ChannelMaster Stream+ (CM-7600) AndroidTv performance and enhancements?

by petethucat

I picked one of these up for $59 refurbed from ChannelMaster via ebay. Does anyone use this as an Android TV box? It looks like it has decent specs.

Armada 1500 Ultra chipset with 10bit HEVC 4K output2GB ramDual ATSC tunersWifi, ethernet, BT4.1, micro SD slot, toslink outBT + IR remote

Downside is that it has only 1 usb port (3.0) and runs AndroidTV 7.0. I've looked around and haven't seen a way to update the OS yet.

If I add an external HD I can only use it for DVR or for personal storage (I think either the AndroidTV operating system or LiveChannels "encrypts" the drive. I would like to use the HD for personal pics and videos as well as DVR. Is there a workaround for this?

The live channels app seems decent for DVR, but are there better apps for free or without subscription for guide info? I'd also like to be able to transcode recordings to h264 or 265 to increase DVR storage.

latinriky78

It's a nice device, the only downside, the most important one is that the Android TV version is still the old Android 7 and there are no signs of any update to at least Android 9, it's almost dead.

Besides that, there is still no Netflix or Prime Video certifications.

I recommend return it and get any of these recommendations, which are more up to date regarding the OS version:

Certified AndroidTV/GoogleTV boxes for the US only:

- AirTV Mini

- AT&T TV

- Tivo Stream 4K

- T-Mobile TVision HUB

- Verizon Stream TV

Certified AndroidTV/GoogleTV boxes for the US and the rest of the world:

- Chromecast with Google TV

- Dynalink TV Box (Available at Walmart)

- Ematic Jetstream (Engel EN1015K for Europe)

- JBL Link Bar

- Mecool KM6 Classic Edition (Prime Video only. 10/100 ethernet. AV1 hardware decoding. 2GB of RAM. Available at mecoolonline.com )

- Mecool KM6 Deluxe Edition (Prime Video only. Gigabit ethernet. WiFi 6. AV1 hardware decoding. 4GB of RAM. Available at mecoolonline.com )

- Minix Neo T5 (No Netflix/Prime Video. Gigabit ethernet. Remote control doesn't have a microphone)

- Nvidia Shield TV (The most expensive but powerful)

- Xiaomi Mi Box S/4K

- Xiaomi Mi TV Stick (1080p only)

For more info about all certified Android TV devices, head over to Android TV Guide website.

adfurgerson

The Dynalink which some websites claim is a rebranded Google ADT-3 developer box looks interesting for $30 at Walmart. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dynalink-Android-TV-Box-Android-10-Support-full-HD-Netflix-4K-Youtube/981542272

m_r_o_y

I have one and use it mainly for the DVR functionality. I managed to get some files off of it using AirDroid due to the drive encryption, but didn't manage to convert the resulting files into a usable format, see this screenshot . You can also set up a ftp server with any number of apps, but I haven't tested that. The previous Channelmaster DVR was much friendlier for getting files off of it, and they were ready to play, but it didn't have the capabilities that AndroidTV has.