Who wants to explain IPTV to me?

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Rikkitic

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# 199195 8-Aug-2016 13:04

I recently became curious about IPTV but am having trouble fully grasping it. As far as I can see it is partly a way of serving up your own media files (so what is the difference with a PC server?) and partly a way of streaming on-line content via a private channel (so what is the difference with a VPN?) I know it is also more than that but I don’t really understand what.

I also know it is a way of illegally accessing TV and films, but as far as I can see, these can also be streamed in the usual way. So what is the added value of an IPTV STB? As far as I can see, anything it can do I can also do with my streaming PC. Is anyone prepared to explain this to me in single-syllable words?

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

richms

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# 1606322 8-Aug-2016 13:17

IPTV is actually a cable tv like service served over IP and not DVB-C or some other non packet system. Think the vodafone tbox on a fiber connection. Its a controlled IP environment where everything is managed by the service provider.

The name has been hijacked by anyone offering a box that shows streaming video over the internet. It is just streaming video, not IPTV. You are not looking at real IPTV which is why your PC can do everything.

Richard rich.ms

Rikkitic

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# 1606324 8-Aug-2016 13:22

Ok that makes sense. Even I can understand it. But if this is just like stepping back to one-way 1960s broadcast TV, then what makes it better than streaming? Is it just the convenience of being able to single-click a channel button?

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

richms

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# 1606326 8-Aug-2016 13:26

Rikkitic:

Ok that makes sense. Even I can understand it. But if this is just like stepping back to one-way 1960s broadcast TV, then what makes it better than streaming? Is it just the convenience of being able to single-click a channel button?

Because it allows for more channels than a legacy style coax tv network, since the box is only pulling in the streams it needs using multicast, rather than how the old coax stuff works where all the channels are on the cable and the box tunes into the right one like a broadcast television.

Streaming is crap for live events. look at the hassles that generic web based stuff has with excess latency, buffering, quality switching up and down etc. IPTV gives a just works experiance to people vs the hassle of streams. Its not an alternative for web based stuff, its what cable and satellite TV providers are evolving into using.

Richard rich.ms

Rikkitic

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# 1606347 8-Aug-2016 14:23

I think I get it now. Thanks for the excellent explanation.

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

Yoban

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# 1606419 8-Aug-2016 16:20

I would be keen to understand how to set this up - tools, sources of IPTV channels, the need for geo-unblocking...etc. This sounds like a good alternative to Sky for me.

Can I use VLC as my IPTV client as an example?

yitz

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# 1606428 8-Aug-2016 16:39

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I think you need to make clear what you are trying to set up:

-Home theatre / media centre set up e.g. Kodi

-IPTV set top box e.g. Vodafone TV, a hospitality/hotel entertainment distribution system

-OTT (over-the-top) streaming accessed through apps e.g. Spark's Lightbox, Netflix, YouTube etc.

Yoban

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# 1606631 8-Aug-2016 22:04

thanks for that and a good point. I am running WMC on top of Win7 and was thinking about incorporating in tot hat some how - if possible. I also have a samsung E series smart tv.

Alternative option you mention of OTT, looks interesting.

Also thought about using VLC - if possible after some initial research.

All ideas welcome.