VPN, free or paid for allowing access to UK internet tv

[frugal90]

Are there any free vpns worth considering or which paid for VPN will allow access to UK TV at reasonable cost. Will using a VPN increase the likelihood of buffering? Thanks in advance

[Keithcaley]

Are there any free vpns worth considering or which paid for VPN will allow access to UK TV at reasonable cost. Will using a VPN increase the likelihood of buffering? Thanks in advance

I use a 'Smart DNS service' as recommended by Erol...

The Company is StreamVia, their website is at https://www.streamvia.com/

The Smart DNS service allows you to connect to all of the UK Media websites - BBC,ITV, 4, 5 etc. without slowing down your connection at all, & you do get a VPN included in the deal as well, which comes in handy for connecting to UK Government websites and the like.

Much much better than any freebie!

[a1sysman]

https://www.smartdnsproxy.com/

After trialling successfully l bought a life time subscription for $200.

No buffering except when there are the occasional internet provision issues. All UK channels and radio stations play as if in the UK.

[alphamike]

I use a 'Smart DNS service' as recommended by Erol...

The Company is StreamVia, their website is at https://www.streamvia.com/

The Smart DNS service allows you to connect to all of the UK Media websites - BBC,ITV, 4, 5 etc. without slowing down your connection at all, & you do get a VPN included in the deal as well, which comes in handy for connecting to UK Government websites and the like.

Much much better than any freebie!

I can't see any provision for getting the smartdns feature nowadays and their current offerings are quite expensive. Only mentioning as you may not be aware that new customers probably can't get what you have. It doesn't affect me as I've been using smartdnsproxy for yonks and quite happy with it.

[compass]

Try Digibit vpn, no more than £2.50 per month but if you search you may find it cheaper. Used it for a few years now without any problems.
There are specific 'on demand' channels for UK catch up TV and they work well.
You pay monthly....no contract....so not tied in if you don't like it

Compass

[ElectricianPete]

Try urban vpn

[mish]

We use Surfshark VPN (its very low cost), but more importantly I learned the trick of first tuning in my firestick on my TV at home in the UK. Once all the providers were loaded onto it, they all work very easily in TRNC via the VPN. I just took a newly loaded one out in October, brought the other back to UK and will take it back next time, again fully updated.
m

[DottieO]

Hi compass - I signed up for Digibit yesterday but when I try to connect it keeps saying that my Username or password are incorrect - I messaged them on chat yesterday and today but no response so far - even though it says 24/7 support - not impressed so far! I did receive a Welcome email that said Username & password for VPN would be different & sent separately by email but nothing received - any ideas? Thanks

[compass]

Maybe check your spam folder.... their emails may have ended up there. They do take a day or so to get back to you but it's all tracked and documented with a number....

Compass

[DottieO]

Thanks Compass, they have been in touch now & I'm all set up.

Sadly it's not working very well with ITVX or BBC IPlayer, which is the reason I signed up for it & was assured there would be no problems with catch up on these channels. Most programmes are fine until the first lot of ads and then that's it.....blank screen & turning circle, and you can't go back and press continue watching, the whole programme starts again. Infuriating! Might not be the fault of the VPN but I have no idea how to resolve this.

Anyway thanks for your help.

[Jane M]

Apparently there is a problem with ITVX, I too can't go beyond the ads in programmes. Looking at an online forum this was a common complaint, so I am sure the developers will fix it. BBC I Player is OK for me though, so that may be an issue with your set up

[compass]

I've had problems with ITVX too......I guess they've upped/changed their security codes and Digibit have to catch up again.

Normally fixed next day or so..........I player ok for me though and Ch 4 etc

[benjaminbutton]

Having NO problems whatsoever with ITVX Have never signed anything and I Player just fine, other than we could do with the sound being a little louder on everything. There is supposed to be a way to cure that, when 100 is insufficient but it doesn't work with me.

TVX just popped in to where ITV Hub used to be, totally unasked for about three weeks ago.

[alphamike]

ITVX working fine with smartdnsproxy. Perhaps worth trying out as you get a 14 day free trial.

[benjaminbutton]

The TVX just arrived more or less over night. 14 Free just came and went with no money exchanged except that it isn't Ad. free any longer, whereas within the 14 days it was.

[Perks]

The best free VPN if that's what people want is AWARDVPN can be downloaded from Amazon Store easily
Albeit a tad time consuming when utilising

[Dropshort]

So used Transponder TV whilst in TRNC for the past few years without any issues. (No VPN) . Unfortunately they are no longer in business. I’m now looking for an alternative means of streaming U.K. tv. The above posts appear to be recommending the use of a VPN. I’m not tech savvy but do understand VPN. The question is would I be able to stream U.K. free view tv using this method and without any further hardware? My TV in TRNC is an Samsung Smart TV.
Thanks in advance.

[Keithcaley]

'Freeview' is UK terrestrial TV, via an aerial from your local TV transmitter, not via the Internet...

What you need is to install the 'freeview play' app and a VPN to allow you to access UK TV via the Internet from anywhere.

[Keithcaley]

Just to add...

To use Freeview Play, you also need to have installed BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All4, My5...

I'm not sure that there's any real advantage in using Freeview Play because I can access all of those channels via the individual apps anyway - I suppose that it does 'put them all in one place' though.

[Dropshort]

Thanks Keithcaley, I’ll give it a go when I’m next out.

[wanderer]

Freeview gives the tV schedule and shows the TV plus 1 hour options