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Re: [tor-relays] BBC iPlayer blocked for UK middle relay operators?



FYI - I've just sent another email/contact form to them asking if running a Tor relay could be an issue and explaining in detail the differences between middle and exit relays etc. We shall see if this yields any more useful response from them.Â

I'll keep you posted.


On 28 June 2014 16:54, Chris Whittleston <csw34@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Paul

From what I've read, Virgin issue WAN IPs based on the router MAC address, so for the super-hub which has two MAC addresses (one modem, one router) - it uses the router one. This is why you always get issued the same IP after rebooting or when the DHCP lease expires.Â

The only way around that would be to disconnect the hub, wait for your IP lease to expire (7 days max), then wait an unknown time till it was assigned to someone else, and plug the hub back in to get a fresh IP. Not exactly practical...

Did you mention that you were running a Tor relay in the messages you sent to the BBC via their web form? Just wondering if they might be unaware that this might be the issue. Also - I know they had an issue with their contact form not actually submitting data to them, so unless you got an email acknowledging the contact request - they definitely didn't receive it.

Here are the last couple of responses I've had from them - both seem somewhat auto-generated:

Latest:
-------------------------------------------------
Thank you for contacting BBC iPlayer support.

Weâll update our help site with any new developments, including the latest programme issues that are currently under investigation, so please check back later.

The latest programme issues currently under investigation are available at:

http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/announcements/programme_latest_issues/

If we havenât updated the website, it could be that we canât replicate your problem. In such instances, weâll monitor for further reports before we investigate.

We will try to respond as quickly as possible, but due to the volume of enquiries we receive and the time required to look into technical matters, weâre not always able to reply as quickly as weâd like.

-------------------------------------------------

Previous:

-------------------------------------------------

Thanks for contacting the BBC iPlayer Support Team.

I understand you were experiencing technical issues accessing iPlayer as you have been incorrectly identified as living outside the UK. You mentioned you received an email from our team stating the issue was being investigated by our service partner.

If youâre in the UK but see a message saying youâre not, itâs because BBC iPlayer is recognising your IP address as being outside the UK. It could be because your computer is on a foreign-based network, or is being routed overseas. This sometimes happens if youâre at work and your employer isnât based in the UK. Some programs, like web accelerators, can also make it look like your IP address is outside the UK.

Sometimes your internet service provider will allocate you a new IP address, perhaps if theyâre carrying out maintenance work. In some cases this new IP address wonât yet be registered as being in the UK, so iPlayer will recognise you as being overseas.

It could also simply be a network error.

The first thing to try is closing and reopening your web browser. If this doesnât work, you can try restarting your Wi-Fi router.

If you're using a public Wi-Fi network, this may route your connection overseas. Please try again later using a different network.

If this still doesnât work, your best bet is to contact your internet service provider and ask if your IP address is registered in the UK.

We have also passed along the information you provided to our team who will investigate this fault. We do appreciate that technical faults affecting programmes on BBC iPlayer can be most frustrating and we try to correct these as quickly as possible.

We'd like to assure you that your comments were fully registered. This was included on feedback reports that are available to personnel responsible for maintaining and improving the BBC iPlayer service.

These reports are viewed as important documents that can help shape decisions on future aspects of BBC iPlayer across all platforms.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to contact us.

-------------------------------------------------

Chris



On 28 June 2014 15:52, Paul Blakeman <blakeyman@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi all

Matthewâs advice is correct.
Switching to âmodem onlyâ DOES achieve getting a dynamic IP assigned.
Not too sure why the normal WAN connection is not like thisâ (even though assigned via DHCP)

Chris - I have âharassedâ the BBC 3 times but had NOTHING back from themâ

Iâm going to ditch Virgin Mediaâ

Paul


On 28 Jun 2014, at 15:46, Chris Whittleston <csw34@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Paul,

I'm also with Virgin Media and have had a similar tech support conversation. I didn't mention I was running a Tor relay to them at the time (do you know anything about their policy regards Tor?), but they checked through all my 'Super Hub' settings including the port forwarding I have set up so I imagine they noticed. They couldn't explain it at all, and because it seems like a completely device agnostic issue (phones etc also don't work) - it is probably on the iPlayer provider's end. I also noticed that I was getting 'Forbidden' errors from the nhs.uk site a while ago and posted about it here - but right now I seem to be able to access everything there just fine so maybe they have reviewed their policy on Tor nodes.

Matthew - that's an interesting point about switching out the router MAC address. I'm not currently using a separate router, but might consider it in the future. I guess though that if this is the result of a provider blacklisting all Tor relay IPs, the new IP will just get added to the list as soon as it's published and it'll be blocked again.Â

I think I'm going to continue to harass BBC support about this under I get a response other than 'have you tried turning your router off and on' or 'check your IP is registered in the UK with your ISP' - ugh...

Thanks for the info all


On 28 June 2014 13:23, Paul Blakeman <blakeyman@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Chris

I have had several issues that appeared whilst running a Tor network.
This has happened to me too even though I switched mine (relay) off several weeks agoâ
I have notified BBC (via supplied contact forms 3 times) and have had no resolve
Other services affected have been nhs.uk & lovefilm.com although since switching my relay off these now work again.

My supplier is Virgin Media and I have spent *hours* on tech help support.
Nobody can answer this.
My dynamic WAN IP (assigned via DHCP) never changes and Iâve been told it "canât & wonât ever changeââ.
Itâs been the same IP address for years...
Therefore if anybody wants to monitor or divert my traffic they can.

Who provides your service?

Thanks,
Paul






On 28 Jun 2014, at 12:52, Chris Whittleston <csw34@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Is anyone else running a relay in the UK having issues accessing BBC iPlayer from the same connection? For the last 6 weeks or so now I've been getting messages telling me I'm 'outside the UK' when I'm in London, and my IP address clearly resolves to show that.
>
> Just wondering if the provider BBC use for iPlayer might have started just blocking all Tor IPs recently - including middle relays.
>
> Chris
>
> _______________________________________________
> tor-relays mailing list
> tor-relays@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays

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--
Dr Chris WhittlestonÂæä
Department of Chemistry
University of Cambridge
Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW
Email: csw34@xxxxxxxxx
Tel: +44 (0)1223 336423
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_______________________________________________
tor-relays mailing list
tor-relays@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays




--
Dr Chris WhittlestonÂæä
Department of Chemistry
University of Cambridge
Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW
Email: csw34@xxxxxxxxx
Tel: +44 (0)1223 336423



--
Dr Chris WhittlestonÂæä
Department of Chemistry
University of Cambridge
Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW
Email: csw34@xxxxxxxxx
Tel: +44 (0)1223 336423
_______________________________________________
tor-relays mailing list
tor-relays@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays