Minix Box.

[Becker]

Looking for info from anyone with technical knowledge. We have a Minix 8 box,it stopped working a while ago as did others I believe . Does anyone know if it is possible to reconfigure it to stream TV? Thanks in advance.

[Keithcaley]

When you say "Stopped Working", what exactly do you mean?

When you connect the box up to a television and power up, what do you see on the tv screen?

[Navek]

Hi Becker,
Not sure what you want to "update"
You should be able to stream live TV,
If there's enough memory left on the box.
Mobdro is what you're looking for...

https://www.mobdro.to/

[Becker]

Thanks KC & Navek for prompt replies. It stopped working & said free streaming had finished. Suppose I should have stated that originally. What I want to know if it can be configured to watch free channels.

[Keithcaley]

Thanks KC & Navek for prompt replies. It stopped working & said free streaming had finished. Suppose I should have stated that originally. What I want to know if it can be configured to watch free channels.

Just a guess here, but were you using FilmOn to watch UK TV by any chance?

[Becker]

I was indeed KC. Think it happened to most boxes? Is it now useless or can it be set up to say Mobdro?

[Keithcaley]

OK, now that we know what we're talking about...

FilmOn has become a Subscription service, so after about 5 minutes of free viewing, you are prompted to pay - the box hasn't stopped working, FilmOn just isn't free any more.

Navek has effectively answered your query - he must have had a crystal ball to know what you were on about - get your miinix box powered up and connected, and open the 'Browser' - it's usually an icon that looks like the world.

Go to the website that Navek posted, https://www.mobdro.to/, and download the '.apk file'.

Go to settings>security and tick the box that says 'allow unknown sources' (or something like that).

Find the 'apk. file' that you downloaded - it should be in the download folder, and there's usually an icon that takes you straight there, but if not you will need to use 'File Manager' or 'My Files' to locate it...

Click on the mobdro.apk file, and if prompted to 'choose an application to continue', choose 'Package Installer'

The machine will automatically install the Mobdro application, and after allowing a few minutes for it to sort itself out, you're good to go!

Note that Mobdro searches for all sources that are actually being streamed at that particular moment in time - so it will find the FilmOn streams as well as others - you will be able to tell whether you've clicked on a FilmOn stream because:
a) the FilmOn logo will be displayed at the top right corner of the screen, &
b) it will stop working after a few minutes - so click on one of the other ones!!

Enjoy!

p.s. once you've finished, and got it working O.K., go back to the Security settings and 'unclick' the 'allow unknown sources' box, which makes your box secure again.

[Becker]

Thank you once again KC. Bit too complicated for me,will get it done by someone that knows.

[Keithcaley]

*!?*^@**!#!

[gary&shirley]

Keith, you could make a fortune out of us less IT literate people by sorting out issues in person.

[Becker]

Any offers KC?

[Keithcaley]

Absolutely not!

My days of doing house calls are over

[Becker]

Ok KC,fair comment, was meant as a joke.

[Keithcaley]

So was mine

I'm still not doing it, mind!!!

[gary&shirley]

OK Keith, so you do not wish or need to do it. however still being the font of all knowledge on this site of which I am very grateful for as you sorted our air con upgrade and new TV via the Grundig shop, who would you recommend to sort any watching UK TV issues?.

[Keithcaley]

There is only one Company here that I know of which deals with Android / KODI boxes - I have recommended them a few times, so you will find their contact details very easily. Hint: click on my name>Search user’s posts>type the word 'android' (without inverted commas) into the box, hit 'Enter' - and you will get around 80 - odd results, Just have a flick through those

The reason that I have not posted their details directly in this post, is that they are primarily suppliers and installers, and although they do have an excellent after-care service, I don't know whether they would want to be involved in sorting out issues such as yours.

Let me explain...

KODI is basically a DIY affair, and because issues crop up all of the time, you need to understand how to fix them (or at least, be prepared to look for information on how to fix them) for yourself. There are websites and Forums dedicated to learning about KODI, with tons of information and help for beginners, such as https://addonhq.com/ and http://forum.kodicommunity.com/index.php to get you started. I mentioned elsewhere that there are also many YouTube instructional videos - these show you, step-by-step 'how to do it'.

This is going to sound 'a little harsh', but here goes - If you are not prepared to learn how to use and maintain your equipment, then any Individual or Company that agrees to 'sort you out' is going to be at your beck and call .... forever! - What I mean is that every time anything 'goes wrong' or doesn't work as it should, or there's a 'glitch' on a server, you're going to be ringing them up saying 'My telly isn't working, and it was you that fixed it'

So what are they going to do? Charge you a £35 callout charge every time you ring them (and I regularly experience 'quirks' with my TV viewing, maybe 3 or 4 times a week, this is not an isolated, exceptional circumstance that we're talking about here). I've learnt how to work out what causes (most ) of the issues, and how to correct them, but I steadfastly refuse to be responsible for doing the same for other people - and this is after a career spanning 45 years as a TV Engineer, Customer Service Supervisor, Engineering Supervisor, Factory Toubleshooter, and the Lord knows what else, because I can see the quagmire in which I would become 'stuck'.

I'm sorry that this is not quite the solution that you sought, and I really do not intend to cause offence, but it's 'The Nature of the Beast'

So, if you don't want to hop on the learning curve, and no one else volunteers, then go ahead and find the contact details that I mentioned earlier, and good luck!

Best regards, Keith.

[Lodger]

I can't understand why people don't subscribe to streaming services, most of them cost 15 euros or less a month and you get all the channels you want, catch up, downloading and VOD.

All this KODI I read about is more trouble than its worth.

Sign up to a well-recognised supplier and if you have a problem you email them and they sort it, you don't have to go round asking all and sundry how to put it right.

**** I still say Keith for Senior Moderator, awsome ******

[Becker]

Well done Lodger,seems like you have all the answers.

[gary&shirley]

Hi Keith, thanks for the reply, not harsh at all, however I still find IT & TV issues rather complicated, I'm not adverse to doing things myself and am very good a mechanical issues however I took your advice and watched the U Tube directions and I now can get NTV via my Web Browser on my Android box so at least I have an alternate to the Filmon versions.

[Keithcaley]

Hi Keith, thanks for the reply, not harsh at all, however I still find IT & TV issues rather complicated, I'm not adverse to doing things myself and am very good a mechanical issues however I took your advice and watched the U Tube directions and I now can get NTV via my Web Browser on my Android box so at least I have an alternate to the Filmon versions.

Yay!!!!

Well done!

I won't deny that it is a complicated subject, but if you just concentrate on doing one thing at a time, you can get there - and if you have trouble with one particular operation, there's usually someone to offer help and advice (if not, you can always go back and try again!).

I'm glad that you managed the NTV part, and some of Navek's posts have links showing how to access catch-up TV without relying on BBC iPlayer or ITV Hub...

Still, small steps at first eh?