All online television on your Smart TV with IPTV

Watching the channels "of a lifetime" on our television is something common in our day to day, but what happens if we are out of the country? Or, imagine that you move to another community and want to view specific content from a regional channel, how can you "tune" it now? Like many other things, the solution goes through the internet. Today we explain how to watch any television channel online from your Smart TV thanks to technology IPTV.

IPTV applications and how they work

The IPTV technology that defines the Internet Protocol Television, Internet Protocol Television, refers to the one that uses the TCP/IP protocol to transmit the signal of the television channels through the Internet.

Let's say it's a way to stream TV online, but in a different way than the process used by other services like Netflix, HBO or Prime Video. This is because the IPTV signal reserves part of the bandwidth of your internet connection for the TV signal.

In order to use this technology we need two key elements: a IPTV list of the channel or channels that we want to consume and, of course, a app that allows us to "read" these files.

As for the IPTV listings, there are many websites that provide this type of files and from where we can download them. Although we will discuss this section in more detail below because we must be aware of certain legal issues.

Regarding the applications that we can use to interpret these lists, there are many. We can find from apps for Android or iOS, others for the computer with Windows or MacOS, or even for our own TV. Some of these applications, in case you find it interesting to know their names, are: VLC, simpleTV, Kodi, Lazy IPTV, etc.

IPTV and piracy

Like any other service or technology that borders the line between legal and illegal, there are many users who, far from using it to solve a problem, end up taking advantage of the system. By this we mean the pirated IPTV listings.

This is nothing more than those channel listings that are not based on free television channels, but allow illegal viewing of pay channels. Among these channels we can see those that offer the pay football, movies, series with additional cost, etc. There are many services of this type that have already been closed and blocked by the authorities accompanied, of course, by the corresponding sanction that this entails on your part. Therefore, we encourage you to stay away from all this and simply use IPTV lists for legal purposes such as the one we are explaining to you now.

Illegal IPTV lists are usually sold on the Internet, although they are increasingly being persecuted. The typical sellers on platforms such as eBay or AliExpress have disappeared, and these platforms increasingly ban users who offer products of this type. These days, listings are often sold on completely opaque forums and platforms. In general, no one will guarantee that you will have access to these lists for a long time, so these illegal alternatives are less and less attractive.

IPTV applications for your Smart TV

Now that you know how IPTV technology works and you know the type of sources you should stay away from, let's see how we can enjoy it from our own Smart TV. These types of alternatives are also very interesting in case you have a smart TV at home in a room where there is no antenna socket. You will be able to watch national television without any kind of problem (with its commercials and all), although you will experience a bit of delay.

There are different methods to use IPTV lists on our smart TV. Some simpler and others more complex. Let's go through both to know their differences.

TDTChannels: the easiest method

Without a doubt, the easiest process to watch all the online channels on our television is through the DTT Channels. An open source project whose IPTV list covers most of the national channels in Spain. In addition, it is available in a web version and with applications for iOS, Android and, what concerns us at this moment, for Android TV. The only "downside" in this regard is that your app is not currently on Google Play. But don't worry, follow the steps below to install it on your television:

• First of all, you must enter their website and download the apk from its Android TV app to your computer. This will send the file directly to your downloads folder.
• Place this file on a USB stick if your TV has this type of port. Otherwise, go to your Google Drive account and put it in a folder here. With this we have finished with the use of the computer.

• Either by using the USB stick or with Google Drive, you will need to install a file manager on your television or Android TV device. After trying several apps, we recommend that you download File Commander. You will find this by entering Google Play through the Smart TV system. Once located, click on “Install” and then select “Open”.

• if your TV has USB ports, connect the memory in which you previously placed the apk file downloaded from DTT Channels from the PC. You will automatically see that File commander recognizes the memory and allows you to access it. once here, select the apk file and open it for the installation to begin. In the event that an error appears mentioning that it belongs to an unknown repository, enter the settings of your Smart TV and activate the installation from unknown sources in the privacy section. It may also ask you to "approve" File Commander as a app reliable. When the installation process is complete, DTT Channels will already be available on your smart TV.
• In the event that your screen does not have USB ports, you must follow the same process as the previous one but, yes, accessing Google Drive from the "Add cloud" section from File Commander.

At this point, all you have to do is enter TDT Channels from your catalog of apps installed. Once inside, after a small loading screen that will last just a few seconds, you will access the entire list of available channels: generalists, sports, children's or, of course, the exclusive ones at the community level.

In addition, this app offers you different ways of reproduction. Each channel usually has two or three sources, in case one falls. In addition, they usually give us the direct link to the official broadcast on the channel's website. So if one of them gives you problems, you will only have to access it through any of the other alternatives.

SmartIPTV, ideal for Samsung, LG and Fire TV

This application is quite practical, since it allows us to send the .M3u list directly to our television without connecting a USB memory or anything like that. Its interface leaves a lot to be desired, but at least it works. The good news is that it is available for most platforms on the market, being able to install the application on Samsung Smart TVs with Tizen, on LG Smart TVs with WebOS, those with Android TV and Google TV, and even on Amazon Fire TV devices. .

Its installation is as simple as going through the application store of the corresponding platform and installing the application (in Tizen you will have to follow the installation instructions from a USB memory). It has a 7-day trial period, and once completed, you'll have to pay to fully unlock the app. If you want to do a test you have more than enough.

The great advantage is that to send the list of channels you will simply have to use the official website and enter the MAC of your television that will appear on the screen in the configuration menu of the application. This way you can send the .m3u file you have directly to the television so that it starts with the desired channel list.

Smart IPTV website

The version for Android TV is also available, although the application was removed from the Play Store so you will have to download it manually and install it from a flash drive. Another very comfortable option that you can use is to install the Downloader App from the Play Store and use its integrated browser to install the Siptv .apk. You will only have to enter the URL apk.siptv.app for the application to download and proceed to install it. Remember that you must authorize the Downloader App application so that it can install third-party applications. This is done by activating the Android TV developer settings and turning on the option.

Other methods to use IPTV on your Smart TV

As we mentioned, there are other methods that we can use to use IPTV lists on our television. One of them is by using the app Kodi. An application compatible with both our PC, Mac or Smart TV (as long as it has the Android TV operating system).

The first thing is to get those IPTV listings referring to the channels that we want to consume. For this, we can use the database of TDT Channels itself, which we can access from its website. You just need to copy the URL of the M3U file you need.

On the other hand, Kodi can be found within the application store of our Smart TV. Or even if you don't have a smart TV because the screen in the living room is old and you use a smart TV instead Amazon Fire TV or any other device based on Android TV You will also be able to use Kodi. The case of Amazon equipment is slightly more complex to install, but if you want to use them, we recommend that you take a look at an article dedicated to them that we already published on our website.

Once Kodi is installed, access the app and from the Add-ons menu, go to “My add-ons” and then “PVR Clients”. here we can install PVR IPTV Simple Client plugin which is necessary to be able to reproduce the listings. Then, from the home page, go to the Add URL from M3U list option and add the address you saved before. After this restart the app from Kodi and log back in. If you access the channel menu in the TV section, you will see the list you just added. As you will have noticed, this process is much more complex and tedious than above.

Samsung TV Plus, what is that?

In recent months, SSamsung has carried many of the latest models of Smart TVs and Android smartphones or tablets. a completely free IPTV alternative where we will have in our hands a whole series of channels ready to tune in with different content. These are live alternatives, with a grid of spaces that cover practically any imaginable theme: movies, news, series, documentaries, children's formats, fashion, sports, lifestyle, etc.

They are completely free and you will see them on your television as one more source to access, even in the most modern models, you will be able to see a carousel with the most outstanding content each day, according to the programming grid. Of course, remember that you will not be able to access general DTT channels.

How to get around the limitations of IPTV

Sometimes it will be difficult for you to reach certain IPTV listings, or even you will see constant cuts in the retransmissions. This will happen to you more frequently if you access listings that are not legal.

To avoid this problem, the ideal is to use some type of VPN. The VPNs that are so fashionable allow you to camouflage your position and access the Internet with a different IP from your router. What is it for? Well, basically, in order to access websites and servers that have a geographical limitation, either because they have been limited at the server level or because some judge or operator has blocked access to them.

Within the catalog of VPN services, there is everything. However, we anticipate that free services usually have time limits and amount of data transferred, so it is better that you get directly with a paid service. You can find the VPN application within the store of your Smart TV, and using it is as simple as entering your login information and selecting a country from the list to bypass the blocks.

What if your Smart TV is too old?

If none of what we have previously told you works for your Smart TV model, then It is best to use an external device to connect it to the TV and access those IPTV channels that you need. You currently have a lot of dongles and cheap set-top boxes that you can buy for very little money and turn a normal television into a Smart TV. Some of the best products you can buy are the ones we show you below:

TV-Box T9

An alternative (of the many that you have on the market) is this T9 model with Android 9.0 that will allow you to carry out any of the indications that we have indicated about TDTChannels for models that equip the Google operating system.

See offer on Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick

The dongles from Amazon are also a cheap and simple alternative to make use of IPTV lists. The Fire TV Stick Lite is around $30, but we'll get a better experience with the standard Fire TV Stick, which is around $XNUMX more. With this model we will be able to enjoy both TDTChannels and SmartIPTV without problems. Of course, you will have to follow the steps to release the installation of third party apps and everything that we have explained to you at the beginning of this post.

See offer on Amazon

xiaomi mi tv stick

Another interesting alternative is the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick, which has very similar features to the Amazon device and is another device to take into account if our television has become obsolete and we need a more recent version of Android to use the apps from IPTV. The Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is also quite affordable and you can use it to enjoy more content such as streaming services, YouTube and even games on your TV. The current version works with Android 9.

See offer on Amazon

Chromecast with Google TV

This other device is a little more expensive than the Fire TV and the Xiaomi, but it has a very good processor and, priori, it does not have as many limitations as the dongle from Amazon. This Chromecast model has the system Google TV, which is a customization of Android TV with another interface, designed for family use and with a great system of recommendations.

With this device you will be able to access the Google Play Store and download your applications to watch television, as well as any other alternative that you can think of. If the app you want isn't in the Play Store, you can easily remove the limits and install apps from outside the store. For this you can use Downloader, which will give you the door to introduce third-party apps on your Chromecast with Google TV. From there, you can search for apps directly from online repositories or install stores like Apptoide TV.

The Chromecast with Google TV is one of the devices for televisions that best value for money has to this day. It can output up to 4K resolution and comes with its own remote control.

Thus, you have a simple way to update your old Smart TV model without having to spend the money when, at the moment, you are not planning to make an expense of this importance.

Where is the channel list downloaded?

On the internet you can find lists of channels in .m3u format with open channels that broadcast freely and without paid content. These lists are normally not illegal, although sometimes they hide paid channels, so sharing them would be illegal. For that reason we cannot leave you with any list of channels to download, since we do not want to break any rules. On the other hand, there are other completely illegal services that offer .m3u lists of paid channels such as Movistar, Sky Sports, PPV Events and even Netflix movies and series, which are highly persecuted and usually stop working over time.

The links to Amazon in this article are part of our agreement with their Affiliate Program and may earn us a small commission on their sale (without affecting the price you pay). Even so, the decision to publish and add them has been made, as always, freely and under editorial criteria, without attending to requests from the brands involved.