Using VPN service while comping

lukgs7

Hello,

I have been thinking about subscribing a VPN service. I am concerned that it may disqualify my competition entries as the IP address may trace to countries other than UK.

Can I turn off the VPN while comping and turn it back on for general usage?

Does anyone have the experience using the VPN while comping? If so, please share your experience.


Thanks in advance.

One-Eye

My broadband provider acquired some IP addresses that were originally allocated to a US provider. Pinpointing a location from an IP address is down to third party web service companies and most of them are very poor. When I was allocated one of these "US" IPs there were a few sites that I could not access or they redirected me to their US partner site. One or two gave me "comp not valid in your territory" messages. I have no idea of whether I was DQ'd from any comps after my entry was accepted. One of my banks made me jump through extra hoops whenever I accessed my account. On the other hand, I could access several videos that are blocked when you are in the UK.

I now have a fixed IP that the IP locating services believe is in the UK, but they vary widely where in the UK they think I am. This is shown up by adverts such as "People in Ilford go crazy for laser Eye surgery" and "Hundreds in Reading are claiming PPI refunds"

You can check where these services think you are located:
https://www.whatismyip.com/ip-address-lookup/
https://www.iplocation.net/

I have no experience with VPNs, but I would be surprised if you can't switch them on/off at will. You may be able to set them to show a particular country of origin.

Painkiller

Unless you have the vpn software set to startup with your device & connect automatically on startup, you tend to have to open the software then connect, so when you don't want to use it, you just disconnect.


Get a vpn that has servers in the UK and you can enter whilst connected without location issues.

lukgs7

One-Eye wrote: »

My broadband provider acquired some IP addresses that were originally allocated to a US provider. Pinpointing a location from an IP address is down to third party web service companies and most of them are very poor. When I was allocated one of these "US" IPs there were a few sites that I could not access or they redirected me to their US partner site. One or two gave me "comp not valid in your territory" messages. I have no idea of whether I was DQ'd from any comps after my entry was accepted. One of my banks made me jump through extra hoops whenever I accessed my account. On the other hand, I could access several videos that are blocked when you are in the UK.

I now have a fixed IP that the IP locating services believe is in the UK, but they vary widely where in the UK they think I am. This is shown up by adverts such as "People in Ilford go crazy for laser Eye surgery" and "Hundreds in Reading are claiming PPI refunds"

You can check where these services think you are located:
https://www.whatismyip.com/ip-address-lookup/
https://www.iplocation.net/

I have no experience with VPNs, but I would be surprised if you can't switch them on/off at will. You may be able to set them to show a particular country of origin.

Thank you

lukgs7

Painkiller wrote: »

Unless you have the vpn software set to startup with your device & connect automatically on startup, you tend to have to open the software then connect, so when you don't want to use it, you just disconnect.


Get a vpn that has servers in the UK and you can enter whilst connected without location issues.

Thank you

LadyMorticia

I use Private Internet Access. It's £5-ish a month and it has a Chrome add-on (as well as a standalone desktop client.) You can choose which country you proxy from and there are three UK ones listed so I don't think it would be a problem. It's easy to connect and disconnect too. x

giraffegirl

As long as you use a VPN which has a UK based IP you should be fine, my boyfriend uses one for other things and doesn't run into any problems as far as I know. The only potential issue is if the IP is shared, but if it's a private paid for VPN you should be okay!

lukgs7

Thank you

Donald_Silver

Once you connect to the VPN, it means your IP is your Identity. You cannot change your ID. Kz if you disconnect your VPN. You won't be recognized and won't move further. So either you start playing with connecting VPN or without connecting VPN.

markmhendr

Hello. Perhaps I did not understand the question a bit. But, the essence of VPN is that it changes your ip to ip of another country. And the better vpn, the more servers it has in different countries. Take, for example, Express VPN, with it, if I'm not mistaken, 78 servers around the world. True subscription and costs accordingly, but now it is not important.
Just choose the one that suits you from the free vpn server list and ip USA, UK, etc. there will definitely be ...