NZ Bought WD TV Live -WDBGXT0000NBK

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davidcole

6034 posts

Uber Geek

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#143818 28-Apr-2014 14:14

With an NZ bought WD TV Live, can they run netflix?

In the old days they never used to have to hardware decoding chip that netflix needed. Looking on the WD site, there seems to be a WDBHG70000NBK and WDBGXT0000NBK - one being PAL the other NTSC. The 0000 seem to be the same model that ascent sell.

Obviously it's much easier to buy one here, but I'd prefer one that does netflix as well. Its for a brother in law who's mostly NAS based and USB stick. Yes I've tried plex etc with rokus and apple tvs, but it gets a bit difficult.

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PoHq

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1032846 28-Apr-2014 21:30

I have 2 and my in laws have one. All bought in NZ all have Netflix. Netflix isn't the best on the WDTV, software and apps aren't to great but they are useable. Much better experience on the Apple TV. I have WDTV's for one thing and one thing only, they stream from my NAS and they play literally ANY format.

Hope that helps........cheers.

Kraven

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1032909 28-Apr-2014 23:03

I have the WDBGXT0000NBK (purchased in NZ) and can confirm Netflix does work on it.

gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1033017 29-Apr-2014 10:08

Netflix will work on it but you'll also need some way of hiding your location to use the service -either a vpn, a dns service such as unblock us or be signed up with an ISP that offers geo blocking.

Netflix does work but on the wdtv can be poor. By poor i mean slow to load the netflix site, slow to open movies, sometimes movies hang during loading, often wont resume after pausing whatever you are watching etc etc...just lots of random bugs that eventually made me build an htpc.

As previous posters said, it does play just about everything you throw at it.

The netflix issue seems to be wdtv app based as their forums are full of issues around fixes etc

YMMV however

Ged

davidcole

6034 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1033018 29-Apr-2014 10:12

gedc: Netflix will work on it but you'll also need some way of hiding your location to use the service -either a vpn, a dns service such as unblock us or be signed up with an ISP that offers geo blocking.

Netflix does work but on the wdtv can be poor. By poor i mean slow to load the netflix site, slow to open movies, sometimes movies hang during loading, often wont resume after pausing whatever you are watching etc etc...just lots of random bugs that eventually made me build an htpc.

As previous posters said, it does play just about everything you throw at it.

The netflix issue seems to be wdtv app based as their forums are full of issues around fixes etc

YMMV however

Ged

Cheers, I'm pretty happy with getting netflix to go on other devices - it was more if the WDTV sold here had the physical capability.

I think I'll recommend my brother in law gets one, and I can add the netflix later if he sorts out his network and the funding of it.

I assume a wdtv is better than a roku, in that the DNS settings are configurable on the device?

Kraven

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1033030 29-Apr-2014 10:26

davidcole: I assume a wdtv is better than a roku, in that the DNS settings are configurable on the device?

Yes, they are configurable on the device.

marlinz

441 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1033068 29-Apr-2014 10:52

i have the WDTV Live (one with a usb port on the front panel of the unit )

fire in dns on the unit and away you go , and set region to US

i have heard if you have dns on the router you may get hulu as well

I have a Fire TV in the post on its way to me , as i find the WD a bit sluggish at times

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davidcole

6034 posts

Uber Geek

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#1033085 29-Apr-2014 11:00

marlinz: i have the WDTV Live (one with a usb port on the front panel of the unit )

fire in dns on the unit and away you go , and set region to US

i have heard if you have dns on the router you may get hulu as well

I have a Fire TV in the post on its way to me , as i find the WD a bit sluggish at times

yeah the trouble with all the media streamers is the lack of playing local content. NAS content isn't that easy to implement and same with USB. A roku can do USB, but can't do AVI, requiring a re-encode, Apple tv, no USB, NAS content needs plex, or jailbreaking for firecore.

Ok if you're good with the tech, but not for a simple solution where the users are not that technical.

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wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#1033087 29-Apr-2014 11:01

as has been said - WDTV Live is slow as hell for Netflix and Hulu, but are able to use those services.

It does a region check when it upgrades or is first setup, which sets available apps I believe.

If you configure unblock-us or VPN, do a factory reset and it will show those services available - it did for me.

benghis

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#1046322 16-May-2014 14:58

Hi,

I've got a WDTV Live and love it to be honest. I had Netflix working on it fine, but about a week ago I got a message to say it can't connect to netflix any more. I can still access Netflix on my smart TV, but WDTV hasn't been able to do it since. I've just heard of another friend who can't access it through his WDTV either. Has something changed to the device that has enabled Netflix use in NZ?
Any solutions out there? I've tried everything that WD Forums seem to offer, but its still not working...

Cheers
Benghis

"There is no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes!" - The Doctor

marlinz

441 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1046355 16-May-2014 15:27

benghis: Hi,

I've got a WDTV Live and love it to be honest. I had Netflix working on it fine, but about a week ago I got a message to say it can't connect to netflix any more. I can still access Netflix on my smart TV, but WDTV hasn't been able to do it since. I've just heard of another friend who can't access it through his WDTV either. Has something changed to the device that has enabled Netflix use in NZ?
Any solutions out there? I've tried everything that WD Forums seem to offer, but its still not working... Cheers
Benghis

"There is no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes!" - The Doctor

Just checked mine , it still works

Maybe its the DNS setting you are using

I use Getflix.co.au on the WDTV Live and my shiny new Amazon Fire TV (which leaves the WD for dead )

Amazon Echo

Amazon Dot

Lifx Bulbs

Nexus 5X
Magic TV 3600
Sony EX700

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Amazon Fire TV x 2 = Netflix USA + Amazon Prime
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gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1046421 16-May-2014 17:07

One of those random bugs I commented on. The fact that nothing changed and suddenly is shuts up shop for a night made me pursue other products.

Only thing that ever solved that issue for me was to check the following

1) The DNS service I was using in Canada was refreshed - Check.
2) Unplugged the device - not just a reset but a hard power off and powered back on - Check
3) Check the DNS settings are still there as sometimes they went off into lala land after a hard reset - Check
4) It generally worked fine after that until it spat the dummy

davidcole

6034 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1046427 16-May-2014 17:23

The main thing to check is if your IP address changes. You generally need to refresh your DNS to get it to pick up yours changed address. Unblock us has a pc program you run and it keeps the IP address updated.