VPN Service Advice

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Jedsdad

120 posts

Master Geek

#190694 9-Jan-2016 07:14

Ever since I had UFB installed I have had bandwidth issues when streaming from overseas with a lot of buffering.
Note I am not talking about streaming from the usual suspects like Netflix etc., rather from on line tv channels.

The throughput is ok from within NZ and even from Aussie but whenever I go beyond that like London, New York, Bangkok etc I struggle to get between 2-3 Mbps (according to Speedtest.net tests)

In spite of a case logged with my ISP since early October the problem is still unresolved, even though I keep calling them to find out what progress has been made in resolving the issue.
They say there international group are looking into it and they will call back but never do.

A neighbour (IT lecturer at Auckland University) suggested using VPN.

I came across this website just last night for PureVPN offering 2 years of VPN and 2 years of SmartDNS for US$2.08 per month (payable in one lump sum of about US$50) for a short time.
Has anyone used their service, or have had problems streaming using PureVPN or any other VPN for that matter?

Is this the right way to go to overcome my streaming problem until my contract expires with the ISP or they resolve their peering issues?

There may be other benefits as well using a VPN service.

psychnurse

329 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1466353 9-Jan-2016 09:28

I have used them and they are fine for VPN although I prefer Astrill for DD WRT setup. Would advise against using them for DNS unblock.

freitasm

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#1466357 9-Jan-2016 09:44

A VPN may or may not solve your problem, depending on which ISP you are using.

Jedsdad

120 posts

Master Geek

#1466449 9-Jan-2016 11:07

I am with Compass Communications.

Why do you say it may or may not solve my problem?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#1466450 9-Jan-2016 11:08

Are these TV channels free to stream? Perhaps provide a link to test?

Jedsdad

120 posts

Master Geek

#1466470 9-Jan-2016 11:54

When you want to find a link in a hurry it is always difficult.

However I did find this one and it is buffering quite badly, not that I can understand the language anyway.

http://www.mcot.net/mcot1

My wife is from Thailand so she wants to watch some live TV shows

I need to sit down and find others at some stage

freitasm

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#1466472 9-Jan-2016 11:59

I am on Vodafone cable 130 Mbps and that station drops every few seconds. I'd say they are not really setup for overseas streaming.

Jedsdad

120 posts

Master Geek

#1466716 9-Jan-2016 20:23

Thanks for that.

I will hold off then on getting a VPN, at least for now.

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Apsattv

2390 posts

Uber Geek

#1466717 9-Jan-2016 20:24

The raw stream link is

rtmp://lb-media.mcot.net:1935/mcot1_edge/mcot1.stream

and yes it stalls for me also. on 30/10 fibre

The stream is encoded in full HD resolution so that doesn't help much

There are better sources for THAI TV anyway

Jedsdad

120 posts

Master Geek

#1466873 10-Jan-2016 09:23

Can you tell me what the better sources are for Thai TV so I can try them?

Thanks

michaelmurfy

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#1466880 10-Jan-2016 09:40

I have friends on Compass with international bandwidth problems - this is just a problem with cheap ISP's (they've got to cut costs somehow).

Just tried that stream through a VPN and it still buffers constantly so a VPN won't help regardless. You're needing to find some better sources.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Apsattv

2390 posts

Uber Geek

#1467244 10-Jan-2016 21:05

Jedsdad: Can you tell me what the better sources are for Thai TV so I can try them?

Thanks

Kodi use to have a lot

https://www.malimar.tv was another that use to run Free Thai channels

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18663 posts

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#1467351 11-Jan-2016 09:16

Just out of curiosity I took a look at the Thai page and it was indeed unwatchable. Constant buffering and freeze frames. I tested my connection speed and it was 50 mbps, which is normal for me. Yet the download speed from the Thai site was barely 0.2 mbps. Other streaming sites I regularly use work normally for me.

This leads to a question. I don't know the fine details of how streaming actually works. Could someone explain this to me briefly? How do sites control their bandwidth and upload speeds? Why such a difference between a test speed and actual practice (I know there is always some difference, but 50mbps vs .02mbps? My connection speeds vary all the time, but actual streaming speeds are always much slower than test speeds, even when quality is perfect. When I do have buffering issues at slow speeds, how can I determine what the cause of this is?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Krishant007

1403 posts

Uber Geek

#1467416 11-Jan-2016 10:56

Dont mean to hijack the thread. But I came across a lifetime VPN subscription that might be off interest: https://stacksocial.com/sales/lifetime-of-purevpn?aid=a-fbjjc6kk&utm_source=engadget.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=purevpn

I was looking at getting it for myself to use with Netflix and other online streaming services.

But one of the questions I had to ask was, would VPN be the way to go, instead of using something like unotelly or something? Just wondering, if you had the choice to select between vpn and unotelly or unblockdns or something, which way would you go? Primary use would be for online streaming services such as netflix or amazon tv (if I decide to get prime, which is quite a good option at this stage).

richms

28188 posts

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#1467423 11-Jan-2016 11:03

I would go for a DNS unblocker since that means your normal browsing traffic is not going to another country and then out, so its faster.

Richard rich.ms

yitz

2080 posts

Uber Geek

#1467426 11-Jan-2016 11:05

It is likely those streams are intended for domestic viewing only, many Asian countries have split domestic/international bandwidth (I suppose NZ is similar in that regard) so the server may have limited international bandwidth.