M3U, Xtream or HDHomeRun: which one do you have?
Three words come up when you set up IPTV. Here is what each one means and how to tell which one you have.
A link to a playlist (M3U)
An M3U playlist is a list of channels in one file. Your provider gives you an address that often contains the word m3u or get.php. You paste that address into the app.
The program times come separately, as an XMLTV guide address. Some playlists point to it by themselves, and others come with a second link.
Is your M3U messy? M3U Tidy is a free playlist editor that runs in your browser: rename channels, remove duplicates, reorder groups, and add an end date that Theamo shows. Nothing is uploaded.
A username and a password (Xtream)
Xtream is a login: a server address, a username and a password. It is the most common kind. Theamo asks for the three, finds the channels and the guide, and tells you how many channels it found.
An antenna tuner (HDHomeRun)
An HDHomeRun is a small box on your home network. You connect an antenna or a cable to it, and it sends the channels to your devices. Theamo can find it on your network.
A tuner shows live television. It does not keep an archive of past programs, so there is no catch-up on its channels.
And Plex?
If you use Plex, add your server as well. Your own films and series, your Continue watching and your watchlist then sit next to live TV.
Which one should I use?
If your provider gave you both a login and a link, choose the login (Xtream): there is less to set up. Use the link if that is all you have. You can add more than one source.