Moving from cable or satellite to IPTV is mostly about doing things in the right order. Cancel too early and you can be left without TV for a weekend. Forget to return a box and you get an unreturned-equipment fee. This checklist is the order we recommend to people switching to PioneersTV.
1. Check your internet before anything else
IPTV replaces the coax TV signal with your internet connection, so the connection has to carry it. Count the TVs that will be on at the same time and plan on about 10 Mbps for each HD stream and 25 Mbps for each 4K stream. These figures are in line with the FCC broadband speed guide. Test at the busiest time of the evening, not at noon.
Watch out for bundles. If your internet is bundled with cable TV, ask your provider what internet-only service will cost before you cancel TV. Bundle discounts sometimes disappear.
2. Choose a device for each TV
Smart TVs with Google TV or Fire TV built in can run IPTV directly. Most others are better with a streaming stick. Roku TVs in particular need a Fire TV Stick or Google TV device added. Our streaming device comparison explains which to buy, and the device compatibility list covers everything else.
3. Run IPTV and cable side by side for a week
Start your IPTV service before you cancel cable. Use it as your main TV for a week, including at least one evening of live sports. That way you find Wi-Fi dead spots and app preferences while you still have a backup. A short first plan, like a 3-month term on our pricing page, keeps your commitment small.
4. Set it up the way the household watches
- Add favorite channels on every TV so nobody has to scroll through the full lineup.
- Make sure the TV guide works. The EPG guide covers this.
- Show everyone how the app works: live TV, the guide, and movies and series.
- Count simultaneous screens again now that people are actually using it.
5. Cancel cable and return the equipment
Once you're happy, cancel TV service with your provider and ask for a list of equipment to return: set-top boxes, DVR boxes, remotes and sometimes cable cards. Get a receipt or tracking number for every item. Unreturned equipment is the most common surprise charge after cutting the cord, so check your next two bills for any leftover TV fees.
6. Keep a plan B for outages
IPTV depends on your internet, so a provider outage means no TV. Some households keep an inexpensive indoor antenna for local broadcast channels as a backup. Others use a phone hotspot to keep one screen going. And if your provider is throttling video at busy times, read when a VPN helps with IPTV.