Android TV
IPTV on Android TV boxes and Google TV in Ireland
If you asked us to specify one setup for an Irish sitting room without knowing anything else about your house, this would be it. Here is why, what to buy, and how to keep it working.
Why we recommend it
Four reasons Android is our default answer
Player choice
More than one suitable player is available, so if one behaves oddly on your hardware there is a straightforward alternative.
Enough memory
A decent box has the headroom to load a large channel guide quickly, which is exactly where older televisions fall over.
Ethernet on most boxes
A physical network port, which sticks generally lack. In an Irish house that single feature solves most buffering problems outright.
It outlives the television
When a manufacturer stops updating your set, the box carries on. It also moves house with you and plugs into the next television.
Buying advice
What to look for, and what to avoid
We do not sell hardware and earn nothing from this. It is simply what we would tell a relative.
- At least 2 GB of memory. Below that, the channel guide is a struggle no matter what else is right.
- An ethernet port, if the television is more than a room away from the router.
- A recent Android version, and a manufacturer that still issues updates.
- A recognised brand available from an Irish retailer, so returns are straightforward.
Avoid
- Very cheap unbranded boxes with implausible specifications and no support.
- Anything advertised as "fully loaded" or pre-installed with third-party content apps.
- Boxes sold with a subscription bundled in by an unknown seller.
- Old stock running Android versions that no longer receive security updates.
Setup
Getting it running
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Complete the Android setup first
Sign into the Google account, connect to the network and let the initial updates finish before installing anything else.
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Install the player we specified
From the Play Store on the device. Use the one named in your setup message rather than picking from search results.
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Add the account details
Many Android players accept a code or QR sign-in from your phone, which is far easier than typing on a remote. Ask us if yours supports it.
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Plug in the cable if you have one
Do it before you judge performance. A wired box in an Irish house behaves very differently from a wireless one.
Keeping it healthy
Four minutes of maintenance, twice a year
- Clear the player cache if the guide starts loading slowly.
- Uninstall apps you never use. Storage pressure causes strange behaviour on these devices.
- Restart the box fully rather than leaving it on standby for months.
- Let system updates install, but tell us if something breaks immediately afterwards.
Phones and tablets
The same subscription works on an Android phone or tablet, which is handy for watching away from the television. Remember that only one stream plays at a time, and that live video on mobile data consumes an unhelpful amount of your allowance.
Android questions
Is a cheap Android box from an online marketplace a good idea?
Usually not. The very cheap ones ship with old Android versions, little memory and no security updates, and they are the source of a disproportionate share of the faults we spend time on. A recognised brand at a slightly higher price is a better purchase.
Google TV or plain Android TV?
Either works. Google TV is the newer interface layered on the same underlying platform. Pick on price and availability rather than on the name, and make sure the device has at least 2 GB of memory.
Can I watch on my Android phone as well?
Yes, on the same subscription, provided only one stream plays at a time. It is genuinely useful for watching in the kitchen or on a train, though mobile data use is heavy so prefer Wi-Fi where you can.
My box worked and now it does not. What changed?
Most often an automatic app update or a full storage partition. Clearing the player cache and restarting resolves the majority. If it does not, send us the make of the box and what the screen shows.
Not sure which box to buy?
Send us a link to what you are looking at and we will tell you whether it is worth the money before you order it.
The reliable option
An Android box and a network cable solve most problems before they start
It is not the cheapest route and it is not the flashiest, but it is the setup we spend the least time fixing.
Prefer email? Write to [email protected]. We answer 09:00 to 23:00 Irish time.