Disclaimer: For legal reasons we are stating that if you choose to use the method described below, you do so and your own risk and furthermore, you should also note that ABC states the broadcast of this US-Only TV content outside the United States of America is prohibited, due to international licensing agreements. This walk-through outlines a workaround for iPad users located outside the United States of America, and is used solely at the device owner’s own risk. This post is for educational purposes only.
If you’ve had a chance to check out the ABC iPad app, you know it’s an amazing app. TV shows are streamed in high quality with only a few sponsored commercials during each episode. If other networks can jump onto this model, the future of TV will change before we know it.
How to Use the ABC iPad App in Canada and Outside the USA
If you’re in Canada or any other country, due to US-only restrictions the ABC iPad app won’t work. You’ll get an error messages that states this app isn’t available in your country. How do we bypass this restriction? The method is to purchase a PPTP VPN (Virtual Private Network) to bypass non-US IP restrictions. This method will allow your iPad to play Pandora Radio and other US only apps (including the ‘future’ Hulu iPad app). Here we go!
1. Purchase a ‘personalVPN’ PPTP from Witopia.com (or any other VPN provider). It’s $39.99US/year, but use coupon code “shxpt” to save 10%–works out to $36.99US.
2. Activate your package and write down your login details.
3. From your iPad: Go to Settings–>General–>Network–>VPN. Tap “Add VPN Configuration”
4. On the PPTN tab, enter your VPN details:
Description: anything you want it to be
Server: pptp.witopia.net
Account: yourusername@witopia
RSA SecurID: OFF
Password: the password you created with your Witopia account
Encryption level: Auto
Send all traffic: ON
5. Tap ‘Save’. Your new connection should now be displayed in the VPN list.
6. Toggle your VPN to “ON”. If successfully connected, you’ll see the “VPN” icon beside your WiFi icon in the upper left screen of your iPad. PS – Modern Family FTW!
7. Download the ABC app with your US iTunes account–and enjoy.
The quality of the video is pretty good. The commercials might not be very clear at times, but don’t let that deter you. Once the video of your show buffers a bit, it clears right up. There is no fast forward feature, but you can pause your video. For those lazy Sunday mornings, you can sit back and watch all your favourite ABC shows right on your iPad.
This PPTN VPN also enables the usage of Pandora radio on the iPad too. Any US-only iPad app will work in Canada, or any other country. This solution would be handy for Americans living out of the county that want access to content from back home.
So, there you have it. Let your friends know about this educational tutorial. Thanks to RazorianFly for the help.
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Cool. My iPad comes today so I will be trying this out. Thanxs.
Cool. My iPad comes today so I will be trying this out. Thanxs.
This look interesting. Can this be done on multiple machines or it only works on one iPad? I have a Sonos at home, so I wonder if I can do this on my home wireless network so I can stream Pandora radio at home as well.
From their website I see personalVPN™ – PPTP for 39.99
Where is the personalVPN™ – PPTN? Is there a typo or I'm missing something?
Was wondering the same thing. Also, there's a warning that it might be “throttled” in Canada. I assume that's not a good thing.
Whoops, my bad. Fixed. The link takes you right there to the PPTP.
Gary
It works on my iPhone as well. Haven't tried my Mac yet.
Gary
Just set it up and everything works perfect
Good to hear! The VPN can be setup on your iPhone too.
Gary
I have a fido and using edge to try to connect but it didn't work. Any idea why?
I have everything the same as above with username and password being different. Must I use wifi or I can VPN with edge or 3G?
I just tried connecting to the VPN via 3G on my 3GS, but it won't connect.
so it sounds like iphone or ipad must be on a wifi?
Tried wifi with VPN on my iPad, still doesn't work.
Wifi only works off course.
Make sure your username is “yourname@witopia” —NOT yourname@witopia.net.
I ran into this problem when I first setup my account on the iPad.
no .net. This is frustrating.
Check your logins again…if it fails…just get a refund.
Interesting workaround, but do I really want to pay $37 per year to watch the ABC network? I don't even watch it on my TV, for free!
Haha. True. But for new apps like Hulu (if it ever is released) people
will pay instead of waiting for downloads.
Gary
Here are my results:
VPN works at home via wifi with Bell ISP provider
VPN not working at work via wifi, not sure what is the ISP
VPN not working through FIDO either 3G or Edge.
What are yours that works, not work.
sweeet stuff. is the account shareable?
VPN works at home on Shaw via WiFI
Both iPhone and iPad.
Haven't thought about that. Test it out and let us know! hehe
Tt can work across multiple devices but only one can log on at a time. You can share with someone but you can't both using it at the same time.
Be warn, using 3G, with VPN and MyWi may crash your iPhone. It happens to me and now it's stuck. I may have to restore, hope not.
3G + Mywi = good
3G + VPN = good
wifi = VPN = good
3G + VPN + Mywi = dead phone.
Guess others figured out that it is witopia.net not .com http://www.witopia.net/welcome.php
Looking forward to trying this for 'educatioal purposes only.'
–R
I'm getting lost in the discussion threads here. Has anyone confirmed that the witopia.net VPN works over Rogers at least on the iPhone pending having a 3G ipad in our hands?
So this FOR SURE works? I have a VPN through blacklogic and it keeps telling me that itunes & the app store aren't supported in “my” country even though I'm successfully connected through the VIP connection. I'd hate to go and pay 40 clams for a witopia account only to find that I have the same problem.
Obviously it works or I wouldn't post about it. Didn't you read my post?!
Plus, clearly stated there's a 30 day money back guarantee with Witopia.
Well, Witopia didn't work and Black Logic, as I previously mentioned, also didn't work. Oh well, I guess I'm screwed. Jailbreak, here I come!
Thanks Gary, this worked perfectly for me here in Ireland, and for me the witopia subscription is worth it as many of the programmes haven't been shown yet here. Thanks for your tutorial, I hope some more apps like this such as hulu come out soon on the iPad.
Cheers! Enjoy.
Gary
does anyone have this working through rogers 3g?
Gary, I followed the steps as outlined and when I go to turn on the VPN, I get the message “The server is unreachable. Try reconnecting….”. I'm trying this on an iPad on Wifi with Shaw as the ISP.
Any idea?
Got it working…. ndhunay the issue is a typo in the instructions up above… it describes it as the pptn server and the server being pptn.witopia.net
that's a typo… it should be (as shown in the graphic) pptp.witopia.net
Got it working!
One other option for those willing to wait, would be to get the 'cloud browse' app that is coming out for the iPad (currently iPhone) and brose the abc site directly…. no cost, but not as smooth.
Typo fixed, my bad!
it would be great if you could make a video for this on youtube.
Great suggestion. I can use now in Brazil. tks
Follow all the steps, have the VPN connected but i can`t start the ABC player or load any site in the safari…
Any idea???
tks
This may not work everywhere. It does not work in Ontario, more's the pity.