Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don't!

[seanfoster]

Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

I thought I would post a word of warning using a USB Broadband dongle abroad, I heard this on Jeremy Vine's Show on Radio 2 (Friday) Martin Lewis Moneysaving expert bloke was talking about saving money when you go abroad.

He quoted a story of someone recently logging on to the BBC Iplayer whilst abroad (and using their dongle) to watch an episode of 'The Apprentice'.
When they got home they had a nice bill for £46,000!
(No that is not a typo) So be warned!

 

[fireball]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

well Duh ..... don't ppl think about the roaming charges??!! They don't deserve to have enough money to get back from abroad!!

 

[cnh]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

One of the nice things about harbours in Poland and the Baltic States is that you get wifi for free - or as part of the harbour charges, if you like (and they aren't excessive). You don't even need a password!

 

[flyingscampi]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

I think that was last year. She was a solicitor who hadn't read her terms and conditions properly /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

Anybody who watches The Apprentice deserves the worst.

 

[mikefleetwood]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

I thought there was a bar on iPlayer to stop it working outside UK - something to do with licence conditions?

 

[davidpbo]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

If roaming charges were involved it sounds as though it was dongle for downloading data via the mobile phone network rather than a WiFi connection.

In that case it may be that iPlayer could not determine that the the destination was abroad.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

Me too.

There was a problem a while back when the Orange ISP was not recognised at being UK, and thus the Iplayer would not work.

But that was nearly a year ago, Orange has been sorted, but not sure what happens abroad.

 

[Ken_Irby]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

Only tv. radio works fine
Kentrina

 

[Refueler]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

[ QUOTE ]
One of the nice things about harbours in Poland and the Baltic States is that you get wifi for free - or as part of the harbour charges, if you like (and they aren't excessive). You don't even need a password!

[/ QUOTE ]

Fish Processing Plants etc. !! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[st599]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

[ QUOTE ]
I thought there was a bar on iPlayer to stop it working outside UK - something to do with licence conditions?

[/ QUOTE ]

You can of course spoof your IP address to look like a UK one.

 

[Richard10002]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought there was a bar on iPlayer to stop it working outside UK - something to do with licence conditions?

[/ QUOTE ]

You can of course spoof your IP address to look like a UK one.

[/ QUOTE ]

How?

Genuine question - I'd like to do it.

Richard

 

[DownWest]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

Now that is interesting! I would like to know too.
In times past, when BBC were asked about other countries charging for use of their programs on the World service, they said " We transmit for free, what happens with the use in the countries mentioned ( India?) is up to them.
I can't realy see why iplayer is not available on sat. It's not as if they could charge extra, or is it too difficult to set up?
A

 

[pshipley]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

There is a way of getting iplayer, 4OD etc from overseas and that is to VPN into the UK.

There are 2 providers I know of:
www.vpnuk.net
www.vpngates.com

Neither are free unfortunately.... but pretty easy to setup and use.

No connection with either company etc etc

 

[jenku]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

[ QUOTE ]
There is a way of getting iplayer, 4OD etc from overseas and that is to VPN into the UK.

There are 2 providers I know of:
www.vpnuk.net
www.vpngates.com

Neither are free unfortunately.... but pretty easy to setup and use.

No connection with either company etc etc

[/ QUOTE ]

Now if you are going to pay for VPN anyway it would seem easier to do it OUT of IPRED-countries to get your episodes...otherwise you'd pay twice won't you? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[DownWest]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

Thanks for that, just wonder how much I need iplayer to use them. More I think, that the less there is on the box worth watching. Max of 3 or 4 progs a week + old films. Better off in the boatshop......
A

 

[Ubergeekian]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

[ QUOTE ]
Now that is interesting! I would like to know too.
In times past, when BBC were asked about other countries charging for use of their programs on the World service, they said " We transmit for free, what happens with the use in the countries mentioned ( India?) is up to them.
I can't realy see why iplayer is not available on sat. It's not as if they could charge extra, or is it too difficult to set up?
A

[/ QUOTE ]
The restrictions on iPlayer abroad are often down to rights issues: the BBC may not have overseas broadcast rights. That's particularly likely to be th ecase for stuff made by independents, but happens in house as well. As we speak I am involved making a new series for BBC1: it's a co-production and the funding organisation gets all the overseas broadcast rights as part of the deal.

 

[pshipley]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

[ QUOTE ]

Now if you are going to pay for VPN anyway it would seem easier to do it OUT of IPRED-countries to get your episodes...otherwise you'd pay twice won't you? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure I understand why you would need to pay twice?

 

[wotayottie]

Re: Using USB Broadband Dongle abroad - don\'t!

[ QUOTE ]
One of the nice things about harbours in Poland and the Baltic States is that you get wifi for free - or as part of the harbour charges, if you like (and they aren't excessive). You don't even need a password!

[/ QUOTE ]

Same thing this week in the UK - Oban marina. Very helpful staff too.