Using VPN to watch British TV
 

Anyone successfully using a VPN service? I could use some advice.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I used a VPN the other way around to watch US TV from Europe. I think I used Express VPN, it was free for 30 days, and was fairly straightforward. It is the first link below. Some channels still managed to block me though and put up a screen that said they would not provide content through a VPN. There are other ways beyond VPN ,Roku is one. I do not remember the others or use them but hopefully others will chime in.

Anyway, this might help:

https://privacyspark.com/vpn/streaming/uk-tv/
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/watch...ance-anywhere/

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

There are multiple threads on this topic already that you can find easily. Depending on what services you plan to access to watch Uk tv, you could be violating the terms of service of the service, for example iplayer terms specifically prohibit accessing via a VPN service. Britbox is one alternative that provides access to UK TV.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

VPN's come and go, work and then fail. I suggest sticking it out to see what people on here are saying currently works. Although it depends on what you want to use it for.

I recently dumped Smart DNS, as it stopped me accessing the BBC. I am currently using the built in VPN that comes with Norton. I am open to seeing which DNS's are currently working.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

Specifically need help or advice with anyone using AT&T and a Nord VPN.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I have subscribed to Nord to watch U.K. streaming, which works on all devices, but not the TV. As screen mirroring doesn’t seem to work (developer blocked?) to watch content from the U.K. on the TV I am having to buy a second router as our AT&T one doesn’t support VPN.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

​​​​​​For my setup, using chromecast, the casting issue is because the process tells the TV ( the cast receiver for me) what address to go fetch rather than directly relaying the image from the source.
A Work around, while you wait for the more robust option of a router level solution, could be to cast the screen rather than the tab, this will send the image, rather than the address to fetch. Probably need wired rather than wireless, devices for this to work reliably.

I think it is Siouxsie, who is good and knowledgeable on these issue, with a bit of luck she will be along soon.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

After years with overplay I switched to Nord. VPN works with BBC but not SmartDNS.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

For the more techical minded, I use NordVPN + get_iplayer which downloads the programme to a file. Then I can cast it to my TV whenever I want to (does use a lot of disk space).

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

happily watching iPlayer in the US using NORDvpn

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I'm having luck using Express VPN to watch the BBC.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I have no idea what VPN is, but here if you want to watch BBC there is a free-to-air channel called BBC America. This channel broadcasts tons of stuff such as 'Keeping up appearances', 'As time goes by by', etc. I am sure there is lots more content, but I have usually dozed off by then.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

Im finding NordVPN to be the most reliable and consistent. it allows multiple device connections and seems good with iplayers /bbc /c4 / itv etc.
I also installed on a UK firestick with most platforms and works great.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I use SurfShark and have never had any problems.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I setup my own OpenVPN server in an AWS datacenter in London. Costs me about ten pounds a month but is bulletproof.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

Not what people are looking for.
They want to watch current UK shows, not some reruns from the 70's -80's BBC America has its uses. But it's severely limited.

I have previously used a router set up as a separate network within my home. with it's own UK IP address. Worked well for the typical UK TV but we were always playing catch up as they (UK) would block the various IP addresses.

We gave up. It was too much bother and difficult to set up.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

If you watch the VPN channel, don't you have to have a TV licence? Personally I would worry too much about a Post Office detector van turning up in the street.
I will just carry on following Hyacinth Bucket. I can't imagine current UK shows can better this classic material.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I am not aware of BBC America being free to air, if you want to pay for America side UK TV, Britbox and even Acorn are better options than BBC America.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

If you tune in to channel 5 after 60 Minutes is finished, BBC America comes on. It might need a bit of fiddling with the aerial to point it at the PBS transmitter. I find that extending the rabbit ears doesn't make any difference.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I like this solution. Do you leave the virtual machine running 24/7, or run it as needed?

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I subscribe to ExpatPrime tv. The app is available on Amazon fire sticks so I can watch on the tv. Also they have a smartphone app and you can watch via a browser. 7 days of catch up and DVR and on demand included. I’ve been using it over a year now, by far the most reliable service I’ve used. Never really had much luck using a VPN to watch stuff from home.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

NordVPN (and maybe others) has an app in the Amazon store, I could recommend having a separate device like an Amazon Fire HD ~($40) setup with UK applications, and permanently connected via VPN. Expect it occasionally to fail, but overall very reliable.
I would happily pay for Channel 4, UKTV, BBC if I could, it's genuinely helpful for my mental health to access it when I feel homesick.

I pay for Britbox (which is owned by BBC/ITV) which has some good, mostly older content, plus I pay for Hulu in USA which has quite a lot of British content.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

I tend to use NordVPN or ExpressVPN on the Firestick.

Both work well with Channel 4 and ITV (even UKTV and Channel 5) but Iplayer is such a pain that I've largely given up on it

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

it used to be for me too, and I started to resort to using the browser which was a pain, but in the last 6-12 months it’s been working fine for me, good luck.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

Recently signed up for Nord VPN and running it primarily on a Fire stick. Working fine.

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

Thanks, as I said I'd given up on it, saw your post and gave it another try and it seems to be working again :)

Re: Using VPN to watch British TV
 

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cyberc...s-data-exposed

" 21 million free VPN users’ data exposed"
Though i dont think anyone recommends them on here. (SuperVPN, GeckoVPN, and ChatVPN)