UK Smart TV in UAE

[megy]

Hello all.

I have read various reports of whether UK smart TVs will work in the UAE and so I thought I would open it up to the masses.

Has anyone brought their TV from the UK and do they work all fine? The bits I have heard that are problematic seem to be just in the terrestrial receivers, so IF you are using set top boxes/PS/XBox/DVD etc and the like surely this is not a problem?

Secondly, the TV I have back home has Netflix installed, has anyone got this (and other streaming services) working over here, either by changing DNS settings in the router or any other means?

Thanks all in advance and hopefully someone can help with advice

[El Capitano]

Interested to know if anyone has managed also.

If you had a VPN set up directly from wifi router then there would be no issue.

I don't use any features on my smart TV. Bit of a waste really.

I stream netflix from ipad - (connected to VPN) to the Apple TV.
Works will and high quality.

TV is a samsung E8000.

[h_____]

as per other thread vpn on router will fix this. you can try dns settings on some services and it works.

[shirt]

El Capitano said:

I don't use any features on my smart TV. Bit of a waste really.

same, mac mini direct to tv. need a new vpn though, mine is ste.

wish you could just buy a decent tv or dvd player without all the gubbins these days.

[147GTA]

I've mentioned it a few times but Unotelly is DNS based and does this really well. They allow you to set up your account in such a way so that you can access iplayer for example yet still access Netflix USA without changing settings from your TV, if it allows.

I bought a Samsung TV out here in Qatar but then set it up to think it's a UK set, the instructions were on Unotelly's site. Then all I did was change the DNS settings on my TV and it's worked flawlessly since. I also use it on my computers to watch Sky Go, Netflix, lovefilm, tvcatchup etc.

[147GTA]

El Capitano said:

Interested to know if anyone has managed also.

If you had a VPN set up directly from wifi router then there would be no issue.

I don't use any features on my smart TV. Bit of a waste really.

I stream netflix from ipad - (connected to VPN) to the Apple TV.
Works will and high quality.

TV is a samsung E8000.

Instructions for changing country for Samsung E series:
http://help.unotelly.com/support/solutions/article...

[El Capitano]

Thanks for the link.

I did try this with no success when I first bought the TV. - I wondered if it was because the tv is a UAE spec samsung?

I'll try again when I'm next home though. Fingers crossed!

[147GTA]

El Capitano said:

Thanks for the link.

I did try this with no success when I first bought the TV. - I wondered if it was because the tv is a UAE spec samsung?

I'll try again when I'm next home though. Fingers crossed!

It took me a few attempts but it definitely worked on my Samsung TV.

[h_____]

good info that - I'll give it a go. The VPN really kills bandwidth.

[El Capitano]

So an update. Apparently (typically) this doesn't work on Dubai/Abu Dhabi bought TVs.

Although you are able to change the region through the method shown in the link, it still does not allow the apps (netflix/ iplayer/4oD) open.
Keeps saying, unable to open due to geographical location.

A bit more research shows the below method which might help a few of you:

(Borrowed from another forum)

- annoyingly, once again, my TV for some reason has the SETUP function disabled. The icon is there but you aren't able to click on it. A mate has the same TV, and the same story his side.
Very frustrating!

Oh well, back to the old methods for me I guess.





Anyway, here is the other method for the samsung 8000 series.


For this operation I recommend using the original black remote control!

Turn on the TV and select HDMI 1.
Press MENU.
Select SYSTEM and then SETUP.
Enter your PIN code usually 0000 (four zeros).
Select your on screen language and then right arrow and enter.
Now you will see a box that says COUNTRY - don't change this!!!
Select right arrow again and press enter to advance the setup.
Next is AUTOTUNING but again, just press right arrow and ENTER.
TIME ZONE next, but just press right arrow and enter.

You will now come to the Smart Hub Terms & Conditions page.
Using the remote, press MUTE then RETURN then VOLUME UP once and then CHANNEL UP once followed by MUTE once more.

After a second or two, the new ISLS menu will appear.
Simply select the country you wish the SmartHub to think it's in and press ENTER on the remote.

You will now be returned to the Smart Hub Terms & conditions page.
Agree to all onscreen, then press right arrow and ENTER.
You may have to scroll the page before it allows you to continue!

Next page is the AERIAL TYPE, just select OK.
Now select a postcode and then OK.

Now the SmartHub will load all the apps from the region that you have chosen, so in my case I will see BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, Netflix, etc, even though I am in Scandinavia.

To watch these services outside the UK, you will of course have to enter a DNS server address into the network settings but I am presuming you all have done that already, just ask if you need a refresher course in that!

[147GTA]

That method seems to be similar to the one for the F-series according to Unotelly:
http://help.unotelly.com/support/solutions/article...

Okay so you've set up the TV region, now just sign up for an Unotelly account, it's free for 8 days with no credit card details required, then change the dns settings on the TV and now hopefully iplayer and the like will think you're in the UK and load up, assuming of course that you haven't already tried to do this.

Edited by 147GTA on Sunday 9th February 15:42

[El Capitano]

I was already signed up with Unblock-US which has its own guide for the samsung 8000 (same as unotelly)
Unfortunately even with the DNS entered and set up it still comes back as blocked :-/

[El Capitano]

Just tried with the free sign up....

It works :-)

Brilliant. Thank for the help. Will sign up after free trail.
For some reason it wouldn't work with a UK DNS and had to put the Egypt one in.

So now I have all the functions of the UK smart tv.

Cheers!

[h_____]

works for me too. now if i could get constant bandwidth in the evenings it would be brillant. it drops some nights to less than 1Mb

[shirt]

is the olympics on iplayer? i may need to investigate, really missing not being able to watch it.

[El Capitano]

Yea they do. They have a round up of each day

[shirt]

thanks to rich i can watch inlayer. tune into the winter olympics to see bobsleds, luge, downhill and sped skating and what do i get? bloody pairs wky figure skating

[FlexRay]

I have a E7000 55" set up using UnoDNS and have set the region for SMART services to UK after DNS Set up.

Works a treat

[Rich135]

Glad the vpn worked for you Shirt!
The only bit I can't figure out is the DNS set up, so iplayer is still saying something about the wrong geolocation.

Do I have to change the actual DNS settings on the TV or the router?

Cheers

Rich

[147GTA]

Rich135 said:

Glad the vpn worked for you Shirt!
The only bit I can't figure out is the DNS set up, so iplayer is still saying something about the wrong geolocation.

Do I have to change the actual DNS settings on the TV or the router?

Cheers

Rich

Just the TV should be fine. If you've used Unotelly then either use the London DNS server or if you have a Samsung TV then set up the smarthub setting on your Unotelly account to the UK and pick a dynamo DNS server.