[Q] setting up VPN on NP running ATV 5.1? - Nexus Player Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I'm struggling to find a VPN app that has visible controls/menus - every one of the apps I've sideloaded can't be configured.
From reading the forums this appears to be something to do with the "3 dots" being removed in the 5.1 update - I've been on 5.1 since the day I set mine up so never had this.
Are there any VPN apps that have the controls on the main screen or are otherwise compatible with NP/5.1?
I'm also looking to switch VPNs so if anyone has a working VPN on 5.1 using a particular client's app, I'd be interested to know which service. Apparently PIA's, which I had hope for because the controls were on the main screen, doesn't work if sideloaded on ATV; not sure whether this was with 5.0 or 5.1 because authors of these posts didn't specify.

mrjezza said:
I'm struggling to find a VPN app that has visible controls/menus - every one of the apps I've sideloaded can't be configured.
From reading the forums this appears to be something to do with the "3 dots" being removed in the 5.1 update - I've been on 5.1 since the day I set mine up so never had this.
Are there any VPN apps that have the controls on the main screen or are otherwise compatible with NP/5.1?
I'm also looking to switch VPNs so if anyone has a working VPN on 5.1 using a particular client's app, I'd be interested to know which service. Apparently PIA's, which I had hope for because the controls were on the main screen, doesn't work if sideloaded on ATV; not sure whether this was with 5.0 or 5.1 because authors of these posts didn't specify.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got PIA OpenVPN app working.
#2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-player/help/sideloading-openvpn-add-certificate-t3006778
Will only work with the PIA service.

dfl said:
I got PIA OpenVPN app working.
#2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-player/help/sideloading-openvpn-add-certificate-t3006778
Will only work with the PIA service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you access the local network (192.168.x.x) and/or SMB shares while the VPN is active with PIA's app?

Yes. Everything behind your router is local and outbound is tunneled VPN.

dfl said:
Yes. Everything behind your router is local and outbound is tunneled VPN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it doesn't seem to be working that way for me. using PIA app and i can't access a web ui running on my desktop pc via sideloaded Chrome or any of my network shares via Kodi
any ideas?

You installed chrome on your nexus player? Make sure your player is connected to your home WiFi with dhcp, dont mess with the DNS. Launch your PIA app from chainfires side load launcher. Put your PIA username / password in and tick the save userinfo then click on connect. You should see on the bottom of your PIA app changing routes and then finally say CONNECTED. Hit your home button to get back to leanback launcher home., you may get a lean has crashed, just hit ok and get back home, PIA is still running in the background. Try launching a youtube video to verify you tunneled through successfully. After that launch Chrome via chainfires side load launcher. Navigate to whatismyip and should say your city and IP are different. Once you had verified go back to home and try to access your files again, if they are not there try and remap them. What are you using to stream home media? I have no issues within Kodi. If you are streaming through something else I'll mimic your setup and see what my results are.

dfl said:
You installed chrome on your nexus player? Make sure your player is connected to your home WiFi with dhcp, dont mess with the DNS. Launch your PIA app from chainfires side load launcher. Put your PIA username / password in and tick the save userinfo then click on connect. You should see on the bottom of your PIA app changing routes and then finally say CONNECTED. Hit your home button to get back to leanback launcher home., you may get a lean has crashed, just hit ok and get back home, PIA is still running in the background. Try launching a youtube video to verify you tunneled through successfully. After that launch Chrome via chainfires side load launcher. Navigate to whatismyip and should say your city and IP are different. Once you had verified go back to home and try to access your files again, if they are not there try and remap them. What are you using to stream home media? I have no issues within Kodi. If you are streaming through something else I'll mimic your setup and see what my results are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly how I've been doing it but its not working.
My setup is NP connected via WIFI using DHCP. Launch PIA app from sideload launcher. Hit connect (details already saved), wait for connected confirmation. I confirmed via whatismyip and ipleak that I have VPN ip (not ISP ip).
I can do anything that involves internet - youtube, web, video streaming, etc.
But nothing local works: I can't access a service running @ http://192.168.1.XX: port via Chrome and I can't use the SMB shortcuts pointing to my NAS configured in Kodi or browse the windows network/workgroup to find the NAS manually (no local network devices show up at all). I haven't tried adding a source using the NAS ip (but I don't see why this would work if the Chrome web service test failed). Both of these things work fine when the VPN is switched off.
Edit: some google research and a brief chat with a relatively clueless tech support person leads me to believe that split tunnelling may not be implemented in the PIA android app.

mrjezza said:
That's exactly how I've been doing it but its not working.
My setup is NP connected via WIFI using DHCP. Launch PIA app from sideload launcher. Hit connect (details already saved), wait for connected confirmation. I confirmed via whatismyip and ipleak that I have VPN ip (not ISP ip).
I can do anything that involves internet - youtube, web, video streaming, etc.
But nothing local works: I can't access a service running @ http://192.168.1.XX: port via Chrome and I can't use the SMB shortcuts pointing to my NAS configured in Kodi or browse the windows network/workgroup to find the NAS manually (no local network devices show up at all). I haven't tried adding a source using the NAS ip (but I don't see why this would work if the Chrome web service test failed). Both of these things work fine when the VPN is switched off.
Edit: some google research and a brief chat with a relatively clueless tech support person leads me to believe that split tunnelling may not be implemented in the PIA android app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man i feel like an idiot. I been watching stuff off an external drive plugged in via OTG. I thought that share was on my server. I am sorry to have been misleading. I really spaced on that.
My bad,
DFL

dfl said:
Man i feel like an idiot. I been watching stuff off an external drive plugged in via OTG. I thought that share was on my server. I am sorry to have been misleading. I really spaced on that.
My bad,
DFL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all good, i'm glad someone was getting involved at least
i think there are at least a couple of vpn apps that support split tunnelling, but until there is a way to use menus on apps that aren't designed for the android tv leanback launcher, i don't think there is a way to have it work on a stock-rom nexus player

I would like to get that figured out too. I know on my RPI2 there was a workaround of sorts to get PIA working and has split tunnelling. Curious if the same method install would work with a few tweaks, though that will only VPN in Kodi. Ill mess around tonight if i get some time. let me know what you find.

i've posted in a group run by a dev of one of the popular vpn apps so hopefully we can get a 5.1+ compatible version soon (he said it worked in his android tv emulator but i suspect it was running 5.0 and the missing 3 dots wasn't an issue)

mrjezza said:
i've posted in a group run by a dev of one of the popular vpn apps so hopefully we can get a 5.1+ compatible version soon (he said it worked in his android tv emulator but i suspect it was running 5.0 and the missing 3 dots wasn't an issue)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not a promising conversation, i get the impression the dev is not willing to do the work needed to have the gui operational on 5.1+ android tv

dfl said:
I got PIA OpenVPN app working.
#2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-player/help/sideloading-openvpn-add-certificate-t3006778
Will only work with the PIA service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you able to access PIA app's settings? I have the app installed and running but unlike on my mobile phone there is no settings which I wanted to enable connect on boot.

No, i havent been able to access the apps settings. I connect and leave on for a few days then ill reconnect.

Related

few questions

I want to order 2 nexus players for someone only for Kodi.
Question#1
Is navigating using the remote working just fine like on Fire TV?(I own fire tv)
Question #2
Is there anyway to put kodi icon on the leanback launcher by google? instead of going to settings and viewing all apps ? I saw some people on youtube having Kodi on the default google launcher,I am aware I could use xbmc launcher to launch it instantly.
Thanks guys! hopefully someone can answer me by tomorrow so I can order
50 people saw this and no one can help me out before I buy it.. come on anyone lol
patt2k said:
50 people saw this and no one can help me out before I buy it.. come on anyone lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you join the Beta google + group for Kodi it is in the play store to be installed on the NP and it shows up in the lean back launcher by default.
I only use the NP remote,it works fine for the basic operations.
patt2k said:
I want to order 2 nexus players for someone only for Kodi.
Question#1
Is navigating using the remote working just fine like on Fire TV?(I own fire tv)
Question #2
Is there anyway to put kodi icon on the leanback launcher by google? instead of going to settings and viewing all apps ? I saw some people on youtube having Kodi on the default google launcher,I am aware I could use xbmc launcher to launch it instantly.
Thanks guys! hopefully someone can answer me by tomorrow so I can order
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question #1: Yes, with the current Kodi builds the remote and HDMI CEC works very well.
Question #2: With the current Kodi builds the Kodi Icon appears on the native NP menu system.
I am not in the beta program I just sideloaded the current Stable Kodi build (14.2 “Helix”). Just make sure you get the Intel (x86)Android build!
sschlosnagle said:
Question #1: Yes, with the current Kodi builds the remote and HDMI CEC works very well.
Question #2: With the current Kodi builds the Kodi Icon appears on the native NP menu system.
I am not in the beta program I just sideloaded the current Stable Kodi build (14.2 “Helix”). Just make sure you get the Intel (x86)Android build!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Finally someone looked at my post lmao.
Great thanks what about context menu ? fire tv has the menu button does the nexus remote also has same thing ?
also I read that with the 5.1.1 android build you can't easily send ES File Explorer (many people call it EZ for some reason lol) using browser to -> nexus.
One guy wrote a tip somewhere using app that creates a server between nexus and my pc. Is there any other way ? I guess after i get es file explorer I can do whatever I want.
Thanks once again!
Sleeepy2 said:
If you join the Beta google + group for Kodi it is in the play store to be installed on the NP and it shows up in the lean back launcher by default.
I only use the NP remote,it works fine for the basic operations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks as well for the answer. Look at my last question to the other guy if you can thanks
patt2k said:
Finally someone looked at my post lmao.
Great thanks what about context menu ? fire tv has the menu button does the nexus remote also has same thing ?
also I read that with the 5.1.1 android build you can't easily send ES File Explorer (many people call it EZ for some reason lol) using browser to -> nexus.
One guy wrote a tip somewhere using app that creates a server between nexus and my pc. Is there any other way ? I guess after i get es file explorer I can do whatever I want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus remote does not have a context button, and that is mildly annoying. I have a BT keyboard connected to the NP, so I can use the context button there if I need to. I looked into remapping a CEC command so at least I could use a button from my TV's remote. Looks possible, but I haven't bothered pursuing it since the BT keyboard offer me a solution.
I sideloaded ES File Explorer and since then used it's built in update feature. Recent copies of ES also show up on the NP native menu.
There are lots of ways to get content to the NP, mine gets content from my NAS via SMB. Works fine from Kodi and ES.
sschlosnagle said:
The Nexus remote does not have a context button, and that is mildly annoying. I have a BT keyboard connected to the NP, so I can use the context button there if I need to. I looked into remapping a CEC command so at least I could use a button from my TV's remote. Looks possible, but I haven't bothered pursuing it since the BT keyboard offer me a solution.
I sideloaded ES File Explorer and since then used it's built in update feature. Recent copies of ES also show up on the NP native menu.
There are lots of ways to get content to the NP, mine gets content from my NAS via SMB. Works fine from Kodi and ES.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm any other way then BT keyboard? do you think pairing fire tv stick/tv remote would do the job? I will only need it to set it up with few things.
I wouldn't want to order BT keyboard just for that lol
I use the fire TV stick remote with mine and it works fine, u just have to add a couple keymap files
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=59770900
If u just need it to set some stuff up u shouldn't need the keymaps as they only help with the center button
pbanj said:
I use the fire TV stick remote with mine and it works fine, u just have to add a couple keymap files
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=59770900
If u just need it to set some stuff up u shouldn't need the keymaps as they only help with the center button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try without when I get them. I can also edit add-on settings by going to add-ons in settings so it may take little longer but maybe could be done.
These aren't for me though I will just need to set them up, fedex is delivering razer forge tv today.
any of you guys have working HBO GO app without using mouse? all I need to complete my setup is hbo go and showtime anytime (I know I can cast from my phone)

Adblock

Is there any way to adblock youtube on the Shield?
Thanks!
Buy Youtube Red?
I'm sorry that's unhelpful. I'm guessing you're rooted and have tried an updated hosts file?
1. root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/shield-tv/general/shield-android-tv-rooted-t3123197
http://forum.xda-developers.com/shi...l-windroid-universal-android-toolkit-t3291266
http://forum.xda-developers.com/shield-tv/development/rom-nvidia-factory-stock-rooted-roms-t3249508
2. Xposed
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3034811
3. Adblock
http://repo.xposed.info/module/ma.wanam.youtubeadaway
For all the other ads: https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=adaway&fdid=org.adaway
does not work for me other ads are blocked but youtube still shows ads
_________
check out my new Android game https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pgviews.kobesadventure
If you are on WiFi and have another Android device,get WiFi Adblocker and install it on the other device,and if successful,it changes your DNS numbers to the servers used to block the ads.
After that,manually put in those DNS numbers into your connection on the Shield TV and it should now work for blocking ads in browsers,apps,and even YouTube if you use an older version or the old modded YouTube version.
I blame Lollipop on the issue where the WiFi AdBlocker fails to change your DNS for blocking ads because it worked fine on the FireTV GEN1 with JellyBean.
retroben said:
If you are on WiFi and have another Android device,get WiFi Adblocker and install it on the other device,and if successful,it changes your DNS numbers to the servers used to block the ads.
After that,manually put in those DNS numbers into your connection on the Shield TV and it should now work for blocking ads in browsers,apps,and even YouTube if you use an older version or the old modded YouTube version.
I blame Lollipop on the issue where the WiFi AdBlocker fails to change your DNS for blocking ads because it worked fine on the FireTV GEN1 with JellyBean.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm interested in this because I don't want to root with an update imminent. Is there a link to the youtube version that works with wifi adblocker? Thanks.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1529715
I use the inverted one since black is perfect on a television at night,I can't stand ES File Explorer's design because of being solid white and blindingly bright as a result,they should make an option for a dark interface skin.
retroben said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1529715
I use the inverted one since black is perfect on a television at night,I can't stand ES File Explorer's design because of being solid white and blindingly bright as a result,they should make an option for a dark interface skin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that work well on the shield tv? The thread hasn't been updated in 3 years, and seems like it's a mod of the original YouTube, not YouTube for Android TV (which is what runs on our shields)
It works really well on mine,but has limits due to login issues,but works simply for watching videos,though not at 60fps.
retroben said:
It works really well on mine,but has limits due to login issues,but works simply for watching videos,though not at 60fps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldnt get it to work with my remote, and I'd rather not use a mouse. Did you have to do anything to get the remote to work?
Sorry,I didn't get a remote,I use my Logitech K400r keyboard with trackpad to control it.
If Google would freaking give back the controller touchpad access,you could use that.
I like this method of control because I don't have a PC of my own,let alone one that could support 1080P video,that's how crappy the family PC runs from old and weak specs.
sideload ad away.
happydish said:
I couldnt get it to work with my remote, and I'd rather not use a mouse. Did you have to do anything to get the remote to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just re-add the device, mine did the same
Sorry to bump an old thread, but it appears the YouTube app on shield tv has been changed to the same style on as other set top boxes now. Ad blocking has never worked on the old YouTube app on shield tv, but I'm curious if anyone has tried it on this new app. It's the same style as on the fire tv, which adblocking works for me.
I would try myself, but I am currently on a free trial of YouTube red, so I'm not getting any ads right now, so haven't had a chance to test it.

VPN on Fire TV

Can anyone elaborate on how to set up a VPN on their Fire TV box/stick? Particularly with Kodi? Tweaking the router is not an option, as apparently Comcast frowns on such endeavors.
Following link was posted in another thread and may help you...
http://www.amazon.com/review/R29NVVQD7RRLIG
Hey, thanks for the link, jbl0ggs! I'll give this a shot tonight.
This didnt work for me on my fire stick , first hurdle was it said it was incompatible with my system but I downloaded it from the link at bottom of page,
It does say its connected but my ip doesnt change ,so I tried changing dns servers to that of pia but still not working,
I use a dd-wrt router with openvpn installed but just wanted to try this out
check the google play store for vpn apps.
kayiman74 said:
check the google play store for vpn apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I went on to Amazon.com to look for VPN apps for my Fire TV, it displays little red Xs next to my device name, indicating that all the VPN apps I found were not compatible with my Fire TV.
Might I have better luck trying straight out of the Fire TV? Is there a specific VPN app that stands out for the Fire TV?
It worked on my fire phone in the first time but on fire tv stick got an error about imagen does not support openvpn service api.
I hope it will work on the comming update.
R4fo said:
It worked on my fire phone in the first time but on fire tv stick got an error about imagen does not support openvpn service api.
I hope it will work on the comming update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm actually using Fire OS 5.0.3 (532008220)
thought that might be the problem
Petesky said:
I'm actually using Fire OS 5.0.3 (532008220)
thought that might be the problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you right, that is the problem, that os on that hardware does not have vpn files. Since there is no software root for a firetvstick I'll just assume The OP did not do the hardware root to put them their. Perhaps using a router with a vpn built in will solve the problem. Otherwise look here if and when your device gets rooted.
https://vpntips.com/fire-tv-vpn-install/
but until then here is your vpn solution
https://vpntips.com/how-to-unblock-any-digital-media-player/
My fire phone is not rooted and openvpn for android found in http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBVPKUW (free version) worked but not on fire tv stick v1.
R4fo said:
My fire phone is not rooted and openvpn for android found in http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBVPKUW (free version) worked but not on fire tv stick v1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, an android phone is not a ftvstick or box. Putting a vpn in the ftv line of products is not what amazon wants to do from a business model as they have arrangements to only send content to geographic regions they have licenses to distribute such content to. Natively running the vpn client on the device without root is most likely not going to happen and don't hold your breath for an update to allow it. I have been known to be wrong before, but I'm willing to place a pretty solid bet on this one. cheers.
Hi
I'm the co-developer of VPNicity which is a Kodi add-on/VPN service so I want to make that disclosure first.
We've been doing some testing on the Amazon Fire TV2 and our add-on is working fine.
FYI: The add-on uses our 'Control' app which allows our python code (in Kodi) to communicate with the OpenVPN for Android app to make the connections, so as well as installing the Kodi Add-on, these 2 apks need to be sideloaded.
We are going to test a bit more but our code as it stands seems to work fine, at least on the Fire TV box. We haven't tested a stick.
For example, I'm in London and I connected to Netflix in Brazil to test some content. I had no issue streaming a Brazilian movie in HD via the FTV box connected to my Sony TV.
EDIT: The test was done on a Fire TV - Fire OS 5.0.5
Just thought I would share that we have confirmed on another thread in the development section that the Private Internet Access apk works on the Fire TV 2 box without Google Play services. I hope this helps.
Fire tv vpn
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=65179614
Fire tv vpn
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
My Fire TV Stick got updated to the FireOS 5.
Openvpn for Android is connected to my VPN but nothing is being routed to it.
Is this a common issue with lollipop? Any fix for it?
Thanks
Edit: Tested on Fire Tv 1sr Gen FireOS 5 and is working fine. So the routing problem is only on the Fire TV Stick .
R4fo said:
My Fire TV Stick got updated to the FireOS 5.
Openvpn for Android is connected to my VPN but nothing is being routed to it.
Is this a common issue with lollipop? Any fix for it?
Thanks
Edit: Tested on Fire Tv 1sr Gen FireOS 5 and is working fine. So the routing problem is only on the Fire TV Stick .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I have 5.2.6.1 installed on my FTVS2 and while all the VPNs I tried come up nicely, nothing is routed through the VPN. I think they removed the permissions to change network routing but 3rs party apps at some point in time.
At the moment it seems, there is no way to sucessfully use *any* VPN service on a fully updated FTVS2.
tnbt23 said:
Same here. I have 5.2.6.1 installed on my FTVS2 and while all the VPNs I tried come up nicely, nothing is routed through the VPN. I think they removed the permissions to change network routing but 3rs party apps at some point in time.
At the moment it seems, there is no way to sucessfully use *any* VPN service on a fully updated FTVS2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will be testing this on a new FTVS2 this week. Never heard of VPN's being blocked on FTV devices. I know the FTVS1 was missing some VPN related stuff but that was from FireOS 3 I think.
Will post back what I find. For now I would recommend you guys to uninstall & reinstall your VPN App(s) to try to see if that helps.
I have the Pia vpn apk side loaded on my stock ftvs2. Need to have a different remote to set it up though. I am assuming it is working Netflix won't let me connect when it is running. I installed Pia back in October 2016 when I got it not sure if that makes a difference.

Tasker type app for Shield

Hello all, quick question. I have a VPN router that my shield connects to (via wireless), but am having difficulty connecting to Netflix, I know Netflix have stopped allowing connection via proxies or VPNs. If I connect to my non VPN router it works fine. So my question is that is there way I can automate my Shield so that when I launch the netflix app it connects to VPN wireless connection, and when I open another app it connects via my VPN router. I know there is the tasker app, but cant find it on the Android TV app store, so looking for alternatives. Any suggestions on how to automate this would be massively appreciated.
thank you
Install Tasker from web playstore... it works fine on the Shield TV.
Thank you for the reply. How to I get the to the web store. There is no web browser on it. Sorry for any stupid questions, only just got it and am playing about with it.
JamDonot said:
Thank you for the reply. How to I get the to the web store. There is no web browser on it. Sorry for any stupid questions, only just got it and am playing about with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you can install es file explorer from the android tv play store. it has a web browser in it. If not just google aptoide and download the aptoide app put it on a USB stick and transfer it over to your android tv. The aptoide app store will let you install anything that the playstore won't. Make cure you have the leanback launcher installed.
Cheers
JamDonot said:
Thank you for the reply. How to I get the to the web store. There is no web browser on it. Sorry for any stupid questions, only just got it and am playing about with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean from a pc... go to play.google.com.... login... and then you can install apps to any compatible device by pressing install and selecting the destination device...

Launch VPN on a per app basis possible?

Hey peeps,
I got a simple question. On my ISP Netflix works great with everything stock but I cant get YouTube to work very good on any device. During the afternoons and into the early evening Youtube is something like 240p or less, and much of the time just zero loading at all. I am on a 40/5 connection (fastest available), with a decent Asus AC68U router. If I try to download files I have the 100% full bandwidth I pay for, so its definitely not the connection. It's more like a crappy ISP routing or intentional throttling.
Here is the issue though, if I connect a VPN such as PIA I can get instant full Youtube at full speeds (so long I connect to the California OR Phoenix VPN servers), but then Netflix is instantly dead. If I disable the VPN Netflix then works great but youtube is instantly at unusable picture quality, like 240p or less (if lucky). The ISP (CenturyLink) will not do anything about it as you just get the typical "Oh really, that is weird, we will send someone out to fix it" but the CL support techs that come out can not fix piss poor YouTube routing issues or intentional throttling, all they can do is fix line quality issues which already seem to be perfect for my DSL needs.
So, my question is, is it possible to launch the YouTube app and have the VPN automatically kick in, but when I leave the YouTube app it instantly goes back to NO VPN? That way Netflix and all my other streaming apps will work, and so will YouTube.
I guess I need an app that will launch both PIA and Youtube at the same time?
Thanks for any ideas... Oh and I have no other ISP available to me, so don't suggest changing ISP's, lol.
Rod
What about via Pia settings, per app settings and disable vpn for Netflix?
Hmm good question. I never tried using the Android app for pia because I normally would have used OpenVPN. I don't even see a Android TV app available for the SHIELD. Are you suggesting that the Android pia app will work on my shield TV? I clearly remember pia support telling me that they don't support Android TV so I never bothered trying it. Hmm
I guess I better find an apk and see if I can install it. I was expecting needing some kind of special hack or a special app to do what I want. Thanks for the heads up idea. Will try that right now.
EDIT: I just noticed this in the play store under features of the PIA app. Lol, now I hope the apk actually works.
✔ Per App Settings. Have an app that you want to let bypass the private VPN tunnel? Choose which apps to exclude from the VPN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that actually worked. I was expecting a normal android app to not work that great, and although it is forcing itself into portrait mode it seems to fully function even with giant black bars on the sides. I couldn't get the thing to work by only enabling VPN for the YouTube app, not exactly sure why yet, but it is working if I enable it for all apps, and then disable it for only Netflix.
And sure enough YouTube is maxing out my connection near instantly and all videos start at their maximum res. Why that happens only on VPN I just do not understand. The ONLY thing that makes sense to me is a ON Purpose afternoon Throttle, which CenturyLink publicly claims they do not do. I will monitor this today and for the next few days to make sure this has solved my problem with YouTube streaming. With hundreds of subbed channels YouTube is easily one of my most important channels.
Thanks for the idea. I will report back later if this continued to work through the afternoon.
For black bars, i use "set orientation" app. It force landscape mode all apps.
KokkoM said:
For black bars, i use "set orientation" app. It force landscape mode all apps.
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Well so far this PIA app is working just fine. I was under the impression I would need to use the OpenVPN Connect app, which I am not sure has per app basis. But after some tweaking to the settings it seems to be working.
I was afraid this would mess with my location services and my Google Home mini usage considering that the Home mini asks the SHIELD TV to turn off/on the TV for me. Not sure things like weather were going to continue working proper if I didn't figure out how to use VPN on only one Google app. But it works...
Thanks again

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