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HTV 3 IPTV Box $208 @ PC Byte eBay

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HTV 3 IPTV Box $208 @ PC Byte eBay
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MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 11:39 ebay.com.au (889 clicks)
Last edited 21/07/2016 - 11:45
CTEC20

Stomped into this deal while looking at TV Boxes for a friend's mom. A record low price for this kind of TV Box. It is arguably the best in the market at the moment beating out TVPad 4. You can install Kodi on it if you are willing to dig around for a bit. The box itself has H265 support so this can also double up as an HTPC.

http://tvpadnews.com/2016/01/09/htv3-review-a-true-tvpad-rep…

Word of caution: This sort of service doesn't last forever but if you can get several years out then it's well worth it @ this price

Original eBay 20% off tech deal post

Electrical & Electronics H.TV

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closed Comments

  • supnigs super skids on 21/07/2016 - 11:47

    but cannt android do the same thing? theres apps for content or is this box better?

    • grizz_li on 21/07/2016 - 12:00
      +2

      There are Android boxes that can run 3rd party Android apps for a much cheaper price except for free apps, they normally don't run as good as paid ones.
      With paid apps, you'll need to pay monthly/ year subscription which may end up costing the same/ more/ less than this.
      In other words, free service will not be as good as paid.
      With HTV3, you are basically buying a box that is subscribed to their servers. This is exactly like TVPad.
      How long you get with this box, nobody can tell.
      I bought this earlier in the year for $260. It has worked much faster than the previous TVPad 3 I bought which is now almost useless.

      • SevenSmurfs on 21/07/2016 - 12:02
        +3

        these seem to be a ticking time bomb in terms of how long will it be still working. Having owned various ones in the past including the TVPad makes me much more cautious :(

  • furythree on 21/07/2016 - 12:17

    how does this compare to this deal?
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/257992

    they seem to have similar specs? but the price variance is huge

    isnt there a way to get the apps onto other android devices? the htv definitely has playstore installed so you can install apps which package up installs into portable APKs to use on another device

    how exactly is the subscription tracked and linked to the device?

    I managed to find 2-3 apps onthe HTV directly on the playstore. There were some other apps which i couldnt find

    • superforever on 21/07/2016 - 12:21

      I managed to find 2-3 apps onthe HTV directly on the playstore.

      What you found on playstore?

      The other one you posted is only a standard android box so no live TV.

    • MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 12:21

      The premium you pay for this box is for watching live HK/Mainland/TW channels + some sports channels. AFAIK, the app providers have MAC address filtering on servers so it's almost impossible to hack in. I don't know what apps you can find on play store. I am more than happy to be proven wrong though.

      • furythree on 21/07/2016 - 12:24

        i found some of the chinatv apps in the play store. i will go home and check

        Anyway, my main point is, hardware wise they are the same, you are just paying for content right?

        I own a HTV3 and i can attest that its once of the fastest and best ones ive used to date. Though the hardware is more akin to a samsung galaxy note 3 era. So the price was a bit hard to swallow. But little to no tech support required for my parents so no complaints there.
        i bought it without doing much research, so I was thinking that if i did some digging would i be able to just hook up an old smartphone and install the apps to achieve the same result (minus the remote obviously, which can be solved with a mouse)

        isnt mac address hackable…

        • MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 13:55

          isnt mac address hackable…

          Yes on paper but the effort would be way more than $200 at least for ppl like me (and I ain't no tech trivial either).

  • stingy-oz on 21/07/2016 - 13:06
    +4

    I currently own HTV3 and a TVPad4 box.

    1. TVPad4 box, since the last issues with TVB, it's still running without problems HOWEVER I did noticed there isn't a lot of movies/drama (chinese and cantonese) being added.
    2. Both HTV3 and TVPad4 build their own customised apps and filtered by MAC address.
    3. TVPad4 is faster to boot up. HTV3 is slower.
    4. TVPad4 is locked down to use their own appstore only. HTV3 has customised and Google Playstore. Note of caution, not all apps works in HTV3. For example, HTV3 comes with Youtube app and if you try to upgrade the Youtube app it'll not work properly
    5. Stan don't work on HTV3 (despite able to install though). Don't bother with TVPad4.
    6. speed wise, I find HTV3 has less problem with speed. TVPad4 does sometimes becomes slower.
    7. Not sure if this is a bug: TVPad4 apps sometimes becomes irresponsive and must be killed (using the app to clear memory). Haven't had an issue with HTV3 so far.
    8. doing a fast-forwarding in movie works brilliantly in TVPad4. Seems like they do buffer a lot ahead. HTV3 seems to have short buffer, fast forwarding literally force the player to re-load the movie clip but at the chosen time. NOTE: there's a bug in HTV3 that it keeps going back to your original point and play the clip instead of the fastforwarded spot.

    Both I find to be reliable and both is idiot-proof. My elderly uses the TVPad4 while I use the HTV3 :) - It has a larger db of US shows

    Hope anyone that helps.

    • TheTwin on 21/07/2016 - 13:47

      Thanks for the info. Do either of them have Japanese channels? My old TVPad3 did before the great purge :(

    • stingy-oz on 21/07/2016 - 19:49

      If you are after live channel, nope. sorry.

  • airpoe on 21/07/2016 - 13:37

    I had a tvpad2 before it died (had it for almost 2.5 yrs)

    Purchased the Htv3 for my parents in Feb this year, no problems so far & easy for my parents to use.

  • telby on 21/07/2016 - 13:40

    Be careful! Buying from this company might Byte you on the ass, as they advertise items as in stock, then once you buy, email you saying there isn't any stock available. But I still see them advertising items as 10 available, when clearly they do not.

    • MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 13:57

      PC Byte is pretty good comparing to other eBay sellers. Can't you just get a refund? I am not siding with them but $50+ saving is worth a shot.

      • telby on 21/07/2016 - 14:18

        They are advertising items as in stock but they don't have, so to me they are lying. I am just letting everyone know my dealings with them and it's up to you whether you buy from them or not.

        • superforever on 21/07/2016 - 14:29

          Are you sure not because of a lot people buying at the same time?

        • MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 14:37

          @superforever: Obviously he doesn't care. He is just mad. If you buy stuff online a lot you will know this oos happens time to time even from any retailer.

        • telby on 21/07/2016 - 14:59
          +1

          No I'm not angry, I just expect a bit of integrity. I bought items because it says it's in stock, but PC Byte are still advertising as in stock 2 days after they told me there was no stock, why do that and how many people are buying those items now and getting the same email? As fellow OZ Bargain members, we try to help each other when we can and I'm letting people know what happened to me. Good luck and hope buying from this company is a good one. cheers.

  • ozpanda on 21/07/2016 - 13:45

    Raspberry Pi and Kodi is working fine for me if people want a cheaper option.

    • superforever on 21/07/2016 - 14:01

      You can't use it to get live HK, China TV channels.

      • bchliu on 21/07/2016 - 15:34

        You can always install Android (TV) for Raspberry Pi. Then go to the apps store to load up VChannel to get all that.

        • superforever on 21/07/2016 - 15:36
          +1

          VChannel to get all that.

          Still not live TV.

  • victinini on 21/07/2016 - 14:05

    How well does this device do with streaming live/time shifted sports? I would love to be able to wake up at 6am and watch whatever game was on at 3am before I go to work and have it spoiled for me.

  • Savvy on 21/07/2016 - 14:20
    +1

    Anyone have a Mi Box who can comment on?

  • al8 on 21/07/2016 - 14:36

    Excellent comments thanks I am thinking buying one of those for my parents.

  • b00gie on 21/07/2016 - 15:13

    looking to buy one, can't seem to find the taiwan channel list
    does anyone know what channels are on the list?

    google search gives some video reviews and channel lists, but the taiwan channel didn't work on the video

    • grizz_li on 22/07/2016 - 11:27

      Try TaiminTV or ChineseTV app list.
      There are roughly 25 channels from Taiwan.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/07/2016 - 15:19

    From the review "There are a few standard English channels such as CNN, FX, HBO, BBC, Discovery, NG. Not enough to compare to the UB Box."

    • MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 15:21

      Have you got any experience of UB Box?

      Doesn't look too good. http://tvpadnews.com/2015/12/20/unblocktech-ub-box-gen2-box-…

      • [Deactivated] on 21/07/2016 - 15:26

        Funny I just read that review too

        "The absent of European and North American channels is noticeable. So if you are looking for primarily English content you need to look somewhere else."

        It's like a treasure hunt!

        • MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 15:34

          Apparently the stream is also very wonky and the verdict is NOT TO BUY. lol

      • bchliu on 21/07/2016 - 15:40

        Got the Unblock at home and works well. Much faster than our crappy TVPad3 which no longer works anymore. Not sure how to get the other English channels up.. but working really well with the Asian ones. It is comparable in quality to TVB Anywhere (which we also have).

        • MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 15:44

          What English channels do you have atm?

        • bchliu on 21/07/2016 - 15:45

          @MadMaxBargainRoad: None. Really never occurred to me to watch English stuff out of it. Mainly as Entertainment tool for the folks, thats all.

  • tif1607 on 21/07/2016 - 15:30

    http://blogs.denverpost.com/tech/files/2016/04/h.TV_Complain…

    Thought I would post this, although it's in the US

  • jabbairc on 21/07/2016 - 16:08

    What are the best options out there for english channels guys?

    • ben1680 on 21/07/2016 - 16:24

      I also got this same question. Looking to get similar box with lots of english channel…

    • MadMaxBargainRoad on 21/07/2016 - 16:41

      Me too but there isn't much info on the Internet as most people buy it for Chinese content.

      • stingy-oz on 21/07/2016 - 23:35

        Don't think you going to get much in this case. If you're really looking for english live stream; you'd be better getting a generic IPTV box like Xiaomi IPTV (or any Android based boxes) and use apps like Hulu Plus etc. HTV, TVPad etc are premium because of the custom app from the provider.

  • kirk7 on 21/07/2016 - 17:04

    Ozbarginers beware…as some have said already, these things don't last forever as I initially thought.

    Looks like a few tv operators are suing this mob.

    http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160418006588/en/DISH…

    I've owned various boxes- tvpad2, maigebox (they had over 300 channels and charged an annual fee) and now I have a tvpad4. The only one that works now is tvpad4 but I watch it for the tvb content so its ok now with the TVB Anywhere app that's on the box- they say its legit.

    My advice is to expect it to last 6 months to a year at best.

    happy shopping!

    • stingy-oz on 21/07/2016 - 23:39

      TVPad4 previously went down for awhile due to the lawsuit. unexpect turn of events, TVPad4 and TVB becomes partners LOL

      hTV3 box quality wise as reported above, so far I'm pretty happy with it.

      I agree, using stuff like this just need to have a mindset that you're buying a risky product, it goes bust, it's a goner. I had WELTV and it's Sh1t btw…

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