If you’re assigned or deployed outside the US (Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Korea, etc) and want to access Netflix streaming movies or Hulu, you will likely get the message:
“Watching Instantly is Not Available Outside the US”
Follow these steps to fix it:
1. Sign up for Hide My Ass! VPN service. A virtual private network (VPN) gives you a US IP address, which makes web sites assume you are in the US.
2. Install the software and select a server in the USA
3. Visit Netflix or Hulu. It works!
Video Demonstration
In this video I demonstrate how I successfully stream Netflix and Hulu while connected through HideMyAss!:
Every Sunday I verify that this solution still works:
Date last verified as working: 3 Sept 2012.
Why does this work?
Every computer is assigned an IP address before connecting to the internet. When you move or deploy overseas, the IP address given to your computer shows that you are in that country. If you are in Germany, your internet shows that.
Netflix and Hulu do not have agreements in place to stream content abroad. Most of their movies and TV shows are only streamed to the US.
When you use a virtual private network, your IP address is hidden from web sites. So a web site like Netflix can no longer determine your physical location. Some sites will block you if using an anonymous connection abroad. That’s why a quality VPN provider gives you a new IP address, in this case one that appears to come from the USA.
With a VPN you can physically reside in Afghanistan, but virtually reside in Florida. So any sites that are normally blocked will work while outside the US.
Is there a free way to do this?
You may have noticed that there’s a cost to using a VPN service. When I deployed to Qatar I tried to find a free proxy service that would work with Netflix.
But Netflix and Hulu block the free providers because they use very few IP addresses. This solution uses hundreds of IP addresses in the US to ensure that you can connect to pretty much any site.
I found Hide My Ass towards the end of my deployment, and was able to enjoy Netflix movies and Hulu the rest of my time there. I hear from friends that it also works in Germany, Japan, Korea, and Afghanistan. I recommend it because they have a 30 day refund. If you try to access Netflix or Hulu from your location and it doesn’t work, then get your money back!
I believe this would be rare because I personally test the service every Sunday to ensure it’s still working.
Note: If you do not have a US-based Netflix account, you need to install the VPN service first, and sign up with a US IP address. You also need to use a US zip code. But that should be easy since an APO zip code counts as US.
Overview of the HMA! Control Panel
Change your IP address
The VPN speed guide helps you choose the fastest server
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks, worked for me
Will this work for HBO on the go?
Meez – yes it should work with HBO on the go. I don’t see why not.
Crap, today netflix started saying,
“Whoops, something went wrong…
Internet Connection Problem
An Internet or home network connection problem is preventing playback. Please check your Internet connection and try again. If the problem persists, please call Netflix at 1-800-585-7265.
Error Code: N8106-106
Anyone else get this?
Hello,
Set your date and clock to your correct time zone and it should start working again.
http://www.kristoferbrozio.com/2011/08/25/netflix-error-n8106-106/
Casey
By correct time zone do you mean correct to the us ip adress the program is using? Correct to your billing adress? Or correct to your overseas adress?
First try setting it to you local time zone. If that doesn’t work, try setting it to US time zone, such as east coast.
but if i want to connect as local VPN how does it work??
I’ll write a section on connecting to a local network this weekend!
Working from Germany, thanks a bunch!
Thanks so much for this great info! I am stationed in Germany and would love to catch up on some good ole American TV! Someone mentioned that using such a service can slow down internet browsing and other applications. Has anyone faced such issues?
I do experience a slight slow down in my internet. But the speed is high enough to support video streaming and browsing web sites.
Thanks for the help. I have a wireless router that feeds my PS3 as well as my laptops. Is there a way I can change the router’s IP to a stateside IP so all of my devices are covered?
Christopher,
Yes there is a way to do this with a VPN connection but it’s kind of complicated. You need to either purchase a router that runs software called DD-WRT, or modify your router so it runs it. The tutorial for that is here:
http://forum.hidemyass.com/index.php/topic/1927-tutorial-configure-hma-openvpn-on-a-dd-wrt-router/
Of note, I’m testing out a new service that is easier to run on a router, and will be posting about it soon. Please email to casey@militarytips.net if you would like to test it out.
Casey
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