https://www.lowyat.net/2020/204472/unifi-pl...ox-isp-agnotic/

unifi Plus TV Box Can Be Used On Non-unifi Network


Quote....
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We’ve reached out to unifi team in order to find out whether our experience was just a fluke. But, to our surprise again, the team has confirmed to us that as long you have unifi TV credentials and good Internet connection, you able to watch unifi TV broadcast on the new unifi Plus Box through any Internet service provider.

This is quite a departure from the previous unifi TV boxes in which contents were broadcast through a dedicated 10Mbps VLAN that can only be accessed through unifi network. Hence, we began to wonder whether TM is planning to launch a stand-alone unifi TV + unifi Plus Box combo plan in the near futur....
..

For those who are thinking of paying extra to get the new Unifi Plus Box (black box), I would suggest to hold your purchase first.

As one of the forummer pointed out, the picture quality is worse despite TM marketing the new box as "experience Live TV and on-demand in 4K". FYI, there are NO 4K channels atm unlike Astro.

I asked Unifi (via FB) and they admitted. So I basically paid RM10/extra month to get a new box with lousier picture quality. Also, the black box is basically an android TV box with a pre-installed Unifi PlayTV app and you use the app to watch the channels. You might as well get an android box which can support Netfix and Unifi PlayTV.

And if you are using modern TVs with motion smoothing (the soap opera effect), then it won't really work with the black box because the streaming is laggy/ stutters. Definitely not as smooth as the old white box.

u have summed up everything.

which i think is correct given all the comments posted in this and other threads so far.

the only unconfirmed info is the bit rate used - some have said:

.. old STB lan4 uses 8mbps
.. new black STB uses 4mbps
.. old playtv apk uses 2mbps
.. new playtv (on ATV, it is labeled "unifi tv") uses... ?mbps?

given above, it may be that unifi tv and unifi playtv may be merging, consolidating.

i.e. whether on STB or app, whether black box or yr own box, whether smart ATV or PC, it will be just one APP... maybe 4mbps.

and this app will be called UNIFI TV, "playtv" to be forgotten.

old silver non-android boxes be phased out; white android boxes can still be used but will be on new APP, no need lan4.

just my speculation... pls bear with me.

I signed up because I wanted the box, picture quality wise for unifi TV I couldn't be bothered as it's a known quantity and I don't want to deal with mcmc and sirim hounding due to non certification like what happened last year

I would like to ask,
after we subscribe the add on RM10 for unifi plus, do they take our old STB? or we can still use that old STB?

You can keep and use the old box

Cheers

You can still use the old STB together with the new Plus Box and 4 more devices to watch Unifi Play Tv.

To me if you are using smart tv that is supporting netflix HD@4K, and dont plan to run astrogo, or 3rd party IPTV app, or any streaming app that is not available on AndroidTV Google Playstore, this box is quite worth it if u don't have any streaming box yet, and you will like to explore new streaming alternatives premium US/other country such as Hulu, HBO NOW, Sling TV. Since this box is fully Google Cert, u won't have any issue running these DRM sensitive apps at all. Last time I owned a Beelink GT Mini-A (AndroidTV OS). Found out it is not Google cert, and Beelink is using hacked Google ATV ROM. In the end, lot of US streaming apps example HULU, HBO NOW, VUDU won't work properly. So go for it. Pejam mata RM10 per month.

RM10 X 24 month = RM240 ... OK la .. installment android box for whom cannot afford buy any android box by cash

From my own measurements:

- Old STB = constant 8.8 Mbps
- New PlayTV app on phone = average 5 Mbps

Modded PlayTV ATV app, need to install on my non-ATV box, possible?

5 Mbps is OK & standard for many legal streaming services, but as we're spoiled with silver/white STB, it's natural we demand the black STB should be at least as good.

In my case, I'll wait until 4K channels are actually available on Unifi TV. 25 Mbps 4K streams a far-fetched dream?

that's about right.

and yes, i do not accept quality lower than the already mediocre silver STB!

if netflix, even astrogo can do hd streams nicely, why can't they do catch up?


from the posts in another thread, there is a modded 1.1.6 ATV apk but has not been shared publicly.

Your requirement need at least Apple TV 4K or even the real-deal 4K Blu-Rays

i do all kinds... silver box hd channels ate good enuf, the real ones like natgeopeople, travel, bbc lifestyle.
even tvn movies, fox movies are OK.
but the playtv app.... sucks, i dun watch at all.
so, if that's the direction they go, i will likely give it up totally.
some of the free streams i watch are better.

astro has done well - their astrogo hd has improved a lot, comes out quite nice even on a large tv if used on a good device.

Unifi plus Box review

Pros:
Snappier & faster than old white box
Can install other apps that is available in Android TV (eg. Spotify to listen to music, YouTube, Kodi, etc.)
Extra 4GB of free space to install apps
Unifi TV app is better in term of speed

Cons:
Picture quality is.. so-so (worse than myTV in Full HD)
Cannot install third party app legally (unless you have knowledge on using ADB)
Remote is simpler than old white box, thus no extra function (mosaic view, subtitles)
You know catch-up menu that's available in the phone app? Yeah no, it's not available here (bummer)
Quality selection is also a no-no here so you're stuck with whatever quality your box chose to let you see

Actually I'm torn between this box and Mi Box S, but at RM254.40 with monthly payment of RM10.60 for 24 months, I think it's a bargain. Since my intention when buying this box is installing other apps (retro gaming, youtube, etc.), I'm satisfied with it (although with the hassle of using ADB). But for those looking for better picture quality, better hold off until we got 10+ more channels in 4K.

MyTV @ 1080 (can see the picture is quite sharp)


unifi TV app @ 1080 (yup, a bit washed up)


MyTV


unifi TV


MyTV


unifi TV


MyTV (logo is sharper)


unifiTV (yeah)


Edit: Warranty is 1 year, not 2 years

This post has been edited by keiichimorisato: Jan 24 2020, 07:02 PM

Need to use usb cable? How to connect to the device?

connect using tcpip

Can you details out the process. Need to do something to unifi box first? other than enable developer mode? I used to adb but using usb cable.. Dunno how to connect using tcpip.

adb connect <ipaddress>:5555

adb connect <ipaddress>:5555

This is v good.

You may wnat to describe if u used official or modified apks.

Also, what other steps u need to take, essential details.

Will helpful to those who just got the box.