IPTV set-top boxes from Rostelecom: detailed review, advice on selection and configuration

We talked about what Rostelecom interactive television is, how to connect it and what equipment is needed for this in previous articles.

Today we will talk in more detail about equipment and watching television at home, and the topic for analysis will be the Rostelecom TV set-top box with Wi-Fi connectivity for watching interactive television version 2.0. Here you will find a complete description of the set-top box, its characteristics, how to connect and configure it yourself without the participation of specialists.

Let us remember that interactive TV or IPTV is a combination of digital television and at the same time the Internet, which provides enormous opportunities in the field of telecommunications, both in professional areas and at the household level. Using it, you can manage content and all possible viewing processes in high image quality, access the Internet directly from your TV, and you also have various services at your disposal, such as karaoke, multiscreen, multiroom and other entertainment.

The very concept of IPTV was mentioned back in 1995 by Precept Software, and demonstrated in action in the form of Internet broadcasting in 1994 by the ABC TV channel team using video conferencing equipment.

Nowadays, interactive TV at home allows you not only to watch TV shows, but also to manage viewing at any convenient time. Especially for this, Rostelecom offers all users of interactive television the Zabava.Ru service, which can be found at https://itv.ru.

If you purchased and just opened the box with a TV device, you will immediately find a user manual there, which provides brief introductory information regarding the composition and its use in practice. Let's take a closer look at everything and tell you what's what.

Features of consoles

Digital television is supplied based on technical solutions from SmartLabs. This is a leading manufacturer of equipment for interactive TV in our country. The consoles have a good reputation. They are bought in many countries around the world under different brands.

Today there are about a dozen models of the Rostelecom set-top box. The company reserves the right to decide what equipment to use in different regions of the country. Usually clients don't have to choose. But that's not scary. No matter where you live, ITV will work consistently. The only condition for this is good bandwidth and a stable Internet connection.

Modern Rostelecom iptv set-top boxes are high-performance devices with which customers have the opportunity to use all the latest developments in the field of interactive TV.

As a rule, the company supplies equipment from the STB Mini series. Four models are current: SML-5010, SML-5050, SML-5041, SML-5010CT.

Most often, the junior model 5010 is supplied to the market, the capabilities of which are more than enough for all services of a digital TV provider.

There are other SmartLabs devices on the market under the Rostelecom brand. They were produced earlier and are still actively used in many Russian homes. In some regions, these slightly outdated but still functional set-top boxes are being delivered to customers. Some of them: SML-482 HD, SML-282 HD Base, SML-292 HD Premium.

Expert opinion

Telekom Telekomych

Telecommunications expert and just a nice guy

It is better to avoid the following models: Infomir MAG-250, Infomir MAG-200, IPTV RT STB HD Standart, IPTV HD 101 (103), Yuxing YX-6916A, Motorolla VIP1003. They are hopelessly outdated. The technical characteristics of the “old guys” are not good enough to “pull” modern content and services.

Automatic setup

Automatic setup of the TV and remote control is carried out by launching software access codes that are programmed by the Rostelecom set-top box. For manual and automatic settings, the TV must be turned on.

To activate the automatic configuration of the Rostelecom remote control, you need to put the TV into reprogramming mode. To do this, you need to press and hold two keys at the same time for about two seconds:

• OK - it is located in the center of the joystick;
• TV - it is located to the left of the Power key.

When pressing, the user's gaze should be near the TV key: the LEDs located nearby should blink twice. This means that programming mode is available to the user.

Next, the user needs to enter a combination of the digital key set 991. This digital combination starts the process of automatically selecting a code that matches the TV.

To start automatic code selection, you will need to press the CH+ channel switch key. During the settings process, the program will select a code for the TV and then give a command to turn it off. If the TV still does not turn off, then the user needs to continue pressing the CH+ keys.

Having noticed the TV turning off, the user will need to record the code. To do this, press the OK key. After this, you can use one remote control to control two devices.

Despite the fact that automatic selection is almost universal for every device, problems may arise with the manufacturer of the Korean brands Samsung and Lg. In addition, older TV models are susceptible to deviations from universal automatic settings.

Comparison table of technical characteristics for some models

READ What is Multiroom Rostelecom: connecting and disabling the service

Standard TV connection scheme via set-top box

1. A cable is installed into the apartment, through which the router gains access to the Internet.
2. The router distributes network access via Wi-Fi to mobile devices.
3. An Ethernet cable runs to the computer.
4. The same cable goes to the TV set-top box from Rostelecom.
5. It, in turn, is connected to the TV with an HDMI, RCA or S-Video cable.

The diagram is shown more clearly in the figure below.

You can connect the set-top box in other ways:

• Wi-Fi connection. This method is rarely used. You will have to purchase a media bridge from Motorola. It is not cheap, and finding it today is not so easy. The advantage of this approach is operation in the rare 5 GHz band. Wireless connectivity goes further than usual. You can get by with an additional Wi-Fi adapter. But not all consoles will work with it. And the router must be able to separate the adapter from the LAN ports.
• You can also use the electrical connection method using PLC adapters. But for this you will need to purchase additional equipment and configure all devices to work together. Data is transmitted securely. But voltage surges can harm the system.

Setting up the remote control

To finally understand how to set up the TV, it remains to understand the control panel. For ease of use, you need to configure it for general operation with the TV. This is easy to do, just follow these steps:

• Press OK and TV on the remote control;
• enter 991;
• We start switching channels, the remote control will fix the required parameters for controlling the TV;
• save the settings.

After these steps, you will be able to control both the set-top box and the TV with one remote control, which is quite convenient.

Will it be possible to watch IPTV on TV without a set-top box?

Recently, Rostelecom has been developing the Wink service, which allows you to watch digital television from computers, mobile devices and on TVs with Smart TV, Android TV or Apple TV. To access, you need to install the Wink application and enter authorization data for an account with a paid subscription.

However, when concluding a contract, you cannot ignore the need to purchase equipment. After all, the service is activated only if the client purchases or leases the device.

Possible problems and troubleshooting

Even a new set-top box from Rostelecom can sometimes malfunction. Most problems are non-critical and can be easily fixed. In some cases, you will have to call technical support.

But in most cases, our guide will help you.

How to reboot

To do this, press the POWER button on the remote control. When pressed, the button must be held for 10 seconds. Don't forget to point the remote control at the console itself. Some people out of habit point it at the TV, which causes the signal to become unstable.

When turned on, it shows a cartoon

When you first connect the device to the TV, sometimes a table is displayed on the screen, and then a cartoon. Don't be afraid of this. This is a signal that the device is connected to the wrong port. Plug the cable into the LAN port that is configured for TV equipment.

READ How to install and configure the Rostelecom application on Smart TV (Samsung, LG, etc.)

"No IP address" error

This error indicates that there is no signal. The router may have been configured incorrectly. Sometimes the signal disappears due to the fault of the provider. This can be clarified by calling the support service.

If the device worked fine before, the settings are fine. Try reconnecting all the plugs to make sure the contact is secure. If the Internet works and the signal from the provider is received properly, the cable is damaged. Sometimes he rubs against furniture legs. You need to check the wires for integrity or replace them with new ones.

"Server not found" error

Typically, this malfunction appears due to a breakdown of network equipment. As a rule, it is not possible to eliminate it on your own. You'll have to call technical support.

Login and password do not match

During the initial setup, this error appears if you have entered the activation data carelessly.
Double-check them in your contract. They usually consist of numbers only. They do not contain special characters or letters. If the problem arose as a result of changing equipment, you need to call your provider. The fact is that each device is tied to specific authorization data. And apparently, the binding process is simply not completed yet. You need to find out how long it will take for your login and password to work.

Error "Wired interface unavailable"

This problem occurs when the Internet connection is poor. Make sure you can access it from your computer or phone. If the network is really unstable, try rebooting the router. Sometimes rebooting the console itself or reconnecting the wires helps.

Rostelecom set-top box does not respond to the remote control

This issue occurs because a control conflict has occurred. Sometimes the TV control code is the same as the equipment control code. In this case, you need to configure the remote control on the set-top box using another suitable code. The process is described in detail in the step-by-step guide on TelecomDom.

What is included

Let's look at the standard equipment from Rostelecom under a classic contract. In the box with the set-top box (STB-receiver) you will find:

• TV set-top box;
• Power unit;
• Universal remote control;
• Cables: HDMI (1.5 m); AV (1.5 m); multi-core patch cord cable (3 m); RCA – SCART adapter;
• Batteries for the remote control;
• Warranty and documentation for connection and configuration.

Don't be intimidated by the large number of cables in the set; you won't need all of them. It all depends on the model of your television receiver and which port you decide to connect the new set-top box to.

Popular questions

How to reset settings

To reset the settings on the remote control, you need to hold two buttons simultaneously (OK + POWER) for two seconds. After this, you need to enter the numbers 977, which will reset the settings to factory settings.

If you plan to replace the equipment or transfer it to another person, then you also need to reset it to factory settings. Enter the “Management” menu item and go to the right. Here select the “Deactivation” function.

Don't forget to pre-register for the Wink service. Log in there with your username and password for the Rostelecom set-top box. This will allow you to maintain access to all content and use it on other equipment.

Is it necessary to be connected to the Internet from Rostelecom?

No, television from Rostelecom will work if your Internet speed is good. In this case, the provider does not matter.

How many channels are available to set-top box users?

Rostelecom is constantly working to increase the number of channels available for viewing. Your limit is limited only by the paid package. Most users have access to 100 - 200 channels.

There are exclusive packages that allow you to view content in very high quality or under special conditions. It is always better to find out the latest information on the official website.

At what speed should the Internet work?

The quality of video and sound media content directly depends on the speed of the Internet. Theoretically, you can watch television in low quality even with a low Internet speed. But for comfortable viewing, the network must operate with a throughput of at least 0.9 megabits per second.

How many TVs does one set-top box serve?

The device can serve a maximum of two TVs. To connect a second screen you will have to use a PCA cable, because the HDMI port is already occupied. The content on their screens will be shown synchronously.

To view different channels separately on different devices, you need to connect a paid one.

Service capabilities

Rostelecom offers subscribers the following interactive TV options:

• Full viewing control: record, pause, rewind, archive TV shows.
• Large collection of films of various genres.
• High picture quality, as well as viewing in 3D format.
• The ability to watch interactive TV on five devices, including smartphones, tablets and PCs.
• Parental Control function to control access to individual channels.

The functionality is really rich. Watching TV through the Rostelecom set-top box will be a very pleasant and exciting experience.