I thought I would post up an information/semi tutorial due to the amount of people that are not prepared to pay over 600 a month for Cable/satellite or 80 to hire a DVD yet have a broadband connection.
What is Netflix ? Wikipedia is probably worth a read as because we are in South Africa, if you go to the Netflix website you will get a no access message. Due to copyright/licencing agreements, Netflix is not avilable in South Africa. But there are ways around this.
First and foremost, Netflix needs to think you are in the US. To get around that part, we will need to use either a proxy or a VPN. Not technically proficient and it sounds too hard ? Its not, its pretty simple so read on.
For example, UnoTelly works well and offers a 1 week free trial. They have tutorials on their website for almost every device and all their service involves is using their DNS servers to stooge Netflix in to thinking you are in the US.
If you wish to use the service on your PC, simply follow the tutorial on their site for doing just that (after you have signed up for the free trial). Once you have done that, and checked that you are using their services via the box at the top of the page (right hand side), its time to head off to Netflix ( )
If you have done all the above, you will see the full Netflix site and you can then sign up for a free 1 month trial. To do this you will need a valid credit card. If you dont cancel the trial within 1 month, you will be billed the subscription price of $7.99 a month for unlimited access.
Simply sign up as normal, but you will need to put in a US postcode ( I used 11206 ; it is a zip code I found using Google Map from New York ). After signing up, you can now watch anything you like on the Netflix site.
Watching TV on a computer is not my thing, some people can do it but I am not one of them. I have a 60 inch TV and thats where I want to watch TV.
I purchased a Western Digital TV Live streaming receiver from a local shop for about 1100. When I got home I plugged it in and there wasnt anything exciting, just youtube and facebook crap . I then added UnoTelly's DNS addresses to my modems setting for my internet connection and rebooted the WD. (or you can do this for the device only in its settings)
On reboot it wanted to do a firmware upgrade which I allowed (you can also select it from the menu) and after completion of this process and auto reboots, a number of new services including Netflix were available. All thats then required is to select Netflix and follow the prompts for your account and password that you signed up to the trial with.
It is also worth nothing that it is NOT illegal for South African to access US based services. It is however a breach of the providers terms of use and at worst all they could do is cancel your account. You will need a broadband service to stream from Netflix, I am on a 8MB ADSL connection that connects at about 6MB and I have no problems accessing HD content.
Your Netflicks account has options for 3 different video quality settings, from 300 meg an hour, 700 meg an hour or 1 gig an hour.
* All information posted is something I have actually done myself otherwise I wouldnt post it. WD receiver and UnoTelly are not the only services that work, but they are ones I have actually tested and represent good value for money.
Receiver : $129 USD ~1100 ZAR
UnoTelly $4.95 a month ~ 42
Netflix $7.99 a month ~ 70
Ongoing 120 ZAR a month for unlimited TV (plus your ISP costs)
What is Netflix ? Wikipedia is probably worth a read as because we are in South Africa, if you go to the Netflix website you will get a no access message. Due to copyright/licencing agreements, Netflix is not avilable in South Africa. But there are ways around this.
First and foremost, Netflix needs to think you are in the US. To get around that part, we will need to use either a proxy or a VPN. Not technically proficient and it sounds too hard ? Its not, its pretty simple so read on.
For example, UnoTelly works well and offers a 1 week free trial. They have tutorials on their website for almost every device and all their service involves is using their DNS servers to stooge Netflix in to thinking you are in the US.
If you wish to use the service on your PC, simply follow the tutorial on their site for doing just that (after you have signed up for the free trial). Once you have done that, and checked that you are using their services via the box at the top of the page (right hand side), its time to head off to Netflix ( )
If you have done all the above, you will see the full Netflix site and you can then sign up for a free 1 month trial. To do this you will need a valid credit card. If you dont cancel the trial within 1 month, you will be billed the subscription price of $7.99 a month for unlimited access.
Simply sign up as normal, but you will need to put in a US postcode ( I used 11206 ; it is a zip code I found using Google Map from New York ). After signing up, you can now watch anything you like on the Netflix site.
Watching TV on a computer is not my thing, some people can do it but I am not one of them. I have a 60 inch TV and thats where I want to watch TV.
I purchased a Western Digital TV Live streaming receiver from a local shop for about 1100. When I got home I plugged it in and there wasnt anything exciting, just youtube and facebook crap . I then added UnoTelly's DNS addresses to my modems setting for my internet connection and rebooted the WD. (or you can do this for the device only in its settings)
On reboot it wanted to do a firmware upgrade which I allowed (you can also select it from the menu) and after completion of this process and auto reboots, a number of new services including Netflix were available. All thats then required is to select Netflix and follow the prompts for your account and password that you signed up to the trial with.
It is also worth nothing that it is NOT illegal for South African to access US based services. It is however a breach of the providers terms of use and at worst all they could do is cancel your account. You will need a broadband service to stream from Netflix, I am on a 8MB ADSL connection that connects at about 6MB and I have no problems accessing HD content.
Your Netflicks account has options for 3 different video quality settings, from 300 meg an hour, 700 meg an hour or 1 gig an hour.
* All information posted is something I have actually done myself otherwise I wouldnt post it. WD receiver and UnoTelly are not the only services that work, but they are ones I have actually tested and represent good value for money.
Receiver : $129 USD ~1100 ZAR
UnoTelly $4.95 a month ~ 42
Netflix $7.99 a month ~ 70
Ongoing 120 ZAR a month for unlimited TV (plus your ISP costs)
bviously HD is very much dependent on speed of your line so if there is any slowdown on the ISP network you will see it in the picture.
the xbmc plugin.