I subscribe to an unverified IPTV service which I play on my tablet and various TVs. I mix the players depending how often I use the devices - some play with premium/paid Tivimate, others withthe native player provided by the IPTV service. When I use the native player on a Samsung Android tablet with a VPN (either Surfshark or Private Internet Access) turned on, the player now denies me access. Tivimate works fine on the tablet with the VPN running.
The native player can be linked to the VPN, but I don’t use that feature because the link locks me in to a fixed server location; I cannot switch to get less buffering etc.
The IPTV support desk just e-mailed me as follows:
*"You don’t need to use VPN so switch it off when using the app. In most times the VPN can slow down your connection making the stream unusable. * Sincerely, XXX Support"
Why would it ever be safe to use an unlinked native player without a VPN?
The subject matter of using a VPN or not can get long and very controversial. Everybody’s opinionated on it some people for years don’t use a VPN and never get infringement notice. Some people will say you must use VPN at all times some people say you know you don’t need to so you won’t get a righteous answer it just get people’s experience.
Sounds to me like the iptv provider is making excuses for weak or bad feeds. Why not use a VPN? Any download speeds over 25-30 mbps (VPN on) should be adequate.
And I don’t know what they do, but when I email customer service about a weak channel that I like to watch, it soon miraculously gets better.
I will never connect to the net without an active VPN. From copyrighted material to identity theft, there are way to many bad actors out there to risk it IMHO.
On a Formuler box, I had to turn vpn off as it was causing black screen issue - service would load but no sound or picture.
Without vpn, working as normal.
I than changed DNS server to Quad9 on the Formuler box
That’s always a loaded question regarding vpn necessity. Mileage always seem to vary from user to user.
I always use it - though unlike some struggles brought up here, I’ve never had any device, app, or speed (especially now) conflicts that would leverage me to turn it off.
Similar to @Powerfader and his analogy - you never need it until you realize you needed it.
I know this is late coming in but its still open so I’ll post to it.
I use a so-called verified iptv service without a VPN. Whether or not I use a VPN I get little buffering. On my paranoid days I run the VPN and others I don’t. I use Surfshark and IP Vanish on a rotating basis as I am still evaluating which one to keep. So far, Surfshark is 10% faster but I like the UI of IPVanish better.
I am supposed to have gig speed internet but I never see more than 600 down and 200 up. My online account says I have 800 not 1 gig. I connect the firestick and Onn vie the USB port (OTG cable on stick) with a Green gig ethernet adapter which also has USB ports if I want to add memory. This gives me about 350 Down vs the 100 from the onboard interface. Wifi gives me about the same as wired but I have a ton of cameras and other devices on the network so I use ethernet when I can. I usually chock up buffering to my ISP slowing me down when they detect the streaming device.
I do use a VPN when streaming on-demand because I am not sure if it is verified. This cuts my download from 350 to 125 on SS and 90 on IPVanish. Still enough speed but occasional buffering.
I have seen my isp throttle me when without a vpn and not touch the speed when on a vpn. So im not really sure if the throttle is an attempt to save you bandwidth or what they are up to. I recently dropped my speed from 1 gig to 300 and my streaming isnt affected even with a vpn.
Geez the amount of people that think their ISP is watching them is ridiculous. I do not use a VPN and get higher speeds than what I pay for. I pay for 300MB with AT&T Fiber and consistently get about 370MB at all times. So many paranoid people here
I recently went from 300 to gig speed and noticed an immediate improvement but within weeks it was back to the usual buffering. Download speed tests from Anilyti and ookla went from 800 to 600 and now to 475 (no VPN) which is why I blame the isp.
Your ISP doesn’t give 2 Shi$s what you are doing. But you should ask them why you aren’t getting closer to a Gig what you are paying them and demand they fix it? They might give you some helpful ideas but they aren’t going to say “we noticed you are steaming copyrighted material so we decided to cut your speed”
I will go to the local store and straighten this out. In the meantime I have refreshed the data.
I am running an iMac24 (gave up on windows), an Onn. Pro and a 6th gen Firestick Max. I have both IPVanish and Surfshark VPNs. I am using Ookla Speed test. I ran all tests twice and restarted the streaming devices between tests and when changing VPNs. Averages are reported. All devices connected to the same router.
Mac: 5.4gHz wifi
No VPN 700/114, IP Vanish 558/101, Surfshark 541/112.
Onn. running ethernet through the USB port on a uGreen 1 gig adapter.
No VPN: 445/115, IPVanish 46/54, Surfshark 80/95
Firestick: 5.4 gHz wifi (ethernet limited to 100 but I could have connected with a UGreen adapter)
No VPN: 400/50, IPVanish 75/76, Surfshark 108/103.
I hope this data helps someone or at least provides some insight. Eventually I will upgrade to Nvidia.
Those speeds, with VPN active, are more than adequate for streaming. If you search on the site, you will find Troy has a new vid regarding VPNs and speeds. Also speed tests vary greatly due to server locations and coding. Some have multi connections and some single. IMHO the best thing to do is use a single speed test, test several different VPN locations and most of all, realize that inless you are specifically choosing 8K sources you won’t need more than 35-50GBs download speeds for streaming.
