Raffin

Since Monday of this week I haven't been able to watch anything on BBC iPlayer. The usual suspect is my somewhat erratic internet service, but I have been able to watch programmes live, something not always possible for me. Usually I find the iPlayer works well, so I wonder if anyone else is experiencing this?

doug Keeler

I believe you cannot watch many BBC programs from outside the UK which is a real drag!
I am able to watch and download from the beeb using a VPN, (virtual private network).
While you can find a VPN online free, I use one for which I pay an annual subscription.
I hope this helps

Raffin

Yes Doug, that's what I have been doing too..but I have read the BBC log when I attempt a download and I am now sure the VPN I have been using has been rumbled on the iPlayer. The VPN provider won't admit to me that outside the UK is being detected but has suggested I change to another VPN option they offer which has a number of UK ISPs rather than just the one.
It was the cheapest UK VPN you can get and it did well over 3 years but I will now trial their alternative and a couple of others.
I am more interested in downloading than watching live but just lately have found viewabroad.com quite a good non-VPN alternative for some live UK TV viewing.

doug Keeler

Hi Raffin ,

It sounds like you are well versed in all these problems....
I'm using Boleh VPN which is working well for me
their support team is outstanding too.

Best

doug Keeler

I had a look at viewabroad.com ....
quite impressive too!
thanks for the tip.

ex reg

Zenmate is an excellent free VPN which works perfectly with BBC and ITV.

doug Keeler

Great....I might give that a try ( as it's a freebee and it works ) !

It would be kinda cool to have a thread or two with Phils specific
info on ISPs ; TV providers; Dish TV : Cheap computer kit from on line suppliers; errr
also .... where to get decent bread with a proper crust ; how to make decent pastry with the local flour; who makes English Sauasges ; where to get Benson and hedges : And I would kill for a Melton Mowberry pork pie!
Sighhhhh

quiltman

Said it before and will say it again. I use Filmon for downloading UK programmes.Streaming is free but recording costs.
OK so now costs approx £6 a month for 11 hours - first hour is free. works fine for us as we rarely look to stream due to time difference etc.Nice thing is that if you are away then your recordings are kept and you can download them on your return.You can get all UK channels and set recordings for up to 7 days ahead. Oh, viewabroad use Filmon for their streams. downloads are quite quick in the morning but do slow up in afternoon, but that's t'internet here I expect.

quiltman

forgot to say. No VPN needed. Filmon is fully legal - they pay for the right to provide the programmes. Was set up by an eccentric billionaire precisely to help expats get TV from their home countries.

doug Keeler

Right ....
Thanks a lot for the input Raffin,
I use the Boleh VPN together with BBC iPlayer or somesuch. which works for me very well. Anyway I have the current VPN subscription to work through. I really do a lot of downloading so I think that, when I do the arithmetic, I will find my current VPN will be personally more beneficial ( cheaper ) I will certainly try Filmon for streaming
(as it is free). .....Regards

quiltman

Once you've downloaded a programme, just delete it and that amount of time becomes free again. just like the old Tivo recorder we had on Virgin Media.

Raffin

Oops Ex Reg..Zenmate have now moved the UK to their Premium service!
I'm still hunting around the VPNs but so far would definitely recommend the CyberGhost free version..easy to use with few drawbacks ..just a time limit (which seems to be 5 hours before one is disconnected rather than the 3 hours advertised..but one can just reconnect immediately) and I found streaming from the BBC iPlayer often had significant buffering. Anyway, there is always the BBC iPlayer Downloader.
Have also tried Private Tunnel. Streaming was better but I didn't like their "Pay as you go" charging scheme.

Raffin

...well CyberGhost free is free so one should expect occasions when their UK servers are full, as was the case late yesterday afternoon.Sso if you want an "always on" VPN you probably do have to pay. But it is alright so far this morning.

ex reg

Would you believe it.
Was using Zenmate for months in Singapore no problem.
We've been back in UK for 2 months now until yesterday when we traveled to France for a holiday.
So I tried Zenmate yesterday night and as you say no UK connection.

So I tried Hola and that works fine for me here. And it's FREE.

Raffin

Oh, nice to be in France again, Ex Reg! I suspect internet things work better there. I can't get the Hola Unblocker to work here. I recall giving it a go a few months ago and it's the same now. Judging by the comments on their site I am not the only one. I'm currently working up the annual cost league to find a VPN that will unblock simply and stream a reasonable BBC video without too many restrictions. But CyberGhost free still not doing too badly, apart from the odd glitch.