How is TCL/VF for international movie streaming (Netflix etc?)

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lchiu7

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#135159 16-Nov-2013 14:17

I used to be a long-standing TCL/VF customer on the 100Mbs plan but jumped to Telecom ADSL and then VDSL when I could not live in the 150GB cap. But now I see the cap is up to 250GB and for me anyway, streaming Netfix, Hulu+ or Amazon is an exercise in futility using Unblock-US. I rarely get HD quality and on Hulu it buffers continuously (on a PS3).

I think I can live in the 250GB cap but before I come back and pay the early termination fee for Telecom, just wondering if people using Unblock and streaming US services can provide some feedback on their experiences to date? Has it got better since VF took over and possibly improved their upstream capability?

Under TCL I could stream Netflix reliably in 1080p, managed to watch entire movies on Vudu on HDX with no buffering and only had issues with Amazon.

The prices for the two plans are similar so the monthly costs are a wash basically.

Thanks

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NonprayingMantis

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#934902 16-Nov-2013 14:25

Surprised you are having trouble with netflix on vdsl. I'm using it absolutely fine.

However, I beleive there is a common issue with netflix via ps3 which cocks things up, that is nothing to do with ISP. Try it on your browser or Apple TV if you have one, you might find it works fine. That's been my experience anyway.

lchiu7

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#935032 16-Nov-2013 22:08

Just tried it with my Sony BDP-390 BD player with the latest Netflix app. I got at most 384SD whereas on TCL I could get up to 1080HD.

My VDSL is only about 27Mbs but it could be an upstream issues - don't know.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

freitasm

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#935057 16-Nov-2013 23:38

Using both Hulu and Netflix on TelstraClear cable, with Hola.org to geo-unblock...

HD just fine with both services.

rokki

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#935087 17-Nov-2013 06:13

Hi in Auckland on UFB with Vodafone and I use unblock us and works fine for me.

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lchiu7

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#935272 17-Nov-2013 17:43

freitasm: Using both Hulu and Netflix on TelstraClear cable, with Hola.org to geo-unblock...

HD just fine with both services.

Thanks. I had forgotten about Hola. But I don't tend to watch streaming services on a PC, usually on a media player and there are no Hola plugins for the PS3, the Roku or smart BD players.

But it's good to know that there is now a Windows app so something like playlater (which works on the PC desktop) might work also and overcome the problem with the transparent proxy.

I am sure Telecom VDSL is good for most but for me so far, I have been underwhelmed. Perhaps VF have improved the cable service (well at least the upstream side).

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

lchiu7

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#936328 17-Nov-2013 23:01

rokki: Hi in Auckland on UFB with Vodafone and I use unblock us and works fine for me.

I suspect there could be differences between UFB and cable. Or maybe it's only the last mile and once the connection gets to the VF CO, then they converge onto the same international circuits.

Do you know if your VF circuit has a transparent proxy at the back end - the bane of many of us who use Unblock and got thwarted (at least on port 80) by this proxy.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

rokki

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#936489 18-Nov-2013 10:29

lchiu7:
rokki: Hi in Auckland on UFB with Vodafone and I use unblock us and works fine for me.

I suspect there could be differences between UFB and cable. Or maybe it's only the last mile and once the connection gets to the VF CO, then they converge onto the same international circuits.

Do you know if your VF circuit has a transparent proxy at the back end - the bane of many of us who use Unblock and got thwarted (at least on port 80) by this proxy.

Hi i never had an issue when i was on ADSL with Vodafone could it be a case of not all connections being equal ? I will ask next time i am talking to vodafone if i am on the Transparent Proxy.