Watching the BBC iPlayer (a good and free VPN!)

[JR8]

Really? Damn.... maybe I should do a reinstall and see if it will link me in with UK IPs again!

[JR8]

No reinstall, just logged in and checked the IP and now it has me in London (for the first time in about 2 weeks).

[carlsum1986]

it has also gotten better where they have removed those annoying banners they previously had above all webpages......

[JR8]

The banners were annoying, worse were the windows it opened in the background with ads with audio automatically running. But there is no such thing as free, and they do have to finance it somehow...

Once you had figured out how to control those foibles, I found it provided all that you needed. If it continues working I might revert back to using it.

[ScoobyDoes]

I am trying this now on a different PC, now at home instead of the office and it always pauses/hesitates.

Using Speedtest i get a d/l from the UK of 0.90Mbps and upload of 1.35Mbps. Running the same test to the server in SG a couple of minutes later i get a d/l of 15.5Mbps and an upload of 1.46Mbps so the issue is definately not the local bandwidth but StarHubs's overseas bandwidth.

Do you think there is anyway to improve this (no, not with SingTel cause i'm tied into a Hubbing Package)? I don't see a setting in the iPlayer to increase the buffer or anything.

I was hoping this might be my solution to watching the F1 this season but with the current bandwidth


EDIT: I just did the Speedtest to the UK again, keeping the SG IP Address without the ExpatShield on and got an 11.8Mbps. So, how do i get the UK bandwidth via ExpatShield?

[JR8]

Been watching the rugby all day via Expatshield.... not a single problem. No buffering, no ad-overs...

Neither with the results!

[ScoobyDoes]

When you connect via ExpatShield what kind of d/load do you get via Speedtest?

I resorted to a Proxy off a ProxyList but these are quite unreliable and often need changed. I got double the speed via the proxy than i did via the shield.

[aster]

There's an iPad app out now that might work abroad if you're signed up to the UK iTunes store.

No downloading of content though, you have to watch it while you're connected to wifi.

[JR8]

When you connect via ExpatShield what kind of d/load do you get via Speedtest?

I resorted to a Proxy off a ProxyList but these are quite unreliable and often need changed. I got double the speed via the proxy than i did via the shield.

When I last tested it, I wrote 'My local access download speed is 5.83Meg, with the ip switched to London [ExpatShield] it is 5.53Meg.'

What kind of speeds are you seeing?

[JR8]

For the record It's still free and functioning fine for me. Nothing altered, no fiddling about, it just works.

Getting my daily dose of day-time TV. 'Homes under the Hammer' (or 'My property porn' as my wife refers to it lol...)

[durain]

i think you just want to watch lucy alexander.

[JR8]

i think you just want to watch lucy alexander.

Somewhat mutton dressed as lamb. Built in shock absorbers.

[Bet a visit to the jacksie would be mandatory]

[muddyleopard]

Can anyone recommend a decent VPN that doesn't cost too much? I tried Expat shield but frankly it's pants.

[JR8]

Can anyone recommend a decent VPN that doesn't cost too much? I tried Expat shield but frankly it's pants.

I wrote earlier:

https://www.my-private-network.co.uk/ is a VPN that I have previously used. £5/month

Trouble was, that we were locked into a long-term broadband contract that had a theoretical max bandwidth of 2meg, and actual of c.1.2-1.5meg

With the bandwidth loss of 'going via' the UK that went down to under 1meg, where you cannot stream TV.

So I cancelled my subscription. Shame really, as it was a clear and simple product to use. If I go back to a paid VPN, it is likely to be with this company.

Another I've used that was good was ibVPN.

What do you need the VPN for? If watching TV I find ExpatShield fine (was watching Homes Under the Hammer just last night as it happens). If you use it for surfing you will get regular pop-ups, and new tabs, and redirected searches which obviously does get very annoying very quickly.

[durain]

just get someone in the UK to host a PC/laptop connected to their broadband for you and install a proxy server. buy them some bak kwa or durain dodo for their trouble. sorted.