Reader Submission: Experiences with the IPTV Set-Top Box MAG 254
For those who miss Dutch TV, but do not have a technical inclination, there is a very good Set-top box on the market.
Skeptical
A while ago I saw a message on Thailandblog.nl from Fred Repko, who had an IPTV Set-top box to offer. When I read something like this I like to know more, so I searched the internet for this box, but found a box with a similar name and was not impressed. I could have seen another box (the Minix X8-H plus) in action that week, which was much better hardware-wise.
I responded with references to websites and remained a bit skeptical. He offered to send me a device to test it. He did this this week and I tried it out and I can only be positive about it.
The biggest difference between the MAG 254 (its IPTV Set-top box) and the Minix is not so much in the specs, but in the nature of the beast.
Many channels and channel list
The MAG 254 is pure and only a multimedia machine: you can receive 159 TV channels via the Internet and also about 50 radio channels. Including many Dutch channels and also sports channels. You can get a complete list if you click here: List TV and Radio
Simply structured
The interface is very simple and therefore very clear. The channels are divided by country and theme or you can scroll through the entire list of 159 channels. Many channels start immediately, others you have to wait a while until the buffer is full and only then run. But then also good. There is a menu for each channel, where you can characterize a broadcast, so that you will not forget it. Most channels are in good to very good quality.
The USB ports (2) allow you to use external equipment such as a keyboard and mouse and you can also connect an external hard drive with your own movies. The device supports 3D. That is to say: it plays your 3D movies in the SBS side by side or on top of each other. Your 3D TV then converts the image into a 3D image. If you want to watch a 3D movie in 2D, the device can also show it normally.
You can change very little about the device yourself. It comes as it is. This has its advantages and disadvantages: you cannot install Kodi or other TV channels on it. It is paid TV viewing, but for a ridiculously low price, when you consider how many channels in good quality you get for it.
Because you can't change anything, you can't do much wrong.
Limitations Android TV boxes
That is different with an android box. There you can make a lot of mistakes and it can quickly result that your favorite channels are no longer there or are in a different place. You will find many channels, but you cannot see them due to the national restrictions of such a channel. Then you have to install a VPN again and you also have to be careful with that. Free VPN dialers exist, but I've heard that they often come with spyware. If you want a good one, you will also have to pay monthly for it.
You do not have this problem with the MAG 254. It just all works. The box is small, has a remote control and works best via an Ethernet cable that is not included. The device is connected to the TV with an HDMI cable. There is a composite video/stereo output for a 4-pin 3,5mm plug.
You can also play the sound on your amplifier via an S/PDIF output.
Can also be done without TV
You don't necessarily need a television for the device. A PC monitor is also suitable for it. Only you will get a better picture with a TV, because TVs are better tuned.
Prices and follow-up
About the prices and how to get the device, I will post tonight or tomorrow. I'll talk to the distributor in a minute and find out more. The subscription is around 700 baht. I can say that right now. A very reasonable amount if you consider what you get and what the competitor is asking for it.
As I wrote: I was able to test a very good Android box (costs around 5000 baht) and you could also watch TV with it in good quality. But whether you can receive 55 Dutch channels without restrictions? Forget it.
Meeting
On January 17th, I met the distributor of IPTV Set-top-Box MAG10 at 254 am at “Say Cheese” in Hua Hin. We had a nice conversation. He is a pleasant Amsterdammer and had previously lived in Spain for 20 years and now he lives in Pattaya.
When I saw him sitting on the terrace in front of Say Cheese, he was just busy with a customer. Soon our conversation turned to the Set-Top Box over a cup of coffee. I told him that I was impressed by its simplicity. Great interface and good range of programs.
You can hardly go wrong with it. At least not by accident. Of course you can also set the box differently, but then you really have to consciously work on the device. This in contrast to the true Android boxes, where you can do a lot of traffic.
Pricing
But to keep it short: the price is as follows: you can buy the box for 5500 Baht. No LAN or HDMI cable is included. You have to buy it yourself if you don't have one.
If you prefer to watch movies via WiFi, you can get a good antenna for 750 baht.
The subscription costs 695 baht per month for all channels.
The subscription
The provider of the channel package lives in the Netherlands. Fred buys packages, which also have the full licenses and you can then subscribe to these. The subscription always runs for 3 months and you will then receive a signal to extend the subscription. In addition, Fred leaves you a month of leeway for payment. You will not be immediately closed after three months and only activated again when you have paid. I think that's very broad. Often you only have a week.
Always help
Fred is available 24/7 should problems arise during installation, connection or commissioning. But it is really simple: connect the box, connect the HDMI cable, LAN cable and power cable and click on the correct HDMI channel on your TV. More is really not necessary. No tricky settings.
If you are interested, you can immediately ask Fred questions or order the device from: Fred Repko. Please mention that you have come to his address via Thailandblog and me.
Well I can agree with what Sjaak has explained. I also bought a MAG 254 from Fred Repko and in addition to the Dutch channel package, he also supplies me with the English and Irish channel package. This is because I stay in Thailand with my family for 5 months a year and in Ireland for 7 months a year.
Take the box with the remote control and WiFi antenna from Thailand to Ireland, connect it there and it works phenomenally. After Ireland in the opposite direction, so to Thailand HDMI plug in the box power on and works perfectly there too.
In short, no problems with satalites, cable TV issues, ever-changing Android settings, but just a clean image.
I now watch all NL, UK and Irish channels without a problem and that for 695 baht / month.
Josh Scholts
I myself have a subscription to NLTV and am very satisfied with it. 900 baht per month. no box needed. Internet connection ready. and if I'm in Europe for 3 months, for example, I don't pay anything
Dear Jack,
Very good post with excellent and useful information. Thanks for that.
Still, I have a few questions:
– I have 3 TV sets in my house, only one of which is a Smart TV. Suppose I buy such a box: on how many TV sets can I receive all those channels?
– Do those boxes also work on TV sets that are NOT Smart?
– And can I also receive channels on laptops and iPads? Or just TV sets?
– As for sports channels: I see that the most important one, namely Fox Sport, is not available in NL. How do I solve that?
My laptop and iPad work on a very good VPN connection, which I have tuned to NL. Does changing my VPN to a different country solve Fox Sport's problem?
– My TVs don't have a VPN of course. How can I receive FOX Sport on my smart TV and on my other TVs? Fox Sport is perhaps the only one that would now have broadcast The Australian Open and will soon also be allowed to broadcast the Olympic Games. Or not?
I am very grateful for all your answers!
Kind regards from the Fact Tester.
You can only connect the box directly to a TV or monitor with an HDMI or also a composite video input (so red yellow white).
It does NOT have to be a smart TV
That is the least that your TV or Monitor should be able to meet. Older TVs usually have this input, the newer models almost all have an HDMI input anyway.
The license applies to two connections. That is to say: you can buy two boxes and use them both with one subscription. Or you connect one box and one PC.
You have to remember that you are only using your TVs as a monitor. The box is your receiver.
ALL programs run without an additional VPN in Thailand. In the Netherlands it is different. Then you would have to run a VPN in the Netherlands to set your device to Thailand, for example, in the Netherlands.
But if you live in Thailand, you don't need an extra VPN.
I hope I was able to answer your questions.
Dear Jack,
Nice that you are so enthusiastic, especially after your first encounter with the older MAG 250.
A small correction. The MAG 254 only has one license per box and can therefore be used on one TV at a time.
What IS interesting is that it comes with TWO licenses for using the software on a computer or tablet. This separate from the MAG 254.
So the family can watch (already) 182 channels while you, for example, are traveling and take the 182 channels under your arm.
In response to Mrs. Nicole's reply, you can also temporarily stop your subscription with us at no cost, for example for a trip to the Netherlands, no problem.
I am at your service for further explanation or questions.
Best regards.
Fred Repko.
Sorry Fred,
You probably misunderstood my sentence structure, because that is also what I wrote: one license per box, but if you have or are going to buy a second (other brand of box) or another PC, you can also install the software on that running with the second license…
I understood that and I tried to convey that as well…. 🙂
It is indeed a nice package. Especially now that you have the app. Get it for free. Then you can also view the programs via your tablet or telephone. Nice when you're on the road. The great thing about this package is that Fox sport 1 and 2 are included so that you can watch the Dutch premier league. And the English Premier League can follow directly. And with Discovery and Animal .Planet there are subtitles in Dutch. In the beginning there were often problems. But those have now been resolved and Fred is indeed always available and very helpful.
In the Netherlands you have for 295 euros, a mag 254, wifi antenna and an abbo for 12 months. But if you are unable to bring it from the Netherlands, Fred Repko is a very good alternative.
A question: can you also watch and/or record with that box as with NL-tv? And how many days can you go back?
Yes, delayed viewing is called Catch up here and you can go back a week.
Yes, you can. I just checked and you can watch the 26th programs from the 18th today. So you can spend eight days at least…
Under the menu there are five large icons from left to right: media browser (with which you can play external HD or USB stick or other media), TV for the current programs, Catchup TV for delayed viewing, Radio and then settings.
The middle one is always the button you activate.
As far as I could find out you can't record (yet). The buttons are present on the remote control and in the menu, but they are not active for me.
We and our partner Fred for the Thailand region.
Provide 24/7 support worldwide and others cannot always say that.
We don't hide.
Cheers Fred
Ga zo door.
Maurice
Hello Maurice, nice to see you here.
I think there are few with as much experience in this industry as we do. It is my third child besides my daughters and that is why I am there almost 24/7.
It is a beautiful system, but it is a pity that the internet often fails.
It is (unfortunately without prior notice) often adjusted with more options, so we are already on 182 channels and less than 6 months ago on 25!
I wish everyone a lot of viewing pleasure.
MVG
Fred Repko
PS. Maurice is the agent for Spain (my homeland for 27 years)
I tested the package for 5 days without the set on box and noticed that watching Catch Up certain programs were no longer available … would have to do with broadcasting rights … while most people will do this anyway due to the time difference with the Netherlands or Belgium ?
What I can always do with Nl.tv Asia ..?… and also the possibility to go back up to 8 days and download it…
I also had problems with the loading times of certain channels or programs and it was impossible to open some myself.
Would the box solve the problems of loading times and opening channels?..or does that not affect it ?
Best regards …
Dear Ronnie,
I have been told by the Netherlands that the test package with the software for the computer and/or Tablet is actually still in a test phase for the Netherlands.
I, with my enthusiasm, immediately offer it to the other side of the world.
The MAG 254, on the other hand, has now found its way here and works well.
For William B.
Here's my email address:
[email protected]
For Herman.
The MAG 254 works well with most internet providers, provided a stable 15 Mb is offered.
The IPTV receiver must eventually make contact with the Netherlands and if you test really well, only a small 4 Mb remains and with bad weather a large 1 Mb.
Can someone give me Fred Repko's email address, I have a few specific questions and would like to get in contact with him.
Click on the name Fred Repko at the end of my story. The name is underlined there. That will automatically give you his email address…but here it is again [email protected]
Phone: 095 835 8272
[email protected]
Hi Fred, what kind of internet connection must be available (upload/download) to have a stable image.?
Fred told me that the reason why some channels open slower than others is because channels that are watched a lot at the same time here in Thailand also load faster. This is because a channel will first build up a buffer and then stream it. If you are the only one, you have to wait until the buffer is full enough to be released.
Are there others who are already activating this channel before you, the buffer is already full and the streaming to Thailand is already running. If you also click on this channel, it will start much faster on your PC.
I have to say that because I didn't find a second LAN cable, I connected the box to the LAN cable and my PC now has a USB W-LAN connection. Everything is going well. My speed here averages 9 MBPS with a TOT Wi-Net (this is internet through an antenna). I have not experienced any hiccups.
I also have no problems with channels in Catch Up. I can see everything there. That's my experience...maybe Fred can give you a slightly more detailed answer?
Can you also view the programs via your browser; and then make a connection from computer (with a hmdi cable) to tv screen.?
Yes Frank, you can. As described above and it works fine. You get one license for the device with the device, but also a license to watch TV via your computer, as you have already described yourself. Goes fine.
If you don't want the device, the monthly subscription costs a little more. I thought it was 800 baht, but that also has to be with Fred…
Good afternoon,
Can Thai channels be put on it? That when I'm in the Netherlands my wife can just watch the Thai channels here. And when we're back in Thailand I can watch the Dutch?
Dear Jan Runderkamp,
There are two "Portal" accesses on the MAG 254.
One is being used by us, the other is still free.
Go Googling for IPTV program suppliers in BKK. A customer of mine has done that and thus has a European Portal and a Thai Portal.
BEWARE you don't pay for a year in advance!!!!! Another client of mine found a cheaper program supplier and had to pay 145 euros for a whole year. It worked for 2 weeks and then nothing. No service line no point of contact………DOE 145 euros.
Several of my clients have been approached by this company. Again BEWARE.
Thanks to Cees1 who informed me about this promotion.