Update – 2011-09-28: There's a way of watching Netflix without using a dedicated VPN service; read how, here.
During my last trip to the States I was introduced to the joys of Netflix, an internet video on demand service. There is a video on demand service available in the UK – LoveFilm – but, for reasons I won't go into here, I don't want to line their pockets with my hard earned cash (but I will link to them if you want the easier option).
The main technical hurdle of implementing Netflix in the UK is that it's IP locked. If your IP address appears to be outside the USA, they refuse to stream. It's further complicated by requiring a US based credit card to sign up – both issues are worked around and detailed below.
After a brief email exchange with an old primary school friend (thanks, Sarah!), I managed to get the Netflix service up and running at home, streaming to all the devices I have (multiple laptops, Boxee, Roku, etc). As others may be interested in doing the same, here are the steps I took to get it running.
Get a US based IP address
This is arguably the most difficult step – appearing that you're based in the USA – though thanks to the joys of VPNs, it's not too bad to set up.
I used StrongVPN. They provide OpenVPN and PPTP accounts. I chose PPTP which has set me back $7/month.
The tunnel needs to be configured on your internet router or on the Netflix device (some, like Boxee, support PPTP within, just click a few menu options and you're done), please refer to your device's instruction manual for details on how to do this.
Route Netflix destinations via the VPN
Having got the VPN connected via the router, you need to route all the following networks via the VPN (if you're using the device itself for the tunnel, you can (probably) safely skip this step as it should, by default, route everything via the VPN):
- 204.236.128.0/17 – moviecontrol.netflix.com. Used by appliances to start/stop the movie stream. If you're only using a web browser, this one isn't required.
- 208.75.76.0/22
- 208.111.128.0/18
Once done, the home page should offer a one month free trial rather than a message saying the service isn't available in your region. If it's saying the service is unavailable, the VPN and routing are incorrectly configured; revisit the above before continuing.
Sign up for the service
The final stage, and one which requires more than just technical know-how, needs an American Express credit card and a US friend's address.
On the account signup page, put in your email address, the friend's address with zip code, and go to the next page. deselect the DVD rental option if it's selected, and continue onto the final page where you're asked for credit card details.
Enter your American Express number, expiry date and security code but put in the zip code from the previous screen – if you put in your UK postcode, it will not allow you to continue! Click submit and you're done – Netflix is yours for the using.
