Which Android Box should I get? Don't want to be locked down to a MAC subscription.

by sean1604

Looking for some advice on boxes to check out for IPTV that I can use to potentially record. Currently I don't have the need to do this and am using a firestick with Smarters and am pretty happy. In the future however this stick will be moved to the bedroom and I want a good main box that I can use that can also record (I have a 2TB spare external HDD which I can hook up to it).

There are so many Android boxes out there and I wanted to narrow down the field as opposed to just going on spec alone and trying different ones I can get off of Amazon. Looking to spend in the region of £50-£100 if possible.

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I don't want boxes that will use STBEMU or something similar as I don't want to be locked down to a MAC subscription. I plan on getting a provider that uses M3U with multiple connections when the time comes like my current supplier.

JohanSandberg

Have you considered the MiBox S and use TiviMate?

Recording is not working now but it's a planned feature.

paulie07

Mibox is the 2nd best option to the Nvidia Shield. I have one Nvidia Shield and 3 Mi Boxes. I like that the launcher is virtually the same on both boxes and if you're using it for just watching TV etc., then both boxes will perform the same

faruzzy

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the formuler z8.

garry_b

Well you can buy any android box between 50-100£ and use iptv smarters

davo_nz

There isnt an App out there that can handle IPTV recording properly. I ended up using TvHeadend on a Raspberry Pi to process my IPTV streams, Is the only way I could get consistent recordings.

Will be a long time before Tivimate gets close to being able to record IPTV.

chrispy1973

I found STBEMU to be very unstable on the boxes i'd tried it on, every time I changed channels I'd usually have to then spend the first ten minutes going through all of the player options trying to find one that was stable, and hoping you didn't crash the box with a green screen of death whilst doing so.

I now use a cheap, dedicated Dreambox D-lite which uses its own built in Software and a MAC Address (It can also use M3U Playlist), and an Android Box running Smarters Pro which has been the most stable App i've found so far, requiring the minimum of pissing around to set up and watch.

Choice of box is also important, especially Chinese ones. I had no end of problems with a Vontar Qplus Android 9 Box, which refused to stream IPTV reliably regardless of which App I used.

carlxc

Formula box will give you a choice of mag and android plus decent remote and recording facilities

jakeipke

MiBox S is very good, ignore the negative reviews.

FuckertyMcFuckface

SkyStream 2. Made in the US. Great box, comes preloaded. Check their website.