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IPTV set-top boxes MAG allow users to receive third-party audiovisual content (such as television channels, movies, series, etc.). The set-top box (STB) does not contain any pre-loaded content. In order to get access to content, you should turn to a local operator that provides respective services. STB manufacturer does not distribute any content and is not responsible for the quality of content-provision services. While using STB, please take into account that the content received may be subject to copyright or related rights protection, and the distribution of such content may be exercised solely upon the authorization of rights holders. 

IPTV channels list

The current IPTV-channels list of the Embedded portal is displayed in the IPTV-channels section which is accessible in the Main menu.

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IPTV channel

IPTV channel list is composed of single IPTV channels. Each IPTV channel provides the user with access to certain media content in order to playback it with the built-in STB player. IPTV channel is identified by a Name (by which channel differs in the list) and URL (address of a media source linked to the channel).

Adding IPTV channel
Playing media content

Tip. You may learn the channel's Name and URL during watching the channel (press Back or OK on RC).

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IPTV channel may also consist of additional information conveyed in the stream (various audio tracks, subtitles, Teletext, EPG, etc.) that can be engaged by user during playback. This information is obtained in the context menu of each channel during watching (on RC, press Menu and then Left/Right to change pages of the context menu).

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Groups of IPTV channels

IPTV channels can be divided by users into channel groups in order to facilitate navigation through the IPTV list.

Channel group, generally, combines channels according to specific attributes (for example by genre or so on). A list of channel groups is placed at the top of the IPTV channels window. Channel groups can contain both channels and other channel groups. One channel can be a part of a general channel list of IPTV channels
and different groups, at the same time.

How to fill channel list

Initially, in a factory settings state, the list of channels is empty. User can create each IPTV-channels separately or add channel(s) by copying from external m3u playlists:

Note. The channel list can also be transferred to USB-drive in the format of the m3u-playlist. See Export channels (write IPTV-channels list to USB drive).

Channel list displaying

Users can open IPTV channels list in two ways:

  1. During watching a channel, press Exit on RC. You will get the IPTV channel list with highlighted current channel.

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2. During watching a channel (in normal watching mode) press OK on RC. You will get IPTV channels list as the foreground against the background of the channel playback:

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The main frame of the IPTV channels list window is divided into two parts:

  • numbered channel list (left part) - the user may navigate through the channel list. The current channel is highlighted;
  • info panel (right part) - displays additional info related to current IPTV channel: in particular, Name and URL.

Navigation through channel list

Users can navigate through the IPTV channels list (switching between channels) with one of the input devices (RC, keyboard, mouse). Possible actions are described below (used RC commands as an example).

1. The user can switch to an adjacent channel (use Up/Down or Chan+/- keys on RC). Playback starts in the background with IPTV channels list as foreground.
Note. After new channel selection, the channel playback starts with a short delay. During delay time the user may leave the current channel before the start of the channel playback). In this way, navigation is accelerated.

2. The user can switch immediately to a required channel by specifying the channel number (use number buttons on RC). This channel will playback in the background with IPTV channels list as foreground.

3. Being focused on a particular channel in the list, the user can start its playback by OK on RC. Playback starts in the foreground (normal watching mode).

4. The user can quit the IPTV channels list and entire IPTV channels window by Exit on RC.

Additional command bar

The additional command bar is placed at the bottom of the screen of the IPTV channels list. It contains the next commands (shortcuts):

Channel search

In the case of a large number of channels in the list, the channel search feature can be used. To bring up the search bar, the user should press F4 (on the screen or with RC):

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Starting playback and switching over channels

IPTV channel playback starts automatically when the IPTV channel window opens. After playback start user may switch over channels with one of the input devices (RC, keyboard).

Autostart playback

Autostart channel playback may happen:

1. When the user opens the IPTV channel window. The latest played channel, before exiting from IPTV channel, will be started.

2. If STB was rebooted or turned off to Standby during playback of a certain channel, this channel will be started automatically after STB is turned on.
Note. See the description of Stand by mode option in Settings Interface.

3. If IPTV channels window was assigned as a start page, after STB restart (hardware or program reboot), the latest played channel (before exit from IPTV channel) will be started.
Note. See the description of the Start page option in Settings Interface.

Switch over channels and exit from IPTV channels

Possible ways how to switch over channels are listed below (used RC commands as an example).

1. During watching a channel, the user can switch to an adjacent channel (use Up/Down or Chan+/- on RC).
Note. The channel playback starts after a short delay (during delay time the user may leave the current channel before the start of the channel playback).

2. The user can switch to the required channel by entering its number (use Num keys), its playback in background mode with IPTV channels list as foreground.

3. Being focused on a particular channel while channel list displaying, the user can start its playback by OK on RC. Playback starts in the foreground (normal watching mode).

4. During watching a channel in normal mode the user can start channel list displaying by pressing Exit or OK. Additional pressing Exit leads to quitting from the IPTV channel window.

See also Navigation through channel list.

Operations menu

Operations is a service menu for the IPTV channels list. The Operations menu contains various commands related to IPTV channels and channel groups setup. To run commands:

  • Open IPTV channels list;

  • Press Menu;

  • Use Up/Down keys to select the required command of Operations list;
  • Press OK.

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Add IPTV channel

Adding IPTV channel to list means manual creating the channel. To add IPTV channel:

  • Call up the Operations window.
  • Run Add IPTV channel command - that opens Add IPTV channel window.
  • In Add IPTV channel window:
    • Fill in Name option - name of the channel list (it will be displayed in IPTV channels list);
    • Fill in URL option - address from which channel (media stream) will be received;
  • Click Save (OK). After adding the IPTV channel, it is added at the end of IPTV channels list.

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Open / Exit

Opening the channel means start playback media-content linked to this channel.
Opening the group means accessing channels of this group in order to open the channels.
To open channel or group is used Open command from Operations window (OK on RC, Enter on keyboard or mouse click).
Exit from the channel causes the ending of its playback. Exit channel group causes exiting to level up of the channel list. To exit channel or group use RC (Exit key) or keyboard (Esc key) or mouse (Exit screen-shortcut).

Select / Deselect

Some setup commands (Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Add to group, Add to Favorites) can be performed not only to one item of channel list (channel or group) but to several selected ones at the same time.
To run a command to multiple items simultaneously, these items should be marked first with Select command (F2 on RC). Selected items are filled with a different color.

Info

For example. To move several channels to a group, select the channels, run Cut command, enter to the group and run Paste command.

Double selection of particular item works like Deselect command - i.e. removes the selection.
Select all / Deselect all commands set/unset selection of all list items.
To invert selection the command Invert selection is used (previously unselected records get selected, and previously selected ones become unselected).

Cut, Copy, Paste

Cut, Copy and Paste commands are used to move and copy channels between general IPTV channels list and groups or between groups.
These commands can be applied to channel groups as well.

Edit

Editing channels means changing channel properties (name, URL):

  • Select channel (in common list of IPTV channels or within a certain group);
  • Call up Operations window;
  • Select Edit command.
  • In Edit window :
      • Fill in Name option - name of the channel (it will be displayed in IPTV channel window);
      • Fill in URL option - address on which channel (media stream) is located;
      • Click Save (OK).

The URL option format is given in the Playing media content section.

Similarly, channel group can be edited ( Name value only).

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Delete

  • Select the channel (in common list of IPTV channels or within certain group);
  • Call up Operations window;
  • Select Delete command;
  • In Confirm Delete window click Yes (OK).

Similarly, the channel group can be deleted.

Create group

  • Call up Operations window;
  • Select Create group command;
  • In opened Create group window:
    • in Group option enter name of the group;
    • click Save (OK).

Note. Channel groups are placed at the top of the IPTV channels list.

Add to group

To add the channel to a group:

  • In IPTV channels window (in common list or within a certain group) select channel or several channels using Select command (F2 on RC).
  • Open Operations window.
  • In Operations window select Add to group command.
  • In opened Make group window:
    • in Group option select destination group to which you want to add the channel(s);
    • or create a new group in the proposed area;
    • press one of the following commands:
      • Move (F1) - channels will be created in the specified group and removed from the previous storage location (common list or group).
      • Copy (F4) - channels will be created in the specified group without deleting from the previous storage location (common list or group).

Similarly, a group of channels can be added to other group.

Input devices used to configure channels and navigate through channel list

To navigate through channel list and configure channels, user should use:

  • Remote Control (RC) + on-screen virtual keyboard (which opens by KB button on RC);
  • Computer keyboard + mouse (to click screen shortcuts) or + RC.

To ease configure channels it is recommended to use a computer keyboard.

See Keyboard layout and User manual to Remote control sections.
Need Help

Dave is an expert on the MAG STB and the author of this article.

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