- Your MAC address is under Settings, then Device info, labelled “MAC address (ethaddr)”. Every MAG MAC starts with 00:1A:79.
- The portal goes in Settings, then System settings, Servers, Portals, in the field called “Portal 1 URL”.
- “Your STB is blocked” means the subscription has expired or the MAC has not been activated yet. It is not a fault in the box.
- Infomir’s current boxes are the MAG540w3 and MAG544w3 on Linux and the MAG555 on Google TV. The MAG520, 522 and 524 are discontinued.
- No MAG? The StbEmu app on Android and the paid Smart STB app on smart TVs use the same portal login.
What is a MAG box, and which one should you buy in 2026?
MAG is a line of IPTV set-top boxes made by Infomir. The classic MAG runs Infomir’s own Linux software with a built-in portal browser. You connect it to the TV by HDMI and to the router by a network cable, and it does one job: load a portal and play what the portal lists. That simplicity is why people still buy them. There is no app store to manage and nothing to sideload, and the remote works like a cable box remote.
The range has turned over, and a lot of setup guides still list boxes you can no longer buy new. Infomir’s own site lists these as current:
| Model | Software | Status |
|---|---|---|
| MAG540w3 | Linux | Current. 4K, HEVC, Wi-Fi |
| MAG544w3 | Linux | Current. 4K, HEVC, Wi-Fi |
| MAG555 | Google TV | Current. Google TV, so it also runs Android apps |
| MAG520, 522, 524 | Linux | Discontinued (moved to Infomir’s archive) |
| MAG322, 324, 349, 351, 254, 256 | Linux | Discontinued, older generations |
| MAG425A, 424Aw3, 500A | Android | Discontinued |
A discontinued box still works if you already own one. The MAG524w3, for example, plays 4K at 60 frames per second and has dual-band Wi-Fi, and nothing about the portal login has changed. If you are buying new, a Linux MAG540w3 or 544w3 gives the classic experience. The Google TV MAG555 is the one to pick if you also want Android apps such as TiviMate on the same box.
How to find the MAC address on a MAG box
Turn the box on and let it reach the portal screen or the inner portal menu. Open Settings, then Device info. The line you want is labelled “MAC address (ethaddr)”, and it reads 00:1A:79 followed by three more pairs of characters. 00:1A:79 is Infomir’s prefix, so every genuine MAG has it.
Some sellers say it is also printed on a label. The on-screen value is the one the portal uses, so go by that.
Copy it exactly. The characters are the digits 0 to 9 and the letters A to F, so there is never a letter O, only the digit zero. A single wrong character means the portal will not recognize the box, and the error you get looks the same as an unpaid account.
How to enter the portal URL, step by step
- Send us the MAC address. With BuyIPTV.ca you can send it on WhatsApp or reply to your login email. We register the MAC and send back a portal address.
- On the box, open Settings, then System settings, then Servers, then Portals.
- In “Portal 1 name”, type anything you like, for example BuyIPTV. In “Portal 1 URL”, type the portal address exactly as we sent it, including http:// and any port number after a colon.
- Save, go back, and restart the box from the settings menu, or unplug it for ten seconds.
- The box loads the portal on startup. The first load of the channel list and guide can take a minute.
MAG boxes come with two portal slots, so a second service can sit in “Portal 2” without touching the first.
Use a network cable if the TV is anywhere near the router. MAG boxes were designed around Ethernet, and a cable removes the most common cause of freezing before you have to troubleshoot it.
What does “Your STB is blocked” mean? MAG error messages explained
MAG errors are short and easy to misread, so here they are with the cause behind each one. Where the meaning comes from Infomir’s or the app maker’s own documentation, the fix follows from it. For the two messages with no official definition, the table says so.
| On-screen message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “Your STB is blocked, call the provider” | The subscription has expired, or the MAC is not activated on the portal yet (Infomir FAQ) | Check your expiry date. On a new setup, confirm we registered the right MAC |
| “Your STB is not supported” | The portal is configured to accept only certain box models | Tell your provider the exact model. Some portals need a setting changed for newer boxes |
| Page loading error, or the portal never loads | The box cannot reach the portal: no internet at the box, or the portal address is down or mistyped | Check the network cable or Wi-Fi, then re-enter the portal URL character by character |
| A login or password prompt | The portal wants credentials on top of the MAC | Use the login your provider sent. You cannot guess these |
| Stuck on the Infomir logo at startup | A software problem on the box | Update the box software. If that fails, factory reset and enter the portal again |
| “Authorization failed” | No official definition | Re-check the MAC and portal URL, then ask your provider to check the account |
| “No signal” on the TV | This is the TV’s message, not the box’s | Check the HDMI cable and that the TV is on the right input |
One pattern worth knowing: a box that worked yesterday and says “STB blocked” today almost always hit its expiry date. A brand-new box that says it on the first boot almost always has a MAC that was typed wrong or not yet registered.
No MAG box? StbEmu and Smart STB use the same portal
A portal checks the MAC address of whatever connects to it, and some apps can present one. That lets you use a portal login on hardware you already own.
StbEmu (Android and Android TV)
StbEmu, by M Vasilchuk on Google Play, emulates a MAG box. Open Settings, then Profiles, then Portal settings, and enter the portal URL. The MAC the app presents is set under STB configuration, and that is the MAC you send us. Its store listing states plainly that it does not support M3U playlists or other formats, so it is a portal app only. There is a free version with ads and a Pro listing.
Smart STB (Samsung, LG, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV)
Smart STB is a paid app with a 7-day free trial. The Lite plan for smart TVs costs €6.99 a year for one portal, and fuller plans range from €1.49 to €49.99. Its payments are non-refundable, so use the trial first. On Smart STB, “Your STB is blocked” can also mean the portal does not allow the Smart STB app at all, which is different from an expired account.
TiviMate
TiviMate on Android TV and Fire TV can also add a Stalker portal as a playlist type. If you are already using TiviMate, that is often the simplest route. Our TiviMate guide covers the app itself.
Portal login, Xtream login or M3U link: which one should you use?
Most IPTV services, ours included, can give you any of three login types. A portal with a MAC suits a MAG box, StbEmu or Smart STB. An Xtream login, meaning a server address, username and password, suits TiviMate, IPTV Smarters and most modern apps, and it brings the guide and on-demand library with it. An M3U link is a single long address that packs the same three details into one line, and it is the easiest thing to paste into VLC or a smart TV app.
If you have a Formuler box, you do not need the portal at all. MYTVOnline accepts the Xtream login and gives a better guide. The M3U and Xtream guide explains the other two formats and which apps take which.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the MAC address on a MAG box?
Open Settings, then Device info, and look for “MAC address (ethaddr)”. It starts with 00:1A:79.
Where do I enter the portal URL on a MAG?
Settings, then System settings, Servers, Portals. Type a name in “Portal 1 name” and the address in “Portal 1 URL”, save, and restart the box.
What does “Your STB is blocked” mean?
Infomir says it appears when the subscription has expired or the account is not activated. On a new box it usually means the MAC was not registered or was typed wrong.
Which MAG box should I buy in 2026?
Infomir’s current models are the MAG540w3 and MAG544w3 on Linux and the MAG555 on Google TV. The MAG520, 522 and 524 are discontinued, although they still work if you own one.
Can I use a MAG box with any IPTV provider?
Only with providers that offer a portal login. The provider has to register your MAC on its portal, so ask before you buy the box.
Can I use an M3U link on a MAG box?
The MAG’s built-in portal is designed for a portal login. If your provider only gives M3U or Xtream logins, a Formuler or Android TV box with an IPTV app is the easier choice.
Can I use a MAG box on Wi-Fi?
All current models (MAG540w3, 544w3 and 555) have Wi-Fi, and so do older “w” models such as the MAG524w3. A network cable is still steadier for live sports.
Is StbEmu the same as a MAG box?
It emulates one on Android. You enter the portal URL in the app, and the MAC it shows under STB configuration is the one your provider registers. It does not play M3U playlists.
Disclosure: we run BuyIPTV.ca, an IPTV service for Canadian households. Model status, menu names and error meanings come from Infomir’s website, wiki and FAQ, the StbEmu documentation and Play listing, and Smart STB’s price and help pages, checked September 29, 2026.