Netflix quality - Hows yours?

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726 posts

Ultimate Geek

#995567 27-Feb-2014 15:43

Check this out, from the VF community forum on a post I started about flakey Netflix performance -

Hi guys, I realise that it is annoying but the trouble with the service is that without a DNS workaround, it isn't designed to be used in NZ just yet hence the regional locking. Vodafone is partnered with SKY and unfortunately Netflix contravenes SKY's broadcasting rights to their content. We won't be able to investigate this further. =/
Lon Sherrard
Community Moderator
Digital & Social Media
Vodafone New Zealand Ltd.

That tears it for me. Time for a new ISP.

Demeter

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One NZ

#995630 27-Feb-2014 17:10

JimmyC: Check this out, from the VF community forum on a post I started about flakey Netflix performance -

Hi guys, I realise that it is annoying but the trouble with the service is that without a DNS workaround, it isn't designed to be used in NZ just yet hence the regional locking. Vodafone is partnered with SKY and unfortunately Netflix contravenes SKY's broadcasting rights to their content. We won't be able to investigate this further. =/
Lon Sherrard
Community Moderator
Digital & Social Media
Vodafone New Zealand Ltd.

That tears it for me. Time for a new ISP.

Let me know if you need me to check your account for ETC's etc. Sorry I couldn't help.

LennonNZ

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#995654 27-Feb-2014 17:38

Try StrongVPN. I use it from a Mikrotik and have 100% no problems with Super-HD all the time (if the movie supports it) (but I'm not using Vodafone).

Using a VPN (rather than DNS) will bypass any proxies (as it goes via the VPN) if they are causing the problem

JimmyC

726 posts

Ultimate Geek

#995662 27-Feb-2014 17:50

@LennonNZ I don't want my entire network running through a VPN. Besides, DNS services work for the majority and are much easier to configure for just the devices you require.

@Demeter Thanks Lon. I've been on cable for 13 years so long out grew any contracts. Again, I appreciated your candid response, makes everyone's situation crystal clear.

afe66

3181 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#995664 27-Feb-2014 17:50

Well that was clear.

When I get fibre in a year or two I will _not_ be renewing my broadband plan with vodafone.
What I do with my internet has nothing to be with Sky.

A.

Demeter

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One NZ

#995666 27-Feb-2014 17:52

afe66: Well that was clear.

When I get fibre in a year or two I will _not_ be renewing my broadband plan with vodafone.
What I do with my internet has nothing to be with Sky.

A.

Don't let my response colour your decision until you've at least tried the service. I've seen two people mention they have issues with netflix - we have hundreds who use it without issues. Just because I can't investigate something doesn't mean there is something to investigate.

BigMal

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#995691 27-Feb-2014 17:57

Demeter:

Don't let my response colour your decision until you've at least tried the service. I've seen two people mention they have issues with netflix - we have hundreds who use it without issues. Just because I can't investigate something doesn't mean there is something to investigate.

Does vodafone not have any IP ranges that don't go via the proxy?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Demeter

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#995693 27-Feb-2014 18:00

BigMal:
Demeter:

Don't let my response colour your decision until you've at least tried the service. I've seen two people mention they have issues with netflix - we have hundreds who use it without issues. Just because I can't investigate something doesn't mean there is something to investigate.

Does vodafone not have any IP ranges that don't go via the proxy?

Not for public use, no. We have one particular range we use for testing purposes only - once we find that bypassing the proxy fixes a particular issue, we isolate it and then alter our network to make the Proxy behave as it would if you bypassed it, effectively eliminating whatever was causing the issue.

afe66

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#995696 27-Feb-2014 18:09

I happily access netflix via VPN on vodafone who I have been (if we include ihug) for 16 years, my response is more along the lines of objecting to Sky negotiating an arrangement with Vodafone to limit what I do with the broadband access I paid vodafone for.

However to be consistent surely you should be blocking the hundreds of customers you mention who are using Netflix via other approaches. What will Vodafones reply be if Sky askes for those avenues of illicit Netflix use to be closed as well.

I appreciate the honesty i your reply though and as a customer I thought I'd feed back that I object and it will effect my decision on who I get as a fiber provider.

From Vodafone's point of view they will have decided that the extra customers they get from their association with Sky will be greater than those who choose to leave though maybe this blocking arrangement should be listed as part of the Term and Conditions listed when opening an account.

A.

LennonNZ

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#995698 27-Feb-2014 18:10

JimmyC: @LennonNZ I don't want my entire network running through a VPN. Besides, DNS services work for the majority and are much easier to configure for just the devices you require.

You don't have to. I only have my TV (which does netflix) go thru it. There are quite good instructions on how to make certain ip addresses go thru the VPN only with the Mikrotik. I also view youtube via the TV as well and I have that set up not to go thru the VPN so you can have quite a lot of control.

The good thing about the VPN (via the Mikrotik) is you don't have to change anything on any of the devices at all.

Demeter

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#995702 27-Feb-2014 18:16

afe66: I happily access netflix via VPN on vodafone who I have been (if we include ihug) for 16 years, my response is more along the lines of objecting to Sky negotiating an arrangement with Vodafone to limit what I do with the broadband access I paid vodafone for.

However to be consistent surely you should be blocking the hundreds of customers you mention who are using Netflix via other approaches. What will Vodafones reply be if Sky askes for those avenues of illicit Netflix use to be closed as well.

I appreciate the honesty i your reply though and as a customer I thought I'd feed back that I object and it will effect my decision on who I get as a fiber provider.

From Vodafone's point of view they will have decided that the extra customers they get from their association with Sky will be greater than those who choose to leave though maybe this blocking arrangement should be listed as part of the Term and Conditions listed when opening an account.

A.

My original reply is a little out of context with the rest of the thread which you can read here if you like: http://community.vodafone.co.nz/t5/Broadband-at-home-and-work/Netflix-performance/td-p/114150

The original issue was investigated as requested and nothing on our end was found to be causing the issue. I'm out on a limb here, but I imagine that 'further investigation' would involve creating exceptions on our Firewall bypassing Netflix geocoding which I can tell you now, our Fixed Network Core team is not likely to agree to. Here's the rest of what I said in that thread, for your reference:

The issue here is that resolving this issue would require us to make changes to our internal network and routing that not only contravenes SKY's broadcasting rights but also goes against Netflix's decision to not make their service available to New Zealand at this point.

We expect our network to perform to a certain level and our intention is that it is satisfactory for our customers. However, certain niche user scenarios (such as this one) fall outside of the scope of support we are able to provide. In order to use Netflix, you require both a third party DNS supplier outside of our control and a US Netflix account. While we are happy to investigate and troubleshoot on a case-by-case basis, I must stress that we cannot provide official support for services that are not commercially available in New Zealand,

While our faulting agents can, on occasion, assist in changing DNS for residential connections, anything that occurs when using the service outside of our supported parameters does fall on the end user. As you are unable to use Netflix when using Vodafone's DNS servers, and we are unable to assist further when you are not using Vodafone's DNS servers, the only additional advice I can provide is to contact Netflix to encourage them to make the service available here.

Cheers,
Lon

DeepBlueSky

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Ultimate Geek

#995703 27-Feb-2014 18:17

Maybe I'm just lucky, I'm with Vodafone on the Telstra cable and have had no issues.

afe66

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#995715 27-Feb-2014 18:33

Another way to express by dissappointment about this Netflix issue is that what I do with my access is my decision.

I dont expect my broadband provider to get involved in discussions with Sky and Netflix any more than I would expect Vodafone to get involved with me buying physical products overseas from shops that aren't officials suppliers. Ie Amazon etc.

My accessing Netflix is just be parallel importing a streaming service. Isn't parallel importing legal in nz law ? Else someone should visit the Warehouse.

A.

Demeter

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#995727 27-Feb-2014 18:48

I know what you're saying - I probably worded my response badly because the SKY thing sounds like a bigger deal in that comment than it actually is (I'm not a PR person). It really isn't a moral issue at all, more a commercial sensitivity thing. We have a partnership with SKY to help promote and provide their service to our customers. I'm pretty sure it would be frowned upon most unkindly if we are seen to be enabling a workaround for a non-regional streaming service. It is just business, yes?

We're not blocking the service at all - we are just not going to bend our network to work around restrictions placed there by the service originator. Hope that makes sense. :)

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#995731 27-Feb-2014 18:59

JimmyC: Check this out, from the VF community forum on a post I started about flakey Netflix performance -

Hi guys, I realise that it is annoying but the trouble with the service is that without a DNS workaround, it isn't designed to be used in NZ just yet hence the regional locking. Vodafone is partnered with SKY and unfortunately Netflix contravenes SKY's broadcasting rights to their content. We won't be able to investigate this further. =/
Lon Sherrard
Community Moderator
Digital & Social Media
Vodafone New Zealand Ltd.

That tears it for me. Time for a new ISP.

This will happen more and more.

The broadband connection division will come into conflict with value added services division.

Just like happened with sony -- the music division demanded that the audio player hardware division implemented punishing DRM -- thus aiding and abetting apple to smash sony to bits.

Personally, I wouldn't remain with vodafone (not a subsriber anyway) due to this either.

Vodafone really need to support ip issues regardless of conflicts with value added services. The best that can happen to vodafone is that a customer abandons netflix due to lack of support. The worst is that customers will abandon vodafone . I think the latter is more likely.

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