unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

We're getting a new TV and we have Unblockus set up on the router.

Now we need a WiFi connectable TV but also one that works with Unblockus. I'm sure I've read something about not all sets being compatible, Sony Bravia is one.

Any recommendations please?

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

I have a Samsung Smart Tv which works fine with Unblockus. Sony Bravia TVs are very nice but I don't think Sony's prices are justified.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Our Sony TV was less than the equivalent Samsung model in CostCo. YMMV.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Do you use it with WiFi or Ethernet cable?

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

We have an LG and use wifi and used to use unblock us and it worked fine with it.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Wi-Fi.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

A laptop and an HDMI cable,simple as that!

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Thanks!

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Been doing that for a couple of years but we want something simpler

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Here is a support thread from Unblock-us:
https://support.unblock-us.com/custo...ravia?b_id=530

Short version: Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic TV's and Blu Ray players that are "smart" will require a US netflix account to access US netflix, even if you're using Unblock us. This would, I presume, mean you'd need a US billing address. Not sure about accessing other countries, possibly the same.

It's possible not all TVs of the brands above have the problem mentioned.

Any specific reason why you want / need a smart TV? If it's to access things like netflix, it could be better to get some external player, for example, Roku, AppleTV, Chromecast, etc...

Yes, it's an additional expense, but you could factor that into the budget, it could mean you might get a non smart TV for less than the smart one and spend the difference on the additional box.

I can say for certain that an Apple TV will happily work with Unblock-us and allow you to access whatever regions you want, as that's the setup I've got - paired to a 47" LG non-smart TV.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

ah, interesting, ta muchly. I had looked on the Unblockus support posts but hadn't read that one.

We were looking at a smart TV as it would been fewer boxes cluttering up the place. Unblockus says that you need a UK Roku account to access BBC, ITV etc, so that rules Roku out. We do have an Asus cube but it's next to useless as an Android box and thats put me off getting an Android but there was a thread on here a while back about how good Android was.

So maybe Apple TV is the answer for us. Is the Apple box wifi??

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

I assume that your router is configured for the Smart DNS IP address of unblockus and not VPN.

It appears that many streaming devices (Smart TVs, streaming blu ray players, etc.) use the DNS server IP address (either the IP Address configured in the router or some newer Smart TVs also allow for configuration of the DNS IP address) to determine which applications to download and from where. For instance if the DNS server is configured for a UK IP address, then the iplayer app should download to your streaming device.

New LG Smart TVs also have a configuration that is more than just a entering a DNS IP address.

After doing some internet research, it appears that Sony, Panasonic, and LG Smart TVs and streaming blu ray players will work correctly with a router configured with a foreign Smart DNS server's IP address to access county centric web sites in the foreign country. Their newer TV's menu also can configure the foreign Smart DNS server's IP address.

Samsung TVs and blu ray streaming players also work but the software in the streaming device blocks iplayer from working. The iplayer app may download but according to reports from many web sites, it won't work. I suspect Samsung is worried about being sued by the BBC and has implemented software to make iplayer not work if the TV is not a UK model number.

Click on each of the Smart TVs listed in the following link to determine if there are any problems using the Smart TV with unblockus.

https://www.unblock-us.com/how-to-set-up/

The above list appears to infer that all the listed devices will work if the router is configured with a foreign DNS IP address and configuring the streaming device is not necessary. However I'm not sure if that is true.

Some streaming devices are not listed but apparently there are ways to make them work according to the following article.

How to get US Netflix on Chromecast and Roku devices | Expert Reviews

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Yup, it's both WiFi and Wired (ethernet). More info here: Apple - Apple TV - HD iTunes content and more on your TV.

I've had a couple of AppleTV's, from the original one, and have had the current latest little black box for a few years.

It's great for Netflix, a lot quicker than my Xbox One, plus I dislike the interface for Netflix on my Xbox.

I actually have my AppleTV set up to use US Netflix (with a Canadian account - so I know it works), and my Xbox set to Canadian Netflix. I'm using Unblock-us to manage things, and have an app (theirs I think) to switch regions on my iPhone. Very quick and handy (just connect to my wifi, select the region, fire up netflix and away I go)

One thing though, there were rumours that Apple was going to announce a new Apple TV and software development kit at their conference last week, but nothing came of it. It might well be it's not ready yet, there's rumours about them offering their own streaming service, and they did launch the music version, Apple Music, at the conference, so TV might be close too.
I mention this as new hardware will always be the thing to go for, but at the moment it's an unknown quantity.

If you do go for one and have questions, I'd be happy to offer advice :)

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

We use Chromecast with our televisions. There's an extra workaround in your router that you have to do to get it to work, but once that's set up it works a treat. :)

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Same here. All three TVs ( 2 panasonics and the LG ) plus all three Apple Tvs work fine with unblockus

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

We use a Samsung Smarttv with unblockus, with the latter configured at the router level. We signed up for a US Netflix account, with a Canadian credit card and billing address. It works a treat. All I did was sign up/set up the unblockus first, then went to netflix.com in my computer's browser, signed up (which gives you a US account when accessing it with unblockus) and then connected smart tv and signed in.

Cheers

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

We've bought a smart tv on sale in Bestbuy, will get it rigged up this weekend and see how or if it works.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

I didn't bother with getting the Smart TV option when I got my TV last year. Saved myself a $100. I'm pretty sure most people get the Smart TV for Netflixs. The rest of the crap apps aren't worth it. As far as I know you can't pic up Canadian Free View channels on a Smart TV.

I then bought a Minix Neo 8h media box for $180. Which has all the Smart TV options and more. I run Netflixs and othe apps on it. I also have XMBC on it. Which is already installed on the box when you by it. Though I had to configure XBMC myself.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

What's a free view channel? Over the air or something else?


We got a smart TV as it was on clearance and cheaper then the normal TV's not on clearance, it was a 2013 model in 2014, so I suppose the store was trying to get rid of them since they had new models of the same brand and size.

Not sure I'd pay extra though, only thing we use it for is netflix, have never used any of the other apps, none are useful or just redundant, why use Cineplex on demand when Shaw offers movies for the same price?

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Yes, I too was wondering about the freeview channel thing. If it's a cable channel then in theory plugging in a cable to the tv and wall should pick up something. These days it's likely all digital, and I think Clear QAM is the term used for non encrypted digital channels, of which there are a couple, and the TV should be able to pick them up, but I have noticed some do move around on the channel number. My guess is it's the cable companies doing their bit to "persuade" you to get a subscription.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Without the cable box, not even our old school 2005 TV can pick anything up, before it went all digital it would pick up some channels by just plugging it into the cable outlet, but now it can't.

No over the air can be picked up either, too far from Vancouver and mountains in the way blocking TV and radio signals over the air.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Sorry, should have said the TV would need a QAM thingy in it to pick up the digital signals, but it won't for obvious reasons, pick up the encrypted ones.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Aagghh
We took the Vizio back as it didn't have a native browser so we couldn't get BBC
We got a Samsung. Can't get BBC. " This device is no longer supported"
Netflix won't play anything it just shows us Marco Polo
Unhappy, deeply and miserably unhappy.
The damn thing is going back and we get an unsmart tv.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

I apologise if my question seems stupid to you but have you opened your Netflix account on the Smart TV?

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

Oh yes. We did that. No worries about a stupid question thoigh. The simple things are often easy to forget.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

FWIW I'll provide my experience with getting Netflix on my Smart TV.
MY Router/modem is located in the basement. I, basically, did not have a
sufficiently strong signal to get Netflix on the TV on the main floor. Read up about signal boosters and eventually at Best Buy bought a Netgear booster which plugs into electric wall socket, which I did in the kitchen about 10 feet from the TV. It works like a charm and also boosts signals on the other devices. At Best Buy they told me if it didn't work I had 30 days to return for full refund. I think it cost $70-80. Not cheap on top of the TV cost but, for me, a good investment.
Much Good Luck, I know how exasperating it can be.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

We use Chromecast with our televisions, with some custom software set up in the router. We can then do Netflix, BBC, and a load of other apps all from phones etc. We have the desktop connected to one TV as well, which is convenient. Drop a PM if you want the details of how to do it, or hunt through my previous posts as I've posted our setup in the past.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

We returned the smart and now have an LG with fancy sound bar. All is well in the bat cave.

Many thanks for the kind offers of help.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

We have been using unblockus again and up until yesterday worked fine, and we could access US/UK and other netflix fine, we can still access the US version, but every time we try to go to the UK one we get an error and netflix won't load, change the settings back to Canada or the US and it works fine.

Has netflix figured out how to block people using services like this, or just a fluke of some sort?

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

One of the following is likely the cause of the problem.

• The Smart DNS server that you are using has a problem.
• A software upgrade on the UK Smart DNS servers caused UK Netflix not to work.
• Netflix UK upgraded their software which caused Netflix not to work for Smart DNS and Smart DNS has to be re-customized for the UK Netflix web site.

The concept of how Smart DNS gets around the country centric authentication is well known and if desired, web sites could block Smart DNS from working. Apparently most companies don't care enough to spend the money to change the way video services web sites work to block Smart DNS.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

I got one of these bad boys.

Philips Passive Indoor Antenna (SDV1125T) : TV Antennas - Best Buy Canada

I can pick up Global, CBC, CTV and CTV2. Ive read reviews of people picking up more with it. depends where you are I guess. Im in east van.

The quality is amazing. I was surprised.

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

I use a raspberry, it started out just as a media player as i was frustrated that my smart tv wouldn't always play the movies i downloaded to my hard drive, a format thing.
Its evolved into much more, apps have been added and i can watch a lot of UK TV and american/canadian as well as what seems like and endless list of TV programme seasons and the movies too. I watched the new Jurassic Park movie last week in standard def as i had internet issues and the HD was stuttering. Telus where at my place this last saturday and fixed my connection and the tech was impressed enough by this raspberry to go get $200 and my friend who makes them brought him one.
Thats a one off payment and more TV and Movies than you could ever watch and it still controls the playback so if i stop a movie half way through i don't have to fast forward when i go back to it it asks me if i wish to resume playback, that was really annoying having to fast forward when the hard drive was plugged directly into my TV. For those who are way more techy than me you could probably build one yourself, heres a link.

Raspberry Pi - Cana Kit

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

What is the Pi running, and presumably it can handle 1080p content?

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.
 

yes it can, basicly a mini PC with a 64gb SD card loaded up with media players and apps. Certain movies i saved on my 2TB hard drive where 1080p or blue ray and they played with no issues, return of the king (lord of the rings) is awesome inn that format lol the battle scenes etc
You can adjust the buffer to zero or buffer lots if you think you need it.
I have "The World At War" saved as blue ray and thats a fantastic playback too.
Oops didn't answer what its running lol its running KODI

Re: unblockus and smart TV sets.