I've been scouting round looking for solutions that mean (as an expat) I can continue to use a DNS or VPN service for most things (UK TV, amazon prime etc.) while still retaining access to Netflix. No joy so far. What I'm wondering is if anybody has a way to set a specific DNS (or VPN if that works) for Netflix services, while using the default on the router for everything else?
A bit optimistic probably, but thought I'd ask ...
urbanespaceman said:
I've been scouting round looking for solutions that mean (as an expat) I can continue to use a DNS or VPN service for most things (UK TV, amazon prime etc.) while still retaining access to Netflix. No joy so far. What I'm wondering is if anybody has a way to set a specific DNS (or VPN if that works) for Netflix services, while using the default on the router for everything else?
A bit optimistic probably, but thought I'd ask ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are certain VPN-Services specialized in providing access to Netflix like ExpressVPN or you use a tool like NordVPN which will choose a VPN-Service for you.
Greetings
Medizinmann
As an expat, I use Unotelly's Dynamo DNS service which allows you to switch regions on the fly. By sideloading the unotelly.apk app to the Amazon fire tv, I can use the fire tv remote to easily switch from U.K content and then quickly switch back to Netflix U.S by going through the unotelly app and picking another region. Takes seconds to do this.
P.s using firestarter ( actually firestopper which is now called appstarter, but that new version isn't as functional) as a U.I overlay making it much easier for quick access to bbc iplayer, itv player, skygo, netflix, etc, and the unotelly app.
This what the unotelly app looks like within the fire tv
callanish said:
As an expat, I use Unotelly's Dynamo DNS service which allows you to switch regions on the fly. By sideloading the unotelly.apk app to the Amazon fire tv, I can use the fire tv remote to easily switch from U.K content and then quickly switch back to Netflix U.S by going through the unotelly app and picking another region. Takes seconds to do this.
P.s using firestarter ( actually firestopper which is now called appstarter, but that new version isn't as functional) as a U.I overlay making it much easier for quick access to bbc iplayer, itv player, skygo, netflix, etc, and the unotelly app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Callanish, for this information about unotelly!
I am aware that Netflix has started blocking all these DNS Services, to use the different Netflix regions Netflix... So I would like to know if you are fully sure that the unotelly service really works??
I am asking because, I already have tried with "Unblock-US" and also with
"Blockless" DNS Services, and unfortunately none of these two are working anymore:
https://www.blockless.com
https://www.unblock-us.com
I already have contacted "Unblock-US" and also "Blockless", to let them know that they service has been blocked and has stopped working...
However after more than 2 month, they only replied and said that they are currently working to fix the problems with Netflix, and that we could still use their service to access others sites like "HBO" and "Amazon-Prime"!
I also have found other DNS Service called "Uflix", that recommends to use a*TP-LINK MR3020 or a MR3420V2, to prevent more effectively the blocking that Netflix is implementing...
https://uflix.com.au/setup/urouter/
However, since I have not received a new TP-LINK MR3020 that I bought from Amazon, I can not test if this "Uflix" DNS Service works or not yet!
Since, I don't find in the Google Play Store the Unotely APP that you have mentioned, I would appreciate if you post the link to download the "Unotely" APP to change the Netflix Regions.
Thanks for helping!
In all honesty, from my experience, Netflix outside of your own region has become a hit and a miss. I was only using Netflix U.K from the U.S through unotelly about a week ago as well as ongoing for the last few months and have had no issues whatsoever. I just went to test Netflix U.k again right after you mentioned getting access and it's been blocked again. With my situation, I mostly use Netflix U.S, along with running all the U.K apps and kodi U.K web streams. Netflix currently seems to be in aggressive blocking mode. I'll contact unotelly and find out what the latest is. My DNS proxy address might be the cause since it's no longer on the unotelly list of servers, but still works really well for all U.K content outside of Netflix U.K. I was connected to the BBC iPlayer news channel during the referendum, and it must have been on for 12 hours without a hiccup and in HD, so it’s pretty reliable.
Netflix u.k consistency aside, I can vouch for the stability of unotelly as I've been using it for about 4 years and I've rarely had a problem. If Netflix U.K is a priority, then I don't think there's a VPN or DNS service out there that isn't going to have its temporary blackouts when connecting from a different region. Added to that, there's the hassle of waiting for them to provide a workaround for the block. If Netflix U.S is what you mostly use, and are juggling between that and streaming with all the UK apps and U.K links from kodi, I can't recommend unotelly high enough, but there’s just no guarantee that if you're anywhere outside of the U.K NetfliK U.K will be working 100% of the time even with Unotelly, which from my experience, their customer service is really on the ball with solving issues.
Anyway, I sound like I work for the damn company. Here’s an apk attachment for the unotelly app I had in a backup folder.
P.S My only reservation about going down that router road with uflix is the speed and reliability of their VPN. Erratic streaming speeds could come into play potentially causing buffering, whereas a DNS Proxy is a pass through system giving you the maximum bandwidth of your internet service rather than using a VPN which can hamstring streaming speeds, but it's your call and if it works, then forget I mentioned it.
I have been using Unotelly for years also and is still working well for everything...except Netflix which everyone of those 'DNS unblockers' are having problems with. But did you get a reply from them? There business model is now broken, i.e. Netflix region switching, they don't reply anymore, don't think they will be around much longer unfortunately...
Hill16 said:
I have been using Unotelly for years also and is still working well for everything...except Netflix which everyone of those 'DNS unblockers' are having problems with. But did you get a reply from them? There business model is now broken, i.e. Netflix region switching, they don't reply anymore, don't think they will be around much longer unfortunately...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only reply I got was that they were working on it, as per the notice on their website which was basically "Region Picker Status: USTest 5: Down, Other Regions: Down (We will update our region picker status as soon as we get an update from our engineers)". So, Netflix is the elephant in the room for all Proxy server or VPN providers which, in my opinion, has taken their aggressive blocking to the next level. I just don't foresee us getting any consistency here when viewing other regions without there being a cycle of blocking, waiting for it to be unblocked and expecting the worse for it to be blocked again. From a selfish perspective, I get a lot more use out of my Netflix U.S region than I ever did out of Netflix U.K viewing. It was the odd show here and there I was watching on Netflix U.K and so far, crosses fingers, all the other content coming out of the U.K continues to work without any issues. Like you, I believe that Netflix was a core reason for a lot of these proxy and vpn providers being in business in the first place. For someone like myself, there is a wealth of free content coming out of the U.K that still makes it viable for me to continue to use a proxy, but for others that subscribed to a proxy or vpn for the sole purpose of getting Netflix U.S content or other region content, I can see those customers abandoning companies like Unotelly in droves.
I do think Unotelly is still fighting the fight, but they've got a huge mountain to climb here. I just think they don't know what to tell their customers and don't really know how to provide a consistent unblocking business model with Netflix, so either they are capable of surviving without guaranteeing Netflix or like you mentioned, they'll fold due to customers abandoning them.
Related
I have an Amazon FireTV, am based in the netherlands.
It supports the Unblock US DNS solution when using the US, CA, MX, BR, AR & CO netflix versions, however all other countries (NL, UK, IRL, SW, DK, NO, FI) not. I tried them all
adb logcat shows request for playing via:
I/chromium( 5023): ", source: http s://secure.netflix.com/us/htmltvui/release-CadmiumSlim-218/cadmium_slim/p/720p/html/plus.html?platform_id=nero&video_height=1080&e=AMZNST2013-00002-000XXXXX&nettype=WIFI&setVideoSizeElement=true&build_id=JDQ39&build_time=1396217919000&version_release=4.2.2&version_incremental=1.0&video_width=1920&clearVideoSrc=true (0)
and then an
I/X509Util( 5023): Failed to validate the certificate chain, error: java.security.cert.CertPathValidatorException: Trust anchor for certification path not found
error
So, a nice certificate path error. Looks like Amazon has hardcoded? the certs for the Americas only...
It uses the HTML5 interface, first request is via
http s://uiboot.netflix.com/apps/cadmiumtvui/upgrade_policy?v=2.0&first_boot=true&platform_id=nero&version_release=4.2.2&version_
incremental=1.0&build_id=JDQ39&build_time=1396217919000&nettype=ETHERNET&video_height=1080&video_width=1920
For me, this kinda suck, as I toggle often between US & NL versions, but this info can be helpful for those that want the US/Americas versions.
Sideloaded netflix apk does work , but that is touch/mouse based and I can't select season episodes with the FireTV remote (movie selection works good though, but yu also can't search w/ the remote, thus limited in functionality). A workaround is starting it on my phone, then immediatly stop it, start the sideloaded version and continue watching. But that is suboptimal, to say the least (but allows me to watch the spisodes on my FireTV, can leave the AppleTV detached).
WAF is sub-zero with this solution, as you might guess...
Will be waiting for root to see if I can get into the /data folder to see what we can do about this.
How are you setting your Unblock-us settings, in the router or the Amazon Fire TV network settings?
They may provide different results.
uluxus said:
How are you setting your Unblock-us settings, in the router or the Amazon Fire TV network settings?
They may provide different results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have them set on router level, also tried w/ full local settings, as well as setting FireTV hard to the Google DNS (so not using unblock us) for trying the NL Netflix, same results.
smart dns
There are plenty of smart dns out there right now. They are not created equal, some wont' work with your isp and some will. Most of them have free trial. You can try before subscribing. For me I'm with trickbyte for a while without problem at all. Support is great too.
If you watch only netflix and hulu, no need to spend $5/month like that. I'm using trickbyte.com it's only $2.99/month. You can save money and get the get the great quality. My dearest friend recommend me trickbyte for $2.99/month I enjoyed watching movies from US without worrying bandwidth.
Non US Netflix working after latest firmware update, ie SW and so on...
hajolo said:
Non US Netflix working after latest firmware update, ie SW and so on...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works with mine as well now, but, my FTV hasnt been updated yet! So looks like Amazon/netflix has pushed/changed something.
My Netflix version is still on v1.0.1, so guess it's a change on the server side of Netflix
JPDeckers said:
Works with mine as well now, but, my FTV hasnt been updated yet! So looks like Amazon/netflix has pushed/changed something.
My Netflix version is still on v1.0.1, so guess it's a change on the server side of Netflix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hola app in the play store works good to unblock Netflix for me, free and easy to do.
..
nhumber said:
Hola app in the play store works good to unblock Netflix for me, free and easy to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem wasn't with unblocking Netflix (I use another service for that), but with that Netflix Certificates weren't installed for the EU countries. Resulting in the app being unable to stream movies / series. But that has been changed on the Netflix end recently.
And as I want to switch between multiple Netflix countries, hola wasn't really a solution anyways for me. But, YMMV.
JJ-KwiK said:
What? How?
Gives the error msg "Error trying to show the Android 4.0+ VPN service dialog".
I haven't updated to the newest FTV firmware yet. Have you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all i did was install it from the play store, open it, select the unblock option, i left the accelerator off, then you select the netflix app from further down the list, look for the icon as the app name is amazon specific. if you pick the netflix from the top, it will download the standard mobile version, not sure if thats working or not, didnt try.
hope that helps. still on the 51.0.0.1 or whatever the first OS is.
..
JJ-KwiK said:
Yea, I'm getting an error when I try that. WTF... lol
What version of the app do you have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually, i sideloaded the netflix ftv app from a thread here since im out of country, after i installed it, it wouldnt start and said i had to purchase it.. so i visited the US amazon app store from my PC and purchased it there and it just started working after that.. then i did the hola thing and it also worked.
I have an Amazon Fire TV imported from the US,,, Is it possible to use my UK Prime Instant Video account? I can link it up to my UK account (the apps seems to reflect this) but I seem to be seing US Movie/TV content. Also no way to set timezone to UK.
Any views?
(sorry m8 I'd never noticed the default list of TZs was so dang restricted...)
ipxsystems said:
I have an Amazon Fire TV imported from the US,,, Is it possible to use my UK Prime Instant Video account? I can link it up to my UK account (the apps seems to reflect this) but I seem to be seing US Movie/TV content. Also no way to set timezone to UK.
Any views?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi buddy i'm in the same boat as you.... If you figure out how to change the time let me know.
imtiajmeah said:
Hi buddy i'm in the same boat as you.... If you figure out how to change the time let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the Netherlands, got this problem as well. Opened the Amazon settings apk, and those few time zones are hardcoded in the app/xml, so looks that amazon doesn't have any outside US plans for now.
Sideloaded a default Android Setting apk, but switching time zones didn't stick, same as via adb shell setprop persist.sys.timezone, so think we'll need to wait for root access to make it stick.
I installed "Time Zone Changer" from the playstore, worked for me, +2 GMT, even after reboot.
ipxsystems said:
I have an Amazon Fire TV imported from the US,,, Is it possible to use my UK Prime Instant Video account? I can link it up to my UK account (the apps seems to reflect this) but I seem to be seing US Movie/TV content. Also no way to set timezone to UK.
Any views?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there,
So are you saying that you have an amazon.co.uk account, but the Fire TV prime movies on your box are the USA movies? (I think that means you get about 2x as many choices AFAIK... which is fantastic. So is that true?
Also, how about NetFlix, is that UK or USA content?
tx
Mark.
..
JJ-KwiK said:
Everything on the FireTV is region restricted to the US. Including Prime, Netflix and Hulu. If you try from any other region, like UK or Canada as an example, you'll get an error msg when you try to load a video. The only way to get around the error is to use a VPN. So far, vpn apk's, like Hola, don't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy crap, so why are some people buying it in the UK on eBay... Some sellers saying it's UK ready...
Perhaps we'll get lucky with an Android TV announcement at Google IO.
Mark
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Here is my experience so far...
If you use a service like SmartDNS or Unblock-US, you can watch Netflix from anywhere in the world using your UK Netflix account. No need for VPNs. The services costs an extra $5 a month but worth it. Works great on all devices, including my Fire TV.
The service also works a treat for Hulu, but the Fire TV app is for Hulu. This needs a US credit card to subscribe.
For Amazon Instant Video (the pay to rent/buy service), you need a US Amazon.com account and a US credit card. You can use a service like US Unlocked (not to be confused with Unblock-US mentioned above ) which lets you register for a virtual US credit card with a US billing address and works great on Amazon and Vudu. Been using it a few years, but it does require a huge leap of faith to sign up for it - you need to send bank details etc for initial setup. I haven't had any issues so far, but appreciate many won't want to do this.
You can probably also get Amazon.com vouchers but have not tried this for Instant Video . Lots of sites sell them
The kick in the teeth for me is Amazon Prime and not having access to the UK service. On the Fire TV it's not an app that you launch so to speak, it's integrated into the menus. Everything that is served is the US content. Unlike Netflix, which uses the same app to server different content based on your region, Amazon has different apps for each region.
So to get UK Prime content, we need a UK version of the app sideloaded. At least that's my conclusion. The best version would be the Google TV apk (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.avod) and there are some discussion around about ripping it, but I don't think anyone succeeded. We would also need it to be the UK version of the app.
As an example, on PS3, to get UK Prime, I need the app from the US PSN store, and for US Prime you need the one from the US PSN store.
The other challenge is sideloading it. I tried sideloading this Amazon Instant APK just as a test, and I got an error saying com.amazon.avod already installed, which is the main Prime app on the Fire TV. Someone much smarter than me would need to figure out how to change the name of the app/package so it can be installed alongside each other. Even if you could, this app won't work anyway to get UK content (or even work at all with a remote), but it's one step closer if we can get two versions of the Amazon app installed side by side.
Hope that helps someone somewhere It's still a great piece of kit - only thing I'm missing is UK Prime.
Cheers
eskay993 said:
Here is my experience so far...
If you use a service like SmartDNS or Unblock-US, you can watch Netflix from anywhere in the world using your UK Netflix account. No need for VPNs. The services costs an extra $5 a month but worth it. Works great on all devices, including my Fire TV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does Netflix UK work for you? Mine (also using Unblock Us) does show the content, and can navigate, but will refuse to play movies. It will start loading but then stalls after about 40% loading.
adb logcat gives java cert errors.
JPDeckers said:
Does Netflix UK work for you? Mine (also using Unblock Us) does show the content, and can navigate, but will refuse to play movies. It will start loading but then stalls after about 40% loading.
adb logcat gives java cert errors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm you're right. I've been mostly watching US and only tested accessing UK content, not playing. Tried playing and it stalls at 40%.
As a test, I tried a different Netflix apk that I found and it works fine in terms of playing the movie, but this apk is designed for touchscreen and a bit crappy to use with the Fire TV remote.
So, either it's a bug with v1.0.1 of Netflix which comes with the Fire TV, or it' an extra region check they've added, which sucks. I suspect it's just a bug/restriction of this old version.
If we can find a version Netflix apk that works well with a remote, then this would be solved. Unfortunately most results that come up are for touch screens.
Sooo close to being the perfect box! Hopefully someone can figure out a way round it.
Cheers
UPDATE: Netflix UK now works for me as I mention below.
Unfortunately I haven't found a way around this. I am in the UK and bought a Fire TV whilst in the US. When returning none of the videos play, none of the applications load (apart from the ones I've sideloaded).
It is still useful, as I put XBMC on there but it would be great to be able to use an Amazon Prime UK account or even just set the timezone without faffing about.
boxst said:
Unfortunately I haven't found a way around this. I am in the UK and bought a Fire TV whilst in the US. When returning none of the videos play, none of the applications load (apart from the ones I've sideloaded).
It is still useful, as I put XBMC on there but it would be great to be able to use an Amazon Prime UK account or even just set the timezone without faffing about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plex works i use it everyday on fire tv,even with the things that dont work yet in the uk for the price and gta games working great it is a brilliant box.
JPDeckers said:
Does Netflix UK work for you? Mine (also using Unblock Us) does show the content, and can navigate, but will refuse to play movies. It will start loading but then stalls after about 40% loading.
adb logcat gives java cert errors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if it's something I inadvertently did, or something that changed server side at Netflix/Amazon, but Netflix UK now works on my Fire TV! I tried US, Mexico and UK and all movies and TV shows play (no longer get stuck at 40%). Worth trying it again if you were having trouble before.
All that's left now is for the new Netflix client (coming soon later in the year) and for a way to get Amazon UK, and I'm sorted!
eskay993 said:
Not sure if it's something I inadvertently did, or something that changed server side at Netflix/Amazon, but Netflix UK now works on my Fire TV!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, somewhere around the last firmware update, Netflix started working! Uninstalled the sideloaded version, because this client is actually usable. Now wait for the updated one, but already really helps in usability.
Hi,
It was said that they will block the device which is outside of USA. Now a lot of people access the Hulu, netflix, etc by vpn or smart dns. At that time, how to watch the netflix for the people who stay outside of USA?
http://o.canada.com/technology/personal-tech/movie-studios-are-pressuring-netflix-to-block-vpn-users
Movie studios are pressuring Netflix to block VPN and DNS users
Accessing U.S. Netflix in Canada might be almost impossible at some point in the near future.
According to Torrentfreak, Simon Bush, the CEO of AHEDA, an Australian industry group that represents big movie and television studios like Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros, Universal, Sony Pictures and many more, are actively lobbying Netflix and other streaming platforms to block and potentially ban users who subscribe to geo-unlocking VPN and DNS services.
In Australia, a region where Netflix isn’t officially available, approximately 200,000 are accessing the platform through VPN services, and because of this the Australian market seems to be AHEDA’s first target. Netflix also has plans to officially launch its streaming online video service at some point in the near future and it’s likely that this will play into the decision to block VPN and DNS users.
In an interview with Cnet, Bush explained AHEDA is in “discussions” with Netflix to block Australians from accessing the platform. If Netflix implements a system to block Australians from accessing U.S. Netflix, it’s likely they’ll also block Canadians from accessing other regions of Netflix as well, rendering DNS services like Unblock-Us useless.
A few months ago Hulu started an IP-blocking system that prevents users from using most major geo-unlocking services to access the platform from regions it hasn’t yet launched in. Users often encounter the following error.
“Based on your IP-address, we noticed that you are trying to access Hulu through an anonymous proxy tool. Hulu is not currently available outside the U.S. If you’re in the U.S. you’ll need to disable your anonymizer to access videos on Hulu.”
A similar system could potentially be implemented to prevent Canadians from accessing Netflix content not part of their region. Users intent on still accessing U.S. Netflix, Hulu and other streaming platforms like Amazon Instant Video, could just switch to a new VPN or DNS service if the practice of blocking VPN access becomes more widespread, but if a platform is serious about blocking users from using geo-unlocking software, it could soon be impossible to watch U.S. Netflix in Canada.
This means even American and Canadian users who are hoping to use the internet anonymously through VPN to protect their own privacy are being blocked from doing so.
The only benefit for the US folks for using unlocator or other dns is that you get BBC. Are there any free resources to watch the bbc iplayer app? Paying 5 bucks a month for that one app is a little on a higher side.
Personally, I think it's worth the $5 a month I pay for unotelly. On the Amazon fire tv, Along with the bbc iplayer and the itv player which I'm running through kodi, I'm also using tvcatchup, and skygo sideloaded using a usb keyboard as well as running netflix U.K, so I'm personally okay with the $5 a month for all those services because I'm using it for more than just the iplayer.
Haven't seen too much stable U.K streaming content with the kodi plugins either. The channels seem to come and go. The superrepo repository on kodi has channels like Phoenix with international live streams, but they can be a hit or a miss. To be honest, I haven't came across a reliable way to access iplayer without either a DNS proxy or VPN running on the router.
callanish said:
Personally, I think it's worth the $5 a month I pay for unotelly. On the Amazon fire tv, Along with the bbc iplayer and the itv player which I'm running through kodi, I'm also using tvcatchup, and skygo sideloaded using a usb keyboard as well as running netflix U.K, so I'm personally okay with the $5 a month for all those services because I'm using it for more than just the iplayer.
Haven't seen too much stable U.K streaming content with the kodi plugins either. The channels seem to come and go. The superrepo repository on kodi has channels like Phoenix with international live streams, but they can be a hit or a miss. To be honest, I haven't came across a reliable way to access iplayer without either a DNS proxy or VPN running on the router.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you running bbc iplayer through Kodi. Are you saying you run the official iplayer through the kodi shortcut? the bbc iplayer is the only app I see useful for myself. I don't use netflix. I personally think locator or unotelly should have different pricing for us based people as most of the things are open for use anyways here. Thanks for your viewpoint.
navigates said:
Why are you running bbc iplayer through Kodi. Are you saying you run the official iplayer through the kodi shortcut? the bbc iplayer is the only app I see useful for myself. I don't use netflix. I personally think locator or unotelly should have different pricing for us based people as most of the things are open for use anyways here. Thanks for your viewpoint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, here's the thing. The BBC iplayer apk app works only through a wireless connection. For some reason, the BBC have restricted anything running through ethernet on Android ( go figure ) and that's how I've got my Amazon Fire TV hooked up....by ethernet. Reason I need this is, when I'm running skygo, I need a stable connection for maximum picture quality and based on where my router is located, the wireless signal can cause skygo to adjust the stream quality so the picture can get worse or better depending on the signal. Ethernet basically solved that, so I had to sacrifice the BBC iplayer app on the Fire TV and relied on the iplayer plugin through Kodi. Fortunately, the Fire TV stick I have in the bedroom can work with wireless since it's pretty close to the router. I just use that with a mini bluetooth keyboard / touchpad, but for iplayer live streams, or catchup, both the app and kodi do the job if you're receiving a good enough wireless signal.
The bottom line is It all comes down to how much use you'd get out of that $5. For example, Sling TV charges $20 per month for its streaming service with a few addons costing $5 on top of that and they provide just a few channels, so for the amount I'm paying for the DNS proxy to get everything I'm using it for, it honestly is a pretty good bang for buck service.....especially if you've got a nice relative that allows you to access their skygo account :laugh:.
callanish said:
Well, here's the thing. The BBC iplayer apk app works only through a wireless connection. For some reason, the BBC have restricted anything running through ethernet on Android ( go figure ) and that's how I've got my Amazon Fire TV hooked up....by ethernet. Reason I need this is, when I'm running skygo, I need a stable connection for maximum picture quality and based on where my router is located, the wireless signal can cause skygo to adjust the stream quality so the picture can get worse or better depending on the signal. Ethernet basically solved that, so I had to sacrifice the BBC iplayer app on the Fire TV and relied on the iplayer plugin through Kodi. Fortunately, the Fire TV stick I have in the bedroom can work with wireless since it's pretty close to the router. I just use that with a mini bluetooth keyboard / touchpad, but for iplayer live streams, or catchup, both the app and kodi do the job if you're receiving a good enough wireless signal.
The bottom line is It all comes down to how much use you'd get out of that $5. For example, Sling TV charges $20 per month for its streaming service with a few addons costing $5 on top of that and they provide just a few channels, so for the amount I'm paying for the DNS proxy to get everything I'm using it for, it honestly is a pretty good bang for buck service.....especially if you've got a nice relative that allows you to access their skygo account :laugh:.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting that you said Bbc iPlayer does not work on ethernet. Mine does work on ethernet directly. However mine is rooted and I have google play with the framework installed. Not sure if it matters but just throwing it out. In my case, I totally agree with your POV of how much bang for the buck you get. I have a dish subscription and my wife wouldn't let me cancel that as she loves the DVR. I also have the slingtv just for kicks. Beats me !! and then I have easynews big gig plan of about 150 gigs a month for 30. I have to stop somewhere but I am tempted to get the unlocator. It works well and I tend to like the bbc hardtalk panoramas. but then I have easynews.
If there are any additional apps that come out later for UK based content, I may sign up.
callanish said:
Personally, I think it's worth the $5 a month I pay for unotelly. On the Amazon fire tv, Along with the bbc iplayer and the itv player which I'm running through kodi, I'm also using tvcatchup, and skygo sideloaded using a usb keyboard as well as running netflix U.K, so I'm personally okay with the $5 a month for all those services because I'm using it for more than just the iplayer.
Haven't seen too much stable U.K streaming content with the kodi plugins either. The channels seem to come and go. The superrepo repository on kodi has channels like Phoenix with international live streams, but they can be a hit or a miss. To be honest, I haven't came across a reliable way to access iplayer without either a DNS proxy or VPN running on the router.
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i'm a noob and just starting to explore this unotelly, how did you get this installed in ftv? download the apk and sideload? where did you get the apk? thanks much!
juvethski said:
i'm a noob and just starting to explore this unotelly, how did you get this installed in ftv? download the apk and sideload? where did you get the apk? thanks much!
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Unotelly isn't an app - its a DNS address that you have to subscribe to, and then enter in the Fire TV itself. This gets around country restrictions e.g. if you're in the US you can watch UK content, or a different countries' netflix
www.unotelly.com
Check out ironsocket.com
I use them for my VPN, and recently found out that they support SmartDNS for the Amazon Fire TV.
They didn't support XFinity TV Go, but after a quick support request and within 24 hours I'm able to use Xfinity app on FTV.
I'm able to use them for all other apps as well (HBOGO, WatchESPN and etc...)
Hi all,
I have 3 AFTV units (and a stick), and have had 5 or 6 in total, all of which have shipped with firmware too high to be able to be rooted.
So, my question is, I live in the UK and want to use a VPN, for several reasons, but to include watching US Netflix.
I have looked into installing my VPN (privateinternetaccess), but I understand this needs root to work.
Is there any way to do this? Or to at least unblock Netflix?
Cheers
TD
You don't need VPN/rooting to access Netflix in US(or other regions). You can use Smart DNS Proxy to set the DNS on your router side or Fire TV side to access required Netflix regions. The site also has step by step instructions to set the DNS entries.
gopichandpai said:
You don't need VPN/rooting to access Netflix in US(or other regions). You can use Smart DNS Proxy to set the DNS on your router side or Fire TV side to access required Netflix regions. The site also has step by step instructions to set the DNS entries.
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Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have a look...
Anyone suggest anything that doesn't cost more than I already pay for my vpn? Preferably free...
Edit :I've looked at that site, and although it appears useful I need one that i can easily turn on and off, and one that won't affect my real amazon UK account as i use it every single day lol
Tripledrop said:
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have a look...
Anyone suggest anything that doesn't cost more than I already pay for my vpn? Preferably free...
Edit :I've looked at that site, and although it appears useful I need one that i can easily turn on and off, and one that won't affect my real amazon UK account as i use it every single day lol
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If you login, you will be able to see the region settings for Netflix, Amazon prime, Crackle etc. You can set the Amazon Prime to UK. They also have VPN. You can use their both DNS as well as VPN service.
Smart DNS Proxy's sister company getfilx.com.au has exact same features and their lifetime subscription is available for just $39. You can have a look at the offer on Stack Social. Like Smart DNS, you will get both DNS as well as VPN service from getflix too. You can probably discontinue your existing VPN service.
Please note, the lifetime offer is offer for the duration of 30 years. $39 for 30 years a very good deal.
gopichandpai said:
If you login, you will be able to see the region settings for Netflix, Amazon prime, Crackle etc. You can set the Amazon Prime to UK. They also have VPN. You can use their both DNS as well as VPN service.
Smart DNS Proxy's sister company getfilx.com.au has exact same features and their lifetime subscription is available for just $39. You can have a look at the offer on Stack Social. Like Smart DNS, you will get both DNS as well as VPN service from getflix too. You can probably discontinue your existing VPN service.
Please note, the lifetime offer is offer for the duration of 30 years. $39 for 30 years a very good deal.
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Thanks again, however from researching the unblocking services, it seems if you have them setup on the aftv, you can't then access your own country's prime services, and i use that as much, if not more, than Netflix
Someone suggested strong dns, which apparently you can sideload, so I'll investigate this too
Tripledrop said:
Thanks again, however from researching the unblocking services, it seems if you have them setup on the aftv, you can't then access your own country's prime services, and i use that as much, if not more, than Netflix
Someone suggested strong dns, which apparently you can sideload, so I'll investigate this too
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That information is wrong. You can still access your country's prime services with DNS set. If you are having trouble accessing the prime services with DNS set, you can set the prime services region as UK and it will work just fine.
---------- Post added at 04:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------
They have free trial anyway. Why don't you try their free trial before buying paid subscription?
gopichandpai said:
That information is wrong. You can still access your country's prime services with DNS set. If you are having trouble accessing the prime services with DNS set, you can set the prime services region as UK and it will work just fine.
---------- Post added at 04:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------
They have free trial anyway. Why don't you try their free trial before buying paid subscription?
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Well I decided to take your advice, but using unblockr instead as it's just £2 per month with free trial, and I'm happy to report that Netflix is now showing the US version, and my other apps, including prime and others, still work perfectly
Thanks again for your advice