Other things to do with a US based VPN

[Niximus]

I set up a VPN to the US the other day and have been able to sign up for Netflix and Hulu which are both working fantastically.

I have been searching for other things that I could do just to try the capacity of the VPN out but was wondering if anyone here uses one and has any suggestions.

Is there anything like perhaps a sports station that streams to US based customers (free or subscription)?

 

[red+black]

Which VPN? Free or paid?

 

[Niximus]

Using openvpn via strongvpn for US$10/month at the moment, I tried to set up one of the free ones but the links to their config files were all broken.

Now that I have it working I'll be able to play around with some cheaper ones.

I have ordered myself a new router that can run custom firmware that supports openvpn. That way I can add it to my network and everything behind it thinks it is in the US. This way I should be able to use Netflix on my PS3.

 

[Portia]

Most of the TV channels have additional content for shows only viewable in the US; its worth going to CBS or NBC.com and chase up interesting extras.

It used to be that you could get the US$ price for games on Steam with a VPN too, but that no longer works.

HBO are dabbling with online delivery, but sadly this is still in its infancy, and you can only get HBO GO if you are a valid cable subscriber. Might not be too far off though.

StrongVPN currently have a `2nd VPN account for $2 month' scheme on a San Francisco server, which I recommend getting into, and setting your current one up as a UK-based one. Then you get access to all of BBC and ITV, which is a hell of a lot of good stuff.

 

[Niximus]

Most of the TV channels have additional content for shows only viewable in the US; its worth going to CBS or NBC.com and chase up interesting extras.

It used to be that you could get the US$ price for games on Steam with a VPN too, but that no longer works.

HBO are dabbling with online delivery, but sadly this is still in its infancy, and you can only get HBO GO if you are a valid cable subscriber. Might not be too far off though.

StrongVPN currently have a `2nd VPN account for $2 month' scheme on a San Francisco server, which I recommend getting into, and setting your current one up as a UK-based one. Then you get access to all of BBC and ITV, which is a hell of a lot of good stuff.

Cheers for that, I'll check out what kind of stuff is on BBC and ITV.

I have paid for 3 months with strongVPN but will probably play around with some cheaper options when that is up.

Anyone come across anything like a pay-per-view sports streamer?

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Using openvpn via strongvpn for US$10/month at the moment, I tried to set up one of the free ones but the links to their config files were all broken.

Now that I have it working I'll be able to play around with some cheaper ones.

I have ordered myself a new router that can run custom firmware that supports openvpn. That way I can add it to my network and everything behind it thinks it is in the US. This way I should be able to use Netflix on my PS3.

Does that mean that these VPN's wont work on most routers/modems?

 

[Niximus]

Does that mean that these VPN's wont work on most routers/modems?

Yes and no.

The way I currently connect is via software on my laptop. I run it, connect to the VPN and I'm browsing via a location in San Francisco. Any router should be fine for this.

What I am going to do though, is run the software within the router so that any device that connects to it is accessing the VPN.

It should look like this when I am done.

The laptop will be able to connect to either network, the PS3 will have an ethernet connection to the US router. They should both have access to the external HDD but fingers crossed on that one.