Stream Live TV to Your Computer or Smartphone with U4 Quad Hybrid Android TV Box, Kodi and TVheadend

TVheadend is a streaming server and recorder for Linux, FreeBSD and Android supporting DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C, DVB-T, ATSC, ISDB-T, IPTV, SAT>IP and HDHomeRun as input sources, and while in theory it should be possible to configure any recent Android TV set-top box with digital TV tuners, configuration is complex, and there’s no guarantee the tuner will be recognized. However, the manufacturer of U4 Quad Hybrid has already configured their box to support HTSP clients, so I’ve installed the latest firmware, and given it a try with my Android smartphone running Kodi 15.2 with TVheadend HTSP client, and I could successfully stream live TV (DVB-T2 free-to-air channels) to my smartphone.

Once you’ve scanned the channels using DVB-T2 and/or DVB-S2, there’s no other configuration in U4 Quad Hybrid TV box, but you’ll still need to find out your IP address by going to Setup->Network, and WiFi, Ethernet or 3G depending on your chosen Internet connectivity option. My device is connected to Ethernet, and my IP is 192.168.0.108.

I’m using a smartphone, but you could as well go with any device or computer that support Kodi. Currently the firmware in U4 Quad Hybrid is not compatible with Kodi 16.0, so you’ll need an earlier version, and I installed Kodi 15.2 on my phone. You can download Kodi 15.2 for Windows or Android here.

Once Kodi is installed, you can start it, and go to Settings->Add-ons->My add-ons->PVR clients, and scroll down to select TVheadend HTSP client.
Kodi_TVheadend_HTSP_Client

Click on Configure to enter U4 Quad Hybrid IP address in “Tvheadend hostname or IP address” field, and click OK.
Kodi_HSTP_Client_ConfigurationBy default,the add-on is disabled, so you make sure you select “Enable” too. Now go back, and enter Settings->TV to tick Enabled.Kodi_TV_SettingsConfiguration is now complete, and when you go back to Kodi home screen, you could see a new TV menu with five sub-section: Channels, Guide, Recordings, Timer, and Search.

Kodi_TV_Menu

I’ve just tapped on TV, and got the list of apps from U4 Quad Hybrid set-top box on my smartphone.  The channel information (in Thai language) was not displayed properly for some reasons.

Kodi_Live_TV_channels Now select any channels from the left, and will it start playing in the preview windows, and tap the preview and it will switch to full screen.

Click for Original Size
Click for Original Size

Once the video is playing you can also tap the screen to have access to options, change channels, change audio tracks and so on.

You can watch the video below to see all configuration steps, and a demo starting at 3:15.

If you are interested in U4 Quad Hybrid you can purchased it on Aliexpress for $119.99 (DHL) or $106.69 (China Post). I intend to post a complete review next week.

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22 Comments
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Marius Cirsta
8 years ago

I’ve bought a $20 USB DVB-C stick that I plan to connect to a $35 Raspberry Pi and get some TV streaming for a much lower price than this.

Giorgio
Giorgio
8 years ago

Hummmm what is new here? This we could do since wetek play android tv build with tvheadend and Kodi 14.2 Helix build and still working

http://www.wetekforums.com/v/index.php?p=/discussion/242/experimental-cyanogenmod-for-wetek-play-with-kodi-live-tv

Openelec box cost 69 eur and can be installed android on t, Android 5.1 from above link and is twin tuner woth dvbapi compatible support for cams

Giorgio
Giorgio
8 years ago

CNX same you need to do with this box in order to scan channels and it is done over web interface and of course to enable htsp client

Steve
Steve
8 years ago

TV Headend takes a little bit of getting used to – but its worth getting your head around. A lot of countries now have predefined mux lists for specific regions and/or transmitters to make things simple, but I know the 8 frequencies used in London in the UK and just add them manually. You can usually leave the more complex settings (Constellation, FEC, Guard Interval etc.) on AUTO – but that information is usually available too if you look. (Though I suspect for smaller countries where DVB-T/T2 is less widespread or newer this information may be trickier to find)

mdel
mdel
8 years ago

cnxsoft : Currently the firmware in U4 Quad Hybrid is not compatible with Kodi 16.0 how is that so, what’s preventing kodi 16 compatibility on that u4 android ? I’ve been playing with android (4.4.2) on my beelink x2 (allwinner h3 soc), first i was quite surprised to see that the online update is active on that box (the last update is from late january). Then installed kodi 16 from the playstore, the firmware had a preinstalled kodi 14 which seems to work fine (not tested 4k / h265 though). Anyways i installed kodi’s tvheadend htsp client to stream videos… Read more »

TC
TC
8 years ago


but the U4 is S/T2, and he wants C, or not?

natsu
natsu
8 years ago


nice 🙂
did it work on K1 PLUS DVB S2 T2???

paul
paul
8 years ago

@Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) When you review this U4 and other future boxes that take TV-Tuner modules, even if unable to test TV-Tuner modules for countries other than your own, can you show details of the TV-Tuner interface, and if proprietary or conforming to a standard, i.e will it also work in a Wetek or other TV boxes that you review ? Also, important to know the overall energy consumption, to see if energy saved compared to a cheap TV stick plugged into a laptop. Re. the non-Functioning TBS-5520 dual-standard ISDB-T DVB-T2 Tuner you tried to review last year under Linux,… Read more »

ben
ben
8 years ago

It’s a long time coming, but streaming video across a network ( from a dvb/atsc tuner source, or from an hdmi input) seems to finally be getting traction on Android! A worthy competitor to slingbox / TiVo Roamio may be around the corner!

danman.eu’s blog has lots of good posts, but I’m still holding out for an integrated kodi/tvheadend solution on ugoos UT3+

Seal
Seal
8 years ago

Its supports transcoding? Im interested to stream to my phone via Internet 🙂

Off topic: Im looking for like this device but with 4 dvbs2 tuners, do you know any?

catalinii
catalinii
8 years ago

cnxsoft,

How is the integrated kodi handling the dvb video stream? Does it have support for hardware decoding?
As the hardware support at least h265, h264, mpeg2.
Thanks

EddyLab
8 years ago

@Giorgio U4PVR(U4 Quad Hybrid STB) do not need scan channels from web interface. Basically E-ON system (Android settop setup UI of U4 Quad Hybrid STB) will need 1time scan channels. Whatever, ATSC, DVB-T2, C2, S2, IPTV. that is clear. After you enjoy watch Channel form E-ON System or Kodi for U4 Quad Hybrid STB in home. or watch your channel on smartphone from outside. I think that general user can use the PVR system, without knowledge TVHeadend. like used DVR system. ================= We tried test of beta U4 PVR settop of 100 users in korea. (ATSC & DVB-S2 Tuner Type)… Read more »

EddyLab
8 years ago

We tried test of Korea Terrestrial UHD Broadcasting experiments – SBS
Format : (4K@60fps HEVC@60fps 10bit 4:2:0 BT720)

Based on a DVB-T2, I was able to watch TV for a while (10sec ?)for U4PVR.
http://muritzy.tistory.com/1070
Because, Hi3796M does not decode 10bit HEVC. Chipset can decode up to HEVC 4K@30.

HiSilicon next generation AP Hi3798CV200 will be clear of 4K broadcasting format.
Himedia Q10Pro unpacking 2 (4K@60fps HEVC@10bit Settop)
http://muritzy.tistory.com/1144

Peter Wilcox
Peter Wilcox
8 years ago

@mdel

I have struggled with installing TV headend onto a WetekPlay for many months. None of the tutrials seem to apply to the build/screen I see.
I’d happily pay for help that results in mine becoming usable?

Khadas VIM4 SBC