• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

VPN & Android Phones

C

charles2012

Newbie
Guys,

I'm in the UK and listen to US Rock Stations either directly off their web sites or using TuneIn Radio.
Because of royalty payments many stations have recently blocked access to their stream from non US IP addresses. No problem I can easily connect on my PC by using a VPN server in the US using Hot Spot Shield or similar. The radio station thinks I'm in the US, simple.
However, when I try this using a VPN on my mobile (Nexus 4 Android 4.3) it doesn't work even though my IP address is being shown as being in the US. It doesn't work with a 3G mobile connection nor using Wi-Fi.
My conclusion is that the phone itself must be somehow revealing that I am in the UK, even though the IP address is in the US??

Anyone know how this is happening and how to fix the problem, I've turned off "Location Access" on the phone but it makes no difference. How does the Radio Stations' server know I'm in the UK?

Thanks in advance,

Charles
 
charles2012 said:
Guys,

I'm in the UK and listen to US Rock Stations either directly off their web sites or using TuneIn Radio.
Because of royalty payments many stations have recently blocked access to their stream from non US IP addresses. No problem I can easily connect on my PC by using a VPN server in the US using Hot Spot Shield or similar. The radio station thinks I'm in the US, simple.
However, when I try this using a VPN on my mobile (Nexus 4 Android 4.3) it doesn't work even though my IP address is being shown as being in the US. It doesn't work with a 3G mobile connection nor using Wi-Fi.
My conclusion is that the phone itself must be somehow revealing that I am in the UK, even though the IP address is in the US??

Anyone know how this is happening and how to fix the problem, I've turned off "Location Access" on the phone but it makes no difference. How does the Radio Stations' server know I'm in the UK?

Thanks in advance,

Charles
Click to expand...

It's generally not the phone. First thing are you using a free or a paid VPN? I'll assume free based on what's happening. The main issue with free VPN services, is their servers are often completely overloaded, and are either not available at all or are very slow. So basically there's just not enough bandwidth to stream. Or something else that can happen, the US stations know the IP address ranges of the free VPN services and block them. I know Hulu does this.

Best solution is to go for a paid service. I use Astrill VPN, mainly because I'm in China.
 
I use the Hideninja app from Play store. Its a cheap one off payment. It works for netflix so id guess it will work with US internet radio :thumbup:
Im in UK btw
 
I think first you need to understand what true VPN is.
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.
A VPN is designed to route all or some traffic through a remote network.

These free/cheap VPNs available via the app stores are usually HTTP and HTTPS only VPNs.

You will want a full VPN, with this full vpn you can connect using pptp via your android device or you could use Open VPN.

Good luck!
 
Thanks, but the vpn IS changing my IP address to a US one, I can check this on "What's my IP" etc. So how are they detecting that I am actually in another location?
 
charles2012 said:
Thanks, but the vpn IS changing my IP address to a US one, I can check this on "What's my IP" etc. So how are they detecting that I am actually in another location?
Click to expand...
TuneIn may have course location via mobile network.
Your timezone may give it away.
Your phone model may be a non US model.

I'd suggest trying another radio service.
 
charles2012 said:
As I said it doesn't work on 3G or Wi-Fi, so can't be anything to do with the mobile connection.
Click to expand...

7Priest7 said:
TuneIn may have course location via mobile network.
Your timezone may give it away.
Your phone model may be a non US model.

I'd suggest trying another radio service.
Click to expand...

I refer to my previous post...
Bottom line, If they detect your phone model via meid there is no way around it.

EDIT: Short of buying a U.S. phone of course.
 
Thanks guys but I think your a bit off the mark here. The radio stations have been forced to do this to avoid substantial copyright payments for International streaming, they'd much prefer their station to be listened to worldwide. If I was a station manager I would comply simply by say if we get a connection from a non US IP address we'll block it. I wouldn't go into other complications. Also what if I was using my phone on Wi-Fi the in the US, would it connect?
 
7Priest7 said:
TuneIn may have course location via mobile network.
Your timezone may give it away.
Your phone model may be a non US model.

I'd suggest trying another radio service.
Click to expand...

TuneIn is definitely geo-restricted based on course location. I now find it can only get Chinese stations, even with a VPN. I gave up with it. Resco is worth a try, found it gets many US stations no problem.
 
But it doesn't work with my phone connected via Wi-Fi, so it can't be to do with cellular location. When I connect with Wi-Fi I have no cellular signal.
 
AFAIK WiFi can geo-locate as well. Hasn't Google been driving all those Streetview cars around logging WiFi signals and their locations?

In fact if you go into the phone's location setting, you'll see Use wireless networks, cellular signals and/or WiFi.

I'm sure the Play store uses the carrier info. In my case "China Mobile Samsung i8552" makes it kind of obvious....LOL.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom