13-04-2024 11:34 AM
I have recently switched from BT to EE TV & note that the 2 x TV mini boxes supplied under our contract use wi-fi to stream HD TV & the various TV apps over an internet connection. We frequently visit Spain & I currently jump through various hoops on my laptop in order to stream/watch British TV channels on TV. I wondered if one of these mini TV boxes would work in Spain through a VPN ? Or is there some devious bit of inbuilt software that would prevent this!
13-04-2024 12:16 PM
Hi @karis6197
You will still need to use a VPN but it should work.
Not sure i can say much more as you need a tv licence to watch UK tv which isn't available abroad legally.
Thanks
13-04-2024 02:41 PM
Thanks Northerner; yes I am aware of the "supposedly" legal restrictions of watching UK TV abroad. But, the way I see it, I have bought a UK TV licence & that should allow me to watch UK TV no matter where I am in the world, even if it needed some for of licence verification/sign in but that's not the way they have decided to do it! For many years we've spent 4 months a year in Spain & every ex-pat I know out there works some sort of fiddle to get the UK channels. It used to only be possible via satellite dish & (illegal) sky box & even the hotels/apartment blocks do it! But, with Spanish BB speeds improving, it's been possible to stream most of the time, in SD at least, for ablaut 6/7 years where we go. I did think I would still need to run through a VPN as now with my lap top but just wondered if there was some jiggery pokery built into the TV mini box that would prevent it working out there. Guess the only way I'll know for sure is to try it but I didn't want to lug the box all the way to Spain only to find it wouldn't work!
13-04-2024 10:55 PM
Multicast (the method by which the channels are delivered) doesn't work over a VPN.
14-04-2024 09:47 AM
Aha, how boring! I thought there might be some inbuilt catch. Why make it so difficult to watch simple TV programmes, even after you've paid your dues. Looks like I will have to stick with the lap top then, where there's a will, there's always a way!
22-05-2024 02:32 PM
Hi Darren
When I switched by broadband and TV from BT to EE I was told by the sales person I spoke to that I could have two mini tv boxes, I already had one with BT along with the BT tv pro box. The EE sales person told me to keep the BT mini box and that they would arrange to send me another.
However, I am now receiving letters and text messages asking me to return the BT mini box. I tried calling customer services but the person I spoke to did not seem to understand my request, after a quick google it seems that I can have two mini tv boxes and the pro box, so I am confused. Could you please confirm my findings and if I am correct how do I go about keeping the two mini tv and the pro box?