IPTV differences. Subscription free vs sub based.

Subscription free


I've spent over 2 1/2 years on support dealing with xbmc / Kodi - and spent more time trying to get stable content for sports / live, than I have done watching it.

Most non technically minded individuals will find it difficult trying to figure it out (in spite of youtube). Apps being supported one minute & not the next.

The problem is those with patience, technically minded and want free TV - will recommend & get the most out of this type of equipment. Those who just want to turn their TV on, see a TV guide, select the channel and watch it - no fuss, drama or technical knowledge or patience should probably look elsewhere.

If really wanting to learn / navigate your way around Kodi, you need a decent keyboard as well as many menus cannot be accessed with the remote controls properly - every box we set up in the office, we do so with a keyboard plugged in (on the subscription free set top boxes).

There is a huge gulf in use / stability between the subscription free & subscription based models - both in hardware and use.

For those wanting to put in rental properties - will be 5 minutes before wandering fingers cause problems as it is not difficult to trip up this hardware / software if someone starts playing with settings. Certainly would never recommend for this purpose. Not as simple to reset as a satellite receiver or cable box (or subscription based hardware, which is much better locked down). Restoring Kodi hardware once reset or altered is not a simple task - totally different from a satellite receiver or subscription based IPTV hardware.

We have also found continual issues with stability with live sports, so would not recommend for this purpose, as you cannot guarantee stability or even if the streams / links will be available. Kodi is good for digging out films / series and at best average quality live TV - but sports, we would not advise purchase or sell on that basis - the subscription based services offer much better content, easier to locate (channel list) and more to the point - far more stability. Also better featured with other implemented software, such as 7 day epg and easy access to catch up TV services overseas.

I lost my patience a few times with Kodi for the type of 'live sport' viewing. After trying to watch a live boxing match, which could only find in Italian, then went off on the last 3 rounds, with me desperately looking to find another working stream, which I did 15 minutes later, as the fight was just finishing. Aggravation - you just want to put on and watch.

If not interested in using for live sport and just want a little extra viewing / content, then there are good devices out there, if well set up - but we would not recommend for live sport, having seen too many issues - unless you are prepared to accept this as a trade off for 'it is free'.

As ever goes back to 'you get what you pay for' - Kodi is good & highly flexible piece of media software, when well set up and combined , with decent hardware (rather than under specified cheap hardware). However it does depend on your level of technical ability & the type of content you wish to view.


Do not expect Sky or Apple type ease of use with this equipment / software. If you want anything approaching a Sky box in terms of use & a high level of stability (certainly with live content), then review subscription based IPTV models - or use a satellite dish.

Also however good your IPTV is, you need a decent internet service provider as any system will stand or fall on the stability of this - locally a few 'less than stellar' internet companies.


Paul
http://www.televisiontechnology.eu

If you have a sky signal through a dish you could use a spider box or f5s then its free with channel list etc
and easy to use

If you have a sky signal through a dish you could use a spider box or f5s then its free with channel list etc
and easy to use

That is card sharing - not same as IPTV, but yes a way of getting 'cheap sky' if you have the internet & a satellite dish. Boxes you mention are at the lower end of the quality spectrum & if going down this path, better to get a slightly better equipment, which can be warranted or fixed locally. We tested the F5S & the V8s a while back and had issues with fairly weak tuners, quality and power supply failures, so not overly enamoured with the cheap China boxes. Issue with warranty as well, being in China - but cheap. European branded models generally offer better quality, are a little more expensive, but have warranty and a little better built / better components.

What the card share does not do - is the catch up and the video on demand services that the IPTV services can offer (outside of the UK). But it does get you most of SKy in SD on the cheap.


Paul
http://www.televisiontechnology.eu

Hi paul ,agreed the boxes are not that great bit also depends on the server provider,of which I do know a very good one,but would not want to fit these with a warranty as I fitted in the uk and spent a lot of time re issue the codes as they did faulter every now and then.

Hi paul ,agreed the boxes are not that great bit also depends on the server provider,of which I do know a very good one,but would not want to fit these with a warranty as I fitted in the uk and spent a lot of time re issue the codes as they did faulter every now and then.

We ordered 3 x V8s to test - and 2 of these had faulty power supply units. Not off to a great start ! Enough to put us off - though our issue is we have to warranty locally and offer support, so generally will over specify, rather than under - as avoids headaches for both us and clients later.

Technomate UK just dropped the price on the older TM5402 receiver, which is amongst the most solidly built receiver available. Not modern or good for IPTV but built like a tank and you can CS with phantom patch and get 7 day epg.