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Zone IPTV Guide — Complete setup manual for Zone New Companion, Open TV, and OTT Navigator with VLC/MPV dependencies and all protocol configurations (M3U/8, XTREAM, STALKER) for Windows, Linux, and Android
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zone-new-guide.md

📺 Zone IPTV Guide — Complete Setup Manual

A comprehensive, platform-specific guide for Zone New Companion, Open TV, and OTT Navigator with complete dependency management and protocol-specific configurations

📋 Table of Contents

📖 Information Section

🐧 Linux Setup

🪟 Windows Setup

📱 Android / TV Setup

🔧 Additional Sections

Information

Applications Overview

Zone New Companion

Repository: https://github.com/kidpoleon/zone-new-companion
Type: Desktop IPTV companion application
Platforms: Windows (.exe), Linux (.AppImage)
Dependencies: VLC Media Player (Required for stream playback)

Zone New Companion is a unified desktop application supporting Xtream Codes API, STALKER Portal, and M3U playlists. It features advanced stream verification with color-coded status indicators, OCR frame analysis for validation, SSL optimization profiles for server compatibility, and DNS fallback capabilities.

Key Features:

  • Unified interface for all three IPTV protocols
  • Multi-stage stream verification (Green/Yellow/Red status)
  • OCR integration for frame analysis and text recognition
  • SSL optimization with multiple compatibility profiles
  • Automatic DNS fallback and server switching
  • Cross-platform support via portable binaries

Open TV

Repository: https://github.com/fredolx/open-tv
Type: Lightweight cross-platform IPTV player
Platforms: Windows (MSI/Scoop), Linux (Flatpak)
Dependencies: MPV Media Player (Required for stream playback)

Open TV (formerly Fred TV) is an ultra-fast, simple IPTV application built with Rust and Tauri. It supports recording while watching, multi-source management, TV remote compatibility for living room use, and re-streaming capabilities to share channels across devices.

Key Features:

  • Multi-source import from M3U files, M3U URLs, and Xtream APIs
  • Real-time recording functionality during playback
  • Extremely low resource usage with instant search
  • Full TV remote control support
  • Re-streaming to other devices on the network
  • Re-streaming capability for network sharing

OTT Navigator

APK Source: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sia-scillarium-studio/ott-navigator-iptv/
Type: Advanced Android IPTV player
Platforms: Android phones, tablets, Android TV, Firestick
Dependencies: None (self-contained APK)

OTT Navigator is a feature-rich IPTV player specifically designed for Android devices. It supports multiple simultaneous provider configurations, advanced EPG integration, studio mode with up to 9 concurrent video streams, picture-in-picture background playback, and cloud-based configuration backup/restore.

Key Features:

  • Multiple provider support (add several IPTV services)
  • Advanced EPG (Electronic Program Guide) integration
  • Studio Mode — up to 9 simultaneous video streams
  • Picture-in-Picture (PiP) for background playback
  • Cloud backup and restore for configuration
  • Parental controls and content restrictions

Protocol Definitions

M3U/M3U8 Playlist

M3U (MP3 URL) and M3U8 (UTF-8 encoded variant) are plain text playlist formats originally designed for audio streams, now universally adopted for IPTV channel lists. The file contains channel metadata (#EXTINF headers) followed by stream URLs.

Typical Structure:

#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="CNN.us" tvg-name="CNN" group-title="News",CNN
http://stream.example.com/cnn/playlist.m3u8
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="BBC.uk" tvg-name="BBC World" group-title="News",BBC World
http://stream.example.com/bbc/playlist.m3u8

Provider Format: http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8 (direct file) or delivered as a downloadable .m3u file.

XTREAM Codes API

XTREAM Codes API is a standardized IPTV management protocol using server URL, username, and password for authentication. It provides structured API endpoints for accessing Live TV, Video on Demand (VOD), TV Series, and Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data.

Provider Format:

  • Server: http://provider.com:8080
  • Username: Your account username
  • Password: Your account password

API Endpoints:

  • /player_api.php — Account info, categories, channel lists
  • /xmltv.php — EPG data in XMLTV format
  • /live/username/password/streamID — Live stream access
  • /movie/username/password/videoID — VOD content access
  • /series/username/password/seriesID — TV series access

STALKER Portal

STALKER Portal (also known as Ministra TV Platform) is a comprehensive IPTV/OTT middleware platform running on provider servers. It uses MAC address-based authentication for device identification and content provisioning.

Provider Format:

  • Portal URL: http://provider.com/c/ (common) or http://provider.com/stalker_portal/c/
  • MAC Address: 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX (standard format)

Features:

  • Professional-grade middleware with STB (Set-Top Box) emulation
  • 7+ day EPG data
  • Time-shift capabilities (pause/rewind live TV)
  • Network PVR (Personal Video Recorder)
  • Parental controls and multi-room support

Dependencies Overview

VLC Media Player (Required for Zone New Companion)

VLC is the required media backend for Zone New Companion. It handles all stream decoding, playback, and rendering.

Installation Sources:

  • Windows: Winget (winget install VideoLAN.VLC) or Chocolatey (choco install vlc)
  • Linux: Native package managers (apt, dnf, pacman)

MPV Media Player (Required for Open TV)

MPV is the required media backend for Open TV. It provides efficient, low-latency stream playback with hardware acceleration support.

Installation Sources:

  • Windows: Winget (winget install shinchiro.mpv) or Chocolatey (choco install mpv)
  • Linux: Native package managers (apt, dnf, pacman)

Compatibility Matrix

Application Windows Linux Android M3U/8 XTREAM STALKER
Zone New Companion ✅ .exe ✅ AppImage ❌ ✅ Full ✅ Full ✅ Full + OCR
Open TV ✅ MSI/Scoop ✅ Flatpak/AppImage ❌ ✅ Full ✅ Full ✅ Full
OTT Navigator ❌ ❌ ✅ APK ✅ Full ✅ Full ✅ Full

Linux

Prerequisites Installation

Before installing any IPTV applications, you must install the required media players. Zone New Companion requires VLC, and Open TV requires MPV.

VLC Installation (Required for Zone New Companion)

Ubuntu / Debian / Linux Mint / Pop!_OS

# Update package index
sudo apt update

# Install VLC and dependencies
sudo apt install vlc -y

# Verify installation
vlc --version

Fedora / RHEL / CentOS Stream

# Install VLC from RPM Fusion (free repository)
sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

# Install VLC
sudo dnf install vlc -y

# Verify installation
vlc --version

Arch Linux / Manjaro / EndeavourOS

# Install VLC from official repositories
sudo pacman -Syu vlc --noconfirm

# Verify installation
vlc --version

openSUSE

# Install VLC
sudo zypper install vlc

# Verify installation
vlc --version

MPV Installation (Required for Open TV)

Ubuntu / Debian / Linux Mint / Pop!_OS

# Update package index
sudo apt update

# Install MPV and yt-dlp for streaming support
sudo apt install mpv yt-dlp ffmpeg -y

# Verify installation
mpv --version

Fedora / RHEL / CentOS Stream

# Install MPV and dependencies
sudo dnf install mpv yt-dlp ffmpeg -y

# Verify installation
mpv --version

Arch Linux / Manjaro / EndeavourOS

# Install MPV and yt-dlp
sudo pacman -Syu mpv yt-dlp ffmpeg --noconfirm

# Verify installation
mpv --version

openSUSE

# Install MPV
sudo zypper install mpv yt-dlp ffmpeg

# Verify installation
mpv --version

aria2c Installation (Optional - For Faster Downloads)

aria2c is a lightweight multi-protocol download utility that can significantly speed up large file downloads by using multiple connections.

Ubuntu / Debian / Linux Mint / Pop!_OS

sudo apt install aria2 -y
aria2c --version

Fedora / RHEL / CentOS Stream

sudo dnf install aria2 -y
aria2c --version

Arch Linux / Manjaro / EndeavourOS

sudo pacman -Syu aria2 --noconfirm
aria2c --version

openSUSE

sudo zypper install aria2
aria2c --version

M3U/M3U8 Setup

ZONE NEW COMPANION

Prerequisites: VLC must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Download & Install Zone New Companion

Copy and paste this entire script into your terminal. It will download the AppImage, create a desktop entry, and add it to your applications menu.

#!/bin/bash
# Zone New Companion - Complete Installation Script
# Downloads AppImage + creates desktop entry for app menu access

set -e  # Exit on any error

echo "=== Zone New Companion Installation Script ==="
echo ""

# Create applications directory
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/applications

# Step 1: Query GitHub API for latest release using curl
echo "[1/5] Checking for latest release..."
API_URL="https://api.github.com/repos/kidpoleon/zone-new-companion/releases/latest"
RELEASE_JSON=$(curl -s "$API_URL")

# Step 2: Extract version tag and download URL using standard tools
LATEST_RELEASE=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | grep -o '"tag_name": "[^"]*"' | cut -d'"' -f4)
APPIMAGE_URL=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | grep -o '"browser_download_url": "[^"]*x86_64\.AppImage"' | cut -d'"' -f4)

# Step 3: Verify we got the URL
if [ -z "$APPIMAGE_URL" ]; then
    echo "ERROR: Could not find AppImage download URL"
    exit 1
fi

echo "Found version: $LATEST_RELEASE"
echo ""

# Step 4: Download using aria2c (fast) or curl (fallback)
cd ~/.local/bin
OUTPUT_FILE="zone-new-companion-${LATEST_RELEASE}-x86_64.AppImage"

echo "[2/5] Downloading to ~/.local/bin/$OUTPUT_FILE..."
if command -v aria2c &> /dev/null; then
    echo "Using aria2c for fast multi-threaded download..."
    aria2c -x 16 -s 16 -j 32 -k 1M --split=16 --min-split-size=1M \
        --max-connection-per-server=16 --allow-overwrite=true \
        --auto-file-renaming=false --quiet=false \
        -o "$OUTPUT_FILE" "$APPIMAGE_URL"
else
    echo "aria2c not found, using curl (install aria2 for faster downloads)..."
    curl -L --progress-bar -o "$OUTPUT_FILE" "$APPIMAGE_URL"
fi

# Step 5: Make executable
echo ""
echo "[3/5] Setting executable permissions..."
chmod +x "$OUTPUT_FILE"

# Step 6: Create desktop entry for applications menu
echo "[4/5] Creating desktop entry for applications menu..."
cat > ~/.local/share/applications/zone-new-companion.desktop << EOF
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Zone New Companion
Exec=$HOME/.local/bin/$OUTPUT_FILE
Icon=video-player
Type=Application
Categories=AudioVideo;Video;Player;
Terminal=false
Comment=IPTV Companion Application
EOF

# Step 7: Update desktop database
echo "[5/5] Updating applications menu..."
if command -v update-desktop-database &> /dev/null; then
    update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications/ 2>/dev/null || true
fi

# Success message
echo ""
echo "=== Installation Complete! ==="
echo ""
echo "Zone New Companion is now installed:"
echo "  • Executable: ~/.local/bin/$OUTPUT_FILE"
echo "  • App Menu: Look for 'Zone New Companion' in your applications menu"
echo "  • File size: $(ls -lh ~/.local/bin/$OUTPUT_FILE | awk '{print $5}')"
echo ""
echo "To launch:"
echo "  • From terminal: ~/.local/bin/$OUTPUT_FILE"
echo "  • From app menu: Press Super key and type 'Zone New Companion'"
echo ""
echo "Prerequisite: Ensure VLC is installed before running the application"

Step 2: Launch Application

After running the installation script above, you can launch Zone New Companion in two ways:

Option A: From Applications Menu (Recommended)

  • Press Super key (Windows key) and type "Zone New Companion"
  • Or find it under the "Sound & Video" or "Multimedia" category

Option B: From Terminal

# Run the AppImage directly
~/.local/bin/zone-new-companion-*-x86_64.AppImage

# Or use the full filename (check with: ls ~/.local/bin/zone-new-companion*)
~/.local/bin/zone-new-companion-v1.x.x-x86_64.AppImage

Step 3: Add M3U/M3U8 Playlist

  1. Click "Add Source" in the main interface
  2. Select "M3U Playlist" from the dropdown
  3. Choose input method:
    • URL: Paste M3U/M3U8 link (e.g., http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8)
    • File: Click browse and select local .m3u or .m3u8 file
  4. Enter Source Name (optional): e.g., "My IPTV"
  5. Click "Verify & Add" — The app validates all streams
  6. Observe verification results:
    • 🟢 Green — Stream active and fully verified
    • 🟡 Yellow — Stream accessible with minor issues
    • 🔴 Red — Stream unreachable or invalid
  7. Click "Save" to import working channels
  8. Browse channels in the sidebar categories

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Location
M3U URL http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8 "Playlist URL" text field
Local File /home/username/playlist.m3u File browser dialog
Source Name Custom identifier "Source Name" field (optional)

OPEN TV

Prerequisites: MPV must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Install Open TV via Flatpak (Recommended)

# Ensure Flatpak is installed
sudo apt install flatpak -y  # Ubuntu/Debian
# sudo dnf install flatpak -y   # Fedora
# sudo pacman -S flatpak         # Arch

# Add Flathub repository
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

# Install Open TV from Flathub
sudo flatpak install flathub dev.fredol.open-tv -y

# Run Open TV
flatpak run dev.fredol.open-tv

Step 2: Launch Application

# Launch Open TV via Flatpak
flatpak run dev.fredol.open-tv

# Or find in applications menu as "Open TV"

Step 3: Add M3U/M3U8 Playlist

  1. Press Ctrl + A to display all channels (or click menu → "Show All")
  2. Click "Add Source" button or menu option
  3. Select "M3U" from the source type list
  4. Choose input method:
    • M3U URL: Paste playlist link (e.g., http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8)
    • M3U File: Browse and select local file
  5. Click "Add" — Channels appear instantly
  6. Navigate channels:
    • ↑/↓ arrow keys to browse
    • Enter to play selected channel
    • Ctrl + F to search
    • Ctrl + S to show categories
    • Ctrl + D to show favorites
    • Backspace/Esc to go back

Keyboard Shortcuts Reference:

Key Action
Ctrl + A Show all channels
Ctrl + S Show categories
Ctrl + D Show favorites
Ctrl + F Search channels
Ctrl + W Filter movies (in VOD)
Ctrl + E Filter series (in VOD)
Enter Play selected
Backspace/Esc Go back

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Location
M3U URL http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8 "M3U URL" input field
M3U File /path/to/playlist.m3u File browser dialog

XTREAM API Setup

ZONE NEW COMPANION

Prerequisites: VLC must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

~/.local/bin/zone-new-companion-x86_64.AppImage

Step 2: Add XTREAM API Source

  1. Click "Add Source" in the main interface
  2. Select "Xtream Codes API" from the dropdown
  3. Enter credentials in the form:
    • Server URL: http://provider.com:8080 (or https://provider.com:8443)
    • Username: Your XTREAM username (e.g., john_doe)
    • Password: Your XTREAM password (e.g., secret123)
  4. Click "Test Connection" — Verifies authentication and account status
  5. Upon successful connection, click "Load Content"
  6. The application fetches and organizes:
    • Live TV — All live channels grouped by category
    • VOD — Movies on demand
    • Series — TV shows with season/episode structure
  7. Navigate between content types using the sidebar tabs
  8. Click any channel or content to start playback in VLC

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Example
Server URL Provider domain + port http://iptv.provider.com:8080
Username XTREAM account username john_doe
Password XTREAM account password secret123

OPEN TV

Prerequisites: MPV must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

flatpak run dev.fredol.open-tv
# or
~/.local/bin/open-tv-linux.AppImage

Step 2: Add XTREAM Codes Source

  1. Click "Add Source" or press menu key
  2. Select "XTREAM Codes" from the source type list
  3. Enter credentials:
    • Server: http://provider.com:8080
    • Username: Your XTREAM username
    • Password: Your XTREAM password
  4. Click "Add Source"
  5. Wait for synchronization — Live TV, Movies, and Series load automatically
  6. Navigate content:
    • Ctrl + S — Show categories (Live TV groups)
    • Ctrl + A — Show all channels
    • Ctrl + W — Filter movies (when in VOD section)
    • Ctrl + E — Filter series (when in Series section)
    • ↑/↓ — Browse items
    • Enter — Play selected content

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Example
Server Full URL with port http://iptv.provider.com:8080
Username XTREAM username john2024
Password XTREAM password pass123

STALKER Portal Setup

ZONE NEW COMPANION

Prerequisites: VLC must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

~/.local/bin/zone-new-companion-x86_64.AppImage

Step 2: Add STALKER Portal Source

  1. Click "Add Source" in the main interface
  2. Select "Stalker Portal" from the dropdown
  3. Enter credentials:
    • Portal URL: http://provider.com/c/ (or http://provider.com/stalker_portal/c/)
    • MAC Address: 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX (format provided by your IPTV service)
  4. Click "Validate MAC" — Verifies MAC address is registered with provider
  5. Click "Connect to Portal" — Establishes connection to middleware
  6. Wait for channel list and VOD content to populate (may take 30-60 seconds)
  7. Browse content through sidebar categories
  8. OCR Verification (Optional): Click "Analyze Stream" on any playing channel to capture frame and extract on-screen text for validation

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Example
Portal URL STALKER portal endpoint http://provider.com/c/
MAC Address Device identifier 00:1A:79:AB:CD:EF

OPEN TV

Prerequisites: MPV must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

flatpak run dev.fredol.open-tv
# or
~/.local/bin/open-tv-linux.AppImage

Step 2: Add STALKER Portal Source

  1. Click "Add Source"
  2. Select "STALKER Portal" from the source type list
  3. Enter credentials:
    • Portal URL: http://provider.com/c/
    • MAC Address: 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX
  4. Click "Connect"
  5. Wait for portal synchronization — Categories populate automatically
  6. Navigate with Ctrl + S (categories) or Ctrl + A (all channels)
  7. Press Enter to play selected content

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Example
Portal URL STALKER endpoint http://provider.com/c/
MAC Address Device MAC 00:1A:79:12:34:56

Windows

Prerequisites Installation

Before installing any IPTV applications, you must install the required media players using Windows Package Manager (Winget) or Chocolatey. Zone New Companion requires VLC, and Open TV requires MPV.

Winget (Windows Package Manager) — Recommended

Winget is included with Windows 11 and modern Windows 10 versions. It provides the cleanest installation method.

Check Winget Availability

# Open PowerShell and verify winget is installed
winget --version

# If not installed, get it from Microsoft Store:
# https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NBLGGH4NNS1

VLC Installation via Winget (Required for Zone New Companion)

# Install VLC Media Player
winget install -e --id VideoLAN.VLC

# Verify installation
vlc --version

MPV Installation via Winget (Required for Open TV)

# Install MPV Media Player
winget install -e --id shinchiro.mpv

# Verify installation
mpv --version

Chocolatey Alternative

If Winget is unavailable or you prefer Chocolatey:

Install Chocolatey (if not installed)

# Open PowerShell as Administrator
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

VLC Installation via Chocolatey

# Install VLC
choco install vlc -y

# Verify
vlc --version

MPV Installation via Chocolatey

# Install MPV and dependencies
choco install mpv ffmpeg yt-dlp -y

# Verify
mpv --version

aria2c Installation (Optional - For Faster Downloads)

aria2c is a lightweight multi-protocol download utility that can significantly speed up large file downloads by using multiple connections.

via Winget

# Install aria2c for faster multi-threaded downloads
winget install -e --id aria2.aria2

# Verify installation
aria2c --version

via Chocolatey

# Install aria2c
choco install aria2 -y

# Verify installation
aria2c --version

M3U/M3U8 Setup

ZONE NEW COMPANION

Prerequisites: VLC must be installed via Winget or Chocolatey (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Download Zone New Companion

# Download latest .exe using PowerShell (queries API) + aria2c (fast download)
# No 'gh' CLI required - uses standard tools only

# Step 1: Get latest release info from GitHub API using built-in Invoke-RestMethod
$API_URL = "https://api.github.com/repos/kidpoleon/zone-new-companion/releases/latest"
$RELEASE_INFO = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $API_URL -Method GET

# Step 2: Extract version tag and find the .exe asset
$LATEST_RELEASE = $RELEASE_INFO.tag_name
$EXE_ASSET = $RELEASE_INFO.assets | Where-Object { $_.name -match "zone-new-companion.*\.exe$" } | Select-Object -First 1

# Step 3: Verify we found the asset
if (-not $EXE_ASSET) {
    Write-Error "Could not find zone-new-companion.exe in latest release"
    exit 1
}

$EXE_URL = $EXE_ASSET.browser_download_url
$OUTPUT_FILE = "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\zone-new-companion-$LATEST_RELEASE.exe"

Write-Host "Downloading zone-new-companion $LATEST_RELEASE..."
Write-Host "URL: $EXE_URL"

# Step 4: Download using aria2c (fast) or Invoke-WebRequest (fallback)
if (Get-Command aria2c -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) {
    # Use aria2c for multi-threaded download (16 connections)
    aria2c -x 16 -s 16 -j 32 -k 1M --split=16 --min-split-size=1M `
        --max-connection-per-server=16 --allow-overwrite=true `
        --auto-file-renaming=false -d "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads" `
        -o "zone-new-companion-$LATEST_RELEASE.exe" $EXE_URL
} else {
    # Fallback to built-in Invoke-WebRequest
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $EXE_URL -OutFile $OUTPUT_FILE -UseBasicParsing
}

# Step 5: Verify download completed
if (Test-Path $OUTPUT_FILE) {
    $FILE_SIZE = (Get-Item $OUTPUT_FILE).Length / 1MB
    Write-Host "Download complete: $OUTPUT_FILE ($([math]::Round($FILE_SIZE, 2)) MB)"
} else {
    Write-Error "Download failed - file not found"
}

Step 2: Launch Application

# Navigate to Downloads folder and search for "zone-new-companion"
# Double-click the executable file to launch
# Or run from PowerShell:
cd "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads"
$EXE_FILE = Get-ChildItem "zone-new-companion-*.exe" | Select-Object -First 1
& $EXE_FILE.FullName

# Tip: You can also press Windows Key + R, type "downloads", and search for "zone-new-companion"

Step 3: Add M3U/M3U8 Playlist

  1. Click "Add Source" in the main window
  2. Select "M3U Playlist" from the dropdown menu
  3. Choose input method:
    • URL: Paste M3U/M3U8 link (e.g., http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8)
    • File: Click "Browse" and select local .m3u or .m3u8 file
  4. Enter Source Name (optional): e.g., "Home IPTV"
  5. Click "Verify & Add" — All streams are validated before import
  6. Review verification results:
    • 🟢 Green — Stream verified and active
    • 🟡 Yellow — Stream accessible with warnings
    • 🔴 Red — Stream failed validation
  7. Click "Save" to import working channels only
  8. Use sidebar to browse channel categories

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Location
M3U URL http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8 "Playlist URL" text field
Local File C:\Users\Name\playlist.m3u File browser dialog
Source Name Custom label "Source Name" field (optional)

OPEN TV

Prerequisites: MPV must be installed via Winget or Chocolatey (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Install Open TV via MSI Installer (Recommended)

# Download MSI installer using PowerShell (queries API) + aria2c (fast download)
# No 'gh' CLI required - uses standard tools only

# Step 1: Get latest release info from GitHub API using built-in Invoke-RestMethod
$API_URL = "https://api.github.com/repos/fredolx/open-tv/releases/latest"
$RELEASE_INFO = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $API_URL -Method GET

# Step 2: Extract version tag and find the MSI asset
$LATEST_RELEASE = $RELEASE_INFO.tag_name
$MSI_ASSET = $RELEASE_INFO.assets | Where-Object { $_.name -match "Fred\.TV_.*_x64_en-US\.msi$" } | Select-Object -First 1

# Step 3: Verify we found the asset
if (-not $MSI_ASSET) {
    Write-Error "Could not find MSI installer in latest release"
    exit 1
}

$MSI_URL = $MSI_ASSET.browser_download_url
$OUTPUT_FILE = "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\Fred.TV-${LATEST_RELEASE}_x64_en-US.msi"

Write-Host "Downloading Fred.TV $LATEST_RELEASE..."
Write-Host "URL: $MSI_URL"

# Step 4: Download using aria2c (fast) or Invoke-WebRequest (fallback)
if (Get-Command aria2c -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) {
    # Use aria2c for multi-threaded download (16 connections)
    aria2c -x 16 -s 16 -j 32 -k 1M --split=16 --min-split-size=1M `
        --max-connection-per-server=16 --allow-overwrite=true `
        --auto-file-renaming=false -d "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads" `
        -o "Fred.TV-${LATEST_RELEASE}_x64_en-US.msi" $MSI_URL
} else {
    # Fallback to built-in Invoke-WebRequest
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $MSI_URL -OutFile $OUTPUT_FILE -UseBasicParsing
}

# Step 5: Verify download and install with GUI
if (Test-Path $OUTPUT_FILE) {
    $FILE_SIZE = (Get-Item $OUTPUT_FILE).Length / 1MB
    Write-Host "Download complete: $OUTPUT_FILE ($([math]::Round($FILE_SIZE, 2)) MB)"
    Write-Host "Starting installer..."
    
    # Install with GUI (recommended for user interaction)
    msiexec /i $OUTPUT_FILE
} else {
    Write-Error "Download failed - MSI file not found"
}

# Tip: You can also double-click the MSI file in Downloads folder to run installer

Alternative: Install via Scoop

# Install Scoop (if not installed)
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
Invoke-RestMethod -Uri https://get.scoop.sh | Invoke-Expression

# Add extras bucket
scoop bucket add extras

# Install Open TV
scoop install open-tv

# Run
open-tv

Alternative: Download Portable

# Note: Open TV doesn't provide a portable .exe for Windows
# Use the MSI installer (recommended) or Scoop installation instead
# The portable option is not available for Open TV on Windows

Step 2: Launch Application

# If installed via Scoop
open-tv

# If using MSI, find in Start Menu as "Open TV"
# Or run from Start Menu or Desktop shortcut

Step 3: Add M3U/M3U8 Playlist

  1. Press Ctrl + A to show all channels (or click menu)
  2. Click "Add Source" → Select "M3U"
  3. Choose input method:
    • M3U URL: Paste link (e.g., http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8)
    • M3U File: Browse local file
  4. Click "Add" — Channels parse instantly
  5. Navigate:
    • Ctrl + A — All channels
    • Ctrl + S — Categories
    • Ctrl + D — Favorites
    • Ctrl + F — Search
    • ↑/↓ — Navigate list
    • Enter — Play

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Location
M3U URL http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8 "M3U URL" field
M3U File C:\path\to\playlist.m3u File browser

XTREAM API Setup

ZONE NEW COMPANION

Prerequisites: VLC must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

$EXE_FILE = Get-ChildItem "$env:USERPROFILE\Apps\zone-new-companion-*.exe" | Select-Object -First 1
& $EXE_FILE.FullName

Step 2: Add XTREAM API Source

  1. Click "Add Source"
  2. Select "Xtream Codes API"
  3. Enter credentials:
    • Server URL: http://provider.com:8080
    • Username: Your XTREAM username
    • Password: Your XTREAM password
  4. Click "Test Connection" — Verifies authentication
  5. Click "Load Content" after successful test
  6. Content loads automatically:
    • Live TV channels (with categories)
    • VOD movies
    • TV series
  7. Use sidebar to switch between content types

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Example
Server URL http://provider.com:8080 Server field
Username Your username Username field
Password Your password Password field

OPEN TV

Prerequisites: MPV must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

open-tv

Step 2: Add XTREAM Codes Source

  1. Click "Add Source" → "XTREAM Codes"
  2. Enter:
    • Server: http://provider.com:8080
    • Username: Your username
    • Password: Your password
  3. Click "Add Source"
  4. Wait for sync
  5. Navigate with Ctrl + S (categories) or Ctrl + A (all)
  6. Use Ctrl + W for movies, Ctrl + E for series

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Example
Server http://provider.com:8080 Server field
Username Your username Username field
Password Your password Password field

STALKER Portal Setup

ZONE NEW COMPANION

Prerequisites: VLC must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

$EXE_FILE = Get-ChildItem "$env:USERPROFILE\Apps\zone-new-companion-*.exe" | Select-Object -First 1
& $EXE_FILE.FullName

Step 2: Add STALKER Portal Source

  1. Click "Add Source" → "Stalker Portal"
  2. Enter:
    • Portal URL: http://provider.com/c/
    • MAC Address: 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX
  3. Click "Validate MAC"
  4. Click "Connect to Portal"
  5. Wait for channel/VOD load
  6. Use OCR feature if needed for validation

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Example
Portal URL http://provider.com/c/ Portal field
MAC Address 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX MAC field

OPEN TV

Prerequisites: MPV must be installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

open-tv

Step 2: Add STALKER Portal Source

  1. Click "Add Source" → "STALKER Portal"
  2. Enter:
    • Portal URL: http://provider.com/c/
    • MAC Address: 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX
  3. Click "Connect"
  4. Wait for sync
  5. Navigate and play

Where to Insert Credentials:

Field Input Example
Portal URL http://provider.com/c/ Portal field
MAC Address 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX MAC field

Android / TV

Prerequisites Installation

OTT Navigator is distributed as a standalone APK file that does not require any external dependencies. All media playback capabilities are built into the application.

APK Download from APKMirror

Source: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sia-scillarium-studio/ott-navigator-iptv/

Selecting the Correct APK Variant

Device Type Android Version Architecture Recommended Variant
Modern Phones/Tablets Android 6.0+ (API 23+) arm64-v8a arm64-v8a + nodpi
Older Phones Android 5.0+ (API 21+) arm64-v8a arm64-v8a + nodpi + minapi-21
Android TV / Firestick Android 5.0+ arm64-v8a arm64-v8a + nodpi

Architecture Notes:

  • arm64-v8a: Modern 64-bit devices (2015+)
  • armeabi-v7a: Older 32-bit devices
  • nodpi: Universal display density (recommended)
  • minapi-23: Android 6.0 Marshmallow or newer
  • minapi-21: Android 5.0 Lollipop or newer

Avoid XAPK bundles — Download standard APK files only.

Installation on Android Phones/Tablets

Method 1: Direct Browser Download

  1. Open Chrome or Firefox on Android device
  2. Navigate to: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sia-scillarium-studio/ott-navigator-iptv/
  3. Select latest non-XAPK release
  4. Tap "Download APK"
  5. Wait for download completion
  6. Pull down notification shade
  7. Tap "Download complete" notification
  8. Tap "Install" when prompted
  9. Grant "Install unknown apps" permission if requested
  10. Complete installation

Method 2: USB Transfer from PC

  1. On PC: Download APK from APKMirror
  2. Connect Android device via USB
  3. Select "File transfer" mode on Android
  4. Copy APK to Downloads folder
  5. On Android: Open file manager
  6. Navigate to Downloads
  7. Tap APK file
  8. Tap "Install"
  9. Grant permissions if prompted

Method 3: Cloud Storage

  1. On PC: Download APK and upload to Google Drive/Dropbox
  2. On Android: Open Drive/Dropbox app
  3. Download APK to device
  4. Tap downloaded file
  5. Install when prompted

Installation on Android TV / Firestick

Enable Unknown Sources

Android TV (Google/Android TV devices):

  1. Go to Settings → Device Preferences → About
  2. Click Build repeatedly until "You are a developer" appears
  3. Return to Settings → Device Preferences → Developer Options
  4. Enable "Apps from Unknown Sources"

Amazon Firestick/Fire TV:

  1. Go to Settings → My Fire TV → Developer Options
  2. Enable "Apps from Unknown Sources"
  3. Enable "ADB Debugging" (optional, for network install)

Install via Downloader App (Recommended)

  1. Open Amazon Appstore or Google Play Store
  2. Search "Downloader" by AFTVnews
  3. Install Downloader app
  4. Open Downloader
  5. In URL bar, enter: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sia-scillarium-studio/ott-navigator-iptv/
  6. Navigate to latest release using remote
  7. Select appropriate APK variant (arm64-v8a, nodpi)
  8. Download and install
  9. Launch from Apps menu

Install via USB Drive

  1. Download APK on PC
  2. Copy to USB flash drive
  3. Insert USB into Android TV/Firestick (via OTG adapter if needed)
  4. Use file manager (e.g., FX File Explorer, X-plore) to browse USB
  5. Select APK and install

Install via ADB (Advanced)

# On PC with ADB installed
adb connect <device-ip-address>
adb install ott-navigator.apk

M3U/M3U8 Setup

OTT NAVIGATOR

Prerequisites: OTT Navigator APK installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

  1. Find "OTT Navigator" in app drawer or home screen
  2. Launch with remote or controller

Step 2: Add Provider

  1. Click "+" button (Add Provider) on main screen
  2. Or navigate to Settings → Providers → "+"

Step 3: Configure M3U Playlist

  1. Template Selection:

    • If URL contains /get.php?username= → Use "Xtream Codes" (recommended, auto-detects)
    • If URL ends in .m3u or .m3u8 → Use "Playlist"
    • If loading local file → Use "Playlist File"

  2. Enter Configuration:

    Field Input Example
    Name Custom provider label "My IPTV"
    Playlist URL M3U/M3U8 link http://provider.com/playlist.m3u8
    EPG URL (Optional) XMLTV guide http://provider.com/epg.xml

  3. Tap "Save"

  4. Wait for playlist parsing — Channels appear grouped by category

  5. Navigate with remote: Up/Down to browse, OK to select category/channel

XTREAM API Setup

OTT NAVIGATOR

Prerequisites: OTT Navigator APK installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

  1. Open OTT Navigator from app drawer

Step 2: Add Provider

  1. Click "+" (Add Provider)

Step 3: Select Template

  1. Choose "Xtream Codes" from template list

Step 4: Enter Credentials

Field Input Example
Name Custom label "My IPTV"
Server Full URL with port http://provider.com:8080
Username XTREAM username john2024
Password XTREAM password pass123

Step 5: Advanced Settings (Optional)

  1. Stream Technology: Select "MPEG-TS" (recommended for XTREAM stability)
  2. EPG: Auto-loaded from server (verify in settings)
  3. Time Offset: Adjust if EPG times are incorrect

Step 6: Save and Sync

  1. Tap "Save"
  2. Wait for connection test
  3. Channel import begins automatically
  4. Navigate tabs: Live TV, Movies, Series, TV Guide

Troubleshooting:

  • 401/403 Errors: Verify credentials with provider
  • Buffering: Settings → Extended → Stream Technology → MPEG-TS
  • EPG Time Wrong: Settings → Time Offset → Adjust hours

STALKER Portal Setup

OTT NAVIGATOR

Prerequisites: OTT Navigator APK installed (see Prerequisites Installation)

Step 1: Launch Application

  1. Open OTT Navigator

Step 2: Add Provider

  1. Click "+" (Add Provider)

Step 3: Select Template

  1. Choose "Stalker Portal" or "MAC Portal" from template list

Step 4: Enter Credentials

Field Input Example
Name Custom label "My IPTV"
Portal URL STALKER endpoint http://provider.com/c/
MAC Address Device identifier 00:1A:79:12:34:56

Step 5: Optimize Performance (Recommended)

  1. Go to Settings → Lists
  2. Disable "Video Preview" (reduces load, improves navigation speed)

Step 6: Save and Connect

  1. Tap "Save"
  2. Restart OTT Navigator completely — STALKER requires reconnection
  3. Wait for portal load (30-60 seconds)
  4. Channel categories appear automatically
  5. Navigate and play

Troubleshooting

Zone New Companion

Issue Cause Solution
"VLC not found" error VLC not installed or not in PATH Install VLC via winget/choco/apt
"Timeout Import Error" Older version bug Update to v1.2.3+ from releases page
"SSL/TLS Error" Incompatible SSL profile Change SSL profile in Settings
"MAC Not Authorized" MAC not registered with provider Contact IPTV provider to register MAC
Streams show Red status Network or URL issue Check internet; verify URL with provider
OCR not working Tesseract not installed (Linux) sudo apt install tesseract-ocr

Open TV

Issue Cause Solution
"MPV not found" error MPV not installed Install MPV via winget/choco/apt
App won't launch Missing dependencies Install mpv, ffmpeg, yt-dlp
Constant buffering Stream caching disabled Enable Stream Caching in Settings
High latency Stream caching enabled Disable Stream Caching for lower latency
TV remote not responding Binding mismatch Check Settings → Remote Bindings
No audio MPV audio output issue Check MPV configuration

OTT Navigator

Issue Cause Solution
"Authentication Failed" Wrong credentials Re-enter username/password; verify URL
"MAC Not Authorized" Unregistered MAC Contact provider; check MAC format
401/403 errors Provider rejection May need custom User-Agent/Referrer headers
Constant buffering Wrong stream technology Settings → Extended → MPEG-TS
EPG time incorrect Timezone mismatch Settings → Time Offset → Adjust
Cannot update app Play Store unavailable Uninstall; download latest APK from APKMirror
App crashes on launch Corrupted config Clear app data; reinstall

General Issues

Issue Cause Solution
Channels not loading Subscription expired Verify subscription status with provider
Constant buffering Insufficient bandwidth Need 10+ Mbps for HD, 25+ Mbps for 4K
ISP blocking streams Geo-restriction Use VPN service
DNS resolution failure Provider DNS block Change to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)
Audio but no video Codec issue Check VLC/MPV codec support
Video but no audio Audio track issue Switch audio track in player settings

Security & Privacy

VPN Usage

Recommendation: Always use a VPN when streaming IPTV content to:

  • Protect viewing activity from ISP monitoring
  • Bypass geographic content restrictions
  • Prevent traffic throttling by ISPs
  • Maintain privacy from third-party tracking

Recommended VPN Features:

  • No-logs policy
  • High-speed servers for streaming
  • Kill switch protection
  • Multiple protocol support (WireGuard, OpenVPN)

Credential Security

  1. Never share M3U URLs — They often contain plaintext credentials
  2. Use unique passwords for each IPTV service
  3. Enable 2FA on provider accounts where available
  4. Rotate passwords periodically
  5. Store credentials securely — Use password managers (Bitwarden, KeePass)

Application Permissions

Android Users: Review OTT Navigator permissions:

  • Storage: Required for local playlist files
  • Network: Required for streaming
  • Display over other apps: Required for PiP mode
  • Disable unnecessary permissions in Android Settings → Apps → OTT Navigator → Permissions

Service Legitimacy

  • Avoid free IPTV services — Often illegal or malware-infected
  • Verify provider legitimacy — Look for established businesses with support channels
  • Check for encryption — HTTPS streams preferred over HTTP
  • Read terms of service — Understand data collection practices

Network Security

  1. Use HTTPS URLs when available (https:// vs http://)
  2. Keep router firmware updated
  3. Enable firewall on streaming devices
  4. Use guest networks for IPTV devices when possible
  5. Monitor network traffic for unusual activity

Last Updated: May 2026
Guide Version: 2.0 — Expanded Edition
Maintained By: Community Contributors

Use legitimate IPTV services only. Respect copyright laws in your jurisdiction.

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