AVS Forum banner

Sony 4K UHD Media Player FMP-X1

2K views 17 replies 4 participants last post by  roxiedog13 
#1 ·
I finally have the X1 server working from Canada now the issue is signing up to the Sony Entertainment Network using a USA based Credit card and USA address.


If someone in Canada or elsewhere can share how to get around these hurdles please advise.


Demos are OK but I'm ready to see a few movies now.
 
See less See more
1
#2 ·
Interesting, i assume you are using some sort of vpn service to mask the ip?


I'm also very interested in knowing how to sign up for the Sony Entertainment network as a non US citizen, if anyone know, please share
 
#3 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by BakeApples  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24429426


Interesting, i assume you are using some sort of vpn service to mask the ip?


I'm also very interested in knowing how to sign up for the Sony Entertainment network as a non US citizen, if anyone know, please share

Yes a VPN but it has to be a router based VPN because your X1 will be hard wired to this device. Installing a VPN service on your PC and Tablet will not work.
 
#5 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by trans_lux  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24431760


Is the VPN service fast enough for reasonable download times? I ask as all the VPN services I have used in the states has been very slow. If you don't mind me asking what service do you use?

I am using PureVPN, there could be a better VPN service provider this is the one I settled on. My current ISP provider is fiber optic and the medium level service I have should give me 50mb/s up and 30 down. I may get 30 up on a good day . Normal usage I do not notice any degrade of service doing normal stuff. I have three pc's, two lap tops , two tablets, the X1 server, one smart TV and two Blue Ray connected. Rarely if ever three of these are running same time.


I am running my VPN based router directly to the x1 and it is on all the time. My main PC is not connected to this router it is connected direct to my modem. I can run VPN on this PC if I want to but have very little need to do so. Any TV's or Blu Ray players that I want US netflix or other services I connect wirelessly through the VPN router .


I like this setup best, it retains the full speed of the ISP system, but like I said, even when I run VPN on my main PC I don't really notice a difference.
 
#7 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by trans_lux  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24434460


Thanks for the info

Did some testing last night and figured I owed it to you to report back. On my main PC VPN off I am showing a full 50mb/s download and 30mb/s upload, not to bad at all and this was with with netflix on the TV and my wife on the second PC.


Turning on the VPN( on my PC only) the download dropped to 8mb/s and the upload 6 mb/s. This was with the VPN connected to the fastest US server.


I should add that the 50MB/S from the first test with VPN off on my test PC was in fact going through my new VPN based router that is on 100% of the time and directly connected ( slaved) to the ISP modem. My new router is then hard wired


to all of the devices in my home.


Bottom line is the VPN router does not slow the process, the VPN running directly on my PC does. This is what I have seen, hoping I have not done something that can interrupt the speed, I will investigate and report back what the VPN


service provider has to say.
 
#8 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by roxiedog13  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24436910


Did some testing last night and figured I owed it to you to report back. On my main PC VPN off I am showing a full 50mb/s download and 30mb/s upload, not to bad at all and this was with with netflix on the TV and my wife on the second PC.


Turning on the VPN( on my PC only) the download dropped to 8mb/s and the upload 6 mb/s. This was with the VPN connected to the fastest US server.


I should add that the 50MB/S from the first test with VPN off on my test PC was in fact going through my new VPN based router that is on 100% of the time and directly connected ( slaved) to the ISP modem. My new router is then hard wired


to all of the devices in my home.


Bottom line is the VPN router does not slow the process, the VPN running directly on my PC does. This is what I have seen, hoping I have not done something that can interrupt the speed, I will investigate and report back what the VPN


service provider has to say.

Were you using the software client on the PC?

Also what router are you using as VPN client-something like DD-WRT?
 
#9 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by trans_lux  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24438800


Were you using the software client on the PC?

Also what router are you using as VPN client-something like DD-WRT?

I did the test with the client software on the PC running and with the client software off . On it reduced the speed to 20 % of max speed.


The VPN based router I have purchased is the Asus RT-AC66U .
 
#10 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by roxiedog13  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24429090


I finally have the X1 server working from Canada now the issue is signing up to the Sony Entertainment Network using a USA based Credit card and USA address.


If someone in Canada or elsewhere can share how to get around these hurdles please advise.


Demos are OK but I'm ready to see a few movies now.
You might be able to use Canadian  CC using this method:

 

http://support.unblock-us.com/customer/portal/articles/291534-i-do-not-have-a-us-credit-card-how-do-i-sign-up-for-hulu-plus-

 

I'm curious to see this work ;-)
 
#11 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonHfx  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24482458


You might be able to use Canadian  CC using this method:

http://support.unblock-us.com/customer/portal/articles/291534-i-do-not-have-a-us-credit-card-how-do-i-sign-up-for-hulu-plus-


I'm curious to see this work ;-)

tried this is does not work. You can buy SEN PSN cards on line and the sellers will email you the code as soon as you buy. They sell the cards for 15% premium.


I have a US credit card on order, should have in a few days. This will be easiest for me , besides I use the card often anyway. I'll let you know how it works out if you want?
 
#13 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonHfx  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24483544


Sure thing.


I was considering picking up a fmp-x1, just not sure if it is worth the extra effort with the vpn , usa cc and what not.

I did get the SEN setup working with a US PSN card from eBay. I will be using a US credit card eventually as you pay a premium for the SEN gift cards off eBay to the tune of 15%.


If you want 4K in Canada this is the price to have it, not easy and not cheap, it is available if you want it bad enough. The way I look at it is, I paid 30% less for the 500/600

up front in Canada, so in the end I'm still ahead of the folks in the US even with all the hassle .


Not much point having a 4K projector without 4K content. I guess if I didn't really want 4K I could have saved a bundle and purchased any number of other great projectors. But with

all these gismos there is always something better coming , it will be cheaper and likely better but it is NOT available now.


Anticipation is always better than reality isn't it ?. At least for most purchases there is a 30 day return policy, for marriage there is annulment . There are always ways out I suppose but most come at a cost .
 
#14 ·

I recently purchased  a Sony XBR65X850a, as the 1080p set I was considering was only $1K cheaper. So I figured might as well get the 4K. But now that I've got it I can't seem to be satisfied with just watching blu-rays at 1080p upconverted. Although they do look better on this Sony 4k, than my older xbr2.

 

So this started my search to see how I can get 4k content in Canada :)
 
#15 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonHfx  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24494285


I recently purchased  a Sony XBR65X850a, as the 1080p set I was considering was only $1K cheaper. So I figured might as well get the 4K. But now that I've got it I can't seem to be satisfied with just watching blu-rays at 1080p upconverted. Although they do look better on this Sony 4k, than my older xbr2.


So this started my search to see how I can get 4k content in Canada :)

My mistake , I just assumed you were the owner of a shiny new Sony VPL-VW500ES , I post mostly on that thread you see. Anyway, I'm sure the XBR wasn't donated, it is certainly all expensive gear. The FMP-X1 with tablet and VPN based router will set you back a grand and then there's the three days of setup torture.

As long as you don't need a little extra for psychotherapy you should be good there. The movies are slightly more expensive than the blue Ray versions but they are 4K. From what I have read its hard to tell the difference on any smaller screen, you may want to check that out first. For HT projection many claim that anything

below 100" diagonal is really difficult to tell any difference .
 
#16 ·

no worries,

 

I know the fmp-x1 is compatible with the sony 4k tvs, and my search for "fmp-x1 and Canada" lead me here.

 

I was curious as to what other Canadians were doing to get the fmp-x1 working in Canada.

 

I recall years ago the money, time, and effort spent to get the grey market satellite going.

 

I've been reading some blogs that suggest Sony has hinted that the 4k video service will be incorporated into the PS4.
 
#18 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonHfx  /t/1520594/sony-4k-uhd-media-player-fmp-x1#post_24503769


Did you try to use PayPal?

https://support.us.playstation.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4683/~/using-paypal-to-fund-wallet

Yes I did consider Paypal , that would have been easy. For Paypal to work your account has to be registered in the US . I have purchased the SEN gift cards off ebay and placed in my wallet, that is your only option outside of

having a US registered credit card. So far the SEN gift cards are working for me however , as I mentioned, you pay a 15% premium for this .
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top