newadventure

Sorry, I know it has been covered loads of times before, but i can only find posts saying how well it works on StrongVPN.

I have tried 4OD, and that works fine. When i go to iPlayer, i don't get the msg saying that it is unavailable outside UK, but i just get a blank screen when i press Play.

I have tried switching server and get the same on all 3 servers i have tried. Is it possible that BBC have flagged these servers and i am just unlucky, or am i doing something stupid?

Thanks

newadventure

Gah...i tried in IE and it worked. Doesn't work in my version of Firefox for some reason. Sorted

cluedweasel

That's a weird one. I watch iPlayer in FF using Strongvpn fine. Glad you got a workaround though. Chrome works fine here too.

Nutek

Might be worth trying a Flash update.

Wish 4oD had a download/record function. I thought it used to, but seems to be missing now.

dinosaur

imho, Chrome seems to work best for UK TV services (iPlayer, 4od, itv).

Perhaps not exactly related to original post, depending on VPN provider, bandwidth likely fluctuates....when low, the iPlayer has a useful "low bandwidth" option on each page. However, haven't found an equivalent on 4od (which would be nice). Of course, also there's the iPlayer downloader for those that plan ahead.

Nutek

Gotta download my Eastenders and (1977) ToTP

newadventure

Thanks all for replies

RE: Flash update - this might be partly related. When i went to IE it told me i needed a new Flash update. After installing it worked fine, but Firefox still didn't. Probably something specific to my settings/addons etc.

Might give Chrome a try
Cheers

Nutek

Did the same to me a week or so ago. i had to reinstall Flash twice, once with the vpn connected, once without. maybe a regional setting or something?

It's worked fine ever since.

newadventure

Ok, might give that a go then. I'm about to bite the bullet and order an INTERNET ONLY service from Comcast and rely on iPlayer, Netflix and antenna for our tv. Not sure the kids are going to like it....

Nutek

I will be interested to see how that works out.

I have comcast right now (yuck... yay for no choice), but a lot of our viewing is Amazon Prime (Roku) and iPlayer.
The stuff we do watch from comcast is all off of the DVR as i just cannot get used to all the damn commercials.

dinosaur

Cut the cord over a year ago, and the kids are fine with it - they did used to watch the Disney Channel and Nickleodeon, but with Fineas and Ferb on Netflix, plus plenty of other things, as well as CBBC, and PBS via antenna, there's no problem. It's also resulted in them introducing many of their friends to Horrible Histories...

One other thing is that with a Netflix subscription, have noticed when you tunnel to the UK via VPN and bring up Netflix, you get the UK selection - it's a little different than the US selection.

newadventure

Thanks for the tip, Dinosaur. I was hoping it would be easier to not give them the option in the first place vs try and wean them off later. And now the wife has found 24 on Netflix, she is happy.

Bob

When you install Flash, there is a specific version for IE and then you need to install the non-IE version for other browsers.


http://filehippo.com/download_flashplayer_ie/ Links down at the bottom.

newadventure

Thanks for all replies. Moving slightly o/t here, but wondering if i can still pick your collective brains...

So, i've got my iPlayer etc and can hook up my laptop to the tv using an hdmi cable, but now i'm getting fussy and i want to control what i watch from the sofa rather than get up and walk to the laptop. I'm wondering how these streaming boxes work - can i use strongvpn on these so i can stream from iPlayer? Or are they somehow hardwired to the various streaming sites (netflix etc)?

Or, i would like to buy a blu ray/dvd player - if i get a wireless enabled player, will that be able to connect wirelessly to the laptop and use the strongvpn link on the laptop, and then have the laptop next to me on the sofa.

Or should i get a longer hdmi cable?
Cheers

Bob

If you get a blu-ray player, the Sony one will have most of the movie sites built in and work well and you can use serviio or whatever to stream stuff from your laptop, but the current version doesn't stream webcontent so there's a bit of a shit work around. If you used a media box to stream, you'd have the issue of either firmware hacking it to use the VPN, or you'd have to set up your router to auto switch the VPN on depending on the content.