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Ashely Wolfgram
For the past four years, I've had no problem streaming Netflix over my Roku box (I have high-speed dsl). Then two months ago, it stopped streaming. I've been on the phone with Roku for hours and tried everything, including buying a new Roku box. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the Roku, since I tried it at another location (on a much slower Verizon dsl connection) and it works fine. So I bought a Vizio apps TV -- I have no problem connecting wirelessly or connecting to Yahoo News or Yahoo Finance, but it won't stream at all (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) Vizio sent a repairman and there's nothing wrong with my TV. They say that it's a problem with Verizon dsl or a router issue. Verizon has checked my line, has sent me a new gateway router (I've tried both the Westell and Actiontec) and nothing works. But it worked fine two months ago!!! Anyone have similar issues -- or solutions???
Thanks, but I think the firewall is off. When I look at the router settings it says, "The default firewall security level is set to "Off". Activating the firewall is optional. When the firewall is activated, security is enhanced, but some network functionality will be lost." FYI, this is what it says for the Firewall Status:
I have the same issues. and V'zon tells me that I need the faster version of DSL to use netflix, This is something I had for two years then V. took it away because " I live too far from the substation" now I get another notice that I am being offered the higher speed DSL. I am so confused and frustrated
I don't think speed is the issue. I took my Roku box, which stopped working at my house with very fast dsl (15 Mbps), and tried it in my apartment which has very slow Verizon dsl (1 Mbps). The same Roku box worked fine in my apartment?!?
Hi,
I was pleasantly surprised to find that netflix is in Ecuador! I knew they where expanding and it was only a matter of time but they are already here and the selection is almost better (in terms of quality if not quantity) than back home. Has anyone else tried it? If so, has anyone brought a Roku box with them and had it work? I"m thinking of gifting one to my in-laws but i'm not sure if it'll work.
I don't see why it wouldn't but i figured i'd enquire with those who've been here a while.
P.S.
does anyone use a vpn service to access American Media Services (such as hulu or nfl.sunday ticket online)while living here?
Mark
We used Roku and Netflix without a hitch for 5 weeks, then upgraded our internet to a faster speed and wouldn't you know it, we lost the ability to watch the tv series in Netflix. We have ordered a VPN router to use with our VPN service and were told by Netf;ix support that this would fix our issue. (We can still watch movies as is now, but I guess licensing agreements prohibit the tv series). All in all.....very happy with ROKU 3 ...in fact cant wait to get router from Flashrouters.com so we can watch HuluPlus!
Scott,
I am also in Cuenca, and never had an issue with receiving the full services of Netflix. Hmmmm? Another conundrum. I watch the series with no problem. I also recently got a VPN, but was watching Breaking Bad before I set up the VPN. Go figger.
You can skip the VPN and retain a faster speed by using a DNS proxy service. It can be used with most devices like Roku and Apple TV. You just manually change your DNS server to the server provided by the SP.
Check out acevpn.com.... There are others too. Works with Hulu, Netflix and countless other providers around the globe.
And NFL GamePass too
I am in the process of testing a vpn router for an ex neighbor who recently purchased a Roku and supposedly they have been limited to what they can watch in some cases.
Well, I know I have heard from time to time that expats are unable to watch Netflix here. So I signed up for a Netflix account tonight and was able to stream movies to my computer without having the VPN router turned on. I asked why?
Well I was reading an article where this was stated:
So it seems that if you signed up in the states your account may not work here, but if you signed up here there is no problem streaming movies using Netflix.
On the otherhand, I could NOT watch a movie on Hulu.com without having the VPN router turned on.
Finally, I should mention I am seeing about a 33 percent reduction in my bandwidth when I have the VPN router turned on, using the vpnSTRONG service. It sort of depends what servers you connect to in the U.S., but I have experienced no less that a 33 percent hit and sometimes as much as 80% with other servers.
I may try the private Internet Access vpn service next, which is about half of the annual subscription price of the strongVPN service.
P.S.
I have noticed with the STrongVPN service that my bandwidth is much improved if I use the client software that I can install on my PC in lieu of using the VPN router. I think for many people having a VPN router in overkill since you can simply connect your laptop to the tv. HOwever, with the ROKU device you have to have the VPN router to get certain content, since there is no VPN client software integrated into the device.
You know, I researched that option a little bit the other day and it looks like it may be the way to go in many cases. While maybe I need to look it over again, I got the impression that I needed to configure each indiviual device or computer for this to work. You cannot configure a ROKU to use an alternative DNS server, hence the need for a VPN router. Do you disagree?
PROXYDNS WAS INITIALLY CREATED FOCUSED ON ROKU, A DEVICE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW ANY NETWORK CONFIGURATION, SO ALL THE CONFIG MUST BE MADE ON THE WIFI ROUTER OF YOUR NETWORK.
IN ORDER TO MAKE IT WORK, PLEASE REFER TO: ROUTERS SETUP
Well that was easy. It took 3 minutes to configure. It has no impact on my bandwidth, unlike the VPN solutions I tested. This service costs only $35 a year, although there may alternatives cheaper that I have yet to find.
I donŽt why the so called "Technology Consultants" in Cuenca are pushing VPN routers, unless they simply donŽt know about this alternative approach.
Thanks USMC_MV
Well, I am referring to the Gringos who sell their services as "Technology Experts" in Cuenca. While there are additional benefits to VPN, 99% of the expats who have implemented one of these things does so to watch movies and listen to Pandora.
There still may be an instance where a person in Cuenca may need a U.S. IP address to do some transaction. In such a case, there are free proxy or VPN options available that somebody can turn on and off as needed from their computer. There is no reason to invest in a vpn router in my opinion.
I use AceVPN because they provide both VPN and proxy. I genuinely need VPN because of issues with my banks. 95% of the time I'm just using proxy DNS and the remainder I'm using a VPN for banking or government transactions in the USA.
Matt-
During this process of testing the VPN server and then proxy DNS, I picked up on something that improved my internet browsing experience.
Ever since I got ETAPA internet service, I was experiencing fairly slow page loading. All the DSL speedtests I were running were coming out as expected, but those tests donŽt test how quickly the DNS server is resolving the domain name you enter into your browser.
To make a long story short, in the modem/router configuration page for my ETAPA supplied TP-LINK modem, I replaced the ETAPA specified DNS servers with Google Public DNS which recommends you used 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.8.4 for your DNS servers.
My page loads are now faster.
I am digging being top member of the week, but I digress,
I installed the proxy service at my ex-neighbors yesterday successfully, which was verified by starting a movie from Hulu.com on his PC. However, he hadnŽt yet figured out how to get the Netflix or Hulu icon to appear on his Roku and I needed to go, so he was left to resolve that issue.
In any case he went to "add the Channel" for Netflix from the Roku website today and received the message that there was a geographical limitation and the channel couldnŽt be added.
It appears based on this article that the problem is he created his ROKU account before having setup the DNS proxy. So to resolve, he will need to delete his Roku account and recreate.
P.S.
It is interesting that while he has NO problems playing Netflix on his PC, that he was prevented from using Netflix on his Roku. This probably has something to do with the fact he bought a Roku intended for the U.S. market and had it shipped over here. That article I linked to specifically emphasizes that the instructions apply to Rokus purchased in the U.S.
I was back over at ex-neighbors, and finally got Roku working with Netflix and Hulu. I had a lot of problems and tried a lot of things, but I am going to summarize my conclusions. Of course, things can change with a software update by Roku, but as of today these rules apply.
1. You can use the Roku 3 device (or a computer) here in Ecuador to watch Netflix without a VPN service or DNS Proxy Service. However, if your Roku device was made for the U.S. market, your Roku account needs to have been created or be created with a U.S. IP address. To create an account with a U.S. Ip address you can use a free VPN service such as Spotflux. Alternatively, if you are going to subcribe to a DNS Proxy service such as ProxyDNS to watch Hulu, you can turn on that service before creating your Roku account.
2. To watch Hulu on your Roku, you do need either a VPN router OR subscribe to a DNS Proxy Service, like the one I linked to in an earlier comment. The DNS Proxy is the better approach since it only requires a small configuration change to your existing wifi router, and has no or minimal impact on your bandwidth.
3. When adding the Netflix or Hulu channels to your Roku from the Roku.com website using your account that was created with a U.S. IP address, the DNS Proxy and/or VPN service should be turned OFF. This may seem counterintuitive since you need one of them to be turned ON when watching HULU, but that is the way it is.