Streaming / Media Box advice

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loads1969

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#249320 6-May-2019 09:22

Morning All

I have tried searching the site, but can't find my specific issue and hoping someone can help, or has advice.

I like to stream both US apps, like Netflix and Hulu, via Express VPN, but also NZ stuff like Lightbox, TVNZ on Demand etc. I am running a Samsung Smart TV but its a pain in the ass to constantly change it from one Country to another.

I was wondering if I could set the TV to USA, and attach a Media Box with the NZ Apps, then just switch between inputs?

This may have the added benefit of improving Lightbox and TVNZ buffering issues. When playing directly through the TV the buffering is awful, however if I mirror from my Samsung S10, running off the same home wireless, its runs a lot better, so I'm guessing the TV OS is slow?

Any help / advise would be great, thanks in advance.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18659 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2231450 6-May-2019 10:21

I use Android TV for streaming, some of it via Kodi, some via apps. I also have Windscribe VPN installed. It remembers whatever country it is set to and is easy to turn on and off with a single click. When on, I am in America (or wherever), when off, in NZ. I use the 'smart' TV as a dumb HDMI monitor fed by the Shield and that works fine.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2231488 6-May-2019 11:02

It involves paying the "Apple Tax" premium that's included in the price, but realistically an Apple TV is going to be the STB most likely to receive App support from local (NZ) content providers.

Anything AndroidTV based is going to be very hit and miss. TVNZ-Yes, Lightbox-Maybe, Everything else-Not so Much.

And Amazon FireTV is great for US/UK apps but draws a total blank for NZ stuff.

You'd have more options keeping the Samsung for local and use the STB for international. Particularly as the Samsung smart TV platform is well supported locally because of their high share of TV sales.

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2231492 6-May-2019 11:04

Also, a smart DNS redirection service like DNS4me may be faster than a full bore VPN.

Might be worth trying on a free trial period.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2231553 6-May-2019 11:53

loads1969:

I like to stream both US apps, like Netflix and Hulu, via Express VPN, but also NZ stuff like Lightbox, TVNZ on Demand etc. I am running a Samsung Smart TV but its a pain in the ass to constantly change it from one Country to another.

I was wondering if I could set the TV to USA, and attach a Media Box with the NZ Apps, then just switch between inputs?

This may have the added benefit of improving Lightbox and TVNZ buffering issues. When playing directly through the TV the buffering is awful, however if I mirror from my Samsung S10, running off the same home wireless, its runs a lot better, so I'm guessing the TV OS is slow?

There is no reason why this wouldnt work.

Leave the TV with a normal (non VPN) connection and the NZ apps.

Get something like an Amazon Fire TV stick and set that up for the US apps and content.

I am not sure how easy it is to set up a Fire TV to use a VPN. This article has some info https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/install-vpn-amazon-fire-tv-stick/

It would be much easier to get something like a geo unblocker (dns4me) and set up the fire TV to use that - its just a matter of setting the DNS4me DNS servers in the FTVs DNS settings.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

loads1969

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2231684 6-May-2019 14:45

Brilliant advice, thanks everyone.

So I'll set the TV up as NZ, you are right it has all the NZ apps, and I just happen to have an Amazon Firestick 4k, thanks Black Friday, so I'll set that up for the US stuff, Netflix and Hulu.

Cheers !