AFL LIVE PASS - WHAT A JOKE!

[unknown_element]

So I've explained how to do this in a couple of previous posts, for those wondering how to use WatchAFL in Australia here is a basic guide

1. You'll need a VPN service, Private Internet Access has been tested and works perfectly on their Singapore server. Download the app and login
2. Sign up and to WatchAFL, they don't request a physical address and .au email addresses are fine. There is a free trial for the mens and womens preseason currently

At this point if you are happy to watch on your PC or laptop, start the VPN, select your server, load the site and you're done. For those who want to watch on your TV you have 2 (non-technical) options. You can either:

a. Run a HDMI cable from you PC/Laptop into your TV or;
b. Run a standalone mini x86 (Windows) PC which can be controlled via VNC on your phone or computer or any wireless keyboard/mouse. I am personally using an Intel Compute Stick over 5ghz Wireless N which works without problem

That's it, you need virtually no technically ability to get this running

With respect to costs the WatchAFL is $190AUD for the season and includes fox footy channel + on demand games + on demand panel shows up to 7mpbs quality. The VPN mentioned above is $36USD for 6 months or $7USD a month

My previous posts on this including a sample of the kind of quality you can expect (internet speed depending) are here and here

I took your advice and tried this. A friend suggested IPVanish as a good VPN provider so I signed up for a month with a seven day money back guarantee. It was horrible. It dropped my internet speed to under 1mbps! As well as that, the servers said to be in Singapore and the Philippines tested back as being in the USA.

So I tried Private Internet Access as you recommended and this worked like a charm. Signed up to the Watch AFL using the free trail code for the pre season and had some nice results. Watching on my P.C through firefox the quality was great, probably just under foxtels HD but not by much. There was no breaks or pauses in connection even with my internet connection running at 10pbps.

I then tried it on my Android TV box I have hooked up to my TV via HDMI that I use for Kodi streaming. Downloaded the VPN app, opened fire fox and away we go. I have an 9 year old 44' TV and the larger I made the broadcast , the worse the quality however it was still pretty good, somewhere between standard def and high Def.

All in all I think this is a great option for people in Australia that don't want to fork out $600 a year for foxtel just to watch the footy and footy related programs. I think I'll give it another test next weekend then tell Mr Murdoch Iv'e had enough!

 

[Space Cadet]

Which is better quality, Foxtel play or WatchAFL + VPN?

 

[unknown_element]

Which is better quality, Foxtel play or WatchAFL + VPN?

Personally I have never tried Foxtel Play before, only standard cable Foxtel so can't really compare them.

 

[funk44]

I took your advice and tried this. A friend suggested IPVanish as a good VPN provider so I signed up for a month with a seven day money back guarantee. It was horrible. It dropped my internet speed to under 1mbps! As well as that, the servers said to be in Singapore and the Philippines tested back as being in the USA.

So I tried Private Internet Access as you recommended and this worked like a charm. Signed up to the Watch AFL using the free trail code for the pre season and had some nice results. Watching on my P.C through firefox the quality was great, probably just under foxtels HD but not by much. There was no breaks or pauses in connection even with my internet connection running at 10pbps.

I then tried it on my Android TV box I have hooked up to my TV via HDMI that I use for Kodi streaming. Downloaded the VPN app, opened fire fox and away we go. I have an 9 year old 44' TV and the larger I made the broadcast , the worse the quality however it was still pretty good, somewhere between standard def and high Def.

All in all I think this is a great option for people in Australia that don't want to fork out $600 a year for foxtel just to watch the footy and footy related programs. I think I'll give it another test next weekend then tell Mr Murdoch Iv'e had enough!

Have a crack at Getflix Smart DNS and see if you better results at 5.4 Mbps quality

 

[BoxMatrix]

Which is better quality, Foxtel play or WatchAFL + VPN?

Foxtel Play refuses to broadcast AFL in HD (they do all the other channels in HD). Your best bet is WatchAFL + Getflix if your main goal is to watch Fox Footy.

 

[sataris]

I just tried it using ChromeCast to my TV and it works without any issues.

 

[Here2tellyouwhy]

Yep, that's what I do. There are no lock in contracts with Foxtel Play, so I sign up just before the preseason games start (went a little earlier this year to catch the ODIs in New Zealand) each year then cancel it at the start of September - all the finals are free to air so Foxtel isn't needed. So usually 6 or 7 months - this year it's $39 per month ($29 for the sport and $10 for one of the mandatory base packages), which means it will be around $280 all up. I reckon that's great value.

You need to be wary of the data usage though - I am on an unlimited plan so I've never bothered to look into it, but I would imagine it would chew through your data if you have a cap. Also the biggest downside to this is that you have to interact with Foxtel - between their website and their call centre they are ******* hopeless. But overall I think it's a better option than messing around with vpns, hdmi cords and adapters etc, especially if you're into the other sports they have (can't wait for the Indian tour!).

I thought Foxtel Play didn't include the Fox Footy channel?
Website states this also.

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

I thought Foxtel Play didn't include the Fox Footy channel?
Website states this also.

Hmm, Foxtel Play has definitely shown the footy for the past few years. I will be disconnecting it very quickly if it isn't this year.

 

[Keystone agony]

I just tried it using ChromeCast to my TV and it works without any issues.

Is this with Watch AFL?

 

[Keystone agony]

I took your advice and tried this. A friend suggested IPVanish as a good VPN provider so I signed up for a month with a seven day money back guarantee. It was horrible. It dropped my internet speed to under 1mbps! As well as that, the servers said to be in Singapore and the Philippines tested back as being in the USA.

So I tried Private Internet Access as you recommended and this worked like a charm. Signed up to the Watch AFL using the free trail code for the pre season and had some nice results. Watching on my P.C through firefox the quality was great, probably just under foxtels HD but not by much. There was no breaks or pauses in connection even with my internet connection running at 10pbps.

I then tried it on my Android TV box I have hooked up to my TV via HDMI that I use for Kodi streaming. Downloaded the VPN app, opened fire fox and away we go. I have an 9 year old 44' TV and the larger I made the broadcast , the worse the quality however it was still pretty good, somewhere between standard def and high Def.

All in all I think this is a great option for people in Australia that don't want to fork out $600 a year for foxtel just to watch the footy and footy related programs. I think I'll give it another test next weekend then tell Mr Murdoch Iv'e had enough!

Whats the 'FREE TRIAL CODE' for WatchAFL?

Can you cancel before season proper?

 

[Here2tellyouwhy]

Hmm, Foxtel Play has definitely shown the footy for the past few years. I will be disconnecting it very quickly if it isn't this year.

Can you let me know what you think of the video quality?
Does it show every game live?

I've tried the old Watch AFL on the PC and using a VPN and it was unwatchable.
Ive since gone to cable internet (30Mbps) and built a new PC, so I'm weighing up my options.
Cheers

 

[BoxMatrix]

Can you let me know what you think of the video quality?
Does it show every game live?

I've tried the old Watch AFL on the PC and using a VPN and it was unwatchable.
Ive since gone to cable internet (30Mbps) and built a new PC, so I'm weighing up my options.
Cheers

WatchAFL + Getflix works amazingly with decent Internet.


Foxtel play is garbage quality and buffers quite a bit.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Can you let me know what you think of the video quality?
Does it show every game live?

I've tried the old Watch AFL on the PC and using a VPN and it was unwatchable.
Ive since gone to cable internet (30Mbps) and built a new PC, so I'm weighing up my options.
Cheers

Quality of WatchAFL has gone up a lot this year

 

[sataris]

Is this with Watch AFL?

Yep, mind you its a pretty old 60" plasma tv.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[sataris]

WatchAFL + Getflix works amazingly with decent Internet.


Foxtel play is garbage quality and buffers quite a bit.

This is by far the most important element.

I'd say if you're on ADSL2+ then you've got virtually no hope

 

[Here2tellyouwhy]

WatchAFL + Getflix works amazingly with decent Internet.


Foxtel play is garbage quality and buffers quite a bit.

Quality of WatchAFL has gone up a lot this year

Sweet thanks guys. Some great info in this thread.

I've got HFC (telstra cable) and a reliable 25-30Mbps. Ethernet to a fresh PC and HDMI to the Pano plasma. Happy days.
Footys back

 

[Demonic Ascent]

This is by far the most important element.

I'd say if you're on ADSL2+ then you've got virtually no hope

I don't completely understand how these things work but I think this is even more so because the servers they use are rubbish (ie they don't fork out enough for decent bandwidth) therefore it's even more important for you to have decent hi-speed Internet to carry the load.

Services like Netflix or nfl Gamepass have quality servers so any decent Internet connection here would do the trick but for afl you probably need cable to get the best quality.

 

[sataris]

I don't completely understand how these things work but I think this is even more so because the servers they use are rubbish (ie they don't fork out enough for decent bandwidth) therefore it's even more important for you to have decent hi-speed Internet to carry the load.

Services like Netflix or nfl Gamepass have quality servers so any decent Internet connection here would do the trick but for afl you probably need cable to get the best quality.

I haven't used netflix or NFL Gamepass so i can't comment on those.

But the analogy I use when explaining bandwidth is...

Imagine a 16 lane motorway at 100% traffic flow, then imagine trying to route that same amount of traffic through a suburban side street.

The issue usually isn't the connection from the server (the motorway) but you're connection (the side street) to the motorway(the server).

There, I think I've butchered that appropriately.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

I haven't used netflix or NFL Gamepass so i can't comment on those.

But the analogy I use when explaining bandwidth is...

Imagine a 16 lane motorway at 100% traffic flow, then imagine trying to route that same amount of traffic through a suburban side street.

The issue usually isn't the connection from the server (the motorway) but you're connection (the side street) to the motorway(the server).

There, I think I've butchered that appropriately.

Yeah but imagine Netflix is a 16 lane motorway and the AFL servers are the Tulla with roadworks

 

[1990crow]

I took your advice and tried this. A friend suggested IPVanish as a good VPN provider so I signed up for a month with a seven day money back guarantee. It was horrible. It dropped my internet speed to under 1mbps! As well as that, the servers said to be in Singapore and the Philippines tested back as being in the USA.

So I tried Private Internet Access as you recommended and this worked like a charm. Signed up to the Watch AFL using the free trail code for the pre season and had some nice results. Watching on my P.C through firefox the quality was great, probably just under foxtels HD but not by much. There was no breaks or pauses in connection even with my internet connection running at 10pbps.

I then tried it on my Android TV box I have hooked up to my TV via HDMI that I use for Kodi streaming. Downloaded the VPN app, opened fire fox and away we go. I have an 9 year old 44' TV and the larger I made the broadcast , the worse the quality however it was still pretty good, somewhere between standard def and high Def.

All in all I think this is a great option for people in Australia that don't want to fork out $600 a year for foxtel just to watch the footy and footy related programs. I think I'll give it another test next weekend then tell Mr Murdoch Iv'e had enough!

Firefox better than Chrome do you think? I have the same android box that I'm going to trial Thursday night.
Do you need the VPN for it to work?

 

[funk44]

Another option for those on Windows with a Smart TV. If your TV has Miracast you should be able add your TV as an additional monitor then you can mirror your laptop/PC onto the TV. If you do that the audio should also be re-routed through your TV as well

 

[unknown_element]

Whats the 'FREE TRIAL CODE' for WatchAFL?

Can you cancel before season proper?

Go to the website: https://www.watchafl.com.au/ and hit "try it free" . All the info is there PRESEASON17 is the code.

You have to have your VPN turned on before you can watch anything, I think you can cancel before the end of March, there is some info on the site with the exact dates

 

[unknown_element]

Firefox better than Chrome do you think? I have the same android box that I'm going to trial Thursday night.
Do you need the VPN for it to work?

I didn't try Chrome, just downloaded the firefox app and used that which worked well. You could try both if you want. Yes you will need a VPN if you are viewing inside Australia.

 

[funk44]

Firefox better than Chrome do you think? I have the same android box that I'm going to trial Thursday night.
Do you need the VPN for it to work?

Yes, Firefox is better than Chrome. You need either a VPN or (working) SmartDNS service. GetFlix SmartDNS offers a free trial should be want to check it out before committing any money

 

[Newt Hoenikker]

Another vote for the WatchAFL/Private Internet Access combo. It's working a treat.

I'll be interested to see how it handles Thursday night's game.