Develop Bugs

AFTV has geofenching? Alternatively OpenVPN without root?

I reall would like to buy a AFTV but I think Amazon prime will not be working with me because I located in Switzerland (which is not in scope of Amazon services) and want to use the German content instead.
Has the box geofencing? Or will the service work?
As my router could not apply a VPN connection for my whole home network I must install openvPN on the AFTV but I need therefore root access.
As I have read root access is not working anymore, does anyone else has a
Solution who to apply my vpn in order to use my German IP connection to the internet or another method to avoid geofencing?
Thank you so much for any good ideas, I think that Iam not the only one with this problem

I am currently testing unblock-us to access US-Netflix-content.
I think it should work with Amazon Prime Content too, but you need a german (or US) one-click Amazon account.
€: I just checked the unblock-us website and regarding Amazon Instant Video US ist the only available region. netflix on the other hand has plenty of region choices (see here)

No, no VPN without root. FTV does not come with OpenVPN binaries and to install them you need root. You can always buy a cheap router and flash it with DD-WRT software. If you go along that path, make sure your router is supported by DD-WRT here at http://www.dd-wrt.com
What kind of router do you have currently? Maybe you can use what you have....

If you dont find a cheap router with dd-wrt support try any with openwrt...

I use Unblock-us and have been using it from the time I got my Fire Tv. Its a very good service and very easy to setup, all you have to do is change your DNS on your router if you want it for all you web devices or just on the device that you want it to effect. I recommend doing it from the router. Its like $5 a month which isnt bad if you ask me. It also supports amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix and a lot of other services as well. Another service that is similar to unblock-us is Unlocator which is basically the same as Unblock-us just with problem some extra or less support never really checked the difference but I do know it works as I gave it a week trial.

new AFTV in uk and dns ?

i know you cant root a new AFTV bought in the UK but if i want to install kodi on it and be able to watch geo-restricted sites , is it still possible to use a DNS service on the AFTV and get into the dns settings without it being rooted ? thanks

davemaden said:
i know you cant root a new AFTV bought in the UK but if i want to install kodi on it and be able to watch geo-restricted sites , is it still possible to use a DNS service on the AFTV and get into the dns settings without it being rooted ? thanks
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Yes you can do that, that is exactly what I do for watching the football at the weekend, there are plenty of guides and even apps on this site which sideload apk's for you using adb.
No need for root

if i use a DNS service and im in the uk , will i be able to watch the sites my isp has blocked or would i need a vpn and not a DNS ? sorry if this seems a stupid question , but im sick of my isp blocking sites and want to know how to get round it without it slowing everything down ,. I cant do much with the router as its virgin media superhub and cant install a vpn on it or change dns settings . thanks

davemaden said:
if i use a DNS service and im in the uk , will i be able to watch the sites my isp has blocked or would i need a vpn and not a DNS ? sorry if this seems a stupid question , but im sick of my isp blocking sites and want to know how to get round it without it slowing everything down ,. I cant do much with the router as its virgin media superhub and cant install a vpn on it or change dns settings . thanks
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With the DNS settings (which you can enter directly into the AFTV) it only gives you access to geo restricted sites such as NBC Sports Live Extra, to get access to all sites you'll need a VPN so will need to buy a new router to either replace or connect to your Superhub. You will probably lose about 50% of your speed as well on a vpn with Virgin so recommend you try out some trial smart dns services first to see if that's enough for you.
Most smart dns services offer a free one or two week trial so you can try them all out before deciding on the best/cheapest

Fire Tv Gen 2 VPN Setup Question

So I have recently decided to cut the cord on cable and go with an online streaming service for my family. I went ahead and bought a number for FTV Gen 2 to act as our new streaming devices/Cable box. I would like to install Kodi on the boxes as well, but my issues start when I am looking to run a VPN. I have made it as far as learning what OpenVPN is and installing inside of kodi, and I am willing to purchase a monthly VPN like IPVanish, But I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how I would make it so the VPN launches and connects as soon as kodi launches. I would rather not have the VPN on all the time when using playstation vue, and I hear a vpn can really mess with netflix. You might ask why I can't just take the extra steps to turn on and off the vpn within the fire tv, but I have a three year old who might utalize kodi and a wife who just would not fully understand ( wouldnt want to understand) how to make it work correctly everytime she wants to use kodi. Sorry if this is long winded.
tldr; Need a way to launch ipvanish when kodi launches for ease of access.

Why not use PIA? Install the app set it to start on boot and select per app settings select Kodi and your done. Don't expect lightning fast speeds running a VPN on firetv tho.
Spettro1337 said:
So I have recently decided to cut the cord on cable and go with an online streaming service for my family. I went ahead and bought a number for FTV Gen 2 to act as our new streaming devices/Cable box. I would like to install Kodi on the boxes as well, but my issues start when I am looking to run a VPN. I have made it as far as learning what OpenVPN is and installing inside of kodi, and I am willing to purchase a monthly VPN like IPVanish, But I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how I would make it so the VPN launches and connects as soon as kodi launches. I would rather not have the VPN on all the time when using playstation vue, and I hear a vpn can really mess with netflix. You might ask why I can't just take the extra steps to turn on and off the vpn within the fire tv, but I have a three year old who might utalize kodi and a wife who just would not fully understand ( wouldnt want to understand) how to make it work correctly everytime she wants to use kodi. Sorry if this is long winded.
tldr; Need a way to launch ipvanish when kodi launches for ease of access.
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scoobysnack said:
Why not use PIA? Install the app set it to start on boot and select per app settings select Kodi and your done. Don't expect lightning fast speeds running a VPN on firetv tho.
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Thanks for bringing up the speed. I have a question about that. I pay for 60 down, but it slows when it has to bounce from server to server using a vpn. Is it viable to run at least 1080p on 2-3 devices on PIA at the same time. Does each connection count as some of the bandwidth I am allotted from PIA or does each device get its own portion of bandwidth per connection? And when you say use PIA and select start on boot, it wont use the VPN for everything on the FTV if I select the per app settings and select Kodi itself? Meaning it starts up when the FTV starts, but doesnt connect to a server unless you launch Kodi?

Correct it will not connect unless your using kodi or whatever apps you have selected. You can use ares wizard to conform the VPN is working. I use a dedicated router and get between 10-20mbps almost the same with the app running. You will need mouse toggle in order to access the settings in PIA. I have played 1080p with no issues.. Live streams stutter. I don't really use Kodi its just something I play around with just because. If you run the VPN on a router then u can connect whatever you want to it with no limits.
Spettro1337 said:
Thanks for bringing up the speed. I have a question about that. I pay for 60 down, but it slows when it has to bounce from server to server using a vpn. Is it viable to run at least 1080p on 2-3 devices on PIA at the same time. Does each connection count as some of the bandwidth I am allotted from PIA or does each device get its own portion of bandwidth per connection? And when you say use PIA and select start on boot, it wont use the VPN for everything on the FTV if I select the per app settings and select Kodi itself? Meaning it starts up when the FTV starts, but doesnt connect to a server unless you launch Kodi?
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scoobysnack said:
If you run the VPN on a router then u can connect whatever you want to it with no limits.
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Are you saying that if the vpn is on the router it does not slow streaming speed despite bouncing on several servers - or just that multiple connections are no slower than one connection?

Multiple connections show as only 1 device.
maybeme2 said:
Are you saying that if the vpn is on the router it does not slow streaming speed despite bouncing on several servers - or just that multiple connections are no slower than one connection?
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TigerVPN on a unrooted firestick

Hi All,
So I bought tigerVPN and I have the amazon firestick (bought earlier this year not Alexa) which is running on FireOS 5.2.4.1. I've managed to get OpenVPN onto my firestick via sideloading and managed to import my .ovpn files and config file, i've even managed to connect to VPN using OpenVPN, however when I click on Netflix i'm still getting geographically locked. Am I right in guessing that the OpenVPN app is connected but my firestick is ignoring the application.
Is there anyway that I could use tigerVPN with my firestick?
Thanks,
ssjdx1

Most VPN provider IP address are known to Netflix and thereby are blocked. They are not blocking VPN's but the commercials ISP who provide servers and rack space to the VPN companies. There are a few companies that have seemd to have solved the Netflix problem, Express and Surfbouncer I know for sure. If you have someone in the country where you want to watch that has fast Internet and is willing to let you put a small VPN server there that would be the 100% foolproof solution. Just look up Raspberry Pi VPN Server on Google for several tutorials. Or the device Surfbouncer is calling the behomebox which is essentially the do it yourself Raspberry Pi solution pre-configured

Thanks for your reply, however when i access netflix from my laptop with openvpn running i am able to access netflix from different countries therefore my vpn provider isn't the problem here, the issue is to do with the firestick ignoring openvpn.

Hi, guys I recently read Tiger VPN review: https://www.reviewsdir.com/tigervpn-review/ The price its offering is far better than other VPN providers. Check it out and tell me what your stance on it is?

Amazon Prime and VPN

I installed a generation 2 Firestick last week and had no problems. for the last two days Amazon Prime disconnects with this message "geographical restrictions." Amazon Help was no help. They told me it is because I have a VPN. I told them my VPN is in the United States. In order to now use Amazon Prime videos, movies, etc., I have to disconnect the VPN first. Then if I want to use Terrarium, Kodi I reconnect the VPN. Does anyone else have this problem? Or can anyone come up with a solution because Amazon was absolutely of no help.

VPN
danasue said:
I installed a generation 2 Firestick last week and had no problems. for the last two days Amazon Prime disconnects with this message "geographical restrictions." Amazon Help was no help. They told me it is because I have a VPN. I told them my VPN is in the United States. In order to now use Amazon Prime videos, movies, etc., I have to disconnect the VPN first. Then if I want to use Terrarium, Kodi I reconnect the VPN. Does anyone else have this problem? Or can anyone come up with a solution because Amazon was absolutely of no help.
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Only use the VPN when using Terrarium or Kodi.
Don't use it for Prime.

Is your VPN configured on your router or on the Fire TV? Perhaps you can configure your router or VPN to sidestep going through the VPN when connecting to the Amazon servers?

Better vpn?
danasue said:
I installed a generation 2 Firestick last week and had no problems. for the last two days Amazon Prime disconnects with this message "geographical restrictions." Amazon Help was no help. They told me it is because I have a VPN. I told them my VPN is in the United States. In order to now use Amazon Prime videos, movies, etc., I have to disconnect the VPN first. Then if I want to use Terrarium, Kodi I reconnect the VPN. Does anyone else have this problem? Or can anyone come up with a solution because Amazon was absolutely of no help.
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Click to collapse
There are several VPNs that offer a split tunneling feature through which you can use VPNs on selective apps. Try to ask your VPN provider if they have that feature or not?
Or you can switch to a VPN that works with Amazon Prime for better experience, unlimited worldwide content and reduced hassles.