Playback Issues

Specific solutions for video and audio playback problems in SeaFin. For general troubleshooting, see Common Issues.

Video Playback Problems

Video Won't Start

Symptoms: Click play but video doesn't begin, black screen, infinite loading

Solutions:

1. Try the duplicate version - Look for same title in different library (Clean vs Offline)
2. Lower quality setting - Click gear icon → select 2-4 Mbps
3. Check internet connection - Use speedtest.net
4. Clear browser cache - Or restart mobile app
5. Try different browser/device - Test if issue is device-specific

Video Stuttering/Buffering

Symptoms: Video keeps pausing to load, choppy playback, frequent buffering

Solutions:

1. Lower quality immediately - Try 2 Mbps or 1 Mbps
2. Pause and let buffer - Wait 30-60 seconds before resuming
3. Close other apps - Free up bandwidth and device resources
4. Use wired connection - Ethernet is more stable than WiFi
5. Try different time - Network might be congested during peak hours

Poor Video Quality

Symptoms: Blurry, pixelated, or low-resolution video despite good internet

Solutions:

1. Increase quality setting - Try higher Mbps if connection allows
2. Check internet speed - Ensure you have enough bandwidth
3. Try duplicate version - Different source might have better quality
4. Use wired connection - More stable than WiFi
5. Check display settings - Ensure TV/monitor is set to correct resolution

Audio Problems

No Audio

Symptoms: Video plays but no sound output

Solutions:

1. Check device volume - Both system volume and app volume
2. Try different audio track - Click gear icon → Audio settings
3. Check browser audio - Ensure browser/app isn't muted
4. Restart playback - Refresh page or restart app
5. Test with different content - Verify if issue is content-specific

Audio Out of Sync

Symptoms: Audio doesn't match video, lip-sync issues

Solutions:

1. Pause and resume - Often fixes temporary sync issues
2. Refresh playback - Restart the video completely
3. Try different audio track - If multiple tracks available
4. Try duplicate version - Different source might be better synced
5. Check device performance - Close other apps using resources

Audio Cutting Out

Symptoms: Audio drops out intermittently, crackling sounds

Solutions:

1. Lower quality setting - Reduce bandwidth requirements
2. Check audio output - Try different speakers/headphones
3. Update audio drivers - On desktop computers
4. Try different browser - Audio codec compatibility
5. Use wired audio - Instead of Bluetooth if possible

Subtitle Issues

Subtitles Not Appearing

Solutions:

1. Enable subtitles - Click gear icon → Subtitles → Select language
2. Try different subtitle track - Multiple options may be available
3. Check content availability - Not all content has subtitles
4. Refresh video - Restart playback
5. Try duplicate version - Different source might have subtitles

Subtitle Sync Issues

Solutions:

1. Refresh playback - Restart the video
2. Try different subtitle track - If multiple available
3. Try duplicate version - Different source might be better synced
4. Report via Jellyseerr - Sync issues need admin attention

Quality Settings Optimization

Finding the Right Quality

SeaFin Quality Range: 720 Kbps to 200 Mbps

Recommended Settings:

• Auto - Let system choose optimal setting (recommended)
• Original - Full quality, no compression (up to 200 Mbps)
• 20-50 Mbps - Excellent 4K quality
• 10-20 Mbps - Good 4K quality
• 4-10 Mbps - Excellent 1080p quality
• 2-4 Mbps - Standard HD quality
• 720 Kbps - Lowest available setting for very slow connections

Testing Your Connection

1. Run speed test - speedtest.net
2. Test during different times - Check peak vs off-peak performance
3. Test wired vs WiFi - Compare connection stability
4. Monitor while streaming - Watch for speed fluctuations

Device-Specific Issues

Browser-Specific Problems

Chrome:

• Enable hardware acceleration in settings
• Clear cache and cookies
• Disable extensions temporarily
• Try incognito mode

Firefox:

• Check add-on compatibility
• Clear cache and cookies
• Update to latest version
• Try safe mode

Safari:

• ⚠️ Safari is terrible for SeaFin - not recommended
• Switch to Chrome immediately - chrome.google.com
• Safari causes frequent playback failures and compatibility issues
• If you must use Safari, expect problems

Mobile App Issues

Android:

• Clear app cache in device settings
• Update app from Play Store
• Restart device
• Check storage space

iOS:

• Force close and restart app
• Update app from App Store
• Restart device
• Check available storage

TV App Issues

General TV Apps:

• Restart the TV completely
• Update TV firmware
• Reinstall Jellyfin app
• Check network connection
• Use wired connection if possible

Advanced Troubleshooting

Hardware Acceleration Issues

When to disable:

• Video appears corrupted
• Frequent crashes during playback
• Strange visual artifacts

How to disable:

• Browser: Settings → Advanced → System → Disable hardware acceleration
• Desktop app: Settings → Playback → Disable hardware acceleration

Network Diagnostics

Check network stability:

1. Ping test - Test connection to SeaFin server
2. Traceroute - Check network path
3. Router restart - Reset network equipment
4. DNS change - Try different DNS servers (8.8.8.8, 1.1.1.1)

Content-Specific Issues

If only certain content has problems:

1. Report via Jellyseerr - Content might need re-encoding
2. Try duplicate version - Different source might work better
3. Check content details - Note codec, resolution, file size
4. Test on different device - Isolate device vs content issues

When to Report Issues

Report to Jellyseerr when:

• Content consistently fails across multiple devices
• Audio/video sync problems persist
• Subtitles missing or badly synced
• Quality issues with specific content
• Multiple users report same problem

How to Report Effectively:

1. Go to rqst.fin.hub22.uk
2. Search for content with issues
3. Click orange triangle (report issue button)
4. Provide details:
   • Exact error or problem description
   • Device and browser/app used
   • Quality setting when problem occurred
   • Whether duplicate versions also fail

Prevention Tips

Avoid Playback Issues:

• Start with Auto quality - Let system optimize
• Use wired connections when possible
• Keep apps updated - Latest versions have bug fixes
• Regular device restarts - Clear temporary issues
• Monitor network performance - Know your connection limits

Best Practices:

• Test new content on main device first
• Note working quality settings for your connection
• Bookmark duplicate versions that work well
• Report issues promptly - Helps improve service for everyone

Quick Reference

Video won't play: Try duplicate → Lower quality → Clear cache
Buffering: Lower quality → Pause to buffer → Check internet
No audio: Check volume → Try different track → Restart
Sync issues: Refresh playback → Try duplicate → Report if persistent
Report issues: rqst.fin.hub22.uk

For general troubleshooting, see Common Issues. For device setup problems, see Device Access.