www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Pretty cool...a Wifi connected bus.

take a look at http://thomasfals.com/how-to-use-netfli ... de-the-us/ Don't trouble yourself that it addresses an ipad. The data is generic.

I have just gotten off the phone with the company noted below and am advised it's best to let them know you're in CR if you are in CR when you set up the account. Doing so allows them to provide you with the best and fastest server. If you want to insist you're somewhere else, fine...the system will still work. Just follow my directions. This outfit, http://www.strongvpn.com is so great, they'll even set up your computer for you after you give them access to it if you can't figure this stuff out on your own. Too, I believe you can phone them prior to any trip to CR and they'll switch the server for you for the length of your trip. You can be perfectly candid with them as to what you want to do: "I want to stream Netflix while I'm getting laid in CR." I suppose you can leave out the getting laid part. Up to you. But be frank about the country you're in or going to visit because that's going to be a big help in assigning you to an input server.

You will need this: http://www.strongvpn.com . All you need is a USA IP address which is tied to a fast proxy server. It only costs like $55.00 a year or $7.00 a month and you have a fast & secure VPN connection to a USA server (You also do need a good connection to the internet from your CR location. I KNOW Amistad's works just fine; can't say about the other locations, but I rather suspect they're more than adequate.). That way you can bypass the Geocontrol of Netflix. Simply log in and watch your shows online. While you may not stream HD (prolly not enuff bandwidth in MOST places in CR) from netflix, you'll get the standard definition with no problem. If you have a very good Costa Rican connection, you just may get HD, too! strongVPN allows for a free 7 day trial I do believe.

Read the review here: http://strongvpn.com/packages_south_america.shtml

"Router: Intelbras, Account type: lite pptp
It just works. I use it both on my Wndows PC, MacBook laptop and iPad. Now I can watch Netflix movies from anywhere!"

as always, YMMV!!! Good luck.....it's really quite easy.

As for that Columbian bus: I will bet money that that Wi-Fi connected bus is so connected by satellite and/or microwave such that a USA ip address appears to the Netflix people or some manner of VPN is in use.

Also, the Slingbox system DOES work for streaming Netflix via your home system. I do it every trip. http://www.slingmedia.com/go/solo is for one device (like your cable tv box or your DISH receiver/DVR) or your media server for Netflix and http://www.slingmedia.com/go/prohd is for several devices . All the stuff can be had for a song via Ebay. The Slingbox AV goes for about $50 or less on Ebay and while it won't stream HD, it does just fine for SD and who really needs more (unless you're staying for an extended period of time; if I can go without HDTV for a couple of weeks, you can too...hahahahaha) while visiting CR? Heck....here's all you need, USED....on ebay and so far it's only going for under $20: http://cgi.ebay.com/Sling-Media-Slingbo ... 23103f2972

Edit #5: Be WARNED about the Slingbox system and your new, fancy media player or BluRay DVD with media streaming: Be CERTAIN that Slingbox has the remote in it's software. Ask before you buy. If Slingbox ain't got the remote, you is SOL relative to being able to stream Netflix because you got no way to control your home system from CR or anywhere else for that matter (unless you can write code to create the remote on your own). Just go to the Slingmedia web site and ask.



PS: I belive http://hotspotshield.com/ is no longer an option. Doesn't hurt to try it, but I rather suspect the party is over with that thing....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Hey Steven, it has been a while. How are you? The Bus I used was from http://www.expresopalmira.com.co. Not bad for getting around Colombia in moderate comfort and direct service with secure luggage. Along with the added benefit of not being stopped for Police checks as often. In any case, I asked the driver and they are apparently creating a mobile hotspot from a Comcel 3G connection. Not sure if that was true but, he sounded confident as he answered but, I guess that doesn't mean anything either.

I use a jailbroken iPhone and therefore lockdown SSH but at the same time run with a firewall. Along with that and a couple of other apps I am able to analyze my WiFi Connection (especially while traveling for reasons you have outlined in other threads). While, I also run with dual sims (another iPhone modification) I can see my 3G IP and the WiFi IP. Naturally my WiFi IP on the bus was not in the public address range. In fact, it was in the private Class C range. Nevertheless, I was able to trace my actually IP Connection to Colombia with an extremely high degree of certainty.

Without trying to sound disrespectful of Colombia, they just would never spend money on a bus system with satellite communications unless they could visibly get return on the investment. I doubt, that the WiFi Connection is used at all expect in perhaps 1 out of 5 to 10 connections. I was more surprised as were the Colombians I pointed it out to that it even existed.

We definitely were not bouncing off satellites. I am not sure why I am able to stream and others are not. But, I do know that applications are not able to restrict my capabilities on my iPhone as a result of the jailbreak. Everything is available and I have rarely had to write my own code to circumvent.

Given your information I would assume that the jailbreak as circumvented local programming although, I would have expected such localization to be server side (at least that is what I would do) since it is a simple matter to integrate and much easier to manage.

I will be taking the same bus in a couple of months again (Bogota - Pereira 9 hours with nothing but time). I had not thought to verify the owner of the IP address and if it is being used in the region it is assigned by design. I will do that next time to satisfy my own curiosity.

In any event Netflix was coming through without issue and without breaks. More than likely cause I was the only one using it .



=xp=

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--==xpatriot==--

WOW Xpatriot! Good work! Please run a speedtest when you're back on that bus, buddy. I'm VERY curious what it's doing. Thanks!

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Great info here S1. Thanks for posting, I'll be sure to give strongvpn a shot on my next trip.

mh

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mh

Glad to assist and sorry, K-paxian, it took me a bit to get the data you had requested earlier, but which I don't use. The system/process I use to receive whatever I want is a bit more complex than using the VPN.

Miamiheller:

You can have an individual one on one SKYPE conversation with ANY of the strongvpn staff.

Check out here as to who to add:

http://reliablehosting.com/contacts.htm

Obtain their name and do a search via name on SKYPE. They're all there. VERY helpful. For you, it will be a cakewalk.

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Thanks for all the great information Steven1!! I am going to sign up for StrongVPN any day now!

_________________
Man I'm living life like a great white shark swimming with minnows! It's all about panocha, great scotch, fine cigars, loud-ass rock music and speed, speed, speed - plus spending as much time as possible in paradise on earth, Costa Rica!

As of last night hotspotshield still works for me in Guanacaste. I use it on an almost daily basis to watch programs on hulu.com.

Overall, EXCELLENT information from Steven 1! I could not have said any of it better myself.

Any reports from the field relative to just how well this process did or did not function?

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Netflix has been available to CR IP addresses for about 4 months now. First month is free then $8.00 a month.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Streaming costs COP$ 14,000 per month here in Colombia. The selection is more limited than in the States. Netflix times out frequently on both of my computers, though. I'll get around to calling the toll-free number in the States when my busy schedule permits.

I ended up cancelling my NETFLIX account. Streaming quality is very sporadic down here. I discussed the problem with NETFLIX technical, and was informed that they haven't quite worked out all the bugs in South America. DVDs are only COP$ 2000 - 3000 on the street anyway.

Just too easy to download to pay for anything. Last week wanted to catch up on a few of my series and downloaded a whole season of Dexter in one afternoon. Got a few movies too.