Service for Non-tech savvy parents

by crowirl

I'm an IPTV user, previously flawless and now helix. I've convinced my parents to cut the cord, they would be happy with FTA (UK and ireland) channels but would have to install a dish in their area, which they don't want to.

I'm suggesting IPTV however I need to get a service that is simple, reliable, low maintenance and similar in operation to a terrestrial UK/IRL cable provider.

I thought UK Helix was the one, small channel list with sufficient backup etc. However what was originally 300 or so channels is now bloated with 1100+ channels. Most of which are replicas (there be over ten versions of sly sports premier league and all of them crashed Sunday last and the weekend before).

Can anyone recommend from personal experience a service which is closest in feel to a sly/vm STB. I don't really want resellers approaching,hence i didn't post an ad on r/IPTVResellers would prefer individual experience!

Edit 1

So thanks a lot for all the helpful comments - really good and good to hear about wooshbuild which i'll try! However i was really hoping for IPTV service recommendations rather than hardware/software which i'm already very comfortable with.

Can anyone recommend an IPTV service with a well maintained, small and simple UK/Irl channel list which could be thrown into any hardware config without requiring much maintaining? If possible, with 2 or more screens so that i could just share my setup.

Edit 2

tldr want stable IPTV provider that best replicates the UK/Irl EPG off the shelf. Not worried about hardware/software recommendations.

hallofgamer

a mag is grandmother proof,

a formuler z7+ is iptv god mode but not as tard friendly as the mag 254

match either of those with a cheap iptv sub

parnoldarmour

Going through a similar thing, I don't have an answer for you but I have been messing around with an edited list to cut down the channels to ones actually wanted, and also able to edited remotely.

So far have tried both

https://xtream-editor.com/

and

https://www.iptv-epg.com/

End point is currently an androidTV box ( Xiaomi Mi Box )

So far tried TVIRL ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=by.stari4ek.tvirl )with Live Channels - easy interface but no grouping of channels.

Smarters ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nst.iptvsmarterstvbox ) - works pretty good, can add multiple accounts or services.

Perfect Player ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.niklabs.pp ) Not quite as intuitive to use but otherwise works well.

Currently looking into running a tvheadend server, or via plex / emby on remote server but this gets a bit more complicated.

Helix have their own app preconfigured for smarters too. ( http://helixhosting.ninja/app/Helixhostingapp.apk )

Hope that's actually helpful and not just more confusing.

chrispy1973

Just signed my Parents up to Helix, they are currently enjoying watching the blue screen production of "Your STB is blocked", although it gets a bit boring after the first 40 minutes. Hoping their support ticket will get answered soon.......

Blue-Thunder

There was a bloke that had a posting in here a week or more ago where he had been using an enigma 2 box and he had some scripts to make it look just like a sky box. He was doing it to make it dummy proof like you. If you can't find the post, I'd say just get them a mag and a provider that segregates the channels like IPGUYS or Epic, where they have CAN/US and UK. That might make things easier. A MAG is pretty much idiot proof, no matter who you go with as a service.

yeah_It_dat_guy

Why not just an enigma2 box with whooshbuild on it? You get the familiar interface could use it still for FTA but ultimately IPTV.

mikechids

I use enigma2 box , using Vaders and setup using suls script . Updates epg and channels every day automatically. You can block out all the sections you don't want. ( Foreign channels) .

Plus as somebody said you get all the uk free to air channels as backup. As no iptv is 100%.

Using gui setup which looks like sly TV. Got two boxes one with woosh build and one with open vix. Both are ok

sgunnage

Hi mate,

I have a full UK setup and we suggest running it through IPTV Smarters. That's very modern, and basic and fresh looking, very easy to use. It auto loads too, so pop it on a Firestick or similar and it's a great little setup and one we use regular. We've not got any of the EPL blocks going on right now and a pretty stable service. PM if you'd like any info or a trial.

robertmachine

Which enigma2 do you guys recommend or should I get my parents something like the formuler nano?