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Change your buffer in MOL2 to 10 and test again.
I am not using MOL2? but another application on both devices so should I try that anyway?
Its obvious if you not using MOL2 then any setting change in Mol2 will not help. .
Was thinking of getting a new Formuler but not if its performance is worse than a much cheaper box
Interesting to blame the box when 3th iptv app or provider doesn`t work correctly.
Restart your Router and box to see if that helps, otherwise contact provider and tell them about buffering.
I would say try mol2 don't know what app you are using now?
Hi,what app are you using on your cheaper box?
Tivimate,Smarters or other option?
I carried out a factory reset but now the box is stuck in the attached screen and won't reboot
Have I bricked it?
Have I bricked it?
No you didn`t, answer in other thread!
Not sure if I should bump this or create a new thread or somehow create a support ticket .. (not sure how, where)
My formuler z10 pro box is buffering when watching tv shows. Not always . I just bought the box less than 2 months ago and set it up with an IPTV provider.
I never had any issues for the 1st month. I check for updates and none are available.
I have a static IP set up on Wifi and get download speeds over 190mbps on speed tests so plenty of speed.
Watching tv series it buffers.. the bit rate goes very low when it is buffering. I often check the internet speed and it is strong as above.
I changed the HDMI to a high speed HDMI cable. It did not help
I tested the same content on a different (pre smart tv) with a popular name brand android tv stick. No buffering.
I tested downloading another popular IPTV Player that I use on 3 different devices to the Formuler box and same buffering issue occurs playing the same content
I disconnected the Formuler Box and connected a newly purchased popular brand android tv stick (not the same one with the old tv) with the same popular IPTV player from the same source installed on the Formuler Box above. No buffering playing the exact same content from the same starting point in the same HDMI connection.
So it plays fine off 2 different tv sticks on 3 different tvs including the one I normally use with the Formuler box
The player used on these sticks when installed on the Formuler box buffers with the same content from the same provider.
I see some other past threads with try this try that kind of solutions offered including factory resetting .. My formuler box is used to run Mytvonline2 and NordVPN which does not slow the WIFI significantly. the 190 + mbps is with NordVPN running;
I like the product and when it works its great. I bought this as a higher end solution with plenty of storage and memory with the expectation to get higher quality results and I think that is true except for the annoying buffering which really takes away from the quality of the product for my needs when vastly cheaper solutions out perform it in this regard.
I am not sure where the root of the problem is .. but that bit rate going so low while the internet speed remains very good is troublesome. If the other IPTV player did not present the same issue I would be looking more closely at MyTVOnline2 but they behaved the same. I don't know what to do at this point but I am disappointed . Are there others having this same issue? Is there support investigating this problem? Has anyone having this problem solved it by a factory reset? Does Formuler have any debugging tool to capture states when the bitrate drops?
I am not sure where the root of the problem is .. but that bit rate going so low while the internet speed remains very good is troublesome. If the other IPTV player did not present the same issue I would be looking more closely at MyTVOnline2 but they behaved the same. I don't know what to do at this point but I am disappointed . Are there others having this same issue? Is there support investigating this problem? Has anyone having this problem solved it by a factory reset? Does Formuler have any debugging tool to capture states when the bitrate drops?
To be clear at beginning, this is not fault of the box, you search for solution thinking the box is the reason and forget about other possible reasons.
I don`t know if you use VPN on your sticks but you wrote you use it on the Box + other IPTV Player than MOL2. About other IPTV Player i can not give you any support, only for MOL2.
What can you do:
1. Restart your Router first, i recommend this at least once in two weeks.
2. In MOL2 menu-> Settings -> Player Options -> Set Buffer time to 10 sec.
3. Turn Off VPN and test for some time to see if Buffering is gone. If yes. continue with 4.
4. Update VPN to latest version or reinstall (sideload latest Nordvpn apk and install on the box). Chose Nordlynx VPN Protocol, but also try OpenVPN TCP/UDP. Best working should be set. When Server chosen from Nord VPN try also to change manually to other country and server. In my tests i see extreme difference between country's and available servers. Even on PC -> one server 5MB (not Mbit) and on other 115MB sec. You see this difference is really extreme.
Display MoreTo be clear at beginning, this is not fault of the box, you search for solution thinking the box is the reason and forget about other possible reasons.
I don`t know if you use VPN on your sticks but you wrote you use it on the Box + other IPTV Player than MOL2. About other IPTV Player i can not give you any support, only for MOL2.
What can you do:
1. Restart your Router first, i recommend this at least once in two weeks.
2. In MOL2 menu-> Settings -> Player Options -> Set Buffer time to 10 sec.
3. Turn Off VPN and test for some time to see if Buffering is gone. If yes. continue with 4.
4. Update VPN to latest version or reinstall (sideload latest Nordvpn apk and install on the box). Chose Nordlynx VPN Protocol, but also try OpenVPN TCP/UDP. Best working should be set. When Server chosen from Nord VPN try also to change manually to other country and server. In my tests i see extreme difference between country's and available servers. Even on PC -> one server 5MB (not Mbit) and on other 115MB sec. You see this difference is really extreme.
Thanks for the reply!
I had no preconceived notions just trying to assess what I observed but I get your point.
I am not attempting for you to solve issues that may occur with other players. This info was provided to show the same issue was observed. Perhaps it may help in diagnosis. The info was not to have you solve issues with another supplier's software.
I will try a router reset however, off the same router all on wifi I get no buffering using the other devices on the same content now. Its easy to try however.
I did try setting the buffer time to 10. I tried 1 test . It buffered. I set it back.. I will try again. Can you confirm buffer time is not only applicable to live tv , it also applies to playback of movies and tv series?
I use Nordvpn and will ensure the latest is installed. I use it and run it on Formuler, my 2 android sticks, an android tablet and windows. I typically use Nordlynx and use Montreal servers they are closest and they usually get chosen by Nordvpn even when set to auto. I test the internet speed and it is very adequate on the formuler box at least 80% of the time its over 200 MBPS and if not in the 190s.
I will get back to you with findings likely tomorrow as well as with the version info.
I appreciate your time.
Can you confirm buffer time is not only applicable to live tv , it also applies to playback of movies and tv series?
If you use MOL2 player then it increase buffer for vod and series too.
Like already wrote, please test also with deactivated VPN.
If you use MOL2 player then it buffer vod and series too.
Like already wrote, please test also with deactivated VPN.
Will do Sam
Do you recommend do all your recommendations and then test or
1. restart router , test.
if problem persists
2. Set buffer time to 10 seconds, test
if problem persists
3. disconnect vpn, test
4. ensure vpn is up to date.
All with Mol2
1 and 2 first, if still buffers then 3 and 4.
Try also to test with other inet conn. Ethernet and later wifi.
1 and 2 first, if still buffers then 3 and 4.
Try also to test with other inet conn. Ethernet and later wifi.
Hi Sam... this is going to be a long post but I recorded the steps I went through and observed.;
First my versions all reported as latest; October 2023
Firmware 10.10.49
IPTV 10.10.57
Service 10.10.44
Tuner 10.10.37
Storage 10.10.21
UTC 194E703F8
MOL2 App Version 10.10.57-6455-fd3b2da1b
I had unplugged the Formuler box for 24 hrs
Plugged it in, Started it up and got a system shut down message
Turned off, Turned on
Started MOL2
Live TV played fine.
Went to TV series on menu; Loaded
Tv Series played with no buffering
Backed out of TV Series
Live TV reported a Network error
Tried Refresh from menu; reported a Network error
Noticed NordVPN did not start ; so it was not running for the above; Autoconnect on Wifi connection did not work as I expected
Started NordVPN, set to Nordlynx
Put NordVPN as the autostartup app in Formuler settings
Checked Buffertime settings; It was set to 10 seconds for the above tests ; I thought I had returned it to off on my tests from a couple days ago but I must not have. I left it at 10.
Tested TV online; worked fine; Network error disappeared
Tested Refresh; worked fine finished successfully
Tested TV series with same content producing buffering as originally reported; No buffering
Returned to TV online , No issues , No lags
Powered down, Powered up
NordVpn started and connected
Live TV worked well
TV Series worked well no buffering
Turned Buffer time off
Live TV worked
Powered off using Formuler software (in case Buffer time only worked on recycle)
Powered On; Verified Buffertime off
Live TV worked well
TV Series played without buffering for over 40 minutes using the same content
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The big change here to me was the unplugging and restarting of the formuler box where I got the system shut down message on start up. Which I never got when I just powered down and powered up as I would do normally when finished , starting to use. Is there a difference between power off and unplug for some time in how the system reacts?
The network error at that time was weird and connecting to the VPN seemed to sort that out .. I have no explanation
I have not done a reset on the router yet as I wanted to test after that hard reboot. I will monitor for now.
I will do a reset of the router as that usually can't hurt anything and I will check for an update on NordVPN and I will report back..
Right now the buffer time is off as it was for all but time to run a few tests and it is playing beautifully as it did through the first month of use.
Let me know your thoughts .
Rebooted by Tplink Deco x50 router; checked for updates; up to date
Streaming fine , no buffering or lag on both Live TV and TV series
Is there a difference between power off and unplug for some time in how the system reacts?
Of course. With power off and unplug method you initialise everything new again, close and load needed apps and processes again etc.
Right now the buffer time is off as it was for all but time to run a few tests and it is playing beautifully as it did through the first month of use.
Let me know your thoughts .
This says only you have stable conn. to isp. I would set it at least to 3-5 and not completely off, because with off, you take the player his buffer place, short network hickup and you get buffering again because nothing pre-buffered.
You did it good 
Glad it works now.
