X96 LINK: TV box and router in one device

“Why not combine a TV set-top box and a router in one device,” the Chinese thought. This is how the X96 LINK appeared on the market. TV box and router, in one "bottle", aimed at the budget segment. This is evidenced by technical characteristics, functionality and price. In fact, there are no innovations here. Recently, the Mecool brand released the K7 set-top box, which is equipped with an on-air T2 tuner. Such "harvesters»Interesting to users who want to save on a purchase and get a functional gadget.

Technozon has already released an X96 Link review for its subscribers. All author links at the bottom of the text.

 

X96 LINK: TV box and router specifications

Chipset Amlogic S905W (+ Siflower SF16A18)
Processor Quad core Cortex A53 1,2 Ghz
Video adapter Mali-450 (6 cores, up to 750 MHz + DVFS)
RAM 2 GB DDR3 (1333 MHz) +64 MB for a router
Persistent memory 16 GB EMMC
ROM expansion Yes, memory cards, USB
Memory card support microSD up to 64 GB
Wired network 1xWAN 1Gb + 2xLAN 100Mb
Wireless network 802,11 ac / a / n and 802,11 b / g / n, MU-MIMO, 2,4G / 5G
Bluetooth No (although there is a “Bluetooth update” item in the menu)
Operating system Android 7.1.2
Update support Yes (again, broken Bluetooth menu)
Interfaces 2xLAN, 1xWAN, HDMI, AV, DC, 4xUSB 2.0
The presence of external antennas Yes 2 pcs
Digital panel Yes, 4 network status indicators
Networking opportunities IPv6 / IPv4, WPS, DDNS, Dial-Up, Clone MAC
dimensions 164.5h109.5h25mm
Price 40-45 $

 

X96 LINK Router

High-quality and beautiful packaging was not a surprise - the brand always delivers its gadgets in such an attractive way. On the box, the manufacturer noted in capital letters that this is both a router and a TV box. At the bottom of the package there are brief characteristics of the device.

X96 LINK: ТВ-бокс и роутер в одном устройстве

Options are standard. The device itself, a brief instruction on setting up the router, an HDMI cable, a patch cord, a power supply and an adapter for a Euro outlet.

The X96 Link set-top box is made of plastic. Below there are air vents for cooling components. Build quality and product material are average. An external review of the case showed no defects. The remote that comes with the kit looks flimsy. A minimum of buttons - the effect of "wow" does not cause.

 

X96 LINK: TV Box and Router: Management

The first strangeness was discovered after connecting the console to the TV. There are no wireless interfaces in the Network section. By connecting the cable to the Internet and setting the router mode, Wi-Fi settings appeared. This means that the gadget can not work only in media player mode.

The router is configured via the Web interface. The router control panel is annoying. Firstly, the functionality is cut off to impossibility. Secondly, there is no logical sequence in the settings. Without skills in administering network devices, the task of connecting the gadget to the Internet can be very delayed. Fortunately, there is an instruction and Guide mode.

X96 LINK: ТВ-бокс и роутер в одном устройстве

After manipulating the network settings and switching to the console software, a new problem appeared. The gadget did not want to launch the Google service, citing date and time mismatches. Moreover, in the settings is automatic detection. You have to set the date and time with your hands. Confuses the year preinstalled in the prefix - 2015.

 

X96 LINK: router mode

When testing the network connection, a significant problem was detected. The device greatly cuts the speed of the wired and wireless channel. When connected to a Lan, it gives a download speed of 72 Mbps and 94 Mbps for upload. On Wi-Fi - 60 for downloading and 70 for unloading.

Given the inferior admin panel and the oddities in data transfer, the device simply cannot be called a router. There can be no talk of any declared characteristics in the form of MU-MIMO.

 

X96 LINK: TV Boxing Mode

The launch of the throttling test called into question further experiments with the console. The gadget CPU trottled is 35%. There is a frequency drop in the crystal and overheating of the chip. In places, the temperature rose to 85 degrees Celsius (average 77 degrees).

Naturally, there was a doubt that 4K video playback on the console is possible. When choosing videos on YouTube, everything became clear. Even in 2K format at 60 Fps there is a slowdown and frame loss. Is that in FullHD TV boxing was able to play video without problems. But when playing media over IPTV, there were no problems with 4K. Which looks weird.

X96 LINK: ТВ-бокс и роутер в одном устройстве

Sound forwarding is a separate story. X96 LINK (TV box and router) is not something that does not know how to decode sound into a compatible format. And just does not want to perform the task. Files with Dolby Digital + and TrueHD cannot be opened - when you select a player, the TV box freezes.

As a result, it turns out that the gadget can not be attributed either to the set-top box for TV, or to the network equipment section. Defective router with cut settings and features. And the same defective TV box. Games with such trotting are out of the question.

 

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