First off - VERY sorry that this is a long post, but you'll see why if you read it (and a HUGE "Thank You!!" if you do)

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I'm not new to IT (been in the profession for quite a few yrs), but am fairly new to IPTV, so I very humbly admit that I don't know every provider out there, but the one thing I always find with any praise/bash posts - it isn't that it isn't warranted at times, it's that you have to wade thru them to get the info you're sometimes really ONLY after, so...

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I fig'd it might be useful (IMHO) to try a post not for praising/bashing IPTV providers, but instead to get some benchmarks/standards (sort of like the IEEE/ANSI in the computer world) from users, so not the who likes or hates who, but just the pure technical experience, so...

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Just to get things going, as there's legal and 'illegal' IPTV, and everyone may want to include both, for this post I'll differentiate 'illegal' as 'i' IPTV (so iIPTV) from here on.

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With that said, IMHO here's the main benchmark/standards I've constantly seen repeated over and over in posts...

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1. You can use many different setups, and go thru many different providers/resellers - it's YOUR preference
2. iIPTV is NOT 100% stable no matter who/what you use
   1. To be honest (IMHO) if you're averaging 95% or better - you're doing well
3. iIPTV streams ARE dependent on your setup, and the repeated benchmarks/standards seem to be...
   1. A proper modem w separate router setup (so NOT a single modem+router combo unit)
   2. At least 50mbps package from whatever ISP you're with
   3. Using a LAN cable (if possible of course)
4. iIPTV posts constantly advise users to review/give these points before you post
   1. List your setup!!
   2. Confirm that you ARE getting the speeds you're paying for - especially during 'peak' hours
      1. i.e. .if you live in an area with only one ISP that everyone else uses, then you ARE going to have peak time brownout issues
   3. If you live somewhere where you can be penalized for using IPTV, then you should use a VPN ( therefore ...)
   4. A VPN does effect streaming speeds
   5. TRY LOTS OF PROVIDERS!!!

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I'm sure there's TONS more points, but what I'm attempting (trying) with this post is..

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No one user experience is the same, even IF you have a perfect home setup, have perfect speeds ALL the time, have a plethora of ISP's to choose from, only using LAN, or.. or.. or.., so having (at least some) benchmarks/standards defined might be viable (???)

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As an example, if a 'out of 10' scale was used (possibly including .5's), and with some basic FAIR rules, like...

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1. NO iIPTV (and/or IPTV if we want to include them) provider gets 10/10
   1. IPTV providers would only be at/go to a 9 (i.e. even NetFlix has had outages)
   2. iIPTV providers would ONLY be at/go to an 8 (maybe 8.5 at most, IF it's agreed upon)
2. Give location info, BUT (for privacy)...
   1. ONLY give general location/direction (S/W/SE/etc.) and country code (US/CAN/UK/etc.) info
   2. Maybe your city - IF everyone agrees
3. DO NOT post ANY reseller names, only specify if you use one
   1. Users should research them for themselves or go to the u/iptvresellers
4. NO shill posts

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From here, users then could request help/give a non-bashing report with some setup and provider info rules, like...

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1. List your setup (ISP, hardware, etc.)
   1. If you have a provider that allows more than one device, split them up, including if different locations (i.e your house, parents place, work, etc.)
2. How long you've been with/used a certain provider (again, split them up if more than one), AWA a Current time-frame for troubleshooting (so maybe...)
   1. FT for 'Full Term' (the time you've been with them)
   2. CT for 'Current Term' (the last 7days/1wk period)

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Using myself as an example, here's MHO of my provider (I only have 1 provider, and offers 3 devices, so I setup my GF's place)...

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Setup1

- Location: SW-CAN

- ISP Pkg: U75/D7.5

- Setup: ISP modem w separate Wi-Fi router (might want to include models??)

- HW: Fire TV Stick (non-4K)

- App: Provider apk

- VPN: No

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Provider1

- Host: Beast

- FT: 3mnths

- Reseller: No (just signed up with one for April)

FT Ratings

- Up Avg: 7.5

- Outage Avg: 2.5

CT Ratings:

- CT Up Avg: 7

- CT Outage Avg: 3.5

- CT Speed Test: U81.5/D8

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...then for some clarity - IF everyone agreed/wanted, you could expand further with the CT Ratings reasons, like...

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CT Issue(s): Heavy buffering during UFC fight / Low-mid buffering issues last 2 evenings

- Issue time(s): 5-6pm / 6-7pm PST

- Issue duration(s): First 30-45mins / Every 3-5mins

- Issue steps done: Rebooted modem, router, and cleared caches / Restarted app, cleared cache

- Results: No change, just waited it out / (same)

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Provider2: N/A (so for me, no point in listing additional fields)

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Setup2: (is gf's place, but w XBox One+Kodi, otherwise all the same, so for this example, won't list it)

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..., so now my 'report' is done

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Anyway, I'm sure there's tons of other ways to do this, but as I said, I just thought a true set of benchmarks/standards might be useful.

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This is just a very IPTV newbs 2 cents idea, so cheers and thanks for listening/reading

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EDIT: Cleaned it up a bit ;-)