Can someone please explain how an IPTV Box works (MAG Boxes, Tube TV, Android TV Boxes, etc.), as in, how can that box have all the IPTV channels and movies and work properly all the time?
My brother bought a MAG box from someone in the Toronto area and it works flawlessly. He has all the US and CAD channels, plus a ton of others from around the world, and he's not paying anything monthly. The seller just tells me that's how he gets the boxes, so he doesn't know how it's all setup, though I suspect he's lying because people doing it on their own would just take away his sales.
I already have a RPi2 with Kodi on it, which is connected to my TV and home theater system, and I have all the Fusion add-ons and so forth, but pretty much only get UK channels and other obscure channels. Why can't I get the US and CAD channels like his MAG box? I've searched endless on the net on how to get this going and I just can't find it.
Is the MAG using M3U lists, or apps, or ... ? ... I have no idea. Basically, is it possible to create my own IPTV box with what I currently have?
Any help?
Please and thank you.
It is a very static thing these IPTV things. You need to be on the up and up basically to keep on track and spot people trying to be frauds, as a forewarning. :)
MAG boxes are using playlists from a 'provider'. Basically a strict client with a 'channel list'. Simple, nothing very complex. Turn on and watch. Like a regular set top box from a cable provider.
Android boxes are souped up (1080p outputs, directsound support for surround sound, etc). Also allows you to use Kodi with whichever addons, other apps for convenient use if you have anything else you want to purpose the TV it's plugged into.
They both do the same. MAG boxes are more common it seems and by what I've witnessed is more stable from providers vs Kodi IPTV providers. Reason I say stable is because the support for them is simple, vs Kodi using an addon which can break (some will say it never does, and hey, lucky them it doesn't) but it really varies to your use in my opinion. Also if your savvy to figure out and troubleshoot.
ps: some iptv providers just use what is public - there are lists like ccloud for example they steal the links from and update and get paid for. Do some hard research, poke around. I have belief that the more hidden a provider is, the more likely they are getting their streams more direct. And you will find it all goes back to one provider that sells to resellers. It really is about doing some good detective work if you are savvy.