IPVanish issue with fire sticks

Security
1

What’s the deal with IPVanish lately? I have a Toshiba fire TV, a gen two firestick and two 4K firestick. I get average 285-290 mbps without VPN. I turn on IPVanish and I get around 55-60 mbps. Now two of my sticks won’t connect if I use Wire guard protocol. Weird. Just for shits, I loaded the free version of Proton and while connected, I get 95-100 mbps. So this freebie is kicking IPV’s ass. All four of my fire devices are having this issue.

Also, when I turn on IPVanish, I lose home with “no internet connection.” Home returns when I shut off the VPN. I tried all protocols and port changes. Finally, I split tunneled all Amazon system apps and services to bypass and that solved the home problem. But I’m curious why as I haven’t needed to do that for the last ten years. Something changed. I know VPN drops speed but 285 to 55? I’ve always had avg 130 with VPN on.

I’ve used IPVanish for over 10 years. This all started about a week ago. Not looking for instruction on servers, protocol changing, etc. Not looking for “it sucks” or “switch to this” or “you don’t need VPN” responses.

My question is, anyone using IPVanish noticed this on your fire sticks? Thanks.

3 Likes
2

Yes, I am having this same issue. Was going to ck to see if my storage was full, thinking that might cause the Home Not Available. Our speeds have been really slow lately when using IPVanish. I had not put those dots together! Thanks. Sad for IPVanish!

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I’m going to try the IPVanish website. Sorry for your trouble but now I know it’s not just me. I’ll post back if I get an answer to gel us. Either way.

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4

Try different protocols and manually select servers. Also make sure you are using the most up to date IPVanish app :slightly_smiling_face:

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I contacted IPVanish. They had me clear data and reload. They cleared the cache on their end. I got my devices to connect via Wireguard protocol. My home screen is there again (for now) but speed still sucks. I’ve tried all kinds of servers all over. Tried all protocols etc. I’d like to try a different VPN. Too bad they don’t give you a five minute trial or something. Sucks to sign up and give over my info and be done with them in the first day and have to cancel etc.

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I went with Surfshark, if you don’t like it you can get your money back within 30 days and cancel👍

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I might try Surfshark. I just tested my Motorola phone and Samsung tablet.

Phone average 5 tests - dl 280 without VPN, 64 with IPVanish

Tablet 288 without, 58 with

So it’s not Amazon firmware or system

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I know that I have. All sorts of issues at times then no issues. It’s strange how it does it back and forth. Never experienced this before since installing FS. Now, it is a day by day thing. I really think whatever Amazon has done created a problem and they have no idea how bad it is to cord cutters. After reading your e-mail, please share with me any ideas you may have moving forward. thanks

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Well, it’s not a solution or resolution but I installed Surfshark and everything’s working perfectly so far in the last hour. Speed is 2 and 1/2 times faster than IPVanish. I haven’t lost Home setting yet either. Bailing out is not how I usually resolve things but… Anyway, I have four months left on my IPVanish account to mess with it. Meanwhile I’ll pound tests on Surfshark at least until my 30 days are up.

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I’m going to watch some videos on Surfshark setup. So far Wireguard smokes Open protocol.

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Your download speeds will always take a hit with a vpn. You shoud split tunnel all paid apps.

Only use vpn on unverified apps. 60 down is good enough to run everything.

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Meanwhile, split tunnel the Amazon system applications and the home page will load with IPVanish on.

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13

EXCEPT, the loosing HOME…

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You split tunnel amazon apps and systems that should fix it.

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15

I noticed also that lately IPVanish is having trouble connecting to servers on my end.

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Its not, if you are running a vpn on your stick you need to make sure all amazon and paid apps are bypassed.

Things like iptv, stremio, tivimate and the any unverified app needs the vpn.

2 Likes
17

Had the same issue so I dumped IPvanish and went to SurfShark and have had very good luck. Without Vpn I get between 325-350 with IpVanish 55-70 with SurfShark 104-127. Typical to loose 2/3 of your speed with Vpn. Really you need over 65 for most good streaming

Sal

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I had a similar problem with speeds which was why I moved. I put up a post with a comparison between IPVanish and Surfshark and ended up a big difference for me at least.

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Update

I have four friends running fire sticks and IPVanish. ALL four are experiencing their Amazon hone page failing to load while IPVanish is running. The fix that worked for me and all of them is to split tunnel all Amazon related services.

I started doing them one at a time trying to isolate the culprit app or service but it is very time consuming. I can’t verify for sure if it’s an fire devices issue or it’s IPVanish. I get irritated by people that can’t stay on topic! Oh, and a couple of friends are saying Hulu isn’t playing nice lol.

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I have IPVanish on 6 4k Max and do not have any homepage issues. Now that being said, I have IPV set to autostart and sometimes other things run before IPV loads. I have no idea what those things are exactly. I suspect it’s updates but can’t say for sure. once IPV loads and the Security globe then everything works perfectly. Seems to take around 30 seconds for IPV and Security globe to fully load. But I’ve learned to be patient in my old age. :older_man:

2 Likes