Router models that support IPTV

Not all router models support IPTV and here’s why.

IPTV has its own significant feature: unlike traditional cable TV, which transmits a lot of media content through a network of cables, the IPTV system stores all available content in the host network until the user requests it. This frees up bandwidth, and with it removes the dependence on channel capacity to determine what can be accessed by subscribers. The time it takes to buffer video is significantly saved by installing IPTV.

And on top of that, IPTV differs from standard downloadable video in that the multimedia content is streamed rather than downloaded. This means that the content is moved around the channel in batches (multicasts), so the user can watch movies even before the entire download is completed.

Multicast is one network packet that can be used by an unlimited number of subscribers at the same time, otherwise known as multicast packet transmission using IGMP protocol. This type of transmission is used in streaming video, hence in all IPTV networks.

Streaming multimedia content can be viewed on standard thin “clients” and Smart TVs, widescreen displays, as well as on desktops. The latest technological innovations now allow IP video to be distributed beyond the wired LAN, including the WAN, Internet and mobile devices.

However, to receive IPTV in your home, you’ll need:

Either a dedicated IP-TV router set-top box with multicast support;
Or an IP-TV Player.

If your ISP provides you with a list of TV channels over the UDP transport protocol (streaming video and audio), you will need an IPTV router. By default, in many routers with IPTV support, Multicast is disabled and IGMP traffic is blocked. That is why users have questions about configuring connection via IPTV-router.

Quite often routers do not require any additional settings. In many IPTV-devices the Multicast function is activated automatically after software update.

List of major manufacturers of routers with IP-TV support:

D-Link;
Zyxel;
Asus;
NetGear;
TRENDnet;
TP-Link.

For a complete list of IPTV-enabled set-top boxes, contact your TV service provider or visit their official website.