Xiaomi Mi Box / Mi Box S [Android TV OS]

[GAD]

Hi guys - new here - hoping for some local advice..
The place I’m staying in has no DStv connection and no option to install one, so forced to stream via Mi Box.

Not sure exactly what internet we have in the building, but have a Netgear Wi-Fi router in my place that seems to have a reasonable speed - 8 to 10Mbps

I’ve had my Mi Box a good few months and it works pretty well with Netflix with the odd dropout in picture quality when bandwidth gets a bit tight - but it never buffers and pic quality is perfect 98% of the time.
My problem lies with DStv - random buffering on basically every channel - and always seems to happen at about 15min intervals. Then I have to wait about 5min going in and out of the app and it will eventually start playing again. Very annoying - like with 3 laps to go of the Indy 500.. grrrrr..
As I don’t have these issues with Netflix - is it an app problem or setup problem or just DStv’s crappy slow servers?

I have the latest system update and two days ago changed the DNS servers from auto to the Google ones (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) which I found recommended on an international forum. I have tried lower res modes in the DStv app but that makes only a minor difference. Now on the 720 setting.

Any advice? Or is that just the way it is?

Thank you!

Like the song goes...by Bruce Hornsby

That's just the way it is ... somethings will never change

 

[Jasop]

I connected Bluetooth headphones to my mibox, YouTube immediately buffers and stutters making it unusable. Headphones work perfectly fine on iPad / phones etc.

Turning off headphones makes mibox go back to perfect normal streaming.

Will test on other Mibox and with other apps to see if same thing happens there too.

Anyone else had a similar issue?

 

[phly]

Got the mi box last week. Kodi is setup but the database is taking up over 2gb of space. How do I compress this or move it to the server? I have a hp nl54 with about 10tb of movies and series.

I am using the usb for a wired Ethernet connection.

Wireless connection is not as responsive as cable.

Why not have the stuff "sorted" in advance then just use kodi to stream your collection - meaning kodi will "read" the created database but does not "write" to the mi box and even if it does it will be minimal. Surely not 2gb.

 

[GAD]

I connected Bluetooth headphones to my mibox, YouTube immediately buffers and stutters making it unusable. Headphones work perfectly fine on iPad / phones etc.

Turning off headphones makes mibox go back to perfect normal streaming.

Will test on other Mibox and with other apps to see if same thing happens there too.

Anyone else had a similar issue?

Any Bluetooth device with the exception of the remote interferes with the wifi signal to the mibox...

You can test it. My JBL Extreme and Anker Bluetooth speakers both does the exact same thing.

So much for thinking of a Bluetooth Surround Sound Speaker setup.

Only way to maybe bypass this is with an Ethernet adapter.

 

[Jasop]

Thanks for info, that's unfortunate. Think you are right though, as I noticed I don't have the issue when watching local content on Kodi.

I wonder if the same issue exists on the Mibox S, or if it can be fixed with a software update.

I don't plan on running Ethernet through the roof across the house, I want a wireless setup.

 

[crawler]

Thanks for info, that's unfortunate. Think you are right though, as I noticed I don't have the issue when watching local content on Kodi.

I wonder if the same issue exists on the Mibox S, or if it can be fixed with a software update.

I don't plan on running Ethernet through the roof across the house, I want a wireless setup.

Almsot think they use same chip

Then seems BT gets preference

 

[Jasop]

It doesn't handle Bluetooth + WiFi very well, as even the audio over Bluetooth stutters

 

[HeftyCrab]

I connected Bluetooth headphones to my mibox, YouTube immediately buffers and stutters making it unusable. Headphones work perfectly fine on iPad / phones etc.

Turning off headphones makes mibox go back to perfect normal streaming.

Will test on other Mibox and with other apps to see if same thing happens there too.

Anyone else had a similar issue?

Nope. Haven't experienced this with my Bluetooth headphones.

 

[Dimpie (COMPUTEK)]

Thanks for info, that's unfortunate. Think you are right though, as I noticed I don't have the issue when watching local content on Kodi.

I wonder if the same issue exists on the Mibox S, or if it can be fixed with a software update.

I don't plan on running Ethernet through the roof across the house, I want a wireless setup.

Ok, just tested JBL's with bluetooth on Netflix, DSTV and YouTube ... no problem over wifi on 10Mb Fibre on Mibox S

Anyone else that can confirm ??

EDIT: ok, seems HeftyCrab posted just before me and he also don't have problems

 

[Speedster]

I've got an original MiBox (i.e non S) and stream DSTV and Netflix often while listening on my Skullcandy headphones without any issues.

 

[Jasop]

Thanks for your feedback, I'll test on my other Mibox now and post back. A bit more hopeful that the other one will be fine.

 

[HeftyCrab]

Ok, just tested JBL's with bluetooth on Netflix, DSTV and YouTube ... no problem over wifi on 10Mb Fibre on Mibox S

Anyone else that can confirm ??

EDIT: ok, seems HeftyCrab posted just before me and he also don't have problems

Yup. Just to confirm I have the first Mi Box that we readily got in SA. Think its V3? Also its updated to latest Android version.

 

[Jasop]

Thanks for your feedback, I'll test on my other Mibox now and post back. A bit more hopeful that the other one will be fine.

My second mibox with the JBL Bluetooth headphones is 95% fine

It takes a second or two to sync the audio, then every five minutes or so there's a slight crackle / audio glitch ... But barely noticeable.

On problematic mibox all streaming apps barely work on 360p.

 

[Meteor]

Why not have the stuff "sorted" in advance then just use kodi to stream your collection - meaning kodi will "read" the created database but does not "write" to the mi box and even if it does it will be minimal. Surely not 2gb.

Everything is sorted. Every movie is in a separate folder with images already scraped. The database size from reading thumbnails of movies and series. Don’t know what I am doing wrong.

 

[Sinbad]

It doesn't handle Bluetooth + WiFi very well, as even the audio over Bluetooth stutters

Funny I have no issues with wifi streaming Netflix etc with my Huawei sport Bluetooth headies. But then I also have no problem with Dolby digital plus either.
I must have a Wednesday mi3.

 

[Jasop]

Funny I have no issues with wifi streaming Netflix etc with my Huawei sport Bluetooth headies. But then I also have no problem with Dolby digital plus either.
I must have a Wednesday mi3.

Not sure if coincidence, but my mibox without issues is less than a meter from my router (other side of wall), while the one with issues is considerably further away

 

[Sinbad]

Not sure if coincidence, but my mibox without issues is less than a meter from my router (other side of wall), while the one with issues is considerably further away

Yeah ok mine is 1m from the ap (inside a cabinet with the ap on top

 

[GAD]

Thanks for info, that's unfortunate. Think you are right though, as I noticed I don't have the issue when watching local content on Kodi.

I wonder if the same issue exists on the Mibox S, or if it can be fixed with a software update.

I don't plan on running Ethernet through the roof across the house, I want a wireless setup.

Previous box was older Mi Box and now only have 3 x Mi Box S. All the same...

 

[LandyMan]

Side comment on the BT headphones. I am running a USB hub with RJ45 on my Mi Box. Plugged my PS4 wireless headphone dongle into the hub, and it worked a treat

 

[phly]

Everything is sorted. Every movie is in a separate folder with images already scraped. The database size from reading thumbnails of movies and series. Don’t know what I am doing wrong.

You may need to reinstall kodi afresh - my suggestion is this - delete kodi by going to apps select kodi - clear cache - then clear data then force stop and then uninstall. Just to wipe all traces of it. Reinstall kodi afresh however as you are setting up the location of your media again, choose to parse local nfo files and not selecting TVDB or alike - this means kodi will get all the info about your media from the nfo file which points to where all the art is (which is usually in the same folder as the media). That way kodi does not need to use TVDB to download art for all the media you have since the folders of your media already have the necessary fan art etc.

Then your box will have much more space as kodi will take lesser space and once any new media is added kodi just reads/refreshes from the local nfo files and not from a database online. Hope that helps.