Need Wife-Friendly solution - IPTV ++ EPG frontend (have provider already / ACE)

by skiingsean

I already have an IPTV provider that has proven to be pretty rock solid (minus the couple channels that the gf wants to watch (crime/food) but all-in-all am happy with the service) - Thanks ACE-Hosting.

Ace's EPG is about 80-95% complete most days, but what I really want to find is a true grid-display EPG, that allows me to browse the guide in a DVR style layout-- hopefully even with allowing me some DVR functionality in the end as well. I really want/need that birds-eye typical DVR style guide – the ACE functionality is great but I want to see more than just what is on, right this moment, for 100’s of channels spread across a dozen+ ‘categories’.

Current setup is ACE app on a Samsung smart TV – amazingly enough, the smartTV app is actually pretty snappy and for the most part work, it’s just not enough. Been playing around with On-Tapp via android (works great) - move over to my QNAP NAS w/ Kodi + On-Tapp and Ace via "Linux Station" which is an Ubuntu 16.04 container. I haven't fully figured out all of the quirks yet, but it seems cludgy and a lot of channels do not auto-open (at all) after selecting the ACE plugin from the TV Guide when selecting channel. If I use ACE’s native app then the channels work just fine.

Now, there's a good chance that I can get most of that (Kodi/Linux/OnTapp) worked out, but at the end of the day, I realize that this is not going to be "Wife-Friendly" ----- Keyboard + having to select extra "things" after channel selection, and so on. I realize that QNAP does sell an IR blaster, but I’m not even 100% sure that I’ll get this setup to a point where I’m happy with it and it’s going to be always-usable for the misses.

My ask is – What do you all suggest/prefer/promote as “the” solution? I [stpidly] upgraded my original Roku2 assuming that it would actually solve all of my issues without doing any research, oh well, the upgrade will be well worth it for UHD/4K content anyway – but it doesn’t solve my current needs.

Thanks!

Tamar1nd

Get a MAG for her, simple just for IPTV, keep your toys for yourself.

OssotSromo

Two things she's (my wife) been happy with.

  1. Emby server running on a PC with the app on our shield. With emby premier you can record. Downside is it costs money and requires a PC 24/7.
  2. Currently using perfect player which is insanely fast to change channels. I custom curated our EPG via iptv-epg so that I removed all the channels we don't use and alphabetized and grouped everything the way we find logical. The fast changing, custom EPG, and ability to pause makes her very happy too. This set up doesn't require a PC.

E: Also of note though, original Shield TV has an IR receiver. So we use a Logitech remote that controls surround sound and tv too. And normal enough all guests have no problem figuring things out.

ashwinbsn

MAG boxes which a lot of people might recommend on this sub might be good for someone old like your grandma or something but I would not pay that much for an old hardware. Just get the new Mi Box from Walmart for $69 (in US). More open and faster than Amazon TV since you have full Google Play Store access and can side loads apps like STB Emu, Kodi and Perfect player as well as do gaming on it with Emulators or apps from the store. Hope this helps! :)

s1nnah

Ace have got a pretty decent catchup in the KODI app. Install the estury MOD for the default skin and add TV catchup to the main menu. You could also point the movies VOD to the main movies library menu item. my mrs loves that. Any missing TV just use Covanent addon with a real-debrid account (9e for three months)

Skyscreamers

If your looking for simple and descent epg and cable style like interface your best bet is a Dreamlink T1 or T1 plus just google it and there will be vids up showing the interface they also have a pvr

blondedre3000

Vaders with the kodi add on all setup with the VOD services and a good skin is the best IPTV experience I've had to date. It's better than even paid apps like netflix or amazon prime. I'd be interested to try a dreamlink or formuler, but you're stuck with that one interface. With kodi you can load whichever skin you like best and customize it.

lessthantom

Check out the smart stb app on the Samsung App Store I have it on my LG and it’s not to shabby wouldn’t say it’s perfect to what you want but it’s not far off, I think and I could be wrong but a dreamlink t1 would give you a grid style Dvr, but I know I showed my wife smart stb and she could work it which was amazing as she is pretty tech retarded

It’s still early days for the app but it’s not bad obviously though it would use ace epg so it would still have some gaps

shaakzi

I would get the Formuler Z Prime which is a rebranded Dreamlink. It's better than T1 and T1 plus, and it's even cheaper. https://www.formuler.tv/z-prime

Works great for Stalker middleware (So if MAG works, Formuler Z works as well).

It's much easier to setup than Kodi and runs more smooth.

pedalninja

FWIW, SET TV has the closest to Cable look and feel than any other service i've used. crappy support but it's decent service. I know you can get KODI to use mayfair or iVue as well, or use perfect player. but SET's APK is really easy to use and with a family and wife who only care that its looks and acts exactly like cable, their set up is best for us. they have a full grid EPG with video preview. or you can buy a dedicated mag type box, which is what i did for my mom. hope that helps

tech24244you

free iptv the link auto upadate so keep the link to have the last m3u update http://cut-urls.com/t1KC1

skiingsean

I just wanted to reply and apologize for going dark. Thanks to all of you whom took the ttime to reply. Let's just say it doesn't need to be wife friendly anymore. When I have some time over the next ffew weeks I will digest your comments and come back to update.

Sean

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