Add your first source

What you need

A source you are entitled to use: an Xtream Codes login, or an M3U playlist address, from a provider you have the right to watch. Testcard ships no channels, playlists or streams and doesn't recommend providers, so this part is yours to bring.

On Windows you add and edit sources in the Sources screen. You can also add and edit them on the Fire TV app.

Add a source

On the Sources screen, start a new source and pick the type at the top of the form: Xtream Codes or M3U playlist. Give the source a Name, whatever helps you tell your sources apart.

Xtream Codes

• Server URL: the portal address from your provider, for example http://line.example.com:8080, without /get.php.
• Username and Password: the login from your provider.
• Backup server URLs (optional): other addresses for the same login, separated by commas. Testcard uses one when the main server can't be reached.

If your provider gave you an Xtream get.php link instead, paste it into the playlist field below. Testcard works out which kind it is.

M3U playlist

• Playlist URL: the address of an M3U or M3U8 playlist. The form takes an address, not a file.
• Add an XMLTV address if you want a guide and the playlist doesn't name one (next section).

Your logins are encrypted on the device: with Windows' own data protection on Windows, and the Android Keystore on Fire TV.

Choose what to load

Under Content, switch on what to load from this provider: Live TV, Movies and Series. At least one must be on. You can change this later.

The TV guide (XMLTV)

The guide comes from an XMLTV address. Under Guide and updates, the XMLTV / EPG URL field is optional. Leave it blank and Testcard looks for one when it refreshes: for Xtream sources the provider's xmltv.php, and for M3U playlists the url-tvg address in the playlist's header.

Paste an address of your own if your provider gives you a guide separately, or if the playlist names none. The guide is read in the background after the channels load, so channels appear first. If a guide is empty or wrong, see why a guide is empty or wrong.

Refresh

Refreshing re-fetches the source's channels, films and series, then its guide. It is manual by default (Off (manual only)). On Windows, set Auto-refresh to every hour, 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours and Testcard does it in the background while it is open. On Fire TV, refresh a source by hand from Settings.

A refresh merges into what you have rather than starting over, so your favourites and recently watched survive it, even when a provider renumbers or renames channels.

Tidy names

Providers name channels in their own house styles, with country prefixes, borders, fancy lettering and quality tags. Testcard tidies the names it shows and searches, whatever the style, so UK| ʙʙᴄ ᴏɴᴇ ᴴᴰ reads as BBC One HD. The provider's own name is kept alongside, and nothing is renamed at the provider.

Sign in a TV with a code

Typing a password with a remote is slow, so the TV shows a code instead.

1. In the Fire TV app, choose Sign in. It shows a code.
2. On a phone or computer, open evicted.dev/link and enter the code.
3. Sign in, or create your Testcard account. Your TV signs in on its own, and your sources, favourites and progress arrive.

Your sources are encrypted with your password, so keep it safe: it can't be recovered.

Profiles

An account can have up to 4 profiles. Each has its own Continue watching, favourites, recently watched and progress, and they follow you to every device you sign in on.