How to use a VPN to access netflix etc?

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GeoffisPure

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#100114 3-Apr-2012 19:21

Split into new thread.

Handle9:
GeoffisPure: I'm a little confused about accessing Netflix (Hulu etc..) over a VPN. To those who are doing it, do you apply the DNS settings in your router so that ALL your internet traffic is affected, or you change the DNS settings on your PC only when you want to access these services (and then change them back)? Also, someone above mentioned needing a new/separate modem?

There are alot of different ways to do this. If you want to there is plenty of info out there and IMO it's well worthwhile.

This is one way to do it on a single router and works well for me.

http://strongvpn.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=968

Wow. I like the concept but it sounds complicated. Is there a "for-dummies" version somewhere?

Are services like Astril and Unblock-US easy to use? Do they give you settings to apply to your router, or what?

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#604705 3-Apr-2012 19:23

http://nztechpodcast.com/?s=vpn

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freitasm

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#604730 3-Apr-2012 19:53

Most services will give you a pre-configured download to use on your PCs. You only need to do a router configuration if you are planning to use a device that can't run those applications - a Xbox or PS3 for example.

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Handle9

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#604736 3-Apr-2012 20:02

As Freitasm said it depends on what you want to do. I'm running a jail broken AppleTV with XBMC.

It's not really that complicated and if you follow the steps it works really well. What's nice about this process is that once it's set up you can forget about it.

The simpler alternative (to setup) is to use a 2 router setup and use a router with VPN support. I had a TP Link router already that I could flash with DD-WRT which is why I did it that way.

chevrolux

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#604740 3-Apr-2012 20:15

Astrill is VPN for dummies. Sign up for an account (make sure you google for a coupon to get it a bit cheaper), download the client, pick a server and flick the switch. So incredibly simple.

However, I remember freitasm saying one of those streaming sites didnt allow the astrill IP range. So might not work lol. Still dead easy to make work though.

freitasm

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#604742 3-Apr-2012 20:21

Amazon is the one who complained about Astrill.

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davidcole

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#604777 3-Apr-2012 21:11

A guy at work found AceVPN had some unblock tv service. May have just been dns entries.

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reven

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#604789 3-Apr-2012 21:23

ive tried a few vpns, but speed was always the issue (some days it would be fine, others not).

i recommend trying www.unblock-us.com, there is a 7 week free trial so nothing to loose.

to setup unblock-us, you need to set your DNS settings on either the router or client to their DNS servers. they have guides on their website to do this.

once that is done, its the same setup as a VPN.

Create Netflix account
Not sure if this has changed, but when i did it i just used my credit card, just a nz one and that worked fine. used my works head office address for my home address.

Create Hulu Plus account
this thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=48&topicid=96286 will let you know how, and what i did

Create Vudu account
Pretty straight forward, just go to their website and fill out the info similar to netflix

PS3
Create a US account and sign in.
Go to the store and download netflix, vudu, hulu

Xbox 360
Create a US account and sign in
Download hulu, vudu, netflix
Once these are downloaded any other xbox account on that machine will have access to them and you need a gold membership to use them. So download them with US account, sign into your normal account (which has a gold membership) and presto you have netflix/hulu/vudu on your xbox

PC
Just browsing to their sites and they should work

Windows Media Center
This can be a little difficult to setup, getting netflix to stay in WMC can be annoying, and not 100% sure it will work with unblock-us (only tried this years ago with vpn)

my personal setup is, unblock-us set on my router, xbox 360 + ps3 with hulu,netflix and vudu. PC running xbmc for watching hulu (xbmc doesnt download/show the ads for hulu which is nice), watch netflix just in browser.

Handle9

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#604793 3-Apr-2012 21:27

Only problem with unblock-us is it doesn't work on telstra or vodafone because of a transparent proxy. VPN works ok though.

semigeek

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#604798 3-Apr-2012 21:33

Netflix and BBC iplayer also work on the Wii. Just change Wii country to UK after putting in Unblock-US settings in DNS fields and reboot Wii and accept Wiiconnect24 info.

nate

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#604831 3-Apr-2012 22:35

Handle9: Only problem with unblock-us is it doesn't work on telstra or vodafone because of a transparent proxy. VPN works ok though.

I have unblock-us running on Vodafone. You just have to ask to be moved to a static IP that isn't proxied.

reven

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#604834 3-Apr-2012 22:37

Handle9:
Only problem with unblock-us is it doesn't work on telstra or vodafone because of a transparent proxy. VPN works ok though.

yeah but if you are wanting to do netflix etc and your ISP doesnt work with unblock-us, you can always switch ISPs, there are plenty of good ISPs out there that work fine with it.

but first try a VPN, see if netflix etc is for you and if you are unhappy with a VPN speed (HD via vpn isnt always great) then considering switch ISPs (im using snap and it works fine, watching HD on netflix right now)

jbard

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#604838 3-Apr-2012 22:49

reven:
Handle9:
Only problem with unblock-us is it doesn't work on telstra or vodafone because of a transparent proxy. VPN works ok though.

yeah but if you are wanting to do netflix etc and your ISP doesnt work with unblock-us, you can always switch ISPs, there are plenty of good ISPs out there that work fine with it.

but first try a VPN, see if netflix etc is for you and if you are unhappy with a VPN speed (HD via vpn isnt always great) then considering switch ISPs (im using snap and it works fine, watching HD on netflix right now)

The thing with a VPN is it is simple, as far as HD goes that is possible. In my case I actually often get the same or quicker speeds via the VPN.

Anyway all the steams I use e.g. Netflix, iplayer, Vudu all only check for the IP address at the very start of the stream, it means 2 seconds in a flick off my VPN and stream over my usual connection.

The only one I know of that checks your IP the whole way through is Hulu.

Handle9

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#604840 3-Apr-2012 22:52

nate:
Handle9: Only problem with unblock-us is it doesn't work on telstra or vodafone because of a transparent proxy. VPN works ok though.

I have unblock-us running on Vodafone. You just have to ask to be moved to a static IP that isn't proxied.

Interesting, thanks I didn't know that you could.

reven

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#604869 4-Apr-2012 07:24

jbard: The thing with a VPN is it is simple, as far as HD goes that is possible. In my case I actually often get the same or quicker speeds via the VPN.

personally i think unblock-us is simpler than a vpn. vpn you need to get a special router and do that setting on your router or setup a vpn in windows/mac/linux/whatever or install their software to do it.

with unblock-us you just have to change your dns settings on your machine or router, its 2 fields, dns server 1 and 2. really very simple.

and with dns you dont need to stop your vpn after the stream starts to get full speed, you're getting full speed all the time.

myopinion

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#604882 4-Apr-2012 08:36

Yep Unblock-us is the way to go....switch ISP's.

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