Which Android TV box to achieve high speeds?

[YorkshireTyke]

2 hours ago, Centigrade32 said:

 

If you are just looking for an upgrade and are not willing to test your current systems

 

 

I haven't got a lan cable long enough, I would need about 4 linked together.....

[D2Pipes]

17 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Unfortunately I cannot connect via Lan, the distance is too far.

 

I provide support to my main IPTV streaming source and to be completely honest, buffering is by far the most difficult issue to resolve.  Worse, is if the op does not follow advice then buffering is impossible to resolve.  You have been advised by many to try an Ethernet connection before spending many bucks on the purchase of an Nvidia shield so, if you cannot move the TV & STB to the router or move the router to the TV & STB there is a third option which is to purchase a suitable length Ethernet cable from:-
https://www.lazada.co.th/products/10m15m-20m-30m-40m-50m-60m-80m-100m-rj45-cat6-lan-i2642377244-s9493371497.html?

You have buffering and we need to ascertain the route cause. 

The obvious initial reasons and/or tests that could help identify the issue are:-
i) Your STB which you seem convinced to be the cause
ii) The WiFi connection, easily proved by the purchase of a suitable Ethernet cable from the link above

(from my experience, I can say the X96 series of STB's seem to have a rather weak WiFi connection but more testing is necessary before I can confirm this statement as I have since seen issues on the 2.4GHz WiFi band of my ISP)
iii) Your IPTV source which is easily proved by taking the free trial from https://xtreamtv.live

(I use the above provider as a backup so I know the quality of their streams and they very rarely have buffering or any other issues)

iv) Your ISP provider which is easily proved by either using a hotspot from your phone and/or installing an app on your phone and testing using WiFi from your ISP provider and/or data from your mobile provider
(you should definately test using your phone before purchasing a Nvidia Shield or any other STB)
The above steps will provide an excellent insight and help to show the route forward and best of all, the cost is minimal in that all that needs to be purchased is the Ethernet cable.  The link I provided above is for high quality outdoor Ethernet cable so you can always purchase a cheaper Cat6 cable.....
I look forward to your response to the tests I have outlined in order to resolve your buffering issues.

BTW: run a speedtest from Testmy.net as directed by @CallumWK and let me know the results please.

[D2Pipes]

11 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:

I haven't got a lan cable long enough, I would need about 4 linked together.....

I have provided a link above for LAN cables that go to 100M so surely this would be long enough.
If they no longer have 100M LAN cables then ask a shop to make you one.

This is neither expensive or difficult but you seem resistant to sensible suggestions.....

[D2Pipes]

2 hours ago, Centigrade32 said:

you can look at the Ugoos AM8 with 8GB of RAM: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005965681890.html

That STB is expensive.  I use X96 STB's purchased from:-

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/x96-x4-64gb-rom-4gb-64gb-wifi-5g-bluetooth-cpu-s905x4-android-11-x96max-plus-x96air-i2740445267-s9944088394.html?

There is no need to buy the more expensive LAN1000M as this is not necessary for streaming.

I only recommend the X96 STB's as I have about 5 off and I have recommended to others with positive feedback 🙂

[YorkshireTyke]

2 hours ago, Raindancer said:

PM sent.

 

Reply sent, thanks

[YorkshireTyke]

19 minutes ago, D2Pipes said:

 

I provide support to my main IPTV streaming source and to be completely honest, buffering is by far the most difficult issue to resolve.  Worse, is if the op does not follow advice then buffering is impossible to resolve.  You have been advised by many to try an Ethernet connection before spending many bucks on the purchase of an Nvidia shield so, if you cannot move the TV & STB to the router or move the router to the TV & STB there is a third option which is to purchase a suitable length Ethernet cable from:-
https://www.lazada.co.th/products/10m15m-20m-30m-40m-50m-60m-80m-100m-rj45-cat6-lan-i2642377244-s9493371497.html?

You have buffering and we need to ascertain the route cause. 

The obvious initial reasons and/or tests that could help identify the issue are:-
i) Your STB which you seem convinced to be the cause
ii) The WiFi connection, easily proved by the purchase of a suitable Ethernet cable from the link above

(from my experience, I can say the X96 series of STB's seem to have a rather weak WiFi connection but more testing is necessary before I can confirm this statement as I have since seen issues on the 2.4GHz WiFi band of my ISP)
iii) Your IPTV source which is easily proved by taking the free trial from https://xtreamtv.live

(I use the above provider as a backup so I know the quality of their streams and they very rarely have buffering or any other issues)

iv) Your ISP provider which is easily proved by either using a hotspot from your phone and/or installing an app on your phone and testing using WiFi from your ISP provider and/or data from your mobile provider
(you should definately test using your phone before purchasing a Nvidia Shield or any other STB)
The above steps will provide an excellent insight and help to show the route forward and best of all, the cost is minimal in that all that needs to be purchased is the Ethernet cable.  The link I provided above is for high quality outdoor Ethernet cable so you can always purchase a cheaper Cat6 cable.....
I look forward to your response to the tests I have outlined in order to resolve your buffering issues.

BTW: run a speedtest from Testmy.net as directed by @CallumWK and let me know the results please.

Ok I will do speed tests as directed tomorrow, I have to do school run now !

 

But with the mecool box buffering is not an issue. It plays SD and HD but will not play FHD at all, not even with buffering from this IPTV provider

[YorkshireTyke]

xtreamlive trial applied for

[D2Pipes]

7 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:

xtreamlive trial applied for

Well done and a good starter.
Let me know how you get on.

It will be easier to install their apps by inputting the code to Downloader.  If you do not have Downloader let me know and I will check if I have the apk.

[tlcwaterfall]

4 hours ago, MadAtMatrix said:

Lazada and Shopee has them, but they are way overpriced and many sellers are from China. 

They are "expensive" but when you consider that I bought my original one for 136 USD in 2015, it has cost me ~14 USD / year. 

I cannot find any of them shipping direct from USA on Amazon, but you can use a freight forwarder like myus.com to send it to you. I used myus.com to send me the updated Amazon Blink camera module recently and was pleased with their service. 

 

My new one if being brought over with a friend that is arriving in April. 

I can see one listed at 216 UK Pounds on Amazon UK (not sold by Nvidia), and one at 197 USD on Amazon USA (sold by Nvidia). I would say that buying the US one and having it forwarded to you is the better bet, as you have bought it from the manufacturer. 

Buy the Shield TV Pro, not the Shield TV (looks like a tube, it doesn;t have USB ports, and has less RAM and only 8GB memory. 





 

Nvidia Shield pro is a beast and well worth the money.

[Centigrade32]

2 hours ago, D2Pipes said:

That STB is expensive.  I use X96 STB's purchased from:-

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/x96-x4-64gb-rom-4gb-64gb-wifi-5g-bluetooth-cpu-s905x4-android-11-x96max-plus-x96air-i2740445267-s9944088394.html?

There is no need to buy the more expensive LAN1000M as this is not necessary for streaming.

I only recommend the X96 STB's as I have about 5 off and I have recommended to others with positive feedback 🙂

 

I know it's not the cheapest. If the OP is considering an Nvidia Shield, then obviously they don't mind paying a bit more for a higher spec. Personally, I have a ToX 3 & 4.

[Centigrade32]

3 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Ok I will do speed tests as directed tomorrow, I have to do school run now !

 

But with the mecool box buffering is not an issue. It plays SD and HD but will not play FHD at all, not even with buffering from this IPTV provider

 

Have you tested it with FHD/4k files?

 

Try these, to check at which point the box gives up: https://repo.jellyfin.org/test-videos/

You can play them in a Browser by pressing the Play icon or you can download a sequence to a USB drive.

[YorkshireTyke]

Lan cable ordered, should deliver Saturday..........

 

Thanks for your help and  patience guys.

[D2Pipes]

15 hours ago, Centigrade32 said:

Try these, to check at which point the box gives up: https://repo.jellyfin.org/test-videos/

@Centigrade32 You're a star

Thanks for the link; much appreciated as I am sure the link will  be of future use.

In the past I have used the 'Video' tab in the Android Ookla Speedtest but the more tools in one's armoury, the better.

cheersD

and a note to @YorkshireTyke All of video tests rely on a stable high speed Internet connection which is where a standard Speedtest is most useful.  You have said in the past you have 350Mb/s so the video tests should be testing your STB.

Edit: most replaced ost

[D2Pipes]

15 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Lan cable ordered, should deliver Saturday..........

Well done

Edit: If you ordered from my link above then you will see the cables are high quality and genuine Cat6 🙂

 

15 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Thanks for your help and  patience guys.

No probs.

Buferring can be a nightmare to resolve.  One evening I spent an hour trying to sort a buffering issue on all streams.  I knew it was an issue my end but I just could not resolve then I realised that I had not tried my 'fix all'

When all else fails always, "force stop, clear cache, power off the STB and router, wait one minute, try again.

To all readers, the above procedure will catch msybe 90% of issues.  If this does not work then it is a matter of having to delve deeper.....

[YorkshireTyke]

Latest update:

 

I can't test with Lan cable yet as Lazada says will be delivered by Saturday.

 

Speedtest using testmy.net using wi-fi

 

Mecool box 38, 40, 39

 

X96 41, 36, 24, 33

 

Laptop 215, 219

 

Mobile 72, 71, 51, 71

 

Ugoos AM8 on the way, probably reach no later than Sunday.

 

Streaming IPTV with free trial from Xstream :

 

Catchup mainly plays with good quality picture apart from some FHD channels like BBC2 and ITV2 which buffered.

[YorkshireTyke]

D2Pipes, yes ordered from your link. 10m, less than 100 Baht with postage.

[Centigrade32]

2 minutes ago, D2Pipes said:

Well done

 

No probs.

Buferring can be a nightmare to resolve.  One evening I spent an hour trying to sort a buffering issue on all streams.  I knew it was an issue my end but I just could not resolve then I realised that I had not tried my 'fix all'

When all else fails always, "force stop, clear cache, power off the STB and router, wait one minute, try again.

To all readers, the above procedure will catch msybe 90% of issues.  If this does not work then it is a matter of having to delve deeper.....

 

Apparently, in this case, buffering is not the issue. Instead they write about an inability to stream Full HD material.

Since I don't ever utilise IPTV, my knowledge of BBC programmes in Full HD over IP is limited.

[Centigrade32]

4 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Ugoos AM8 on the way, probably reach no later than Sunday.

 

Why are you buying boxes so quickly? Why not wait for initial test results firstly?

 

I don't understand your speed test results. Why do some have four sets of numbers, some have three and some have two?

[BenCrew]

5 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Latest update:

 

I can't test with Lan cable yet as Lazada says will be delivered by Saturday.

 

Speedtest using testmy.net using wi-fi

 

Mecool box 38, 40, 39

 

X96 41, 36, 24, 33

 

Laptop 215, 219

 

Mobile 72, 71, 51, 71

 

Ugoos AM8 on the way, probably reach no later than Sunday.

 

Streaming IPTV with free trial from Xstream :

 

Catchup mainly plays with good quality picture apart from some FHD channels like BBC2 and ITV2 which buffered.

 

In which case, install the IPTV on your laptop and use HD cable to tv. 

[CallumWK]

26 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Latest update:

 

I can't test with Lan cable yet as Lazada says will be delivered by Saturday.

 

Speedtest using testmy.net using wi-fi

 

Mecool box 38, 40, 39

 

X96 41, 36, 24, 33

 

Laptop 215, 219

 

Mobile 72, 71, 51, 71

 

Ugoos AM8 on the way, probably reach no later than Sunday.

 

Streaming IPTV with free trial from Xstream :

 

Catchup mainly plays with good quality picture apart from some FHD channels like BBC2 and ITV2 which buffered.

 

If those speed tests were to UK, then the problem is with your IPTV service. Did you select London GB at the top of the page?

 

With those speeds everything should work fine. Since you ordered a 10m cable, obviously your router is within 10 meter distance, which also shouldn't be an issue for the wifi.

 

Are you with TOT or True DOCSIS?

 

Do you have a wireless mouse or air mouse plugged in the box?

[YorkshireTyke]

20 minutes ago, Centigrade32 said:

 

Why are you buying boxes so quickly? Why not wait for initial test results firstly?

 

I don't understand your speed test results. Why do some have four sets of numbers, some have three and some have two?

 

Because I did a different number of tests. 

 

Yes, London GB

 

Internet provider is True

[CallumWK]

1 minute ago, YorkshireTyke said:

 

Because I did a different number of tests. 

 

Yes, London GB

• •  

Posted 12 minutes ago

27 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Latest update:

 

I can't test with Lan cable yet as Lazada says will be delivered by Saturday.

 

Speedtest using testmy.net using wi-fi

 

Mecool box 38, 40, 39

 

X96 41, 36, 24, 33

 

Laptop 215, 219

 

Mobile 72, 71, 51, 71

 

Ugoos AM8 on the way, probably reach no later than Sunday.

 

Streaming IPTV with free trial from Xstream :

 

Catchup mainly plays with good quality picture apart from some FHD channels like BBC2 and ITV2 which buffered.

Expand  

 

 

 

Are you with TOT or True DOCSIS?

 

Do you have a wireless mouse or air mouse plugged in the box?

[D2Pipes]

3 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Speedtest using testmy.net using wi-fi

Your speedtest results are roughly similar to what I have using an X96 STB which buffers intermittently.
I think you will see a vast improvement when using the LAN cable, fingers crossed.

 

3 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Catchup mainly plays with good quality picture apart from some FHD channels like BBC2 and ITV2 which buffered.

and what about live streams?

At least changing the IPTV provider allows you to stream FHD which you way you couldn't do with your original proivder so we are moving in the right direction.

BTW: Xtream does not buffer with either Live or Catchup for me so, as I said above, I suspect it is your WiFi and maybe your original IPTV source.

If you tell me who your original IPTV supplier is I will request a free trial to test and report back to you.

3 hours ago, Centigrade32 said:

Apparently, in this case, buffering is not the issue. Instead they write about an inability to stream Full HD material.

Since I don't ever utilise IPTV, my knowledge of BBC programmes in Full HD over IP is limited.

No probs as betwixt us we will reslove the op's issues 🙂

 

2 hours ago, BenCrew said:

In which case, install the IPTV on your laptop and use HD cable to tv. 

Agreed.  Install IPTV Smarters (no charge) on your laptop and try both your original and Xtream feeds as a comparison.  Smarters provides a number of login options so chose the Xtream option (different to the XtreamTV.live) and fill in the uRL, UID and PSSWD.

 

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

With those speeds everything should work fine.

Not necessarily but the LAN cable will prove one way or the other.

 

2 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Internet provider is True

I steam regularly with both 3BB and True using WiFi on my Android tablets with no issues with either3BB or True ISP providers 🙂

 

I am out for the rest of the day.....

 

[YorkshireTyke]

The only thing I live stream is foorball but the trial doesn't give sport although I did put a few music channels on whilst doing other stuff and thye froze occasionally.

 

The format is identical to a provider I had a free day trial from last week but a lot of stuff wouldn't play, ch 5, sky max, 5 star.

 

The one I'm using now plays everything but FHD but still on trial.

 

One I subscribed to has a lot of playback issues, especially footy the next day and not always has the programmes to show it

[CallumWK]

2 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

The only thing I live stream is foorball but the trial doesn't give sport although I did put a few music channels on whilst doing other stuff and thye froze occasionally.

 

The format is identical to a provider I had a free day trial from last week but a lot of stuff wouldn't play, ch 5, sky max, 5 star.

 

The one I'm using now plays everything but FHD but still on trial.

 

One I subscribed to has a lot of playback issues, especially footy the next day and not always has the programmes to show it

 

Try to spend more than 200 baht per month on a service, and it actually may work.

As with everything in the world, you get what you pay for, and those here claiming that their 200 bht service is perfect have an agenda.

My service plays everything just fine, but it cost more.

[YorkshireTyke]

54 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Try to spend more than 200 baht per month on a service, and it actually may work.

As with everything in the world, you get what you pay for, and those here claiming that their 200 bht service is perfect have an agenda.

My service plays everything just fine, but it cost more.

Been paying double that for TV alone, no movies or series, for around 7 years but a few months ago a few channels dropped out and they didn't reply to emails as they did previously and online it was suggested they had been shut down so I asked for recommendations so I tried what was offered including 2 providers who were both recommended from 2 people I know.

 

Instead of the sarcasm why not share who you use and the cost?

[CallumWK]

3 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Been paying double that for TV alone, no movies or series, for around 7 years but a few months ago a few channels dropped out and they didn't reply to emails as they did previously and online it was suggested they had been shut down so I asked for recommendations so I tried what was offered including 2 providers who were both recommended from 2 people I know.

 

Instead of the sarcasm why not share who you use and the cost?

 

You willing to pay 600 baht a month?

[YorkshireTyke]

32 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

You willing to pay 600 baht a month?

 

Yes if it gives me what I want.

 

Looking at iPTV GTV which has been recommended by a friend. If I pay monthly it's 31 euros a month.......

[CallumWK]

6 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:

 

Yes if it gives me what I want.

 

Looking at iPTV GTV which has been recommended by a friend. If I pay monthly it's 31 euros a month.......

 

And does IPTV GTV also doesn't work for you?

[YorkshireTyke]

10 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

And does IPTV GTV also doesn't work for you?

 

?????

 

Jeez are you going to say the name of your provider or not?