Access to Rostelecom interactive television is impossible without special receivers. The company offers many models, and it can be difficult for the user to decide which one to buy. Below is an overview of the IPTV HD Mini set-top box - one of the most common and modern from Rostelecom. The set-top box was developed by the Ufa plant Promsvyaz and largely copies its Chinese counterparts.
Specifications
In terms of appearance and connectors, the IPTV HD Mini set-top box from Rostelecom is no different from most similar devices. It is made in a compact case made of matte plastic. All connectors are located on the back side:
- RJ-45 (LAN) for Internet via fiber optic cable;
- USB 2.0;
- 3.5 for sound output;
- HDMI;
- optical output S/PDIF;
- power connector.
The filling can also hardly be called unique:
- chipset STi105;
- RAM – 256 MB;
- ROM – 128 MB;
- OS - Linux 2.6.35;
- support for drives formatted FAT16/32, NFS, Ext2/3;
- video support - 1080i/p, 720p, 576p, 480p, NTSC, PAL.
Review of the best models
A review of IPTV set-top boxes will introduce you to devices from well-known manufacturers that have proven their reliability and functionality. The products work with world-famous Internet services, offer the use of a built-in browser and much more.
Apple TV 4K 32GB
The rating of set-top boxes opens with a device from the famous apple brand. The model belongs to the fourth generation of the technical solution and shows high stability and a significant level of ease of use. It has its own software system that supports installing applications from the AppStore. The set-top box does not have a hard drive. Connections via Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth are provided. AirPlay technology is supported. The device comes with a remote control and connects to the TV via HDMI.
Pros:
- integration with devices on the home network;
- performance;
- works with wireless speakers;
- energy efficiency.
Minuses:
- Siri assistant without Russian language;
- there is no separate wired output for speakers;
- it is impossible to launch Rostelecom interactive TV;
- No HDMI cable included.
Xiaomi Mi Box S
This model is rightfully included in the best IPTV set-top boxes. The manufacturer tried to implement the idea of maximum compatibility: not only AirPlay technology from Apple is supported, but also MiraCast for Chrome Android, there is even DNLA. The number of formats that the set-top box understands covers almost all existing video and audio encoding algorithms. The device supports IPTV, Internet radio, reads connected disks with NTFS, exFat file systems.
Pros:
- price tag;
- support for protocols and specifications;
- high-quality assembly;
- Android operating system.
Minuses:
- one USB port;
- no slot for memory cards;
- there is no wired Internet connection interface;
- remote control without gyroscope, not for games.
Dune Neo 4K Plus
This is the optimal model for those who want maximum format support. The set-top box works with subtitles, reads 7 types of file systems of connected disks, has a download manager, a slot for memory cards and much more.
Important! Separately, it is worth noting support for ultra-high definition 4K video with up to 60 frames per second.
There is HDR technology. Android is used as the operating system.
Pros:
- no problems when connecting to different resources;
- convenient built-in player;
- performance;
- support for OTG devices, Bluetooth headphones.
Minuses:
- There are some minor comments about the firmware;
- poor functionality of the sound player;
- The remote control must be pointed clearly;
- Insufficiently informative instructions included.
Google Chromecast Ultra
The model from the famous search engine guarantees the stability of the wireless connection. There are 3 antennas installed inside the stylish compact case. The Premium version has support for 4K high-definition television. The device works with all network services, supports AirPlay, and has a microUSB connector for convenient OTG connection of different devices.
Pros:
- performance;
- build quality and materials;
- convenient set of software;
- Easy pairing with TVs that support ChromeCast.
Minuses:
- few applications in the store;
- short connection cable;
- Includes only American standard plug;
- there are no official deliveries to Russia.
Equipment
The IPTV HD Mini TV set-top box includes:
- 12V power adapter;
- batteries for the remote control, type “AA” – 2 pcs.;
- Ethernet cable – 5 m;
- HDMI cable – 1.5 m;
- remote control;
- wire mini jack – RCA – 2 m;
- RCA – SCART adapter;
- warranty card;
- user guide.
Important! A complete set of necessary adapters and wires for connecting a TV and acoustic devices to the receiver, taking into account the low price, can be considered a key advantage.
General tips for choosing an IPTV set-top box
Each IPTV set-top box is selected for future tasks and the available TV . After all, it makes no sense to spend extra money on a super-efficient platform if you only plan to watch videos on Youtube on it. Or choose an IPTV set-top box with 4K resolution that will connect to your old TV.
There are several standard options for choosing a receiver for a particular level of tasks performed.
- For frankly old (including analogue) TVs, you can choose an IPTV set-top box that broadcasts images with HD resolution. It's an affordable device that's leisurely but capable of performing basic tasks in its class.
- Sports fans will benefit from a set-top box that can record channels using a timer. This is convenient; it will be simply impossible to miss watching a match.
- Owners of modern TVs will need a FullHD set-top box. This is the ideal device for watching movies on the big screen.
- For combined tasks, using a browser, social networks, watching movies and IPTV channels, a set-top box in a minimal configuration is suitable. This is 1 GB of RAM and 2 processor cores. Such a device will not provide instant reactions to the owner’s actions, but will offer stability and functional suitability.
- People who collect movie collections will like a set-top box that supports connecting external drives. Devices in the high-end segment are equipped with high-speed SATA interfaces. Budget ones will only offer a USB connection.
Finally, today you can buy productive platforms equipped with 2-4 GB of RAM of the latest generation, processors with 4 or 8 cores. Such set-top boxes not only work with 4K resolution. They can run games and other resource-intensive applications without any problems.
Functions
The main task of the Rostelecom set-top box is to receive, decode and display the signal on the screen. In addition, you can use it:
- subscribe to paid services;
- write data to external media;
- view the TV program, including archived programs;
- install informational and entertainment widgets.
The functionality of a digital set-top box for interactive television does not end there. It offers a large set of settings, which are divided into system and user. It is not recommended to change anything in the first category, as this may lead to failures.
Important! A plus is the presence of parental controls - you can set restrictions on the content that your child can access.
It is worth noting that this model is used not only by the provider Rostelecom. It is universal, and to work for a specific operator, proprietary firmware is installed on it. And this is a huge minus. If the user refuses the services of the provider, then he will have to flash the Rostelecom IPTV HD Mini set-top box in some unofficial way in order to use it with other telecom operators. Otherwise, it will simply turn out to be a useless gadget.
IPTV headend
Good day! I would like to tell you about the design of an IPTV headend using the example of our provider. I hope that after reading the article you will have a good understanding of the operation of an IPTV headend.
So what we have:
- 7 satellite dishes for 11 satellites
- Multiswitches in the right quantity
- ~80 satellite receivers
- Video gateways (streamers)
- Middleware Servers
- Video servers (VOD, NPVR)
- Stream encryption servers
- Monitoring system
Roof
Well, everything is quite simple. There are antennas on the roof tuned to the main satellites (Yamal, ABS, HotBird, Astra, W4... there are 11 of them in total). According to all the rules, the system is grounded and securely screwed. RF cables run from the roof to the control room.
Server room
Multiswitches
Cables from the roof are connected to the inputs of multiswitches, the task of which is to switch (distribute) signals of different polarization from antenna systems directly to receivers.
Receivers
We use professional receivers from Harmonic
Receivers are tuned to the necessary transponders and decode the signal if it is encrypted. Most professional receivers work with a DVB-S front end and can only decode 2 TV channels at a time.
If we take more than two encrypted TV channels from one transponder, then we connect the receivers in a chain using ASI outputs/inputs. Typically, no more than 1-2 receivers are connected along the chain. The receivers also filter out unnecessary TV channels to reduce the load on the video gateway.
Video gateway
Next, using ASI or IP (unicast) we send the filtered and decrypted stream to the video gateway.
The video gateway receives streams from receivers via ASI or IP (it has 16 ASI ports in total). It converts the received streams into multicast and broadcasts it to the network.
How does a video gateway work?
The gateway has:
- physical ASI ports, from which it takes streams.
- physical Ethernet ports (for control, input streams, output streams).
- virtual IP ports (for receiving streams, for sending streams)
To send a stream to the output, it is necessary to “cross” the service from the input port with a virtual IP port.
These are the flows the gateway sees, for example, at the first ASI input:
For example, to put the Kinopokaz HD channel on the network, you need to create a virtual port with a given IP address and port, and then “cross” the channel to the created virtual port.
As a result, we will see that a channel has appeared on the virtual IP output:
Well, the stream is delivered to subscribers using an IGMP router. But it’s not so simple because the channels are encrypted.
Encryption servers
Yes, Verimatrix. Like the vast majority of IPTV providers, we use this system. Paid, closed. By the way, this system is approved by all the largest film studios in the world. Therefore, we have no problems concluding agreements with video content rights holders. Using ordered servers, we encrypt the stream, indicating in the web admin the IP address of the input stream and the IP address of the output stream. Servers encrypt TV channels in real time.
Server video
In total, we have 2 servers, one is dedicated to nPVR, the other is dedicated to VOD. They have high-performance network storage that allows you to serve content to hundreds of users simultaneously. We use the platform - Espial MediaBase.
The first server records TV programs selected by subscribers on permitted TV channels. Therefore, the subscriber can press the pause button on his remote control at any time, go to the kitchen and make popcorn, return to the TV and continue watching from the same place. Or program the recording of the program in VCR mode. And then watch it at a convenient time.
The second server contains a movie library for video on demand. Custom STBs display a video stream with a frequency of 25 Hz and an aspect ratio for a 16x9 picture, so all films are re-encoded into the H.264 1080i/50 Hz format before being added to the video server. A Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is also generated.
Middleware
These are our busiest servers. To ensure fault tolerance, the entire software and hardware platform of the system is built according to a cluster scheme. Two powerful Middleware servers are running, load balancing is configured. We use a separate MSSQL server for the database.
Middleware is intermediate software that connects the subscriber STB interface with the rest of the complex.
Tariff plans are formed in the Middleware database. All set-top boxes are activated through a Middleware server to gain access to encrypted content. Middleware controls the purchase of films. The TV program is also delivered to subscribers by Middleware. Middleware also allows you to read tweets from your TV! News feeds, Yandex.Traffic, the status of applications on the State Services website are also processed by Middleware.
Monitoring
Traffic flow monitoring is carried out by VB220 from BridgeTech.
Also, signal levels from satellites are monitored using Zabbix, which takes data via SNMP from receivers.
If the channel stops being decoded, the receiver reports this to the NOC service via SNMP, which in turn informs the duty administrator.
In addition to hardware monitoring, duty operators regularly visually view all TV channels, checking the quality of image and sound.
Bottom line
Let's put everything in a logical chain:
Satellite dish -> receiver -> video gateway -> encryption server -> provider's IP network -> subscriber's Set-Top-Box -> TV.
And vice versa:
Subscriber -> Set-Top-Box -> Middleware + IGMP Query.
This concludes with a brief description of the main components of the headend. I just returned the article from a draft - I removed it to correct inaccuracies and add real photographs.
Connection
Connecting the set-top box to the TV is not difficult. If you study the instructions, this will not cause any big problems, besides, all the necessary wires are included in the kit. The setting is performed according to the following algorithm.
- The set-top box is connected to the Internet via a LAN cable.
- After plugging in the device, the blue ready-to-use indicator will light up on its display.
- The TV and receiver are connected via an HDMI cable. If the TV is an old model, then you can use an RCA or SCART cable through an adapter.
- On the TV, you should indicate the signal source (HDMI, SCART, RCA, depending on the selected connection method).
- A window will appear for entering your login and password. The necessary data is indicated on the back of the device.
- In some cases you will need to enter a PIN; by default it consists of four ones or zeros.
- If all the steps are performed correctly, a start window will open with the question “what to watch.”
What is a Smart Set-top Box
This device is a simplified computer running an operating system (in 90% it is either Android or IOS). Connects to the TV via HDMI or AV cable. The TV screen acts as a kind of monitor and, in tandem with the set-top box, forms a multifunctional multimedia device with the ability to access the Internet, view content, surf, and download files.
As a rule, the model has USB connectors, which allows you to connect an additional flash drive, mouse, keyboard, or connect the set-top box directly to a Wi-Fi router.
Possible faults
Like any equipment, the Rostelecom set-top box may begin to behave incorrectly. User reviews point to several common glitches.
Doesn't respond to remote control
Very often IPTV HD Mini does not respond to settings using the remote control or freezes . In this case, the set-top box can function properly, play video, but you will not be able to call up the menu, scroll through the video or perform any other actions using the remote control. The LED on the front panel responds by flashing red, but nothing happens.
Important! In this case, resetting the settings and any other actions will not help. For the remote control to work, you need to turn off the power and turn on the device.
As a rule, after some time the situation will repeat. The problem is widespread and is resolved remotely by the provider. Users can only wait for this to happen and put up with temporary inconveniences. To make the process go faster, reviews recommend bombarding technical support with failure messages.
Red-green indicator lights up
If immediately after turning on the image does not appear on the TV, and the Power indicator on the receiver’s display lights up red-green (or yellow), then the problem may be in the power supply. You will need to buy a new one or replace it at a service center if the set-top box is under warranty.
Advice! To prolong the life of the power adapter, it is recommended to unplug it at night.
Self-shutdown
The last problem is the set-top box turning off some time after starting work (usually after 20-30 minutes). Investigation of the failure showed that the failure was caused by overheating of the capacitor on the board. At the same time, if you cover the console, it will turn off faster; if you cool it, it will work a little longer. Repair will require desoldering the capacitor and replacing it with a new one. However, it is not recommended to carry out such work on your own; it is better to contact a service center.
Advice! You can read more about malfunctions of Rostelecom set-top boxes and methods for eliminating them in this article.
