global mode BBC iplayer and BBC iplayer radio APP

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Nikoftime

103 posts

Master Geek

#166190 5-Mar-2015 14:25

Hi All,
After a lot of assistance from the Slingshot customer support I Managed to use my new Slingshot fibre account for the first time at home yesterday evening.
I was delighted to see that BBC iplayer on my Samsung Smart TV was now working, Three cheers for Global mode.
However testing other devices had some rather puzzling results:

BBC iplayer App on Samsung tablet
live streaming worked but watching older programs did not. Downloading seemed to work.

BBC iplayer radio App on both smart phone and tablet
Live streaming of radio shows would not work.
streaming of older programs did work.

Prior to switching to slingshot and having global mode I could stream radio programs live from BBC iplayer radio app and listen to older shows.

Also the tablet play store didn't find the BBC iplayer app or the itv player App for updates or download, so it looks like I was still geo blocked from this content.?

Has anyone else experienced any similar issues and offer a solution??

Handsomedan

7304 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#1251765 5-Mar-2015 16:10

I have also used Global Mode to watch BBC iPlayer and like you have encountered weird glitches, as described.

I haven't had any issues with iPlayer radio app, but radio 5 live for football doesn't work, strangely.

Have happily watched Match of the Day though.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

Glassboy

850 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Trusted

#1251767 5-Mar-2015 16:12

I use Unotelly to access the iPlayer over Vodafone, and I've also found that application behaviour can be erratic.

Nikoftime

103 posts

Master Geek

#1257081 12-Mar-2015 13:10

Update:
BBC iplayer radio app on Samsung phone and Samsung tablet still not working properly. Does not load correctly and will not play live programmes. Search function works and can find old "catch up" programmes to listen to This app works correctly when I disconnect from the Wifi and listen using mobile data. App works successfully when I connect to the work Wifi. So it is only when using my new Slingshot account BBC iplayer radio app worked well before switching to Slingshot.
Conclusion: Could be something to do with global mode? but definitely something to do with changing providers.

Global mode:
All I can say here is that it is doing something. Sometimes BBC iplayer (TV) works on Samsung smart TV but mostly it doesn't. Never been able to watch the catch up shows but occasionally live tv works (news). Other UK television apps ITV, 4OD etc not been able to watch any shows but the adverts play OK before the programmes start. What I have tried: Tablet and phone - cleared cache and history from apps, switched off and on again, switched off slingshot router and on again. Smart TV - Switched off and on again, switched router on and off again. I hope to find some time soon to talk all this through with Slingshot over the phone. However given that I'm expecting the trouble shooting might take some time I haven't managed this yet.

All this is disappointing given that Slingshot promote Global mode as a seemless way of getting around the geo blocking issues. My experience so far is that it is far from seemless and takes a reasonable level of technical knowledge that I clearly don’t have.

I'd really appreciate anyone's suggestions or sharing if you have experienced similar problems and found a solution

Username01

142 posts

Master Geek

#1259949 16-Mar-2015 00:31

The recent changes at the BBC may be partially defeating Global Mode. I suspect if you switch off Global Mode you'll find your radio issues may be resolved. This will have other & sad consequences however. You wont get TV, but you should get radio, though at the lower bitrate served internationally.

I'm awaiting the implementation of Slingshot's announced "regional" Global Mode, due this month.

Cheers!