VPN for the streamings

[FG Lurker]

It's the XS model. I've seen threads (at Roku) that specifically said DHCP or STFU.

If you dig it does seem possible to get into the Roku via a debug mode over telnet. I don't have one here so can't test this to see what is and isn't possible but if it has any sort of storage for settings then it may be possible to tell it to use a fixed IP via telnet.

On my what? It's an MBP.

Doesn't matter, you can still run a DHCP server on it that you can configure as you wish.

I will try this or something like it. I'd rather my router "just work" but I guess I'm one of those guys that's not going to have his cake and eat it too. If I go that route, I would just go all static. My workstations are static -- handheld devices are DHCP.

...and there ya go. Roku configured as you wish and via DHCP. It's not as elegant a solution as one might like but it will work and doesn't involve buying any additional hardware.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Bottom Line: Many savvy folks in Japan are saying they plan to just lay low for a few months, or use a cheap VPN to only watch Netflix/Hulu, which does not involve any uploading (the big no-no) and only watching streaming downloads like Netflix/Hulu /YouTube.

So, I'm curious to know about the potentially dodgy streaming sites (e.g. not YouTube and Hulu etc.).
I was asked about streaming by a Japanese relative recently who watches Korean dramas on dramacrazy.net.
She was wondering if you could get in trouble for using sites like that (of course without a VPN etc.).

Apparently watching illegally uploaded YouTube content (with the knowledge that it is illegal) could potentially be illegal, but it is all up in the air as of yet. Some pundits say that you could just say you did not know it was illegally uploaded for example.
As YouTube is regarded as "progressive downloading" (a file is stored in the temp folder of your browser), the authorities could potentially bust you if they find these temp files.
I know that MS IE does save the temp files, but, if you use Firefox, you can set it to erase the history and cache (temp files) every time you close the browser.

From what I have read in the J media, they are going to come after people that are sharing files (Torrents etc.), and selling files etc.
If you're still torrenting, turning off seeding would be advised (no idea if that will help though).

I know this is the cuntry where the tenet of "why employee one person to do one person's job when you can employ 10 people to do one person's job (and still not get it done properly)" applies, but this is unenforcable....although all those women who used to sit in a back room at customs in Yokohama so they could scratch out the pubes on imported porn mags may suddenly find they have work again...if they haven't already carked it through old age.

[gaijinpunch]

[

I will try this or something like it. I'd rather my router "just work" but I guess I'm one of those guys that's not going to have his cake and eat it too. If I go that route, I would just go all static. My workstations are static -- handheld devices are DHCP.

...and there ya go. Roku configured as you wish and via DHCP. It's not as elegant a solution as one might like but it will work and doesn't involve buying any additional hardware.

The only caveat I can think of, w/ the VPN I'm currently using (but not married to) is that you have to use tunnel, which they provide via a script. Basically their software and internet sharing don't get along. The tunnel software they provide requires my laptop to be hooked up to the router via the wired connection. So, the DHCP above is going to have to work via Wifi. I have only given it a once over so can't comment either way.

I'd rather get into the Roku in telnet session though. that might be worth a few moments of time.

[FG Lurker]

[The only caveat I can think of, w/ the VPN I'm currently using (but not married to) is that you have to use tunnel, which they provide via a script. Basically their software and internet sharing don't get along. The tunnel software they provide requires my laptop to be hooked up to the router via the wired connection. So, the DHCP above is going to have to work via Wifi. I have only given it a once over so can't comment either way.

I'd rather get into the Roku in telnet session though. that might be worth a few moments of time.

Since you already have another router arriving anyway you could do this:

Roku --> [Wifi] --> New Router running DD-WRT (or similar) --> [Cable from new router WAN port to old router LAN port] --> Old Router --> Your Internet Connection

In this case you would configure the VPN on the new router running DD-WRT. The rest of your network would still connect as usual directly to your old router.

Not all VPNs will work well in this sort of configuration and you may need to monkey with the old router to get the VPN packets to pass through it properly. This would allow you to use the Roku without having your Mac on however, and would avoid having to have tunneling software set up. If any other software needs to use the VPN as well they would just connect via WIFI to the new router and would be automatically routed over the VPN too.

[gaijinpunch]

Roku --> [Wifi] --> New Router running DD-WRT (or similar) --> [Cable from new router WAN port to old router LAN port] --> Old Router --> Your Internet Connection

In this case you would configure the VPN on the new router running DD-WRT. The rest of your network would still connect as usual directly to your old router.

I thought of this, but there is a caveat: their VPN requires software. So, that is kind of out I am about 90% sure. This is actually the ideal setup as I use software VPN for work, and I have to connect directly to that. However, I think I'm going to need a new VPN for that, and I want to make sure this one sucks or doesn't before throwing them to the wolves.

[FG Lurker]

I thought of this, but there is a caveat: their VPN requires software.

I suggest changing to a VPN provider that uses standard protocols -- PPTP and/or OpenVPN. Both of these will work just fine from the DD-WRT router behind your D-Link.

As I have mentioned previously I suggest StrongVPN for streaming quasi-legal stuff like what you are doing with your Roku. Their $55/year plan gives you access to servers in the US, UK, Canada, and the Netherlands. Performance is great and they have very helpful support should you need it.

[gaijinpunch]

I thought of this, but there is a caveat: their VPN requires software.

I suggest changing to a VPN provider that uses standard protocols -- PPTP and/or OpenVPN. Both of these will work just fine from the DD-WRT router behind your D-Link.

As I have mentioned previously I suggest StrongVPN for streaming quasi-legal stuff like what you are doing with your Roku. Their $55/year plan gives you access to servers in the US, UK, Canada, and the Netherlands. Performance is great and they have very helpful support should you need it.

Thanks. Will check into it. SecureVPN has PPTP and OpenVPN, but on their site, I saw nothing other than software downloads. I've literally only logged in twice to see if it would stream at all (and it does) so up to that point, I'm happy. But as per before, if I'm going to do that, I'm definitely going to have to employ another router, as I need my work stuff to go directly to work. Not through a private 3rd party VPN.

[FG Lurker]

Thanks. Will check into it. SecureVPN has PPTP and OpenVPN, but on their site, I saw nothing other than software downloads. I've literally only logged in twice to see if it would stream at all (and it does) so up to that point, I'm happy. But as per before, if I'm going to do that, I'm definitely going to have to employ another router, as I need my work stuff to go directly to work. Not through a private 3rd party VPN.

Windows and (I believe) MacOS do not support OpenVPN natively, they need a client installed which is what those downloads likely are.

PPTP is supported natively on both platforms.

DD-WRT (and probably Tomato et al) support PPTP without trouble. OpenVPN takes more space so does not seem to be included in all builds. I seem to remember something about it only being included on DD-WRT builds for routers with 8MB or more of flash, not sure about the other open source router firmwares out there.

[matsuki]

Why the encryption if you're no longer using torrents?

Privacy + Anything not encrypted is subject to easy snooping.

Word...but aren't they just going totarget the people with insane amounts of data transfers? No new pron for me for awhile...

[FG Lurker]

Word...but aren't they just going totarget the people with insane amounts of data transfers? No new pron for me for awhile...

I don't think anyone knows exactly how this will unfold yet. If I was torrenting large amounts of stuff I'd definitely do it via a seedbox with an encrypted download link to get it back to my local PC.

I don't have time for movies these days, have never been a TV person, get my music via Internet radio, and have an MSDN subscription... The only thing I have torrented in recent memory was a Knoppix distro...!

[gaijinpunch]

Thanks. Will check into it. SecureVPN has PPTP and OpenVPN, but on their site, I saw nothing other than software downloads. I've literally only logged in twice to see if it would stream at all (and it does) so up to that point, I'm happy. But as per before, if I'm going to do that, I'm definitely going to have to employ another router, as I need my work stuff to go directly to work. Not through a private 3rd party VPN.

Windows and (I believe) MacOS do not support OpenVPN natively, they need a client installed which is what those downloads likely are.

PPTP is supported natively on both platforms.

DD-WRT (and probably Tomato et al) support PPTP without trouble. OpenVPN takes more space so does not seem to be included in all builds. I seem to remember something about it only being included on DD-WRT builds for routers with 8MB or more of flash, not sure about the other open source router firmwares out there.

Could be, but also, the sofuto is used to easily switch between servers. But, I will look into a router setting.

[FG Lurker]

Could be, but also, the sofuto is used to easily switch between servers. But, I will look into a router setting.

I'm not sure if this has come through in my posts or not but my background involves quite a bit of professional work managing networks and network security.

One result of this is that I have a hard time trusting non-standard "customized" security software. If they are using the standard OpenVPN client then that's great. It's well known, open source, and as best as can be determined is safe and secure.

If they've modified it or somehow hacked it up to add non-standard features I personally wouldn't feel comfortable using it. Security is one of those things that is super-easy to fuck up in very non-obvious ways.

[matsuki]

Seedbox sounds like a good idea for the speed and you'd only be downloading, not uploading...any specific company you recommend?

[FG Lurker]

Seedbox sounds like a good idea for the speed and you'd only be downloading, not uploading...any specific company you recommend?

I know one guy who uses Feral Networking and seems happy with it.

You may also want to check out /r/seedboxes on Reddit. It's a small subreddit but some providers lurk there and answer questions, and there is user discussion as well.

[matsuki]

Sankyuuuuuu Berry Machi!

[Coligny]

SeedboxHosting(dot)c0m

Allow public track3rz... ftp sumtimes bit slow but bt extremly fast

[FG Lurker]

SeedboxHosting(dot)c0m

Allow public track3rz... ftp sumtimes bit slow but bt extremly fast

Apparently Feral Hosting now allows Pub Tkrs as well. It's definitely better to use Priv Tkrs if you can as people on public ones are the low hanging fruit that get picked first.

You may find it faster to connect via VPN and pull data that way. FTP has a lot of transfer overhead.

[Mike Oxlong]

What's the skinny on BT Guard?

[FG Lurker]

What's the skinny on BT Guard?

It's a VPN service. Better off with a seedbox.

[Coligny]

What's the skinny on BT Guard?

It's a VPN service. Better off with a seedbox.

slow as sh1t... have to remember cancelling...

[gaijinpunch]

Will look into Seedboxes. If I can get non-stuttering 720p from HBOGO/ShowtimeGo then I think I'm good. I would debate an Netflix account, as I watch very few feature films. I'm not seeing anyone stream AMC though which is disconcerting. Not looking hard.

ANYWAY, I got my shit working. I didn't notice it before, but the help section had DD-WRT enabled router in there. Just missed it due to my own ignorance. They offer to generate an SSH RSA key & certificate. You then put this into a shell script which the DD-WRT router runs on startup. The downside is you don't get to change the server on the fly, like you can w/ the software. I had issues w/the software when my laptop slept.

Anywho, I'm using it with my non-DD-WRT router. They both offer wireless networks. One on 192.168.X.X, and the other on 192.168.Y.Y. DD-WRT one goes through the normal one. Anything I want to connect through the VPN, I point to there. Would be trickier w/ my workstations, but I really just use one (Linux) which I use for work, which uses VPNC almost all the time. So for me, it's great.

I got the router for 2200 yen or so on the YJ. It's a Buffalo. Buffalo US offers a DD-WRT firmware that you can flash from the default web GUI. It was amazingly painless. Highly recommend this method to just "add on" to any existing network, with minimal woes to your current network. The router setup is somewhat daunting though if you're not comfortable with scripts or the shell in general. That's where threads like this come in.

[matsuki]

So...Coligny's still here, they must not be making a show of the biggest downloaded porn caches yet.

[gaijinpunch]

So...Coligny's still here, they must not be making a show of the biggest downloaded porn caches yet.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I assumed somebody would update this thread by today. Oh, well... guess we'll wait and see.

[yanpa]

Japan introduces piracy penalties for illegal downloads

Japan-based internet users who download copyright infringing files face up to two years in prison or fines of up to two million yen ($25,700; £15,900) after a change to the law.

Such activity has been illegal since 2010, but until now had not invoked the penalties.

It follows a lobbying campaign by country's music industry.

But critics said that efforts should have remained focused on stopping users making such material available.

In Japan illegal uploads of copyright infringing music and videos carry a maximum 10 year prison sentence and a 10 million yen fine.

Sales figures suggest the country is the world's second-largest music market after the US.

...

Also:

The following month a group of masked activists associated wearing masks associated with the Anonymous hacktivist movement staged a protest in Tokyo.

About 80 participants picked up rubbish from the ground in the city's Shibuya shopping district for an hour to publicise their opposition to the plan.

That will show them... "rescind your evil law or we'll clean up Shibuya"

...more...

[gaijinpunch]

FG Lurker: Are you specifically using Hulu+ & Netflix? Can you stream 720p with it? I've tried all the US servers of vpnsecure. Only two are on the west coast, and they offered tolerable performance. The test was a 480p video from IMDB. 720p was not worth it. I know, not the greatest test, but some type of bench mark was necessary.

[GomiGirl]

We just got an Apple TV and I was wondering how much Hulu would be to get - or netflix.. any suggestions?

Or I was considering the jail break to add in the Plex client so we can play all of our movies in our database that are not in suitable iTunes format. Our Mac doesn't have airplay or an HDMI port so we don't have that option either.

[FG Lurker]

FG Lurker: Are you specifically using Hulu+ & Netflix? Can you stream 720p with it? I've tried all the US servers of vpnsecure. Only two are on the west coast, and they offered tolerable performance. The test was a 480p video from IMDB. 720p was not worth it. I know, not the greatest test, but some type of bench mark was necessary.

StrongVPN streams 720p Hulu+ no problem. I signed up for their free trial and am streaming The Office in HD as I write this. Other HD streams also work fine.

Speedtest.net result from a few moments ago:



I'd be interested in seeing a speedtest.net result from VPNsecure and any other VPN providers FGers are using.

[FG Lurker]

We just got an Apple TV and I was wondering how much Hulu would be to get - or netflix.. any suggestions?

I'm not completely sure but you may need a US credit card to pay for Hulu+ or Netflix.

Or I was considering the jail break to add in the Plex client so we can play all of our movies in our database that are not in suitable iTunes format. Our Mac doesn't have airplay or an HDMI port so we don't have that option either.

AFAIK the newest Apple TV has not yet been jailbroken. If you have an older 2G unit then a jailbreak is a good idea for sure. Some discussion on the Apple TV jailbreak situation.

[Taro Toporific]

I'd be interested in seeing a speedtest.net result from VPNsecure and any other VPN providers FGers are using.

Right now my neighbor is using HideMyAss Pro VPN via an connection in Irvine California, which is the closest and fastest of the USA servers offered by HideMyAss...

PcKeeper.jpg

The US Hulu connection via HideMyAss Pro VPN--- every few minutes the VPN's connection stutters, stops and starts again after few moments but it is watchable, sort of.


PS:
The regular speed without a VPN during Japan's Internet evening rush-hours is:

Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test.jpg

[gaijinpunch]

Guess I'm sold on StrongVPN. Another geek type is using it, and says he streems 720p, but no 1080p. Honestly, my laptop stutters on 1080p, so I'm not too bothered. I will try that once this project I'm working on stops sodomizing me.

GG - again, you'll probably want to figure out your needs. I know dick about Apple TV... I like having a whole computer. Took me forever to actually buy an iPad, and it's 80% used for Skype for work.