How to use a VPN to access netflix etc?

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2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#604894 4-Apr-2012 09:04

My problem is basically practicality. Astrill VPN is easy, its as simple as opening a webpage on the DD-WRT homepage and choosing where you want your IP address.

So when I want to watch Netflix/Hulu+ or Vudo I set my DD-WRT router to a Astrill US VPN. And when somebody wants to play games locally (NZ), or watch vidzone (NZ only), or TVNZ on demand (NZ only), and now also Quickflix(NZ only). I simply connect to the NZ VPN. No setup changes on the PS3.

Yes I could use unblock-us, but then disabling/enabling dns settings every time on the router (or manually on the Ps3) is going to be a bit of a pain. Not sure if anybody has a solution for this? I have tried out unblock-us and speeds are marginally better. But I have no problems watching Netflix 720p HD over the VPN either.

The Asrill software is great and integrates well with DD-WRT. I am yet to see a better solution. But open to suggestions as my Astrill VPN is up for renewal in a few weeks.

myopinion

938 posts

Ultimate Geek

#604897 4-Apr-2012 09:06

Why do you have to disable and enable unblock-us? I have run into one problem and that is watching iSky but I just change the DNS for that machine locally which overrides the router settings.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#604899 4-Apr-2012 09:09

myopinion: Why do you have to disable and enable unblock-us? I have run into one problem and that is watching iSky but I just change the DNS for that machine locally which overrides the router settings.

It does not seem to work with NZ services as described above because these services see you as not being in NZ.

I could be wrong but the last time I tried it, about 3 months ago, that was the case.

davidcole

6034 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#604900 4-Apr-2012 09:09

I had a quick play with StrongVPN, initially through a 2nd router on my network (which can be left permanent;y connected to the VPN, and only those devices that needed the vpn use it as a gateway).

Then as it broke my incoming vpn, and incoming ssh server, I switched to using a linux machine I have on my network.

I just set the devices (apple tv mostly) to use the linux machine as it's gateway.

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reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#604901 4-Apr-2012 09:15

BraaiGuy:
myopinion: Why do you have to disable and enable unblock-us? I have run into one problem and that is watching iSky but I just change the DNS for that machine locally which overrides the router settings.

It does not seem to work with NZ services as described above because these services see you as not being in NZ.

I could be wrong but the last time I tried it, about 3 months ago, that was the case.

no unblock-us works fine with NZ stuff, unblock-us makes some sites see you as US, some as UK (iplayer also works fine with it), and tvnz/tv3/isky ondemand all work fine without changing your DNS settings.

basically you set your DNS to their servers and thats it, no changing settings to view services from different countries, it just works.

myopinion

938 posts

Ultimate Geek

#604909 4-Apr-2012 09:20

Unblock-Us and iSky doesn't work fine for me without changing the DNS. I use Compass as my ISP.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#604910 4-Apr-2012 09:21

reven:
BraaiGuy:
myopinion: Why do you have to disable and enable unblock-us? I have run into one problem and that is watching iSky but I just change the DNS for that machine locally which overrides the router settings.

It does not seem to work with NZ services as described above because these services see you as not being in NZ.

I could be wrong but the last time I tried it, about 3 months ago, that was the case.

no unblock-us works fine with NZ stuff, unblock-us makes some sites see you as US, some as UK (iplayer also works fine with it), and tvnz/tv3/isky ondemand all work fine without changing your DNS settings.

basically you set your DNS to their servers and thats it, no changing settings to view services from different countries, it just works.

mmmm. May need to validate this service again then. It sounds good.

Not sure then why I could not get some local services to work correctly. Will give it another try tonight before renewing my Astrill subscription.

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#604911 4-Apr-2012 09:23

myopinion: Unblock-Us and iSky doesn't work fine for me without changing the DNS. I use Compass as my ISP.

What about TVNZ ondemand, Vidzone and general PS3 gaming?

myopinion

938 posts

Ultimate Geek

#604913 4-Apr-2012 09:24

I don't use those sorry.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#605262 4-Apr-2012 19:41

BraaiGuy:
myopinion: Unblock-Us and iSky doesn't work fine for me without changing the DNS. I use Compass as my ISP.

What about TVNZ ondemand, Vidzone and general PS3 gaming?

OK. Just re-evaluated unblock-us. My ISP is Snap on ADSL2+

Is works well on my PS3, I tested Netflix, Hulu+, Vudo, and Amazon video.

The local stuff also works (magic). Vidzone, Playstation Network, PS3 gaming etc..

So I must say this seems to be a good option. And my international download speed to the US has shot-up to 9MB/s. I am now able to watch Vudu movies at the highest quality (HDX).

I will keep the trial running and see how things go over the week.

BTW. Is unblock-us proven not working on Telstraclear cable? I am really tempted to change ISP's to Telstraclear cable. $65 for 40GBpm.

GeoffisPure

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#606069 6-Apr-2012 12:01

Hi guys - thanks for all the advice in this thread. Wanted to let you know that my Roku box arrived yesterday (ordered from Amazon and despite choosing the cheaper shipping option it only took 5 days to get here).

I went for the Unblock-US DNS-change option, using my one and only wireless modem/router. Changing the DNS setting was simple and as soon as I reset my modem I was able to access netflix.

Signing up for Roku and Netflix accounts was simple - I just used my real details but chose US for the country, added a 0 in front of my postcode, and selected a state at random.

I'm really impressed that this method (DNS change instead of VPN) only effects the sites like Netflix that I couldn't previously access, but doesn't effect my YouTube or TVNZ performance.

I watched a movie on Netflix last night (Cyberbully) and was really impressed with the picture quality and performance. The Roku made it seamless, just like watching a DVD. Overall am really hapypy. Not a single gripe so far.

deano71

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#606339 7-Apr-2012 10:24

Hi, For 3 months I have been using strongvpn for netflix, vudu etc on my ps3 with a d-link router, with dd- wrt.flashed on it, not that hard by the way, just follow the instructions. In all its been fantastic, netflix plays hd all the time. Vudu will play lower hd but not hdx, but there is a option to download and watch later for vudu, I have downloaded a couple of movies in hdx that way,great quality picture by the way. takes a few hours though on the vpn connection at 2-3Mbps, with telecom as a Isp at 10-12 Mbps. Then I was reading on this forum about unblockus.com. I tried it yesterday, I only changed the DNS fields on the ps3 not my modem though. It worked good on vudu, could stream hdx, But with netflix its was rubbish, it keeped buffering for some reason, never once had that with my vpn. Could the reason for that be because I only changed the DNS settings on the PS3 not my modem? Great info on this forum by the way.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#606341 7-Apr-2012 10:27

Make sure you use unblock-us WITHOUT the VPN running.

deano71

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#606346 7-Apr-2012 10:48

Thanks for that, I was running unblockus without the vpn running. I was only on a trial version of unblockus, would the payed version be different? Find it a bit strange that vudu was working great but not netflix. Sometimes on netflix the video would not load at all or very slow to load. Not sure why, ahve gone back to strong vpn working fine again.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#606379 7-Apr-2012 12:48

Paid version will be no different

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