Turns out it was a conflict between the app and latest Windoze update - solved by installing the beta version. Impressed by the tech support services, wish every company was the same!
Back to 2021 speeds again!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Just an update, since I hadn't posted on this thread for a while, to report that SurfShark VPN is still working well for me.
One thing that's changed is that there is now an Android TV-specific version of BBC iPlayer and it works pretty much flawlessly with SurfShark on my Mi Box S and the Mi TV stick I bought more recently - excellent speed and quality. I still can't get a version of ITV Hub app that works on Android TV. The My5 app also works fine, though I don't use it very often. I can use the ITV Hub website on Chrome or Firefox on my laptop however, which works fine.
Netflix on both Mi devices (box & stick) is a little more tricky. SurfShark generally works OK to get me the UK Netflix content but every now and then I get a message that I'm using a proxy or blocker, although I can usually get rid of it by clearing the Netflix cache.
Again, no such problems on the laptop - Netflix works fine whichever country I set. The various UK TV websites: BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, My5, All4 etc all work on the laptop with SurfShark set to the UK (using the browser add-ons gives best performance).
GroveHillWanderer wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 11:44 am
Just an update, since I hadn't posted on this thread for a while, to report that SurfShark VPN is still working well for me.
One thing that's changed is that there is now an Android TV-specific version of BBC iPlayer and it works pretty much flawlessly with SurfShark on my Mi Box S and the Mi TV stick I bought more recently - excellent speed and quality. I still can't get a version of ITV Hub app that works on Android TV. The My5 app also works fine, though I don't use it very often. I can use the ITV Hub website on Chrome or Firefox on my laptop however, which works fine.
Netflix on both Mi devices (box & stick) is a little more tricky. SurfShark generally works OK to get me the UK Netflix content but every now and then I get a message that I'm using a proxy or blocker, although I can usually get rid of it by clearing the Netflix cache.
Again, no such problems on the laptop - Netflix works fine whichever country I set. The various UK TV websites: BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, My5, All4 etc all work on the laptop with SurfShark set to the UK (using the browser add-ons gives best performance).
Big Boy wrote:I am seriously thinking of throwing some money at a VPN, and Express seems to be very tried and tested by you guys.
My needs are simple. I'd like to access regular UK TV and their 'on demand' services via my laptop.
What exactly do I need to buy and what is the price please?
It’s $99 for a years subscription - I think they only offer a single service so no choices to make - I’m sure if you look at their website you’ll find the link to register
Big Boy wrote:I am seriously thinking of throwing some money at a VPN, and Express seems to be very tried and tested by you guys.
My needs are simple. I'd like to access regular UK TV and their 'on demand' services via my laptop.
What exactly do I need to buy and what is the price please?
It’s $99 for a years subscription - I think they only offer a single service so no choices to make - I’m sure if you look at their website you’ll find the link to register
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
$99 annual also gives 3 months free. So you get 15 months.
Dannie Boy wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 12:22 pm
How much did it cost?
I got a two-year subscription to SurfShark which they don't offer any more (and I don't actually remember how much I paid) but on their website at the moment their best deal is a 12 month subscription with 3 free months for $34.99 which works out at $2.33 a month.
After the first fifteen months the yearly renewal fee remains at $34.99.
I've been reading reviews of SurfShark vs Express, and both products look excellent. Express comes out on top, but is only a fraction better, which is not reflected by the 3x cost factor. If I wasn't new to this game, I'd most certainly give SurfShark serious consideration, but as a (paid for) VPN virgin, I will stay with the service that reviews on here have given me most confidence. However, once I've got my spurs, I may downgrade a little next time for some substantial savings.
I have both VPN Express and NordVPN. NordVPN has a lot more servers to chose from, and also offers servers which can be used with OpenVPN. The latter is good if hotels blocks VPN use. If using OpenVPN the network will not know you're using VPN.
huahin4ever wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 5:45 pm
I have both VPN Express and NordVPN. NordVPN has a lot more servers to chose from, and also offers servers which can be used with OpenVPN. The latter is good if hotels blocks VPN use. If using OpenVPN the network will not know you're using VPN.
Just out of interest, if you appear to prefer Nord, any specific reason why you also use Express?