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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

tv android boxes kodi or iptv?

27 replies

Coldshoulders · 06/01/2019 18:37

So basically I have sky q tv box and just paid 70 this month for nothing but repeats. Paid the bill and decided to buy an android smart tv box (my tv isn't a smart tv) so wondering if anyone else has one and what apps they use on it. I have kodi but it's not the best. I have installed BBC iPlayer itv hub etc been told to look into iptv has anyone else used this and is it worth downloading and setting up? Thanks in advance x

OP posts:

NeedAdvice12345 · 06/01/2019 18:48

Perfect player is good if you get a paid for IPTV service. Some IPTV providers also have there own apps.

StoorieHoose · 06/01/2019 18:53

I have an IPTV app on my firestick. It’s not reliable enough for me to completely get rid of Sky though - in the 6 months I’ve had it, it has gone down regularly and I have had to change setting and reinstall the app at least 5 times. However the support group is good. As long as you get a good provider, have good internet speeds (both up and down) and accept that it won’t be reliable go for it (if you want the name of who I am using pm me)

BG2015 · 06/01/2019 18:58

There are Facebook groups that can help you get the most out of Kodi.

Netflix is a good alternative at £7.99 a month, it has some good films and original dramas on it.

I refuse to pay for Sky TV and haven't had it for over 5 years now. It's a rip off.

bellaboo82 · 06/01/2019 19:03

This reply has been deleted

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StoorieHoose · 06/01/2019 19:14

I didn’t have the patience for Kodi. All that searching for streams!

Summerisdone · 06/01/2019 19:23

I've got a Firestick, an Apple TV box a Rocky stick and a Now TV box (obviously not all on the same TV) and find the Roku is the best for what I want. It's got Netflix, iPlayer, ITV, 4OD, Amazon Prime and Now TV, all of which are the streaming apps I use.
The other devices don't have every single one of these streaming apps, usually just 4-5 of the 6.
I pay less than £40 for all the streaming services (the ones that charge anyway) and I've also given DM the logins so her and sisters can watch on the apps in their house too.

Btw Now TV is basically sky, but a hell of a lot cheaper and no contract either, I first gave it a try about 5 years ago and have never looked back.

tor8181 · 06/01/2019 20:06

i haven't had sky for 2 years now

i was paying 92 pound for the full service(probably jumped up loads by now) and just before Christmas 16 i decided ive had enough as it was all repeats and reality rubbish which we dont wantch and as a avid cinema family(3-4 times a week)all the "new"films we had already seen,it was sky movies that was the dearest

i bought a fire stick for 25 pound(on sale at the time) installed all the free demands,kodi(we update this regular via YouTube) Disney tv,netflix,wwe app(all paid for monthly though)

in the autumn we had vouchers for now tv for 3 months free of movies and entertainment so that running out soon but we are keeping it up

i do pay for amazon prime and we do get the tv part but dont watch it much

best thing i ever did was get rid of sky

IamSerena · 06/01/2019 20:35

Showbox (films and TV shows) is great for the android box and also mobdro (live TV streams)

BadgersPaws2 · 06/01/2019 20:53

Please don't use the dodgy stuff, anything that lets you watch films that have only just come out in the cinema almost certainly isn't legal. Aside from the legality of it just think about other people reading this. Many work in the creative industries and how would you feel if you saw your boss or your customers talking on this forum about how they could avoid paying you for your work?

Original poster

Coldshoulders · 07/01/2019 14:29

I never said I wasn't willing to pay for a service to watch tv or films. I never said I wanted to use anything that was illegal or free I said I want a sky alternative as I pay 70 a month for nothing but repeats. I'm not bothered what people think of me posting about this as it was a genuine query and nothing more

OP posts:

Hont1986 · 07/01/2019 14:39

To be honest I have enough to be watching with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and iPlayer. Don't think I need anything else. You can set up Kodi to get free films and stuff but it's complicated and breaks a lot.

TooTrueToBeGood · 07/01/2019 14:55

I never said I wasn't willing to pay for a service to watch tv or films. I never said I wanted to use anything that was illegal or free

But in your OP you said:

"I have kodi but it's not the best."
and
"been told to look into iptv"

Whilst it is not illegal itself, Kodi is most commonly used for streaming illegally distributed content and the vast majority of IPTV services are infringing copyright as well. You're confusing people as to what your actual criteria are.

If you are wanting only legitimate services and are willing to pay for them then Prime and Netflix are both good options. I prefer Netflix for the quality of the content but Prime is starting to add more channels (at extra cost) which may be of interest. Even if you take both Prime and Netflix you'll still be the best part of £50 a month better off compared to your Sky subscription.

AdobeWanKenobi · 07/01/2019 15:04

DH went through this phase. He cancelled Sky, bought a fancy box, installed all manner of stuff on it and was pleased with the fact he was saving £50 a month. (from memory it's illegal to sell the access but not illegal to access it yourself)

Except it didn't work.

Our internet wasn't stable enough to stream much of anything so you'd be watching a movie, connection would drop and by the time it's sorted you'd miss ten minutes. The 'themes' he put on were clunky, difficult to navigate and frankly just confusing.

It was a constant source of arguments in our house because I was so bloody frustrated with it. After about 2 years of putting up with it I finally snapped after yet another a row and reinstated Sky.

19lottie82 · 07/01/2019 15:08

I use a service called real debrid, and it really makes a big difference when watching streams on kodi. I’m not a tech expert but from what I understand it pulls the best streams so there is less buffering and it’s more reliable. It’s only a couple of pounds a month.

19lottie82 · 07/01/2019 15:08

Add on wise I use covenant and genesis reborn.

19lottie82 · 07/01/2019 15:12

You can set up Kodi to get free films and stuff but it's complicated and breaks a lot.

It’s not really complicated. Get an amazon fire stick or box and there are step by step guides online and videos on YouTube. As long as you follow these to the letter, it’s fairly simple.

And with a bit of trial and error you quickly work out which streams will work and which won’t.

HannaSong · 07/01/2019 15:15

Roku stick is very good. If you get the more expensive one it has voice search and is faster. You can install most of the major streaming apps (iplayer, itv, netflix, prime.... etc)

BadgersPaws2 · 07/01/2019 15:16

"You can set up Kodi to get free films and stuff but it's complicated and breaks a lot."

It's also often, but not always, wrong. The OP's question isn't itself an issue, but some of the responses here are.

Again how would you feel seeing people discuss how to rip you off?

huuskymam · 07/01/2019 15:26

An iptv service is great but only if you're broadband is strong otherwise, like most of the apps out there, you'll get constant buffering.

Original poster

Coldshoulders · 07/01/2019 17:17

Thanks for all your responses quite a few things to look into here. I won't lie I actually thought kodi and iptv was legal as it's on the play store and lots of shops etc sell preloaded boxes and usb stocks so I actually just presumed they was legit. I'm not trying to rip anyone off was just asking for some advice on it tbh. Thanks all for your advice x

OP posts:

Original poster

Coldshoulders · 07/01/2019 17:18

Usb sticks**

OP posts:

Chouetted · 07/01/2019 17:41

Kodi is very legal, if you use it to access your own files. That's what it started off as. I use similar software to stream my mp3 collection throughout the house, quite quite legally.

What's illegal on the "preloaded" boxes is the preloaded stuff.

7ardmore · 30/01/2020 02:56

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Helpinghim · 30/01/2020 03:01

Cinema HD app is better than Kodi for firestick. Like Netflix

ManCubsMama · 30/01/2020 03:46

We’ve had IPTV for 2 years and really rate it. Another PP said it’s not reliable but I haven’t found this to be the case. We did need to get a wifi booster though, but since then all fine.

When we got it I asked DH if it was legal and he “if you have to ask, don’t”

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