Checklist for installing IPTV on MAG and Formuler
- A current MAG model, or a Formuler from the Z8, Z10 or Z11 families
- The MAC address printed on the sticker underneath the box
- The EmeraldIPTV portal URL, which support sends once the MAC is registered
- A network cable between the router and the box
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Install IPTV on MAG and Formuler in 10 steps
Find and send the MAC address
Turn the box over and read the sticker. The MAC is twelve characters in pairs separated by colons, and it usually starts with 00:1A:79 on a MAG. Send a photograph of the sticker to support on WhatsApp rather than typing it out, which removes any chance of misreading a B for an 8.
Wait for the portal to be registered
Activation is done on our side and normally takes a few minutes. Support confirms in the same chat and sends the portal address. Nothing needs to be typed on the box until that message arrives, so do not start changing settings in the meantime.
Connect the box by cable
Plug an Ethernet cable between the router and the box before anything else. These boxes are usually installed in a sitting room where the router is elsewhere, so a powerline adapter is a common and cheap solution. Wired is worth the effort here, particularly for sport.
Enter the portal on a MAG
From the main menu open Settings, System settings, Servers, Portals. Give portal 1 any name, paste the portal URL into the address field, save with the menu button and restart the box. It should boot into the channel list without any further sign-in.
Or set up MyTVOnline on a Formuler
On a Formuler, open MyTVOnline and choose to add a playlist. You can use the portal address or the Xtream details, depending on what support sends. Because Formuler boxes also run Android, you can install TiViMate from Google Play alongside it if you prefer that layout.
Check the Irish and UK channels
Open the Ireland group first and start RTE, Virgin Media and TG4, then the UK group. On a box these load quickly, and confirming them takes under a minute. This is the check worth doing before you rearrange anything.
Sort the channel list
Both platforms let you hide groups and build a favourites list. On a MAG, favourites are added by holding the OK button on a channel. Trim the list to what your household watches, because the remote on these boxes is designed for a short list rather than several thousand entries.
Check the guide is filled in
The guide downloads separately and can take a minute on first boot. If programme names are missing or an hour out, look for the EPG settings in the system menu and check the box time zone is set to Dublin rather than left at a default.
Set a PIN over adult categories
These boxes are often bought precisely because an older relative or a child will use them alone. Set a parental PIN in the system settings and lock any unsuitable group. On a MAG this sits under Settings, System settings, Parental control.
Keep the portal details somewhere safe
If the box is ever reset, the portal address has to be entered again and the MAC re-registered if the hardware changes. Save the WhatsApp message, and remember that a replacement box means a new MAC and a new activation request.
Troubleshooting MAG and Formuler: quick fixes for common errors
The portal loads but no channels appear
Almost always the MAC registered does not match the box in front of you, which happens when a household has two boxes. Send a fresh photograph of the sticker to support and ask them to confirm which MAC is on the account.
The box shows a blank screen after entering the portal
Restart from the power menu rather than pulling the plug, then re-enter the address and check for a missing character at the start or end. A portal URL pasted with a trailing space behaves exactly like a wrong address.
Channels freeze every evening at the same time
That pattern is peak-time contention on the line, or occasionally a blocked route. Try a cable if you are on Wi-Fi, then ask support for an alternative server. A fault that appears at the same hour each week is rarely a fault in the box.
The remote responds slowly
MAG boxes slow when the channel list is enormous. Hide unused groups and build a favourites list, which makes more difference than any setting. Replace the batteries too, since these remotes get sluggish long before they stop working.
The guide is empty
Give it a few minutes on first boot. Then check the time zone is set to Dublin in the system settings, because a wrong clock can make the box discard guide data. A manual EPG refresh is available in the settings on most firmware.
Sound is missing on some channels
Open the audio settings and switch the output between HDMI and S/PDIF, or change the audio format from a surround option to stereo. Boxes sometimes send a format the television or soundbar cannot decode, which gives a picture and silence.
The box will not update its firmware
Use a cable rather than Wi-Fi for firmware updates, and do not interrupt one once it starts. If an update fails repeatedly, ask support before trying anything else, since a bad flash on a MAG is difficult to recover from at home.
Which IPTV player to use on MAG and Formuler
TiViMate
TiViMate guide: add EmeraldIPTV as an Xtream playlist on Google TV or Firestick, hide unused groups, fix guide times, replay shows and weigh up Premium.
Browse every setup guide
Step-by-step help for streaming sticks, smart TVs, set-top boxes, phones and player apps, all using one EmeraldIPTV login.
Press play on films and series on your MAG and Formuler
From €12 a month, one EmeraldIPTV login opens 25,000+ live channels including Irish and UK terrestrial, catch-up and 120,000+ films and series in 4K, FHD and HD. Your details arrive on WhatsApp in under 15 minutes, and no plan ever renews automatically.
Questions about IPTV on MAG and Formuler
Why does a MAG need the MAC address?
A MAG identifies itself to the portal by its MAC rather than by a username and password. That is why there is no login screen on the box: we tie the service to that specific hardware. It also means a replacement box needs a new registration.
Should I buy a MAG or a Formuler?
A MAG is simpler and suits anyone who wants television and nothing else, which makes it a good choice for an older relative. A Formuler runs Android as well, so it can install TiViMate and other apps. Both are solid; the choice is about how much flexibility you want.
Can I move the box to another house?
Yes. The activation follows the box rather than the address, so it works on any broadband connection. Take it with you on holiday or to a second home and it signs itself in on arrival, provided the connection is usable.
What if I buy a second-hand box?
Reset it to factory settings first, then send us the MAC for a fresh registration. Be careful with any box advertised as already loaded or ready to go, which is the dodgy box arrangement rather than a legitimate sale, and leaves you with hardware you cannot support.
Does a box count as one screen?
Yes, the same as any other device. A one-screen plan plays one stream at a time, so if the box is running, a phone elsewhere in the house will not play until it stops. Households with a box and other screens usually take two or three.
Is catch-up available on a MAG?
On channels that support replay and where the firmware offers it, yes, usually through the guide. Support varies by firmware version more than on Android players. A Formuler running TiViMate Premium is the more dependable route if catch-up matters to you.
Do I need a cable, or will Wi-Fi do?
Wi-Fi works, but these boxes are usually in a sitting room away from the router and that is exactly where Wi-Fi disappoints. A cable or a powerline adapter is the single best thing you can do for a box, and it costs very little.