WD TV Live Streaming media player for use with netflix/hulu

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jeffreyh

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#116604 3-May-2013 22:40

Hi,

Will a WD TV Live device brought here be able to connect to these services (assuming use of vpn or some such). I'm confused as some comments I've seen say you need one purchased in America for these services to be present?

Thanks in advance

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 53

#813669 8-May-2013 13:39

I remeber reading at some point that some of the WDTV boxes didn't have the right chipset to be able to stream Netflix. The newer ones might be all capable, I know the older one that I have isn't capable of running netflix. You might be able to flash some American firmware if the hardware is the same maybe?

geekiegeek

2513 posts

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Inactive user

#813672 8-May-2013 13:42

If that's all you are after you could look at Apple TV.

jeffreyh

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#813681 8-May-2013 14:00

Hi

Sorry should have replied to this. I got it in the end and managed to get both Netflix and Hulu working on it without any problems (so far)

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 53

#813724 8-May-2013 15:32

jeffreyh: Hi

Sorry should have replied to this. I got it in the end and managed to get both Netflix and Hulu working on it without any problems (so far)

Did you get a US model from Amazon?

trig42

5889 posts

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ID Verified

#813747 8-May-2013 15:55

CutCutCut:
jeffreyh: Hi

Sorry should have replied to this. I got it in the end and managed to get both Netflix and Hulu working on it without any problems (so far)

Did you get a US model from Amazon?

Yes, please explain more.

What model do you have, where did you get it from and did you have to load any other firmware on to it?

jeffreyh

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#813761 8-May-2013 16:11

Hi,

I g0t the WD live streaming player from DSE. I just started the device with my NZ settings and it downloaded the latest firmware 1.115 or something like that. Then I subscribed to unotelly setup my network connection manually using the relevant regional dns server provided and did a reset. After this I had the Hulu Plus icon (previously I had the netflix anyway) after the reset I had a bunch of other services like pandora that I didn't have before. Then I used the dns settings on my laptop, went to netflix and hulu and signed up to their free trials using my cc, it did ask for a zip code but I just used one from a well known tv series and it all went thru ok.

I got an email from each service saying that I would be billed once the trial period ended, so I'm assuming that if I have got this far we are good to go. We have been watching content from both on the device for the last couple of days without problem.

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wasabi2k

2102 posts

Uber Geek
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#813767 8-May-2013 16:15

I too read the statement about not having the right hardware for netflix, it's rubbish.

To get netflix or hulu, ensure that you have either a VPN or DNS service configured on the device, then do a system reset. For Hulu I had to set country to USA. Netflix was fine without it.

Caveat you will also need to make sure it uses a VPN/DNS service when you do a firmware update as it rechecks the region after that.

The Netflix interface on the WDTV Live is pretty sluggish though - I have a Roku I use for Netflix as well as a WDTVLive.