BBC iplayer constantly buffering (only happening in the last month)

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Asmodeus

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#134056 13-Nov-2013 09:43

As the title suggests, BBC iplayer is constantly buffering and has made it unwatchable. A month ago it worked perfectly, streaming HD or SD without fail but now it buffers every minute or so and is basically unusable. I'm watching it on an HTPC over wifi, but that was always the case. Hulu & Netflix both still working perfectly (HD included). I have increased the buffer size to unlimited or maximum or whatever it is on the flash player control box but this doesn't seem to have made any difference.

Is anyone else experiencing this or have any tips? Happens on both the iplayer for WMC app and the website itself. Cheers

bongojona

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#933054 13-Nov-2013 12:55

hmm have not looked at BBC iplayer for a week or so but was working fine then.

I *have* noticed that brand new and/or popular shows will buffer more often (such as the Richard Hammond 'build a planet' doco) and shows that have been up for a while are smooth streaming

Maybe you are watching new shows ?

I will check tonight

bongojona

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#933058 13-Nov-2013 13:00

Update - If you google the issue this seems to be a common problem for even UK users

BBC iPlayer Buffering - TalkTalk Community (Beta)

Why does my BBC iplayer keep buffering on PS3?

Batman

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#933088 13-Nov-2013 13:41

how does one watch bbc iplayer in NZ?

Jas777

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#933180 13-Nov-2013 14:55

By using a VPN but unlike Netflix or alike it is free as it is paid for by UK taxpayers.

Batman

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#937926 20-Nov-2013 14:33

Is vpn also free? If so which one?

bongojona

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#938383 21-Nov-2013 10:41

joker97: Is vpn also free? If so which one?

a few of us here use DNS solution services, like unblock US & Unotelly

these are paid services but cheap - a few dollars/month and can allow many geo blocked channels to work in NZ

Unotelly has a week long trial, and you can extend another month free by liking them on Facebook

Visit their sites for excellent guides on how to setup on various platforms - PC (easy), PS3, Apple TV, Xbox360, Smart TVs etc)

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Asmodeus

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#938415 21-Nov-2013 11:17

Anyone else getting this behaviour from iplayer?

Batman

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#938453 21-Nov-2013 13:19

bongojona:
joker97: Is vpn also free? If so which one?

a few of us here use DNS solution services, like unblock US & Unotelly

these are paid services but cheap - a few dollars/month and can allow many geo blocked channels to work in NZ

Unotelly has a week long trial, and you can extend another month free by liking them on Facebook

Visit their sites for excellent guides on how to setup on various platforms - PC (easy), PS3, Apple TV, Xbox360, Smart TVs etc)

does the traffic pass thru their site? if so how is the streaming speed/bandwidth like? cheers

ScuL

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#938698 21-Nov-2013 22:13

joker97:
bongojona:
joker97: Is vpn also free? If so which one?

a few of us here use DNS solution services, like unblock US & Unotelly

these are paid services but cheap - a few dollars/month and can allow many geo blocked channels to work in NZ

Unotelly has a week long trial, and you can extend another month free by liking them on Facebook

Visit their sites for excellent guides on how to setup on various platforms - PC (easy), PS3, Apple TV, Xbox360, Smart TVs etc)

does the traffic pass thru their site? if so how is the streaming speed/bandwidth like? cheers

With DNS unblocking the bandwidth goes straight from source to destination it's merely the DNS (name server) that is being tricked in thinking you are in a different geographic location.
So when watching BBC iPlayer in NZ traffic goes straight from the UK to NZ.

Personally I use overplay.net and am very satisfied with them!

Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e wha.

Batman

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#938732 21-Nov-2013 23:26

Ok thanks!

bongojona

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#938927 22-Nov-2013 12:04

joker97:
bongojona:
joker97: Is vpn also free? If so which one?

a few of us here use DNS solution services, like unblock US & Unotelly

these are paid services but cheap - a few dollars/month and can allow many geo blocked channels to work in NZ

Unotelly has a week long trial, and you can extend another month free by liking them on Facebook

Visit their sites for excellent guides on how to setup on various platforms - PC (easy), PS3, Apple TV, Xbox360, Smart TVs etc)

does the traffic pass thru their site? if so how is the streaming speed/bandwidth like? cheers

I see no noticeable slowdown when using DNS routing over using without.