Emporium

Basically, from LiveTV, press the menu button and there is a software version at the bottom, v4.0.xxx or v5.0.xxx. Provide the specific version your box is running.

Are you really running short of USB ports ? Most boxes (few exceptions) have at least 2 or 3 ports. And these dongles don't need to occupy a USB3 port. With these dongles, you obviously don't need line of site. I have had a MX3 clone remote (which looks pretty much the same as these - and same layout), for nearly 5 or 6 years now, and they work quite well. I never tried the MIC function (since I hate those features anyhow), but the rest has worked great..

No Bluetooth. The ARQ series uses a USB key (like many wireless mice/keyboards). Works pretty well., and no need for pairing. Remotes are very subjective. And each remote has it's pros and cons.

Absolutely. I was just pointing out the differences in how the players react.

The Primary player will only show you the actual number of CC choices that are encoded in the stream. So if it has only 2 options, then you will see 2 choices. The Backup player however seems to always show 4 choices as soon as CC is available. And backup player, you don't see the description of the CC stream. Primary player will show you "English", "French", etc.. if multiple CC options are available.

Would help if you specify what box, and what version of Buzz you are using (hit the Menu button, and it should be listed at the bottom of the menu on the left).

I just created a small test M3U playlist with 6 channels in it (public streams), which I know transmit with subtitles. On your box, go to menu, settings, server settings, M3U and add an M3U playlist. You can call it "subtest"(or whatever you want) and use the url I sent you in direct message (the url is case sensitive). If it works and you connect, you will see a list of 6 channels (4 english and 2 french). I tested them on my xrs4500 using the latest update 5.0.788 and if I enable subtitles on each channel, I see subtitles as expected. I do need to enable subtitles on each channel (no global settings as far as know, but I could be wrong). Both players (primary and backup) seem to work. But Primary is a little better than the backup one (it's just cleaner the way it shows them), but they both work. I also tested them on my HD5 and they work fine also. Try it and let us know.

They are translucent on black, in order to allow the backlight through easier. If they make them solid white (like the older remotes), then you need a more powerful backlight, which sucks batteries like crazy. I keep the backlight off, exactly for that reason. I would have liked solid white also (personal taste), but also keep in mind, being translucent also means the solid white, won't eventually wear off, like I've seen on some cheaper remotes and eventually you have just a bunch of black buttons

From LiveTV, hit the Menu button -> Settings ->Configuration And on the top you will see Video Player - LiveTV and it is set to either Primary or Backup. Whatever you have now, select the other one.

You can probably just go to the web site, click the download link on the top, download the APK, put it on a USB stick and then install it on the box. Or open browser on the box, and go to it directly. https://en.aptoide.com/

The manual for the remote can be had here: https://buzztv.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BT400-300_manual_WEB_v6_Compress.pdf To re-pair the remote, you can go into "Settings" -> "Remotes and accessories". If you see your remote in there, click on it and then select "unpair". Then click on "add accessory, and then put your remote into pairing mode (from the manual: Simultaneously press and hold the OK button and the HOME button for 4 seconds until it [red LED] starts blinking). This should bring up the remote in the list of devices, you can select it and it should pair. If you did a factory reset of the device, it should in theory have asked you to pair/find the remote during initial setup.

You can never satisfy everyone with remotes. If you make them big, people complain they are huge and awkward. Make them too small, people complain they are too tiny. My personal preference is the size of the BT100/200/250 remotes, but that is personal taste. The BT300/400 are a change, but not that bad. I have pretty big hands, and have no issue with the buttons. Even in the dark, you can easily feel your way around the remote, with the buttons having just enough of a bump to be able to feel your way around and distinguish the buttons. For the number pad, it is is nice that the "5" key has a little texturing, so you can orient yourself with that middle key. For the Dpad, it is about the same size (about 25mm). Maybe the BT300/400 is about 1mm smaller, but that may just be an illusion since it is white vs black (on the older remotes). The OK button on the older remotes is convex out, but the newer ones are concave in. Something that does take getting used to. Now the buttons around the dpad, are a little more spread out vertically on the newer remotes (BT300/400), but the buttons are further apart horizontally on the older remotes. You can always also choose to get something like an ARQ-100 remote. Or soon to be available ARQ 200 series https://buzztv.com/site/arq-200-series/ Some people used to swear by their Harmony remotes, but personally have never liked them.

Picture from channels on Antenna are clear: So the TV is not an issue. Netflix, Prime, Apple and Disney, Youtube are all very clear: So the box is not an issue Only thing left is the Source/Server that you are using for your TV channels that are the source if the issue. So If you are using an IPTV provider, then it is time to find someone new to get your service from since they are probably over compressing the streams and image quality is suffering beyond what you want. If you are using some free app (Redbox, LiveNetTV, or even Plex) to get your TV channels, then there is not much you can do, since you are the mercy of their stream sources. Many of the true free IPTV lists that are floating around on github, etc.. are far from 1080p. Many are even 480p (some even 360p). You try to scale 360p, 480p, 420p or even 1080p to 4k, you will NOT get anything SUPER clear.

Have you tried power cycling your router (not reset - just unplug power and plug it in again) ? I know you said other devices have no issue, but sometimes there are chipset incompatibilities so just trying to see if it may not like the WIFI chipset used in your router. You are not by any chance too close to the router (yes that is a thing) ?

Are you using suspend, or shutdown as powerkey definition. I know it is quicker when using suspend, but issues compound over time if you use suspend. Try using shutdown instead and see if it persists.

I just checked on my 4900 which has latest update and I checked 3 different servers and no issues with VOD. They are all fully populated. I even checked TV series and they are all also fully populated and I double checked my main service and the shows are all up to date (with shows that aired this week), so it is not cached. Considering you always seem to have issues (honestly, don't know why it's always on your box), I strongly recommend that you also install another app on your box (STBEmu, IPTVsmarters, etc..) and when something does not work, check also with another program to rule out the server and your ISP. Since I noticed you have a MAC connection, jut install STBEmu, configure for same MAC/Server ID (Remove the DeviceID fields from the profile, just in case). I know STBEmu does not have the best interface, but at least you can see if it works or not.

All my BT remotes have backlight, but I rarely use the backlight, due to it being a battery hog with light on (as dishuser mentioned). And I have gotten so used to the remote layouts, that I rarely need to even look at the remote. Can't say for sure if the BT-250 has a backlight. All the advertisement material for the BT-250 that I found does NOT list backlight as one of the options. So don't know it if was overlooked, or if it actually does not have it. Maybe if someone who has one, or knows for sure, could chime in on this.

You have MAC or XC/M3U style sub ? Have you asked your reseller to reset the MAC on his end if you have a MAC sub ? Sounds like your provider may be locking into something very specific and as soon as it notices a change it may be locking you out.

My favorite buzz remote is the BT200 (personal taste). Pretty sure it is obsolete, so the closest one would be the new BT-250. https://buzztvglobal.com/en-ca/products/bt-250-remote But honestly, other than the power button, the D-PAD, the 4 buttons in the top/bottom/left/right of the DPAD (menu, previous, channel flashback and info), and the channel +/- and volume +/- buttons I very rarely use the rest.

There are many factors that come into play here. You say you are using a 4K TV. What is the resolution you have set on your 4500 ? Are your streams true 4K ? If not, you are leaving it up to the box, or even your TV to do the upscaling. Native 4K should be crisp and nice. Any upscaling involved, will vary, since every device uses different upscaling algorithms. Like others have recommended, try Youtube, or if your service provider has a 4K VOD section, try to stream a few of those. Regular TV stations are often not from a 4k source, regardless if the service provider says 4k.

Are you sure subtitles are included in the stream you are using ? It won't pull them out of nowhere. In my case, some of my streams have subtitles available, and others don't. So it is spotty. But that is a server issue, not a Buzz issue (in my case at least). And I have another server which has 0 subtitles encoded in the streams. Have you tried with another player (like STBEmu if using MAC sub, or IPTV Smarters if using XC or M3U sub), to see if subtitles are available on your streams ?

I will ask a "silly" question.. Are you using the Power supply that came with the U5, or are you using a power supply from a previou BuzzTV box ? Reason I ask, is that the xrs4900 and U5 use a 12V power supply (probably for compatibility with most SATA drives - SATA power spec includes 3.3V, 5V and 12V), compared to the 5V power supplies that all the other models use. The U5 will power up with the 5V power supply from other boxes (and the connector fits), but it will exhibit issues with the HDD. Another user in another forum was complaining about HDD issues and even had Buzz schedule to call him for remote support, until I asked him the very same question, and you can imagine what the answer is. I also have a U5 which came with a 1TB WD blue. However, I never installed the HDD that came with it, I ended up installed a 1TB SSD I had lying around.

Go down to the bottom of this page. You will see an option on bottom left for "Theme". Click on it, you will get a small dropdown, and select theme: 4.4 Default. The other theme seems to have a few issues.

Backing up your server settings and your favorites makes sense. But backing up the EPG is completely nonsense. You restore your server settings, and your favorites and as soon as you connect to your service it will download the latest EPG automatically. And EPG is dynamic and will change daily (if not every few hours, depending on the service). Backing up is an upcoming feature on the new Android 11 devices. When it comes, we will see what can or can't be backed up.

double posting and posting in multiple threads is not needed. backing up guide is useless. guide is dynamic, it is updated regularly, and if you loose your guide, you should complain to your service provider. That is pushed from them. When things get messed up, the best thing to do is honestly to "clear epg" to force it to redownload/refresh the contents.