MiBox S users, if your wifi speeds are slow (evident in 1080p IPTV streams), try USB ethernet.

by aeoveu

I bought a MiBox S box some months back. I don't know why this issue cropped up later on and not from day 1 (I've tried investigating a lot!) but I kept reading here and there that it's recommended to use a wired connection, especially for IPTV. No amount of wifi router tweaking helped (the router is barely 12 inches away from the box, and there's no obstruction in between).

Netflix would work fine. So would Youtube. IPTV 576p streams (and less) would work fine. 720p or above wouldn't. IPTV + VPN would tend to work fine (but VPNs slow down the channel switching). And file transfer over wifi/ftp was slow (I use ES File Explorer to set up an FTP server - not the best solution, but it is the only one I can get working).

For sometime, I was using a VPN for my IPTV channels. 720p streams would work without a hitch (with IPTV, and jank without), and 1080 would (sometimes) work buffer-free with a VPN (I was using OpenVPN for Android). I didn't understand the science. I also read that the wifi chip interferes with the bluetooth, and lo and behold! When I connected my bluetooth headphones with the box, not only was bluetooth stuttering but wifi slowed down significantly.

Why these issues cropped up a few months AFTER the purchase, beats me. Resetting the box didn't help. And the distance between the router and the box is less than 12 inches, no wall in between.

After holding off for long, I then decided to buy a ethernet/USB hub. A generic brand. And now, without using a VPN, it's streaming fine (1080p included), without any buffering. I can finally enjoy watching the TV again, without VPN. I don't have a 4K TV to test 4K content.

I would suggest other MiBox users to buy a ethernet/USB hub to get a constant, fast transmission rate if you're having wifi problems. It worked for me, and it will most likely work for you too. And it turns out Netflix and Youtube work fine because they work in short bursts (HLS streaming) and the bitrate is good enough for it to pass through the box's internal wifi chip (it's a theory). But what I now have to test is the bluetooth connectivity + wired connection and see if it still stutters (no biggie if it does, but it's a nice thing to have especially at night).

Hope this helps.

Edit: it's been suggested that 2.4Ghz routers may have this problem, and 5Ghz modes will work fine. I don't have a router that supports 5Ghz.

raptor75mlt

From your description, seems you were using 2.4ghz WiFi. Which explains your issues including but interference. Doesn't happen with 5ghz

chris21914

I use the Amazon basic one

mohamedmamdouhomran

What is your internet speed

padmanek

On my 200mbit connection Mibox S manages around ~150 mbit. Tested using the Analiti app from Play Store. That is on 5Ghz Wifi. Analiti shows WiFi link speed at 370-433 mbps. Router is behind a wall. There's a shitty WiFi chip inside since most devices these days do at least 866 mbps. But it's enough to stream pretty much everything anyway so...

BiggussDikkuss

STOP using 2.4Ghz only WiFi. There are all sorts of Radio Frequency interferance generating electrical devices that can cause severe wireless transmission disruption when using that RF band.

Use 5Ghz WiFi or better still bulletproof Ethernet with the Ugreen USB3 > Gigabit adapter USB hub - which is proven to work.

Over38

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LLUEJXW/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

bossbarret

That's a lot of wires

No-Scientist-1008

I switched to 5Ghz.. better streaming

bruhred

i only get 1mb s out of 500 over 2.4ghz, it's not too far away from the router

rbh1973

Can you tell which one to have..