Amazon Firestick constantly buffering

[Tardis]

I watch iPlayer on a Firestick and have no problems.   I bought a secondary router that I've configured to run Getflix Smart DNS.  For watching iPlayer etc I prefer this method to using a VPN.

I use this router from Electron for €19.90:

https://tiendaselectron.com/router-switc...51242.html

All my devices go through the router either via wi-fi or ethernet.  

If you want to continue using a VPN, you could buy an HDMI adaptor for an iPad and then connect it to your TV:

https://tiendaselectron.com/adaptadores-...27653.html

[Joy Division]

Ah ok, just a question. why do you prefer to use Getflix DNS rather than the Firestick via the VPN. Did you get buffering issues with the Firestick and VPN?

[Tardis]

I’ve been using a Getflix Smart DNS with a secondary router for about seven years.  Prior to that I used a VPN.  I don’t know if things have changed but when I used a VPN it severely reduced the download speed.  The BBC also got very good at detecting VPNs and blocking them.

The secondary router is connected to your primary router (the one provided by Movistar etc) and needs to be configured to run a Smart DNS.  It's fairly easy to do.  After that you can connect your tablet, Amazon Fire Stick, smartphone  laptops and PCs, and games console to the secondary router to view iPlayer etc.  In our house we have two Fire Sticks, one laptop, two tablets and two smartphones connected to the Smart DNS router.  It also works through our powerline adaptors.

[Joy Division]

Thanks very much for your detailed response. I’ll try and get my head around it and give it a go. I’ve exhausted all attempts to stop the buffering.
When I first started using the Firestick and VPN it was working fine but then after a few weeks it started buffering every now and then and now it buffers every few minutes which obviously makes watching anything impossible.
As I’ve said before, I’ve noticed the cache going above the 14MB of storage that the BBC iplayer App has in a few minutes but I’ve no idea why this is happening or if this is the reason it’s buffering. Other Apps such as ITVX work fine with no buffering so it does seem isolated to the BBC and I think you’ve hit the nail on the head re them finding out you’re out of the U.K. I suspect they know which IP addresses Nord use are suspect. 
Anyway, you seem to have discovered a way around it so well done to you and thanks again for sharing.

[Tardis]

You could try asking about the buffering on the Andalucia forum.   They have a helpful tech section:

https://www.andalucia.com/forums/viewfor...7af2b7b19c

[Joy Division]

Thanks, will do. I’ll report back on here if I discover anything. I’m sure there are others who must be experiencing the same as me. It’s pretty frustrating as I’ve forked out for 2 years Nord VPN thinking that was the best way forward to watching iplayer. I’m surprised to find so little on the internet about the buffering issues I’ve had.

[Cotillo_Tom]

This might help:

https://www.firesticktricks.com/fix-fire...ering.html

[Joy Division]

Thanks, I’ve tried all of those suggestions and more. I’ve re-booted and returned the Firestick to Factory settings and downloaded the Apps again (twice!)
Iplayer still buffering every 5 mins. Other Apps loaded, ITVX, all4 etc play fine with no buffering.
Download and upload speeds high enough and constant. I’ve even created a new BBC Account in case the had flagged me up as a foreign user.

[Bill]

And BBC iPlayer also still giving us grief, but others work fine!

[Joy Division]

Interesting. I do wonder how many people here in the Canary Islands are managing to watch iplayer with no buffering or freezing.
I also wonder if it has something to do with the canaries being so far away from the servers. Perhaps there’s a techie out there who might have the answer.