BajaNomad

Streaming with VPN

pacificobob - 9-27-2021 at 07:37 AM

I'd like to hear what your experiences have been using streaming devices like
Apple TV, roku ect ,with a VPN.
is the streaming much slower? Can YouTube TV or Netflix discover your location
and not provide content from the U.S.?

billklaser - 9-27-2021 at 08:07 AM

I use YouTube TV, Netflix, & Paramount + here in Loreto. Had to get my phone line completely replaced and a new modem. Its been working well. Just have to be sure the VPN is connected before opening YouTube.
As a side note, Amazon Prime does not recognize the use of a VPN.

SFandH - 9-27-2021 at 08:32 AM

YouTube works fine with Nord VPN logged into a US server. I haven't come across any location restricted videos.

Bank of America is unreachable using the Nord VPN, at least for me. So VPNs can be detected but I think it is at the connection level. If that's true, once you're in with a US IP address, you're in the US.

Maybe.


[Edited on 9-27-2021 by SFandH]

JZ - 9-27-2021 at 08:50 AM

Web sites and streaming services will use up to two ways to detect your location.

Most just look at your IP address, which the VPNs change to locations in the US. This works for most services. The only caveat being the services know some IP address locations are VPN servers and block those. You just need to keep picking different locations until you find one that works.

Your browser will also track your location. Some services do this second level of checking as well.

Here is another example. To use 95% of YTTV channels, simply changing your IP using a VPN proxy server works fine. But YTTV does a second check using your browser location before allowing you to watch local channels, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX.

You can spoof the location in you browser as well to defeat this check. There are YT videos out there which show how to do it.


[Edited on 9-27-2021 by JZ]

AKgringo - 9-27-2021 at 10:01 AM

My only account with Bank of America, is the Visa card that is connected to my Alaska Airlines mileage plan. I have had no problems accessing that account while in Baja, even using the public WIFI at the campground I stayed at.

Bajaboy - 9-27-2021 at 11:16 AM

I've noticed a few websites won't allow me to access them from outside of the US. I can't access Cox or our former trash company.

We don't watch much tv but are pleased with Mexico Netflix. If you have a Samsung TV/device, you can get a lot of channels for free with Samsung TV Plus

https://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/tvs/tvpl...

Don Pisto - 9-27-2021 at 11:39 AM

interesting comparison of Netflix content around the world.....im content with Netflix mexico but I also have Directv.
https://www.finder.com/netflix-usa-vs-world-content

SFandH - 9-27-2021 at 12:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
My only account with Bank of America, is the Visa card that is connected to my Alaska Airlines mileage plan. I have had no problems accessing that account while in Baja, even using the public WIFI at the campground I stayed at.


I have no trouble connecting with a Mexican IP address either. But when I have my VPN on and am connected to an American server, the bank won't connect. It doesn't like VPN access.

Bajazly - 9-27-2021 at 12:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by billklaser  
As a side note, Amazon Prime does not recognize the use of a VPN.
Do you mean it doesn't work over a VPN, or that it doesn't detect that it's a VPN in order to block it? :?:


I never could get Prime to work down here using Surf Shark. It would start to connect then say can't access Prime from your country.

weebray - 9-27-2021 at 12:43 PM

For the record, we use strong VPN for their outstanding customer service.

JZ - 9-27-2021 at 02:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  

Rather than a bother, I think that's probably a good security practice; why would a legitimate customer connect trying to hide her location?


Wuut?

A lot of ppl use VPNs all the time to protect their data and identity. It's a very smart security practice.

Don Pisto - 9-27-2021 at 05:35 PM

I looked into using a VPN with Roku and it was above my pay grade, I bagged the whole idea:(

pacificobob - 9-28-2021 at 06:56 AM

Thanks for all the comments. A giant range of experience.

pacificobob - 9-28-2021 at 07:00 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto  
I looked into using a VPN with Roku and it was above my pay grade, I bagged the whole idea:(


I also tried a VPN with roku...someone eventually told me roku would function with a VPN......But not until i beat my head against the wall for several days trying.

BajaNomad - 9-28-2021 at 11:15 AM

There are other factors (besides the geo-location of the IP) that some services use to determine use of a VPN or proxy of some sort.

As noted some services like YTTV may have identified certain IP addresses as VPN. But those services (Nord, Surfshark, etc) may have other servers that are not yet identified as such. So, sometimes you have to change the server you're connecting through. Some of the servers run faster than others - and there's some trial and error.

With Roku, one can connect through a router setup with OpenVPN using Nord or Surfshark, etc. I've previously mentioned using portable mini-routers so that one can connect to the local wifi wherever they're at (including at home).

Make sure the device you're on is using the same time as the time zone your VPN IP is geographically located - that's something that's also looked for by some services. Therefore if you're on a Roku and connecting into a VPN router, connect to the VPN first, then reboot the system so that it changes to the time zone on the device to the time zone of the IP the VPN is using, and *then* connect to the channel/app/service you're attempting to access via Roku.

FWIW... Nord makes it easy for a device - like a browser window, or a cell phone, tablet, etc to connect and change servers... but they only supply a list of servers without their geo-location if you're using a router (again, suggest using one with OpenVPN already setup). You have to try the IP's one-by-one and then check their location and if the IP is still anonymized well-enough.

I've found the following site of some use in determining if an IP has been identified, or is easily identified or not, as a VPN:
https://whoer.net
- if the anonymizer is green, it tends to work more often than not. I've seen some Nord IP's specifically identified as Nord VPN, and other Nord IP's are green/anonymous. It's a one-by-one situation.

I've also previously noted the following portable routers for use:
Quote: Originally posted by BajaNomad  

Mango:
https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-mt300n-v2/
- Just know this one works on 802.11 b/g/n wifi hotspots, but not 802.11a ones - which are still commonly in use too.

Slate:
https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-ar750s/

JZ - 9-28-2021 at 11:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaNomad  


I've found the following site of some use in determining if an IP has been identified, or is easily identified or not, as a VPN:
https://whoer.net
- if the anonymizer is green, it tends to work more often than not. I've seen some Nord IP's specifically identified as Nord VPN, and other Nord IP's are green/anonymous. It's a one-by-one situation.



I'll give this a look. Sometimes you have to try many VPN servers before finding one that works.

monoloco - 9-28-2021 at 10:04 PM

Might want to avoid Express VPN.
https://gizmodo.com/you-should-probably-stop-using-expressvp...

SFandH - 9-29-2021 at 09:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  


But these days with most data moving over HTTPS connections, I still don't understand the security advantages of a VPN. Spoofing location, yeah...


I looked into it a bit because this stuff interests me. A VPN will prevent your ISP from logging what websites you have visited and any file downloads you have made. I think the ISP knows even https, port 443 websites visited because the data is available to them before the SSL connection is made. ISP logs can be subpoenaed by authorities, (no warrant needed) so if you're worried about that, VPN is the way to go. When using a VPN, all the ISP knows is the IP of the VPN server, which is acting as a proxy.

And of course, VPNs will encrypt data packets to and from http, port 80 web servers.

I use Nord VPN solely to obtain a US IP address when I'm in Mex and am connecting to a server that doesn't like non-US IPs. I've come across several websites that will not accept a Mexican IP address. For example, CVS pharmacy wouldn't let me connect about an appointment for a COVID vaccination until I logged into a US VPN server. It blocked my Mexican IP address.

It's probably best to have a VPN service if you're spending a lot of time out of the U.S. I suspect "geo-blocking" will become more prevalent.


[Edited on 9-29-2021 by SFandH]

SFandH - 9-29-2021 at 10:25 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  

Are the major ISP's actually logging all their customers' connections?


I think so. I've read about privacy issues that come about when authorities subpoena ISP log files. US courts have ruled that a warrant is not required.

mtgoat666 - 9-29-2021 at 10:29 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
A VPN will prevent your ISP from logging what websites you have visited and any file downloads you have made.

Interesting research.

Are the major ISP's actually archiving all their customers' connections? I


The ISPs and content providers track everything you do! They sell the data to marketers that are eager to sell you chit.
Nothing is free on the internet — you pay for everything, in form of money or data.

Alm - 9-29-2021 at 03:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
[
Dang. Guess I'd better stop hanging out at notporno.com.

So now you know what VPN's are for. And, of course, for connecting to sites that don't like foreign IP for no apparent reason.

I had to use VPN once to connect to a Mexican government site from Canada. Hard to imagine why they would object, must've been a technical oversight.

mrioux - 9-29-2021 at 06:12 PM

As a Cdn when i was in Baja in 2019/2020 using Express VPN i could get Amazon Prime by connecting to a site in Los Angeles, i believe it was Los Angeles 2. Express VPN was very helpful. Hopefully it will work again this fall/winter.

unbob - 10-17-2021 at 07:03 PM

Here's a great guide to choosing a VPN:

https://torrentfreak.com/best-vpn-anonymous-no-logging/

And this: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-vpn-service/

Mullvad has my vote for best choice - maybe not the cheapest - but the absolute best out there. And no BS.

[Edited on 10-18-2021 by unbob]

[Edited on 10-18-2021 by unbob]

[Edited on 10-20-2021 by unbob]

PaulW - 10-18-2021 at 10:04 AM

They hired the best guy for the job. And he probably knows all the hacks that could cause issues for the company
== ==
Quote: Originally posted by monoloco  
Might want to avoid Express VPN.
https://gizmodo.com/you-should-probably-stop-using-expressvp...

karenintx - 10-18-2021 at 11:10 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
My only account with Bank of America, is the Visa card that is connected to my Alaska Airlines mileage plan. I have had no problems accessing that account while in Baja, even using the public WIFI at the campground I stayed at.


I have no trouble connecting with a Mexican IP address either. But when I have my VPN on and am connected to an American server, the bank won't connect. It doesn't like VPN access.


Now this is interesting. When we are in CSL I "have" to turn on my VPN to login into our Bank of America account...without the VPN the website indicates I have used the incorrect login info. All of our other financial institutions do not require the VPN...go figure.

I have learned that while in Mexico some websites (in the US) such as utility companies, property tax websites, etc require that I have the VPN on to login to our accounts.

Seems it is a hit & miss approach, if I can't get on a website then I turn on the VPN. If the VPN is on and I can't login into out our account...I turn the VPN off.

It can be frustrating.

JZ - 10-18-2021 at 12:34 PM

China blocked me from accessing a football forum. Had to us a VPN to get around it.

And then there is the challenge with porn in Dubai. Again, a VPN to the rescue.

RFClark - 10-19-2021 at 10:05 PM

The sat internet service we use in Baja North gives our location as Arizona. For some apps, at least on MAC devices you probably need to disable the location function or use GPS spoofing software.