I've had enough. Foxtel subscriber who doesn't believe they are getting good value for money.

I watch

Sports
News and Docs
Entertainment channels

She watches

Easterners
Lifestyle programs

Need to check but I think this is costing about $110 per month

There's got to be a better way.

Free TV - guess it depends on the sport but fine for F1 and cricket

No good for the rugby union though.

So free TV is something I was considering. If I could get BBC (currently wife watches easterners through UKTV on Foxtel), and perhaps an internet only subscription to Fox Sports I'd be happy. I think Sky offered an internet only subscription to Skysports.

The VPN/SmartDNS and Netflix route may be appropriate.

What I'm looking at is:

• the VPN service referenced on the other thread,
• the NAS box as the VPN endpoint, connecting through to the UK & US and exposing a gateway to the internal network
• in the UK direct access to iplayer/4OD/etc. and potentially getting hold of a NowTV box, redirecting it via the VPN tunnel, and thus getting access to Sky subs etc.
• in the US access to the usual catchup TV services there, and Netflix via a sub
• accessing it via a box or two on the telly, or via a tablet/PC

I think most of that should be possible.

Eastenders is available a day after the UK on the internet - my daughter kept up-to-date for free whilst here in December (don't watch it myself but surprised the SIL did )

I like American rubbish I'm afraid - plenty to watch on free channels.

Look at different Foxtel plains

What was she watching it through?

Yeah think I'll head down that route, but try keep it a little simpler.

What's a good NAS under $400 these days?

I run an HP Microserver, with multiple disks in it. Microserver itself is ~$250 on the right day, and 3TB disks are $130 each. Lots of flexibility that way. Most of your Qnaps and Synologys are more expensive/less capable.

Which model?

Well I've got the N36L, but the N54L is pretty much the same/newer.

Not a big expert on NAS. Kind of know what I want out of one though. Backup, media server, cloud storage (accessible via all devices, away from network). Any cons on this?

Basically this is a 4 bay server box, so you are installing whatever software you want, etc. - which means it requires you to do the install/setup work, it's not turnkey.

On the plus side, you have a lot of flexibility to make it do what you want, and there are loads of tutorials around for the newbie. Here's an example,

http://josephlo.wordpress.com/2013/0...-unraid-setup/

You'll find it all over the place - so lots of online support. It is Linux though - if you are a windows fiend there are plenty running their 'home server' (wouldn't recommend).

Personally I run UNRAID which from three disks gives me some RAID and 6TB of storage. Note this OS is currently on the way to version 6 - which will be built on XEN for multiple virtual machines on the server (with some more memory). Upshot is you can run a Windows session and VNC into it from your phone/tablet. I use Serviio as the media server, others use Plex. Here's some of the plugins available for the v5 of the software http://lime-technology.com/wiki/inde...nRAID5_Plugins

Best way to get one is to hang around on Ozbargain waiting for a deal to come round. There is a new version of this box out (the G8) which is less well received/more money. eg https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/137850

Cheers Gary

Don't mind running Linux. Is the Linux preloaded or to you have to sort that out like you would with windows server?