• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Would a vpn service like Unblock Us help with crappy netflix on fios

S

slackerinabox

Lifer
I'm having an awful experience with Netflix these days even though bandwidth's not a problem (50mb/s connection). I've heard that unblock us could help achieve super HD streaming (mine seems to default to sub-SD, youtube in the early 2000s blockiness), is that true? I was thinking whatever fios is doing to bjork up netflix wouldn't be that easy to get around.
 
I read somewhere (maybe here) that verizon has been throttling netflix streaming so it might work (but I honestly don't know). I can confirm that the streaming has been blowing lately.
 
Try this. Worked for me:

1.Click the Start button, type “cmd”, and right click the icon to ‘Run As Administrator’ (Screenshot 1)
2.You will likely see a UAC prompt, hit “Yes” (Screenshot 2)
3.The command prompt window will open, this is where you will type in the commands to set your firewall rules (Screenshot 3)
4.Enter the following command and hit Enter. If it works, you should see a big “OK”.

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="MITCHRIBARYTUBE" dir=in action=block remoteip=173.194.55.0/24,206.111.0.0/16 enable=yes

Rules can be easily removed too. Just get back into the command prompt in the same way and run this command, hit Enter again:

netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name="MITCHRIBARYTUBE"
 
I use Unotelly as my DNS service. It's compatible with Super HD on Netflix. I use it mainly to bypass region blocking. Always seems to be pretty fast. It's a bit fickle at times though. I have to to update my IP address every few days to get Netflix to work.
 
techs said:
Try this. Worked for me:

1.Click the Start button, type “cmd”, and right click the icon to ‘Run As Administrator’ (Screenshot 1)
2.You will likely see a UAC prompt, hit “Yes” (Screenshot 2)
3.The command prompt window will open, this is where you will type in the commands to set your firewall rules (Screenshot 3)
4.Enter the following command and hit Enter. If it works, you should see a big “OK”.

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="MITCHRIBARYTUBE" dir=in action=block remoteip=173.194.55.0/24,206.111.0.0/16 enable=yes

Rules can be easily removed too. Just get back into the command prompt in the same way and run this command, hit Enter again:

netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name="MITCHRIBARYTUBE"
Click to expand...

the above is from this site:
http://mitchribar.com/2013/02/how-to-stop-youtube-sucking-windows-guide/
and it explains what the commands are doing and why they work.
 
I don't believe you. ISP's are fair to everyone. They'd have no reason to throttle any particular service. They only care about the consumers. It says so right in their ads!
 
ImpulsE69 said:
I don't believe you. ISP's are fair to everyone. They'd have no reason to throttle any particular service. They only care about the consumers. It says so right in their ads!
Click to expand...

Healthy competition between providers always ensures that customers get the best experience.
 
PrivateInternetAccess seemed to help Netflix quality for me, but now that Comcast struck a deal I may no longer need it...haven't checked since the deal was announced, so I can't say for sure.
 
I proxy through a VPS in order to use YouTube, Google Music and Netflix on my TWC connection.

Works wonderfully.
 
Xonim said:
PrivateInternetAccess seemed to help Netflix quality for me, but now that Comcast struck a deal I may no longer need it...haven't checked since the deal was announced, so I can't say for sure.
Click to expand...
That's interesting. Using PIA netflix didn't want to work on my HTPC. Are you routing overseas or...?
 
I would predict that now that Comcast got Netflix to pay up, you can expect performance over Verizon to get worse until the announcement of their deal with Netflix.
 
Yeah on TWiT two weeks ago they talked about some dude who essentially proved they were throttling. I do not recall the details, but he used some VPN or something and showed the difference.

KT
 
NutBucket said:
That's interesting. Using PIA netflix didn't want to work on my HTPC. Are you routing overseas or...?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't think you'd have to vpn overseas (probably would hurt latency anyways), just to a server in the us that's not on the comcast network which are any of the pia vpn servers.
 
rdubbz said:
I wouldn't think you'd have to vpn overseas (probably would hurt latency anyways), just to a server in the us that's not on the comcast network which are any of the pia vpn servers.
Click to expand...

From my understanding, latency only matters for gaming. You just need the bandwidth. The information might reach you at a slower pace but you should still be getting all of it at the same time.
 
It depends how the ISPs do it. If they throttle right at Netflix's servers then it wont do much good, but if they throttle each customer then if your exit node is are not a customer of that ISP you may be ok.

My gut feeling is that they throttle right at the major data centers though, much easier to manage, and they can control more traffic that way.
 
rdubbz said:
I wouldn't think you'd have to vpn overseas (probably would hurt latency anyways), just to a server in the us that's not on the comcast network which are any of the pia vpn servers.
Click to expand...
I'm on TWC but it was just a side note. I'll investigate when/if I actually have a problem.
 
I think the biggest ruse is some ISP's have been accused of throttling for some time and continue to deny it. There should be grounds for a lawsuit/breach of contract there, but I don't see it happening. You can't tell me it's not provable.
 
Testing on my hardwired (non wifi) FIOS connection, I am watching Netflix at an avg of about 250KBps - it did take forever to start a movie. Anyway, wouldn't FIOS throttling a particular service top off at something and stay there (say 300KBps) especially if the line is supposed to be way up at 3500KBps? It is sometimes reaching 400KBps and drops as low as 150KBps.

Haven't gotten HD yet in 10 minutes though. What is everyone else getting?

EDIT>> HD after about 20 minutes. Even YT is stupid slow tonight... something's up.
 
Last edited:
I wish there was a way to buffer Netflix movies - for those of us without connections fast enough for HD viewing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top