Cable Broadband and Region Switching

bozbargain on 11/06/2015 - 11:41

I used to have Bigpond Cable at home until about 18 months ago. Although the speed was great, I couldn't use Unotelly's or Getflix' DNS settings for region switching. It would work for a day or two, then it would lose connection and I had to fiddle around with it again. I think the issue I used to have with Bigpond was related to dynamic IP addresses. It became such a hassle that I switched to ADSL but now I'm on a very congested line which makes watchting Netflix in decent quality impossible and I'm considering getting cable again.

My question is, are there any folks around here who use Getflix or Unotelly in combination with either Telstra or Optus cable? I don't mind changing the DNS on my devices instead of via my modem/router in case that's necessary.

Internet

Comments

  • nobby on 11/06/2015 - 13:28
    +1

    I'm on Telstra cable and use Getflix. Never had any issues with losing connection when watching Netflix. I just set the region on the website and all devices on my home network then get access to that content. I've never had to fiddle with changing DNS on my router (I thought that was the point of Getflix).

  • bozbargain on 11/06/2015 - 14:00

    Thanks nobby, does that mean you've got one of Getflix' Australian DNS server set up on your Telstra supplied modem/router? Would you mind sharing the modem/router type (I used to have an old Motorola SBG900 modem)?

    • nobby on 11/06/2015 - 20:13
      +1

      I have a TP Link router running OpenWRT and a Netgear modem (CG3100D) - the modem was supplied by Telstra. On checking my router I do in fact have the Getflix Aust DNS servers set up on the router so region changes affect all devices on my network (I totally forgot I did that).

  • ESEMCE on 11/06/2015 - 14:19
    +1

    The issue will be Getflix recognising that you're a paid up subscriber.. The only way they can do this is by your (WAN) IP address. With a Dynamic IP address, that "unique" identifier is constantly - usually once every 24 hours - changing.

    The solution is to set up Dynamic DNS (DDNS) in your Modem and in your Getflix account. Getflix have a help page to assist (Note that Dyn, no longer have a free DDNS option, unless you own a DLINK router, in which case you can get a free Dyn account at dlinkddns.com)
    https://getflix.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/200576025

    As per the Getflix help page, there are free DDNS services around, but depending on the DDNS support built into your modem/router, you may need to pay for a Dynamic DNS account.

  • bozbargain on 11/06/2015 - 21:01

    Thanks Scubacoles, it's comments like this that made me remember why I switched to ADSL. Although from nobby it looks like it doesn't have to be this complex?

    • ESEMCE on 11/06/2015 - 22:38

      Most ADSL connections have a Dynamic IP as well.

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