[REVIEW] tiviar mini plus
The Tiviar Mini Plus is a hidden gem in the Enigma2 world. While the Tiviar Alpha Plus is the famous “triple tuner” giant, the Mini Plus is its compact, agile sibling. It was designed to provide a premium, snappy Linux experience for users who don’t need a massive box taking up space in their media center.
For your readers at enigma2.net, here is the “human” take on this reliable workhorse.
## The Build: Small Box, Big Personality
Don’t let the “Mini” tag fool you. This isn’t a cheap plastic dongle; it’s a properly built receiver with a metal chassis that feels like it can actually take a hit.
The standout design feature for many is the front panel. Even though it’s small, it usually retains a clear display that gives you the channel name or the time—a luxury that most modern “mini” boxes sacrifice for cost.
## Under the Hood: The Broadcom “Snappiness”
The Mini Plus was built during the era when Broadcom chips were the undisputed kings of Enigma2.
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The CPU: It typically runs a Dual-Core Broadcom chipset. In 2026, it might not be a “4K beast,” but for 1080p Full HD, it’s still incredibly fast.
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Zapping Speed: If you hate waiting for channels to change, you’ll love this box. Broadcom drivers are legendary for sub-one-second zapping, and the Mini Plus delivers exactly that.
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Memory: It packs enough RAM and Flash to run modern images like OpenATV 7.x or OpenPLi without feeling like it’s struggling to breathe.
## Tuners and “Air Tivi+”
This is where the Tiviar brand really showed off.
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Hybrid Versatility: Most Mini Plus units ship with a DVB-S2 (Satellite) and DVB-T2/C (Terrestrial/Cable) hybrid setup. It’s perfect for picking up your local HD channels via an antenna while keeping your satellite feed for everything else.
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Streaming on the Go: Tiviar pushed a feature called Air Tivi+. It allowed you to stream live TV directly from the box to your iPad or iPhone. While many boxes do this now via OpenWebif, Tiviar’s implementation was one of the most stable early versions of “multi-room” viewing.
## The “Invisible” Install
Because it’s a “Mini,” it’s often used as a bedroom or kitchen box.
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External IR Eye: It usually comes with an external infrared sensor. You can hide the box behind the TV, stick the tiny IR eye on the corner of the screen, and the remote works perfectly. No messy cables in sight.
## Pros and Cons
| What I Loved | The Reality Check |
| Broadcom Reliability: Rock-solid drivers that rarely crash. | 1080p Only: It’s a Full HD machine. It won’t play 4K UHD content. |
| Modular Feel: Great hybrid tuner support for such a small unit. | Legacy Support: As 4K becomes standard, some newer plugins might skip HD boxes. |
| Silent Operation: It’s a fanless design, meaning zero noise in the bedroom. | Flash Management: You’ll want a USB stick if you’re a “picon addict.” |
### The Verdict
The Tiviar Mini Plus is the ultimate “secondary” box. It’s for the user on enigma2.net who wants the full power of a Linux receiver—plugins, softcams, and custom skins—but wants it tucked away out of sight.
It remains a masterclass in how to build a small receiver without cutting corners on the hardware that actually matters.
