Mister 44
New member
Warning! Long post incoming! If you suffer from ADD, take cover immediately! There's no TL;DR at the end!
I've had Netflix and Hulu+ on my PC, tablet and a WD Live media streamer.
A few tips:
1. Set the DNS settings on your router to the unotelly primary and secondary DNS. This means that any device running through the router will be seen as US or UK or whatever country you want to live in that evening.
2. If your IP change (sometimes when the router resets) you need to update IP on the unotelly website. Bookmark that page.
3. Go through the motions to get your tablet or even smartphone setup with Netflix as well. I can stream to two devices on a 4mb/s line with decent results. It's nice to soak in the tub while watching Arrested Development.
4. Check out the Netflix original series as well. They are pretty good.
5. Hulu+ is more difficult to set up than Netflix. Netflix will accept your Saffa Credit Card, Hulu+ won't so you need a voucher.
Why I cancelled Hulu+
a. Can't pay with CC (see point 5 above).
b. They have ads.
c. They usually only carry the last three or four episodes of a season (but they are available within a day or two after airing).
So, what hardware should I use?
I heard Roku is great. Not the best option for a media player (playing your MKV files from an external hdd) but unmatched for media streaming.
BUT READ UP ON INSTALLING THE ROKU IN SOUTH AFRICA IF YOU DECIDE TO GET ONE. If you don't have unotelly already set up you could have trouble, I heard.
Personally I use this: WD TV Live but I think this one will also do Netflix WD Play.
On your media streamer you get "channels". Hulu is one. Netflix another. There are a lot of channels available. For instance movie rental sites where you pay per movie (much like DSTV Boxoffice but with a much bigger and newer selection). There are also channels that let you watch free content (old movies and series).
The Roku devices especially have a shitload available.
These streamers are also DLNA compatible plus you get remote controls for your smartphone or tablet.
So, how does all this come together?
You access Netflix through your device using either the physical remote or your smartphone to play, pause select etc.
Now your SO walks in and you want to show him/her a video you shot on your phone. You select the video on your phone and "play to" the streamer. The video plays on the TV. Granny drops by and wants to watch the latest Skrillex vid on youtube. You launch the youtube channel, search and play it. Tonight, you want to watch a movie you legally downloaded to your NAS or PC, so you browse to via your streamer and "play from" the NAS/PC.
Saturday, you are working in the garden and your kid wants to watch a movie from the NAS. You pull out your phone and selected the movie to "play from" the NAS and "play to" the streamer without you having to get up.
You can do all this in other ways with other set ups as well, (a lot of the features are thanks to DLNA and not device specific) but this is the way I like it.
I've had Netflix and Hulu+ on my PC, tablet and a WD Live media streamer.
A few tips:
1. Set the DNS settings on your router to the unotelly primary and secondary DNS. This means that any device running through the router will be seen as US or UK or whatever country you want to live in that evening.
2. If your IP change (sometimes when the router resets) you need to update IP on the unotelly website. Bookmark that page.
3. Go through the motions to get your tablet or even smartphone setup with Netflix as well. I can stream to two devices on a 4mb/s line with decent results. It's nice to soak in the tub while watching Arrested Development.
4. Check out the Netflix original series as well. They are pretty good.
5. Hulu+ is more difficult to set up than Netflix. Netflix will accept your Saffa Credit Card, Hulu+ won't so you need a voucher.
Why I cancelled Hulu+
a. Can't pay with CC (see point 5 above).
b. They have ads.
c. They usually only carry the last three or four episodes of a season (but they are available within a day or two after airing).
So, what hardware should I use?
I heard Roku is great. Not the best option for a media player (playing your MKV files from an external hdd) but unmatched for media streaming.
BUT READ UP ON INSTALLING THE ROKU IN SOUTH AFRICA IF YOU DECIDE TO GET ONE. If you don't have unotelly already set up you could have trouble, I heard.
Personally I use this: WD TV Live but I think this one will also do Netflix WD Play.
On your media streamer you get "channels". Hulu is one. Netflix another. There are a lot of channels available. For instance movie rental sites where you pay per movie (much like DSTV Boxoffice but with a much bigger and newer selection). There are also channels that let you watch free content (old movies and series).
The Roku devices especially have a shitload available.
These streamers are also DLNA compatible plus you get remote controls for your smartphone or tablet.
So, how does all this come together?
You access Netflix through your device using either the physical remote or your smartphone to play, pause select etc.
Now your SO walks in and you want to show him/her a video you shot on your phone. You select the video on your phone and "play to" the streamer. The video plays on the TV. Granny drops by and wants to watch the latest Skrillex vid on youtube. You launch the youtube channel, search and play it. Tonight, you want to watch a movie you legally downloaded to your NAS or PC, so you browse to via your streamer and "play from" the NAS/PC.
Saturday, you are working in the garden and your kid wants to watch a movie from the NAS. You pull out your phone and selected the movie to "play from" the NAS and "play to" the streamer without you having to get up.
You can do all this in other ways with other set ups as well, (a lot of the features are thanks to DLNA and not device specific) but this is the way I like it.
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