

Is it better to use a MAG 254/256 instead of Kodi on an Android TV?

I have 2 TVs, one which is a smart TV and uses Kodi and the other is NON-smart TV using a Raspberry Pi 2 which is coming to the end of its life.

I'm experimenting with IPTV add ons like Vader Streams which is OK for sports but it goes down a lot. I'm about to trial SmoothStreamsTV, but am I better off using a MAG box instead of the poor hardware and storage space that's in my TV?

Sports I watch

  • Cricket: IPL etc.

  • EPL (in Australia all we have is Optus which is expensive and stream only)

  • PPV

EDIT: If the MAG isn't what I should go for, what are some other IPTV boxes that are better, or am I better of sticking with Kodi?

Any advice is good, thanks :)

88% Upvoted
This thread is archived
New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast
level 1
6 points · 2 years ago

I'm watching IPTV via PVR Simple Client in Kodi on my Intel NUC. This works great. I'm subscribed to FABIPTV and their EPG works great in combination with Simple Client!

level 2
2 points · 2 years ago

I have to agree. I switched from the STB Emu to Kodi using FABIPTV and it's a better experience. I like the EPG layout (so does the wifey)

level 3

Thinking about a Raspberry Pi 3 in combination with Kodi for the bedroom TV. :)

level 1

The mag seems like a solid box; if you want to have the best IPTV experience it seems like the best way is to have a dedicated box for IPTV and a dedicated box for local media. Pi 3 + mag 254 would be good if you are on a budget

level 2
Original Poster1 point · 2 years ago


Well, I'm not really on a strict budget, but nothing OTT in terms of price would do for a setup.

What are some other boxes I could get? Hopefully ones that would work with Vader Streams and most other paid IPTV services.

level 3

I've heard great things about the dreamlink T1 as well as the mag boxes

level 4
Original Poster1 point · 2 years ago

Cheers for the reply. I read just now that it can't sideload APKs, that's not really an issue if I'll be using it for IPTVs mainly, right?

Unless I want to sideload Google Chrome or something.

level 5

Yeah it's not a problem if you're just using it for IPTV. You could always pair it with a mi box or a firetv stick for an inexpensive option to get everything else going. However I've also tried perfect player on Android and on my firetv box and it did IPTV pretty good but I didn't use smoothstreams or Vader with it so not sure how those work with them.

level 3

Dreamlink T1+ is a great IPTV box, GUI looks more modern than the mag; plus it can also record stuff as well.
If you're asking for a good Kodi box; that's a difficult one because it largely depends on how you consume media; if you're just streaming from third party addons you don't need to spend loads.
However for me, best IPTV box is dreamlinkT1 plus, best Kodi box is the nvidia shield

level 4
Original Poster1 point · 2 years ago

Cheers mate. Will have a look at these. Do you know if it's possible to side load Chrome with flash enabled?

Also, not sure I need a kodi box yet but an IPTV one would be nice.

level 5

If you just want an IPTV box and you don't care for Kodi a mag 254 might be a good bet.
As for wanting chrome you'd have to have an android box; however this is why a t1 plus is not a good option as an android box; it only runs android 4.4, yes you heard me right it's mental. T1 plus should just be viewed as an IPTV box and nothing more.
What do you need chrome + Flash for if I may ask mate?

level 6
Original Poster1 point · 2 years ago

I mainly use Kodi for Exodus and some movies and tv shows on my network.

It's a toss up really, I've read that the 256 encodes using hardware but I'm not really sure if that's an advantage for me tbh.

That is..outdated haha. The Chrome thing is just an example, but some Optus streaming stuff (for cricket and EPL) requires browser only since there are no apps.

Can't remember what it's called exactly but I saw it a while ago; the Xiami Box? Looked pretty powerful but I'd rather a IPTV box.

level 7

A fire TV might be a good android box for Kodi; can't run VPN's and depending on where you live that might be a necessity (Sounds like you live down under so that would probably be an issue knowing what your ISP's are like). I think a raspberry pi 3 running libreelec would be a good solution for exodus and LAN streaming mate though without spending too much.
The 256 can do movies over your network though as well so if you aren't bothered about a pretty GUI the mag 256 might be decent enough.
Would IPTV not be able to do cricket mate? Most offer sky sports and they have pretty extensive cricket coverage.
Xiaomi boxes are android boxes, they can do IPTV but probably not as well as a dedicated stb

level 8
Original Poster2 points · 2 years ago

the 256 looks good. I'm leaning towards it but also considering the T1.

Would IPTV not be able to do cricket mate?

Yeah, can get cricket on IPTV. Been using this Pakistan TV add on for the IPL (Willow TV) and it's pretty bad quality for HD. Been using Vader Streams which is good but it can go down a bit.

What do you have as a set up if you don't mind me asking?

level 9

My current setup is something I'm looking to improve for the next football season. Think I'm gonna get a 256 or a t1 plus, however my current setup:

  • Raspberry Pi 2 running osmc with 17.1 Krypton.

  • IPTV Stalker addon from the official repo as my IPTV client.

  • Fab IPTV (Has all sky and BT sport in 1080p) as my provider but will be testing out a few as my backup for sports, possibly sportsnation HD or IPGuys, I've used epic and they've been decent so if I can't get any better I'll keep them as backup.

I also think fabiptv have their own Kodi addon with timeshifting as well :)

level 10
Original Poster2 points · 2 years ago


Nice. I think a lot of add ons lack this or don't have an easy way to do it.

Also, nice setup. Pi 2 hasn't failed me yet but I've had it for a long time and technology has surpassed what it can handle tbh.

Will also look into those IPTV add ons for the future. Thanks mate! :)

level 3

The t1 plus is a sick little pvr. Check out the video reviews of all the different boxes in /r/iptvgta the top post. The pvr version I didn't post yet but it's the same epg. Its Damn sexy. There's lots of iptv apps as well

level 4

Here's a sneak peek of /r/iptvgta using the top posts of all time!

#1: IPTV Set-Top-Box Reviews
#2: They are watching
#3: Dreamlink T1+ Update! & Review ;D


level 4
Original Poster1 point · 2 years ago

Good stuff, thanks a lot mate for the reviews you did! Was gonna wait for your review but looks likely I'll get the +. Might wait for the review just to be sure of the comparison between the previous generation.

level 1

Smoothstreams works very well in Kodi, you definitely don't need a dedicated box for that service. Any other IPTV service, it might be worth considering, but if you have Kodi already going and are signing up for Smoothstreams, just try their addon (or look in r/smoothstreamstv for fog's addon for a full EPG).

I would at least give it a try, and if your TV can't handle the 720p/60fps streams, then I'd look at something else.

level 2
Original Poster1 point · 2 years ago

Any other IPTV service, it might be worth considering

Can you elaborate on what you mean by that? I'd probably be using Vaders and smoothstreams.

My TV can handle it (1080p, but most broadcasting is in 1080i). I have a Sony Android TV, but not really sure if they are meant to have Kodi running on it. Wouldn't want to waste money on something I don't really need, though.

level 3

If you are sticking with just Vader or Smoothstreams, which aren't stalker based (was what he meant I assume), then Kodi is going to work just fine. You aren't "upgrading" anything by getting a dedicated box for them. Kinda the selling point of going with them to begin with.

As somebody stated earlier I'm starting to become a fan of the simple client too. When Vader is up and working, which has improved lately over my first week+ of using it, running it through SPMC 16.6.81 on my Shield/FireTV2 has been better then ANY experience I've had on the Dreamlink T1.

level 3

Sorry for the late reply. I mainly said that based on comments on this sub. Most people seem to swear by dedicated boxes, so I anticipated you being told that Kodi wasn't meant for IPTV and that you should buy a new device. Personally, I'm a fan of IPTV in Kodi, even stalker-based. And I've also been subscribed to Smoothstreams for over a year now and it's as close to perfect as I've seen.

level 4
Original Poster1 point · 2 years ago

You're right, I've read comments on forums saying that for a better experience you should buy a dedicated box. Appreciate the reply, mate. Lots of good advice, as I'm a bit clueless when it comes to IPTVs.

More posts from the IPTV community
Continue browsing in r/IPTV

Community Details






r/IPTV Rules

No link spamming