If you want a really good IPTV system there are three main components to consider IMO:
Broadband. The room you want to watch your system in needs a fast and consistent Ethernet feed, but first you need to find out if your router is delivering good speed and consistency. Just plug a laptop or other hard wired device into it via Ethernet and do speed tests in blocks of three. Write them down and do as many as you can at different times of the day and particularly at the times you will be using your new found joy. WiFi is the poor cousin of hard wired broadband so WiFi speed tests are not relevant as you will not get a top performing IPTV system using it. Check out the speed using the link below using your postcode. This will give you info to compare your speed with what your neighbours are getting. If theirs is higher – change to their broadband provider.
Check UK Broadband Performance and Coverage Statistics
IPTV receiver: There are only two types, purpose made or home brew systems. Purpose made have their own dedicated remote and preinstalled software. Home brew is everything else e.g smart TV’s, firesticks, OTT/M8 boxes etc which need third party software installing. The remotes on these systems are not designed for IPTV. If you already have any of these you can save some money by converting it though.
The purpose made systems would include all MAG boxes and android boxes with Stalker middleware built in. These devices connect to your IPTV supplier via their unique MAC addresses and a portal, and are simple to connect. No home brew system I have ever built compares with a purpose made one.
If you are starting from scratch buy a purpose made system which are available from TK’s main sponsor.
IPTV provider: Reddit have reviews for what you are looking for and there is a thread to post in on TK to request a provider here:
IPTV Request thread December 2019
If you get a test line and subscribe to a provider for 1 month you can’t go wrong as their service is only a benchmark to compare all other providers test lines against. Some of the android/MAG hybrids can have 5 separate providers installed and you can seamlessly switch between them to see which suits you best.
If you do your homework and buy the right gear you can expect full HD in almost all channels with full EPG, Instant zapping between channels, catchup, pause, rewind, record and VOD.