The Bbc Iplayer Thread - Downunder You Can't Options

[peedon]

I thought I would give the BBC iplayer a go, this allows you to watch all the BBC channels from the comfort of your own pc. I was going along quite nicely, I'd had the email with user name and password, accessed the iplayer site, set up a BBC user account and then clicked on a download link and that was as far as I got - "you can't use this as you appear to not be in the UK".

So no go there then.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[brjst]

Hi Peedon

Try going here http://www.topproxysites.com/
and look for a proxy site ending in .uk perhaps Proxy Site UK

This may enable you to use your account. With luck the bbc will think you are coming from the proxy site address in the UK rather than oz.

Let me know how it goes

[mddawson]

Hi Peedon

Try going here http://www.topproxysites.com/
and look for a proxy site ending in .uk perhaps Proxy Site UK

This may enable you to use your account. With luck the bbc will think you are coming from the proxy site address in the UK rather than oz.

Let me know how it goes

Also if you download the Maxthon web browser you can set up multiple proxys : http://www.maxthon.com/

[anthonysimilion]

I thought I would give the BBC iplayer a go, this allows you to watch all the BBC channels from the comfort of your own pc. I was going along quite nicely, I'd had the email with user name and password, accessed the iplayer site, set up a BBC user account and then clicked on a download link and that was as far as I got - "you can't use this as you appear to not be in the UK".

So no go there then.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

It's not surprising - we're not paying the license fee for the service, so why should we get access? It would be nice, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[peedon]

It's not surprising - we're not paying the license fee for the service, so why should we get access? It would be nice, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Well I would certainly pay the license fee for what you can get there and in fact I would donate my Australian FTA channels to a country such as, let me think - N.Korea...

OK, on a serious note, these proxy's you menion, just how legal are they??

[brjst]

Well I would certainly pay the license fee for what you can get there and in fact I would donate my Australian FTA channels to a country such as, let me think - N.Korea...

OK, on a serious note, these proxy's you menion, just how legal are they??

The proxy's are totally legal. Many ISP's require you to go through their proxy rather than connecting directly to the internet.
Visit the site and also www.proxy.org for a full explanation of what they are and what they do.
Using them to gain access to the BBC... well... I have no idea

[peedon]

The proxy's are totally legal. Many ISP's require you to go through their proxy rather than connecting directly to the internet.
Visit the site and also www.proxy.org for a full explanation of what they are and what they do.
Using them to gain access to the BBC... well... I have no idea

I have a feeling they might have a slight issue with it. Will check out the Ts&Cs and come back..

[Mr.Bitey]

So, does it work ? :-) T&C's aside!

Cheers,
Bitey

[RogerH]

So, does it work ? :-) T&C's aside!

Cheers,
Bitey

I tried lots of free UK proxies and although some of them work with BBC iplayer some do not and those that do often don't stay available for long or are very slow. I guess you get what you pay for so now I have signed up to a paid for proxy which works well, is easy to use, reliable and fast. It is only US$7 a month and has other benefits as well. See Here

[GerryB]

There is, in fact, a far better way to access BBC streaming video, iPlayer included, using Firefox: http://www.darkedges.com/bbc/ This has minimal impact on download speeds because the use of the UK proxy is minimized.

For streaming video generally, URLSnooper and Orbit are good; works well on youtube etc.

I've got BBC iPlayer installed, but haven't managed to get a single download to succeed. Have anyone out here managed it?

[holmesy999]

There is, in fact, a far better way to access BBC streaming video, iPlayer included, using Firefox: http://www.darkedges.com/bbc/ This has minimal impact on download speeds because the use of the UK proxy is minimized.

For streaming video generally, URLSnooper and Orbit are good; works well on youtube etc.

I've got BBC iPlayer installed, but haven't managed to get a single download to succeed. Have anyone out here managed it?

one alternative -
I managed to get it working using a company that provides you with a log in into a uk server - just search for companies that offer a virtual private network - they do charge for the service (one I saw was us$140 a year)

one company gave me a free 24 hour trial

I gave it a go, but for me it was a bit too slow (which makes sense cause you are logging into a uk computer, which then connects to the bbc website), so instead I am going to stick to torrent downloading of what I want

[loopy079]

Hi guys,


Will this work for listening to all the (UK only) streaming BBC stuff such as English Premier League etc.




Thanks



Hutch

[GerryB]

Depends on where you are. I'm in Australia, and the stream is a seriously painful stop/start affair. I use the "darkedges" method to get the streaming video started, which can be detected using URL Snopper and Orbit. The GRAB++ option under Tools in Orbit then allows you to download and save the streaming video. I reckon on a one hour program taking 80-90 minutes to download. Be warned that the downloads ain't small, eg Top Gear is 220-230MB.

Hope that this helps.

Again, has anyone managed a successful iPlayer download?

[GerryB]

Oops, forgot to reply on the subject of VPN. I have considered it, but AUD150/year is a bit stiff for one or two programs a week. Also, I am none too sure that even a VPN will prevent stop/start streaming video on the opposite side of the planet from Auntie. I stand to be corrected on this, though.

[Dyllip]

Proxies will not work, unless you are extremely lucky to get one that is inside the BBC inclusion list.

The BBC content is only licensed in the UK, and they appear to be serious in blocking non-UK addresses.

The BBC has a list of all broadband IP addresses in the UK. If you are not on this list, you don't get in.

There are ways to beat the system, and if you have friends in the UK, you can setup a private proxy service on their computer, for the limited access of you or a very few of your friends.

Now your friends in the UK would be liable for copyright infringement, for exporting the signal outside the UK, if they ever got caught.

So you see, the British authorities are rather sticky when it comes to their beloved BBC.

[JackTheLad]

VPN is clearly the best solution, since it's a reliable connection that's fast enough to stream video; but $140 - $150 is too expensive. I've now found one (which I'm using and works great) for $75 AU for 12 months - that's about half the going rate.

You can sign up for a year or go with the free trial to test that it works for you first. It's just a simple VPN using the native Windows / Mac or iPhone VPN interface. You get a username and password and instructions on how to configure it (PPTP or secure). Took about 5 minutes to set up, then I could watch the iPlayer as well as several other services (Zattoo.com, ITV's catch-up, etc.) It also gives me a free US and Canadian VPN - so I can also watch US programming and CBC stuff.

So far, reliability looks very good (connection failed a couple of times but started OK after I retried) and the video downloads with no rebuffering. Picture quality is suprisingly good and even looks good blown up to a big-screen TV.

Just google UKiVPN - then post back here to let us know how you get on.

[Mr.Cobblers]

Can people confirm if this site (ukivpn.com) does indeed enable reasonable quality, easy access to bbc i player?

Are there security issues?

Cheers.

[JackTheLad]

Can people confirm if this site (ukivpn.com) does indeed enable reasonable quality, easy access to bbc i player?

Are there security issues?

Cheers.

I'm still using it, and the quality is still very good. I plugged the PC into a 42" plasma and streamed via the iPlayer. It looks as good as a regular satellite signal. I had a couple of issues with the server I was connecting to, but they fixed me up with a new server straight away. I'm very impressed with it.

I don't have any security issues, in fact I use the PPTP connection - since I'm just pulling video content - and I disconnect from the VPN after I'm done. They allow you to make an L2TP connection (all part of the same deal) which provides strong encryption over WiFi, so you can be secure connecting to a hotspot or in a hotel etc.

Re "easy access" - it takes about 5 minutes to set up manually (following a step-by-step guide) or there's some scripts that will automatically run and set it up (for XP and Vista only). And they were pretty quick to answer e-mail and sort me out.

[mortenharketrock...]

you can use the Iplayer for any Audio stream though - Radio content is perfectly listenable without any grief...

[steven_aus]

I'm still using it, and the quality is still very good. I plugged the PC into a 42" plasma and streamed via the iPlayer. It looks as good as a regular satellite signal. I had a couple of issues with the server I was connecting to, but they fixed me up with a new server straight away. I'm very impressed with it.

I don't have any security issues, in fact I use the PPTP connection - since I'm just pulling video content - and I disconnect from the VPN after I'm done. They allow you to make an L2TP connection (all part of the same deal) which provides strong encryption over WiFi, so you can be secure connecting to a hotspot or in a hotel etc.

Re "easy access" - it takes about 5 minutes to set up manually (following a step-by-step guide) or there's some scripts that will automatically run and set it up (for XP and Vista only). And they were pretty quick to answer e-mail and sort me out.

Just wondering if the quality is still good with this service? I've just got back from the UK and been blown away by how good the iplayer offering is, and also how good UK TV is in general. I'd forgotten after being away for nearly 4 years. Is it still worth using this VPN company or are there better offerings out there now?