Question on Boxes and Apps

by Abdel403

Please and thank you:

1- Do I need an app with the mi-box or I could enjoy watching the IPTV still with the box alone?

2- Do I need a smart TV for the app if I decide to use one? Is the app installed on the box or the TV? Because I’m not decided for sure if I’ll buy a smart TV or just a regular TV. The box should be able to provide the smartness I need to watch IPTV, YouTube ..etc, wouldn’t it?

3- Any one running mi-box with smart or not TVs with or without app, please give details and appreciation?

Edit:

I watch occasionally TV, like foreign channels and a lot of time on my laptop I watch YouTube or sometimes find some websites that have some video content. So, I’m don’t know about gaming nor have an interest in that. Currently, I have a MAG 254 hooked to an older TV (not smart) that I use with an IPTV subscription. It’s okay, the channels sometimes freeze and the MAG box sometimes needs reloading ..etc..

Now, I decided to get a mi box (I know there are a lots of other options like Nvidea, formuler, firestick etc) and app (Tivimate/MytvOnline/XCIPTV/IPTV extreme), but first let me expose what I understood; the app is not necessary but it’s to create/beatify/organize a user interface for the channels list.

Edit: I just discovered that the USB antenna on my MAG254 is an RT5370 150Mbps that works only on 2.4 GHz, it doesn’t look that it supports 5 Ghz. I’ll try to get something that picks up the faster wifi and hope that could improve the streaming.

Edit: this is an update (oct-2020). I received the Xiaomi mi box and so far so good. Installation was fine. Switching and connecting to both frequencies is fine. Don’t notice issues for capturing the wifi signal at home. The remote is smooth and responsive. Compared to the MAG, I can’t say if it’s better or worse. For my application (IPTV only), the mi box is good. At the end, for IPTV experience, and to be able to enjoy; It all comes down to the server quality. I didn’t a couple 2-3 tests of different servers and picked the one I thought was less freezing. The only issue I noticed is that menu on the android mi box is different of the MAG254. I mean the way the channels are laid out, but I believe it’s related to the server and the provider?! On the MAG I see the possibility of password protecting some channels like adult channels, but that not available on the mi box.

r0binib0r

Mi box s is good Nothing else needed until you find a supplier Some will give you an M3u to use with any generic iptv apps, others will have hardcoded apps they will provide you. If in the UK I would recommend having a vpn too

Apps on the TV suck, stick to apps on the box

(edited to add last comment)

milhouse2k

You don't need to get a smart tv, Mi box will work fine. You do need an app to use with IPTV. Tivimate for example. If you really want the same feel of the Mag, then use STB. Your Mag was the IPTV player. But now that you switched, the mi box can do other things as well. App is necessary, or you have no where to use your iptv.

Crue650

Spend the extra money and get a formuler... send mi box back

Anybody_Sharp

Get a Formuler! MOL 2 app allready installed just plug and play!

MagiRiver

IPTV EXTREME PRO+MX PLAYER PRO as external player+display at 50hz That's the secret for IPTV on mibox

Picatree

I can answer this for you. To cut the code that is cable or satellite you need a smart tv. And not just a smart tv because they are plenty of smart dumb ones out there. If you want to look for a true smart tv, it must have the ability to run android apps. Bonus if it comes with a web browser or else you will have to buy your own web browser because Google does not provide chrome web browser for smart tvs and I don't know why. You can also use an hdmi stick like Amazon fire stick for your iptv needs. Usually, from were you get your iptv service they provide an app you can install on your smart tv or fire stick or whatever Android device you use. In order to install the app, you can side load it or install it from Google Play Store such as the smartiptv app. They provide the instructions. On most Samsung smart tvs smartiptv comes standard preinstalled and you don't have to pay to use it. But on other smart tv 2019+ you must pay for smartiptv app, you must pay I believe $8.49 one time fee which registers your tv mac address. Then using your iptv subscription settings you register them at www.siptv.app to work with smartiptv app. It takes about 15 minutes for the whole process but once it's done, you have regular tv service better than cable or satellite with a million live channels.

Spoiler alert, you need high speed internet at least 50MB/sec or higher. The faster the better because it slows down and buffers when you have to much traffic on the internet. One way to avoid extreme buffering is to divide and dedicate your wifi channels such as 2ghz channel for smartphones and 5ghz for smart TV. Otherwise anyone can do this and it's the future.

Abdel403

Thanks everyone for your inputs.