Formuler Z7+ & Vaders Quick Review

by brandon4987

Decided to check out the Formuler Z7+ and was able to pick one up from Amazon this week. I'd seen some previous threads mentioning a seller shipping T2 units, but apparently this was an issue with Amazon sending the wrong unit out and has since been resolved (I emailed seller before purchasing) I received the NA version which includes the Z7+, Remote Control, USB WiFi dongle, and an HDMI cable. After hooking the box up and powering it on, it ran through a quick setup guide then began downloading and installing the latest firmware. Next, I got my Vaders sub setup with the MyTVOnline app which was quick and simple enough. I then opened the EPG and here's where the issues began. For some unknown reason, this box loads all EPG data on the fly. This means you have no clue what's on any channel unless you cycle through the guide and wait 5-10 seconds for the info to populate for only the highlighted channels you're looking at. I'd seen some previous complaints about the EPG and they're definitely warranted. For a box with a primary function of streaming IPTV this is a major issue. As to why some sort of caching isn't enabled or the app doesn't just load all EPG data on startup, I can't understand. I'd hope the devs will address and fix this issue as it's very simple to do and to me just seems lazy. Beyond the EPG issues, navigating & loading channels is quick. The quality obviously varies from stream to stream, but it does work well. Vaders offers VOD & Catchup in addition to live TV. I tested the catchup feature which works great. You can tell which channel has catchup available as an icon appears next to the channel in the guide. I moved onto VOD not expecting much, but it's essentially unusable. I tried about 20 different movies, with maybe 2 or 3 loading and playing upon first selection. TV shows were no different. It works so poorly, I'm surprised you're even able to access it. One of the selling points to this box over is its Android capabilities. You have full access to the Google Play store, and with it running Android 7.0, in theory most apps should be compatible. I decided to give Kodi a try. I was able to copy over my HTPC configuration of Kodi after downloading a file browser for the Z7+ and accessing the share via Windows Explorer. I ran into my first snag when I noticed there was only about 550 MB's of storage available on the box, and my Kodi config was much larger. This is the amount of space you'll have available right out of the box. You have the option of expanding the storage via SD card or USB, and I opted for a 64GB Flash drive. After inserting the drive, I rebooted the unit and it combined the storage automatically. I then was able to copy over my Kodi config and it worked! All my addons, preferences, etc were accessible. I tested a few addons in Kodi and the general performance is nothing to write home about. While it is functional, when comparing the speed of loading to my HTPC, the Z7 was much slower. It's by no means unusable, but if you're used to Kodi on a PC like me, you'll be pretty underwhelmed. Using the Vaders TV app in Kodi worked well and the entire EPG loaded in a matter of seconds. Changing channels wasn't as quick as the MyTVOnline Player, but no real complaints other than that to report. VOD in Kodi also worked without any issues as well. Finally, I installed and tested Perfect Player via the Google Play store which worked perfect! In summary, I honestly cannot recommend this box. The EPG issue is an absolute KILLER, and I'm quite surprised they've yet to address it. Combine that with the fact you'll be paying around $150 for this and I just don't see the value there. For an extra $20 - $30 you could pick up an NVidia Shield which boasts more memory, a faster processor, Bluetooth connectivity, and is capable of doing everything the Z7+ does minus the one app you're really paying for in the Z7+ with MyTVOnline. Even if you don’t want to splurge for the Shield, a Mag box for strictly IPTV, or a budget HTPC would suit you much better. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask away!

iptvking

Formula just released a update today. Please update and let us know how it performs.

Release Notes:

Formuler Z-Series Firmware Version 2.8.0 / Z7+ 1.2.16 Added new software download integrity checks New Installer mode options: Settings Lock, Apps lock, Channel List Style Setting.

General bug fixes and performance improvements.

​​MYTVOnline Version 1.9.6

Z7+ : Fixed timeshift audio pause bug.

Fixed Channel search bug.

Fixed VOD search bug. Direct number input from RCU now accepted.

General bug fixes and performance improvements.
PinchyThaLobster

Everything you cover is what I have been saying, overpriced pieces of equipment considering the hardware they use.

You basically pay for the APP but in my opinion it is not this miracle cable like experience it is made out to be, it has issues as all your other options do also which is why I don't understand why people fall for it but then again the way it's marketed is misleading.

ron2016

Thanks for this. I was considering buying a Z7+ for the upgraded RAM and Android version. I currently have a DL T1+. From the sound of things I would be disappointed.

natlor

I find the 'classic' viewing mode that was added in the latest update loads the EPG much quicker

TheToastedBoeuf

Is anyone having issues with Wifi not connecting or being available with the W2 connector?

manosteel9423

Just a few points of order.

While the slow EPG is a problem, its not as big a deal as many make it. I have found it almost never an issue other than the 10 minutes I spend in the morning loading the 260 or so English channels I have in my Favourites folder. Load it once and its done for the day.

Secondly, the VOD for Vader was announced as being offline for about a week a couple of days ago. So, of course you were having issues with it. There are still some files that are working, but its likely that is your issue more than the box.

The truth is, if it was just me in my household watching TV, I'd probably just go with my MIBox and would be perfectly happy. However, for those with wives and children, a box like the Z7+ is BY FAR a better option than any android box, including the Shield.