Netflix, Hulu and VPN - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

fredder · 2011-11-01, 12:10 PM

I am using my PC attached to TV via HDMI cable for Netflix.

I have DSL internet with Primus (4-5 Meg down, ~700 Kbs up). I am using a VPN (BolehVPN--uses OpenVPN--chose the US Browsing UDP option) to watch US Netflix, but am having major problems with Netflix freezing, constant reloading.

It is not just Netflix, but also while trying to watch programs on ABC's website. Any suggestions for improving the performance while using VPN?

hugh · 2011-11-01, 12:17 PM

My guess is the bottleneck is overloaded servers at your VPN.

I would look at testing the speed of your Primus connection and testing the speed of your VPN.

Geo35 · 2011-11-01, 09:13 PM

For what it's worth, many of us who lug around work laptop computers back and forth from the office, find that internet throughput is significantly reduced at home due to VPN encryption. As Hugh suggested, test both your primus and VPN connections...maybe by downloading a file from a web site first without VPN and then with it and compare the throughput.

Wayne · 2011-11-02, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geo35

For what it's worth, many of us who lug around work laptop computers back and forth from the office, find that internet throughput is significantly reduced at home due to VPN encryption. As Hugh suggested, test both your primus and VPN connections...maybe by downloading a file from a web site first without VPN and then with it and compare the throughput.

Do you mean when you connect to your office via a VPN so that your are on your corporate LAN? This is a very different sort of VPN compared to a commercial VPN service that is mentioned by the OP which are often used to circumvent geographically based IP blocking.

There are other services that allow you to use Netflix without a true VPN that routes all trafffic through someone else's server. I have been quite happy with a service call unblockus[dot]com. There is an entire thread on the topic of using VPNs or other services to be able to watch these services in Canada.

fredder · 2011-11-02, 10:24 AM

I knew that the VPN would diminish speed, but did not expect to that magnitude.

I will use unblockus for watching US services (tried it last night--excellent), and the VPN for bittorenting.

HDTV101 · 2011-11-02, 09:50 PM

There are many other factors that come into play here. The VPN company might have a good service, with a well balanced server, however the peering between you and them might be crap. Bad peering can cause latency and packet loss. Say you're in Toronto and you want to connect to Netflix in NYC.. however your VPN company gives you a server in Los Angeles to use. Your connecting from Toronto through Primus to the LA server.. that server then connects to NYC so you end up doing a trip twice across the USA. the more hops you do the more latency you'll get... this is where steaming video will start to have a problem.

The solution is to try to find a VPN provider with a server close to where you're trying to go.

2011-11-01, 12:10 PM	#1
fredder Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4	Netflix, Hulu and VPN I am using my PC attached to TV via HDMI cable for Netflix. I have DSL internet with Primus (4-5 Meg down, ~700 Kbs up). I am using a VPN (BolehVPN--uses OpenVPN--chose the US Browsing UDP option) to watch US Netflix, but am having major problems with Netflix freezing, constant reloading. It is not just Netflix, but also while trying to watch programs on ABC's website. Any suggestions for improving the performance while using VPN?

2011-11-01, 12:17 PM	#2
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	My guess is the bottleneck is overloaded servers at your VPN. I would look at testing the speed of your Primus connection and testing the speed of your VPN. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

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2011-11-01, 09:13 PM	#3
Geo35 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Scarberia Posts: 149	For what it's worth, many of us who lug around work laptop computers back and forth from the office, find that internet throughput is significantly reduced at home due to VPN encryption. As Hugh suggested, test both your primus and VPN connections...maybe by downloading a file from a web site first without VPN and then with it and compare the throughput.

2011-11-02, 10:24 AM	#5
fredder Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4	I knew that the VPN would diminish speed, but did not expect to that magnitude. I will use unblockus for watching US services (tried it last night--excellent), and the VPN for bittorenting.

2011-11-02, 09:50 PM	#6
HDTV101 Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,000	There are many other factors that come into play here. The VPN company might have a good service, with a well balanced server, however the peering between you and them might be crap. Bad peering can cause latency and packet loss. Say you're in Toronto and you want to connect to Netflix in NYC.. however your VPN company gives you a server in Los Angeles to use. Your connecting from Toronto through Primus to the LA server.. that server then connects to NYC so you end up doing a trip twice across the USA. the more hops you do the more latency you'll get... this is where steaming video will start to have a problem. The solution is to try to find a VPN provider with a server close to where you're trying to go.