Accessing BBC iPlayer from outside the UK

[Ayahuasca]

As an expat being able to watch the BBC on iPlayer is one of the things that keeps me sane.

I would gladly send them a cheque for an amount equivalent to the licence fee, if such a payment option existed.

I connected via a VPN, but the BBC now will not allow a connection that comes via a VPN.

What other solutions would work?

Yes I know moving back to the UK is a solution that would work, but no.

Thanks!

[dmitry]

Unotelly dns, at least it worked as recently as a month ago.

[bridgdav]

I'm able to watch from the USA, just now through TunnelBear VPN..



Live streaming and older show playbacks..
Try resetting the VPN link

[satans worm]

I use a dns service and am based in America.
Works perfectly fine utalising my Xbox one, I can get BBC , itv, ch4 and ch5
Like you said, it's a life saver when being an expat, not just because American tv preaches to retards with more advert time than tv, but just watching English tv gives a feeling of happiness like a roast dinner!
The only thing I can't fool is Netflix, somehow they always know:-/

[mark387mw]

I'm using Unotelly but BBC iplayer not working again. Unotelly seem slow and unreliable at the moment against the BBC geo blocking.

Are there any suggestions of providers quick at overcoming the BBC blocking? PureVPN and NordVPN seem the front runners but has anyone on here used them?

[crossy67]

I've been using PIA which worked great until recently until you started having to log in to view. I think (may be wrong) you log in then when (and it always does eventually) the BBC finds you're not in the UK, either through a known VP IP address or a tracking cookie they block your log in.

I know very little about computer stuff so could be completely wrong but it makes sense to me why my VPN worked for the 1st few days of logging in and now never does.

[DuckAvenger]

http://tvcatchup.com/

[RizzoTheRat]

I was just thinking I've had no trouble getting on to iPlayer through PureVPN, but thinking about it I've only used it once since I had to register and log in. I'll be bloody annoyed if it does block me, I'm paying for a TV licence FFS!

There's a thread on the Computer Gadgets & Stuff forum on VPNs, it appears quite a few aren't as good as they claim, I tested my PureVPN connection and it does suffer from DSN leakage, which allows someone who's looking for it to work out where I am, so it could well be that's how they're working out you're not in the UK.

[andy_s]

TunnelBear has worked for me for several years to watch iPlayer while abroad, about 8 months ago Netflix dropped off as they blocked VPNs and this week the beeb have followed suit it seems; can't get it at all even when the top bar includes 'iPlayer' link (normally a sign you're viewed as being in the UK).

It would certainly be possible to create a system whereby you sign in with your 'licence account' to watch iPlayer anywhere I would have thought.

[Ayahuasca]

andy_s said:

TunnelBear has worked for me for several years to watch iPlayer while abroad, about 8 months ago Netflix dropped off as they blocked VPNs and this week the beeb have followed suit it seems; can't get it at all even when the top bar includes 'iPlayer' link (normally a sign you're viewed as being in the UK).

It would certainly be possible to create a system whereby you sign in with your 'licence account' to watch iPlayer anywhere I would have thought.

With the BBC IPlayer, if you turn the vpn off, close the iPlayer app, then turn them both back on again, it eventually works. Might need to try this a few times.

[andy_s]

Ayahuasca said:

With the BBC IPlayer, if you turn the vpn off, close the iPlayer app, then turn them both back on again, it eventually works. Might need to try this a few times.

Cheers - will give it a shot.

[mark387mw]

DuckAvenger said:

http://tvcatchup.com/

That’s only playing live TV which doesn’t work for timings - in NZ we’d be watching breakfast news in the evening instead of a gritty drama.

[mark387mw]

andy_s said:

Ayahuasca said:

With the BBC IPlayer, if you turn the vpn off, close the iPlayer app, then turn them both back on again, it eventually works. Might need to try this a few times.

Cheers - will give it a shot.

Did it work for you with TunnelBear? I’ve been trying this method without success

[petop]

I have worked in Afghanistan for past 4 years and use STRONG VPN. You pay $20 a month or so but works perfectly. I can change from "source" country easily depending what site or what I want to watch. BBCi player and all other UK channels works fine.

[mark387mw]

Is it working in Afghanistan right now? It’s a recent thing with the BBC that they’ve successfully geo blocked iplayer. Unotelly was working well the last few years but in the last week it’s blocked a few times.

[w1bbles]

I'm watching it now in Hong Kong via Tunnelbear. No issues for me. Try it in this order...

Clear browser cookies
Shut browser
Turn WiFi off then on again
Start Tunnelbear
Open browser
Nav to BBC TV page

mark387mw said:

Did it work for you with TunnelBear? I’ve been trying this method without success

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

foxyproxy is a suggestion - my brother is an iplayer technician for the BBC, it's what he suggested to a friend in Amsterdam a while back. Can't say if it may have changed mind, I'm not technical, and this was a few years ago.

Edited by Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah on Saturday 23 September 08:54

[OldGermanHeaps]

My personal vpn back to my house using my router still works peachy for iplayer, stv player netflix etc, perhaps gift a family member back home a decent draytek and an upgrade to their broadband?

[andy_s]

^ yup, got TB working for iPlayer, thanks.
Am trialling 'AlwaysHome Duo' which is two dongles, one attached to your home router and the other to your laptop so your traffic comes and goes via your home IP, this should get around VPN blocking on the network I'm on abroad and the geolocation blocking on Netflix, iPlayer et al. Let's see.

[mark387mw]

I couldn’t get TunnelBear to work at all.
Eventually Unotelly have got their finger out and sorted it.
Iplayer working but for how long? Until BBC are on to them again I guess.

What I like about Unotelly is we can watch iplayer straight from the app on Apple TV so no airplay from a phone.