VPN Recommendations and Discussion

[Dannie Boy]

I just saw that if you subscribe to Nord within the next 9 hours you get 3 months for free.

https://nordvpn.com/

I seem to recollect seeing the same yesterday - I assume that’s a rolling offer to tempt you?

[PeteC]

I just saw that if you subscribe to Nord within the next 9 hours you get 3 months for free.

https://nordvpn.com/

I seem to recollect seeing the same yesterday - I assume that’s a rolling offer to tempt you?

We'll know in 8+ hours if it's rolling. "Black Friday" is the day after Thanksgiving in the USA and it appears they've rolled it out worldwide based upon the local time/date zones.

[Big Boy]

I'm sure if you look hard enough, the deal will always be available to get new customers on board. I know with Express I found loads of special deals, all offering similar things from 1 to 4 months free. I chose the 4 months, of course

[derek60]

I just got NordVPN and in minutes iPlayer worked a treat. After spending hours trying to get it to work with ExpressVPN. So thanks for that. Doesn't work with Channel 4 though

I can't get iPlayer to work on my Firestick with ExpressVPN. Very annoying!

Its a third of what ExpressVPN is charging so even if I can't use it for iPlayer (which barely works for me anyway), I'll take it if it does everything else the same!

Just FWIW and to pass on my personal experience, I just brought a Firestick 4K back from the UK and have no problem watching BBC iPlayer, ITVX etc using NordVPN.

I mention the model because strange as it may seem, you do get different behaviour from different devices from the same company. For instance, I have a Mi TV box and a Mi TV stick and split tunneling* works fine on the stick but won't work at all on the box.

Split tunneling also works on the Firestick 4K by the way, in case anyone's interested.

*Split tunneling allows you to have the VPN on, but only have it active for the apps you choose. So I can leave the VPN on all the time and watch BBC, ITV and TrueID or BeIN Sports Thailand without switching the VPN on and off as I switch between apps that require different geolocations.

[Dannie Boy]

Have you been able to access ITV Hub?

[GroveHillWanderer]

I just got NordVPN and in minutes iPlayer worked a treat. After spending hours trying to get it to work with ExpressVPN. So thanks for that. Doesn't work with Channel 4 though

Hmmm - I'll have to check on Channel 4 when I get back to Hua Hin (travelling up country at the moment) but I'm sure I've used it in the past without any problems.

It can (and does) vary depending on what hardware/software platform you're on. I've had it working with the Channel 4 app running on an Android tablet or phone, on an Android TV OS box and on a Windows laptop in the Firefox browser. What OS/hardware platform(s) are you using?

[GroveHillWanderer]

Sorry, now that I think about it, when I had Channel 4 working in Firefox on the Windows laptop (which was some time back) it was with Surfshark, not NordVPN - and I was using the Surfshark add-on for Firefox, not the separate Surfshark programme running stand-alone.

In general, if on a Windows platform and accessing the channels via a browser, it's better to use the browser add-on rather than the separate programme. That's what the VPN manufacturers say, anyway.

[Dannie Boy]

I normally access Channel 4 on a Windows laptop using Firefox, but if that fails I’ll try Edge or Opera - normally one of them will work.

[PeteC]

Further reading indicates that Surfshark is now owned by Nord Security, but they operate independently.

[Dannie Boy]

I just tried the Nord VPN website and it’s still offering 3 free months in the next 9 hours!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PeteC]

I just tried the Nord VPN website and it’s still offering 3 free months in the next 9 hours!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Forever ongoing then!

[404cameljockey]

I've used Witopia since 2009. Never had any issues with service or customer service. USD 59.99 for 12 months, no free trial but moneyback after 30 days if not satisfied. They always had a dedicated BBC compliant server when the Beeb used to find and block suspected VPN IP addresses. Not needed now I know, but shows they are responsive.

I don't use a VPN for streaming as I use a worldwide TV service for all TV and PPV stuff, so I can't speak to their speed for streaming, but downloads are quick.

I think their 25pct off Black Friday deal is still open.

[Dannie Boy]

I find the VPN experience quite bizarre at times - I’m currently using Express VPN and last night I watched a BBC programme via my Windows laptop and Firefox - it worked perfectly. I then went to watch a second programme and without changing anything, it showed the message “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK”!! I changed to Opera and then he same programme played first time!!

This morning I wanted to watch a short BBC video on my iPad and on the BBC News app it includes at the top of the screen a drag down option for iPlayer - message “this is not available in your location”. I went to the actual BBC iPlayer app and the video worked - very frustrating!!

As previously mentioned, I’m going to give Nord a try and see if that is any more consistent.

[buksida]

Happens to me also, its very inconsistent. Looking forward to reading the Nord reviews/experiences when doing the same things.

[GroveHillWanderer]

Happens to me also, its very inconsistent. Looking forward to reading the Nord reviews/experiences when doing the same things.

I've not had messages telling me I'm not in the UK when using NordVPN but what I do get occasionally is a message telling me that a programme is not available, but that this is probably a temporary issue and to try again later. It generally only happens when trying to open a recently aired programme via the Channel schedule.

It doesn't seem to affect catch up programmes accessed via the Home page, Categories or Search.

Also, I only get it on Android TV (at least, I can't recall getting it on Windows) and it can usually be fixed by exiting iPlayer, going to the list of running apps, clearing the iPlayer cache and force stopping it.

I also don't think this is specifically a NordVPN issue, I used to get the same thing when using Surfshark. I suspect the problem is Android TV OS related, not VPN related.