Guides
Guides to the decisions behind your TV platform
Honest, practical guides to the choices operators actually face — hardware, OS, device ownership, financing, and delivery. We ship the whole stack, so these aren't sales pitches.
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STB Buyer's Checklist
Before you buy set-top boxes, check the whole stack: hardware, codecs, networking, DRM, apps, fleet management, branding, warranty, and logistics.
Read guideSTB TCO Calculator
Compare the total cost of two set-top box deployment scenarios, including hardware, replacements, support, field service and fleet management.
Open calculatorHow much RAM and storage does an STB need?
A workload-based guide to 1 GB, 2 GB and 4 GB RAM — plus the storage, firmware and testing decisions that matter more than a bigger number.
Read guideAndroid vs Linux STB
Which platform fits your network? An honest comparison — app ecosystem, cost, control, and when each one wins.
Read guideAOSP vs Certified Android TV
Which one does your launch actually need? The certified app ecosystem vs. speed, cost and control — and how we deliver both.
Read guideOwn STBs vs Smart TVs
Ship your own branded box or rely on subscribers' Smart TVs? The honest answer is both — but the box is the part you 100% own. The operator's case for shipping it.
Read guideSubsidize, lease or sell the box
Give the box away, rent it, or sell it outright? A financing decision, not a hardware one — the CapEx/OpEx and TCO trade-offs, plus the DMS locking that keeps subsidize and lease safe.
Read guideMulticast IPTV vs OTT streaming
One efficient stream to many on your managed network, or one adaptive stream per viewer over the internet? The honest trade-offs on bandwidth, quality, latency and reach — and why many operators run both.
Read guideBuild vs buy your STB
Build your own set-top-box platform or buy a turnkey stack? “Building” means owning eight layers — silicon to support. An honest make-or-buy for operators, and when each side wins.
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