So far TVMucho seems pretty reliable. Filmon is just pants right now and who knows if it will return, so many people complaining on social media.
Only downside is i have to connect laptop to TV as they dont yet have app for Roku or smart TV but they are apparently working on the smart TV thing

Yeah but they say that about anything these days. W10, Google...you name it, they all seem to be the same.

I signed up with my (secondary) gmail account as I have for most non essential things. I've had no increase in spam or anything.

Other than a brief period where it stopped for BBC iPlayer (but still fine for ITV) it's been great, second only to MediaHint.

MediaHint had the edge because it just worked without doing anything. Hoxx needs a click and select UK, which is no big deal but I keep forgetting to turn it off. The first I realise I left it on is when a video doesn't open on a site when it usually dodes - or when the subject of VPNs/Hoxx comes up.

For example, just as I was typing this I suddenly thought I may have left it on with last night's post. Sure enough, I did.

Been using Private Internet Access (PIA) for a couple of years now with no issues. Has a phone App also.

It is interesting to note that a new service currently available in US but soon to be available in Canada called Britbox is a streaming service for UK programs with a subscription and is backed by BBC and ITV (no channel 4 or 5 )

Are we now seeing a shift by the beeb as they realize that streaming their programs abroad is a money maker if they get it right?

https://www.britbox.com/ca

Sounds like a glorified BBC America/Canada, probably driven by competition from streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu

BBC Canada..if that is the model it is following we'll be sure to see Holmes on Holmes marathons and "Location Location' 24/7

I use TotalVPN, no probs, reasonably priced. Excellent support - I've needed that just twice in almost two years. The odd thing though was just last week, having submitted a log file after multiple 'authentication failed' messages. I gave up, went to bed and the next day everything was ok. I then saw their email telling me to do this, that and the other; replied thanks, it's sorted itself but I'll keep your email for next time. There will always be a next time.

I then asked for more info about their SmartDNS product, only to be told that they didn't have one. This I find a bit weird, as the Banner on their website advertising this product is very much in evidence. I'll take it up with them when I can be bothered.

Bottom line = it works fine 99.99% of the time, on laptop and tablet.

I had a post on one of the other threads wondering if there were signs they were finally waking up to the new world. Not sure if it was this one that made me think it but it could have been.

May well have been. I just keep seeing it on my Facebook feed so looked it up but it gives little information as it reverts to the Canadian Britbox site which simply asks you to register for updates.
Seems like it may well be old re runs of 20 year old comedies and the odd documentary or series thrown in. The interesting thing was the bit that said up to date soaps would be available 24 hrs after screening.
Wonder if any of the other channels will try and get on board if it succeeds

I use TVcatchup.com for streaming. Carries all the basic UK channels and works well here. I watched Andrew Marr and robert peston yesterday with only one 2/3 second blip. (Take no notice of the "only for folks in the UK" message!). Dropped Filmon when they stopped the download feature. TVcatchup has apps for IOS and Android as well as Windows. Ideal for watching the UK late news in bed on my tablet at 6.00am here! Have TVcatchup and Mobdro on my Android box connected direct to the TV which gets me all the live TV I ever want to watch.....

Live TV from UK is useless for me when we are 8 hours different which is why i liked the Filmon record feature. However the TV Mucho catch up allows me pretty much same thing as i can go back 7 days.
I found out today that i can use the apps "cast" feature so i can cast it direct to my smart TV and use the TV controls to control it so i don't have to keep getting up to fiddle with laptop mouse.
Have been having some issues with freezing for a few seconds every now and again which is annoying.

Absolutely. I don't use VPN or watch live UK TV. If it's any good it''l be on Kodi pretty quick so why deal with the hassle. and I can download it from Kodi and save it for viewing at any time without buffering.

Serious question - is Kodi any less of a 'hassle' than a VPN or other streaming?

VPN - (Hoxx as an example) one click of an icon and then click UK in the drop-down list and iPlayer is available.

Stream - click the bookmark for your favoured source, locate the title, click one of the links (vidzi usually best) that appears and watch.

That's pretty much it. Personally I use internet download manager on the streaming sites and save it (as you do on Kodi) for later.
I don't know how Kodi works but it's hard to imagine it's less hassle than something that requires so little 'work'

Good question. I had heard of Kodi, but never looked into it until last week, when explaining my forthcoming issue to my new-found electrician. My problem will be having to ditch my satellite set-up (too many trees obscuring) and move to another solution. I was thinking of a Freeview set-top box backed with Smart DNS, no 'PC in the middle'.

Still intrigued by Kodi though...

I haven't been able to record any programs on Filmon for the past 2 weeks for some reason. A lot of times I can't even play recordings. The service is not as good as it used to be.

I use Kodi occasionally but am still trying out various plugins.