Fire TV Technical Issues and Questions
- Thread starter IPTV Community
- Start date
What app do you use ? Fire tv is android and if one app is stocking, just try another one. If you need help with fire tv settings, feel free to send a PM to me
I've purchased a new Firetv Stick 4K in December. Today I've installed smart iptv app, using the downloader app. Then I've uploaded a m3u file, that works on an older firetv stick. Well, all movies in this m3u file are listed properly, by I'm not able to select a movie in this list and to start it. I've tested it with 2 different remote controls, with the new one as well with remote control of my old firetv stick. I'm able to scroll through the whole list. But when I select a movie, nothing happens. What's wrong? Is it possible, the smart iptv is not working with the latest version of firetv stick? Any ideas what might be wrong?
You are talking about vod ?
Beside any other IPTV app on your Android Fire TV device, it’s important to install the VLC player as well.
You’ll find the VLC player in the official Fire TV App Store.
The VLC Player brings the right codec which might help you to play all video formats smoothly, not only live TV, also most of the VOD content require it.
Install the VLC App beside your main IPTV App to have a smooth video flow on Android, that’s it.
In case of any video content can’t be displayed in your main IPTV app: Just install the VLC player which is often the solution to display the video content cause it brings the right video codec.
Thank you for your fast reply. I was a bit skeptical. Because when I use the left und right button of the remote control, it is possible to start the next movie. But you are right, after installing VLC I can scroll through the whole list and select any movie. It is working properly now. Thank you very much for your support!
Hi, I use Lion Ott and have a problem: On my mac every channel works well but on my Fire TV with IPTV Smarters or other players some channels are stuttering and not working well.
I tried to change the framerate of my firetv stick but it does not help.
Thank you
I tried to change the framerate of my firetv stick but it does not help.
Thank you
So all I need to add storage to the firestick (to record/download TV/movies from IPTV service) is an OTG cable & a USB hard drive? Then an app like Tivimate (I didn't have much luck setting it up, and I guess it's a paid app if you want to change any settings or anything, but I'll try it again) to set up recordings and view the guide/watch live TV? Also installing VLC on firestick would probably be good (maybe necessary?), it's a great player. Does VLC integrate with IPTV apps like Tivimate or are they kept separate?
I realize this thread isn't updated a ton I'm a bit late to the IPTV game. I'm a computer/PC guy so I find everything to be much easier to do on PC, but I also don't want to have to leave my PC on 24/7 to catch recordings, and using Firestick might be more convenient, so I thought I'd give that a go.
I realize this thread isn't updated a ton I'm a bit late to the IPTV game. I'm a computer/PC guy so I find everything to be much easier to do on PC, but I also don't want to have to leave my PC on 24/7 to catch recordings, and using Firestick might be more convenient, so I thought I'd give that a go.
You mentioned that channels work fine on your Mac, but some channels stutter or don’t work properly on your Fire TV using IPTV Smarters or other apps. This suggests that the issue is likely related to the Fire TV device or app configuration.
Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue:
1. Enable "Match Original Frame Rate" on Fire TV
Go to:
Settings > Display & Sounds > Display > Match Original Frame Rate > On
This will help Fire TV adjust the frame rate to match the video’s, which can reduce stuttering.
You can also enable:
Settings > Developer Options > Enable Video Diagnostics
This will show you if there are dropped frames or buffering issues.
2. Try a Different IPTV App
Some apps handle video streams better than others on different devices. Try these apps:
- TiviMate (very stable)
- XCIPTV
- Perfect Player
These might perform better than IPTV Smarters on Fire TV.
3. Switch to Software Decoding
In IPTV Smarters (and other apps), go to:
Settings > Player Selection > Decoder Settings
- Try switching from Hardware to Software decoder.
- Also test using ExoPlayer or VLC Player if the app allows.
Some Fire TV models struggle with certain hardware-decoded streams, especially H.265 or streams with 50/60 fps.
4. Adjust Buffer Settings
If your app has buffer settings, try lowering them to reduce stuttering. For example:
- Buffer Size for Live TV (in IPTV Smarters) — set to Low or Medium.
This can help reduce latency and improve the stream's smoothness.
5. Check Network Speed on Fire TV
Fire TV might have weaker Wi-Fi compared to your Mac. You can use the Speed Test app from the Amazon Appstore to check your network speed.
- Ideally, you need at least 15–20 Mbps stable for HD live TV streams.
- Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi instead of 2.4 GHz if possible, for better bandwidth.
- Alternatively, try using an Ethernet adapter for a more stable connection.
6. Check Stream Format (HLS vs MPEG-TS)
Lion OTT supports multiple stream types (like HLS, MPEG-TS, etc.). Check with your IPTV provider to see if there’s a more Fire TV-friendly playlist format.
You might be using a TS stream that causes issues on Android-based devices. If possible, ask your provider if they can offer an HLS stream instead, as it tends to be smoother on most players.
Suggested Setup Example:
- App: TiviMate
- Decoder: Software
- Frame Rate Match: Enabled
- Buffer: Medium
- Network: Ethernet or stable 5 GHz Wi-Fi
You're on the right track with what you're thinking, and your approach is pretty solid for getting started with IPTV on the Firestick! Let me break down your points and help clarify things.
1.
Yes, you can add external storage to your Firestick using an OTG (On-The-Go) cable and a USB hard drive or flash drive. This will allow you to record or download content directly from IPTV apps, as Firestick’s internal storage isn’t typically large enough for a lot of recordings.
- OTG Cable: This cable has a micro-USB connector for the Firestick, and on the other side, it has a USB-A port where you can connect your USB storage device.
- USB Hard Drive or Flash Drive: You can use either, though I recommend a hard drive if you plan to store a lot of content, as they typically have more storage and better performance for consistent recording.
Once you plug the OTG cable into your Firestick and connect the storage device, Firestick should automatically recognize it. You might have to set the storage to "external" if prompted.
2.
Tivimate is a popular IPTV player and works great for streaming live TV and managing IPTV channels. As you noted, the free version of Tivimate is pretty basic, and to unlock features like EPG (Electronic Program Guide) customization, recording, and adding more than one playlist, you need the premium version.
- Recording with Tivimate: With the premium version, you can set up recordings and schedule them through the app. You can then store those recordings directly on your connected external storage (USB drive).
- Viewing Guide/Watching Live TV: Once the service is set up, you’ll be able to browse the EPG and watch live TV directly through Tivimate. It integrates well with most IPTV providers, and the interface is clean and easy to navigate.
3.
VLC is an excellent media player for many types of media files and streams. It’s also a good idea to install it, especially since it can play almost any file format and stream IPTV content. However, VLC and Tivimate are separate apps. VLC doesn’t integrate directly with Tivimate, meaning you can’t use VLC as the default video player for Tivimate streams.
However, you can use VLC to play files that you've downloaded or recorded using Tivimate, assuming you’ve saved them in a format VLC supports (which is pretty much all formats).
- VLC's Role: It's not strictly necessary for IPTV, but it is an excellent tool to have for playing local files (like if you have downloaded a show or movie) or for troubleshooting streams that might not be playing correctly in Tivimate.
4.
I get that coming from a PC background, it can feel like you're taking a step back in terms of convenience with the Firestick. But in practice, using the Firestick for IPTV and recording has its perks:
- Lower Power Usage: Unlike a PC, which needs to stay on all the time to catch recordings, the Firestick is energy-efficient, and it’s designed to be on 24/7 without much hassle.
- Dedicated Streaming Device: The Firestick can be your dedicated device for IPTV, freeing up your PC for other tasks. You can also easily move it between TVs or use it on multiple screens without needing to keep your PC running.
That said, if you’re looking for a more customizable or robust experience (like managing recordings on your PC), you could always explore options like Kodi on a PC or using a DVR solution designed for IPTV, though these can require more technical setup.
Additional Tips:
- Storage Format: Make sure your USB drive is formatted to FAT32 or exFAT. Firestick might have trouble reading other formats (e.g., NTFS).
- External Power: If you're using a large external drive, ensure it's getting enough power. Some hard drives might need a powered USB hub if they're not self-powered.
- IPTV App Alternatives: You might also want to try out apps like IPTV Smarters or Perfect Player, which are also solid alternatives to Tivimate if you run into issues or want something different.
The TV guide section may load slowly due to several factors. Buffering is a common cause. This happens when the guide tries to load too much information at once.
Another issue could be server response time. The server might be slow in sending guide data. This does not affect VOD or live channels as they stream differently.
Local network congestion is also a possibility. Too many devices on your home network can slow things down. Clearing the cache on your device can help. It removes old, stored data that might be interfering. Checking your internet speed is also a good step. A slow connection affects guide loading more than streaming.
Thanks Eltaco! Very helpful. Getting a proper setup for IPTV has been a headache and a half these past few weeks, but I'm getting there. I wish there was just a free go-to app with a guide and easy to use interface. I've heard Tivimate is not great for recording/DVR, but I have not tried it. I do rely heavily on DVR/Recording. But otherwise Tivimate is quite popular. Currently I am using Channels ('Get Channels' is their website) which is a great service, although $80 a year (not too bad), and I have not found a way to make it work with on-demand shows, yet, only with live TV. But it records perfectly, and works on both PC and Firestick, so that might be the way to go for me.