months previously.
Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Steve