Hey guys,

I'm not a big tech guy at all so this might be a really dumb question but I'm going to ask anyway. I live in Houston and I'm a huge Astros fan. Unfortunately, the only way to watch the Astros here is either DirecTV or FuboTV. MLB.tv isn't an option due to regional blackouts.

I've heard a VPN is the way to get around those blackouts... but I honestly have no idea where to get started on that. Can anyone explain to me the VPN and the setup involved?

So basically this: I want to use a Roku to watch the Astros on MLB.tv and I'm hoping a VPN can get me around the regional blackouts.

Thanks in advance!

if you want to use a VPN to do this for a Roku device, i believe their are only 2 ways to do it.

The first would be to configure your router to use a VPN so that all internet traffic in the house is routed through the VPN. I've never done this personally, but i hear that on some routers this can be an involved process.

The second option is if you have a laptop that will allow you, you can set up the laptop as a wifi hotspot and share its internet connection. You then make sure the VPN is running on the laptop, connect the roku to the laptop hotspot instead of your main home internet and now both the laptop and your roku will be running through the VPN on your laptop. This one will likely be simpler if you aren't familiar with poking around in the router configuration settings.

As for picking a VPN, i'm sure there are a ton out there that are good, but I use NordVPN and have had great experience with it, and usually you can find a really good deal on the price if you sign up for an extended time period.

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The second option is if you have a laptop that will allow you, you can set up the laptop as a wifi hotspot and share its internet connection. You then make sure the VPN is running on the laptop, connect the roku to the laptop hotspot instead of your main home internet and now both the laptop and your roku will be running through the VPN on your laptop. This one will likely be simpler if you aren't familiar with poking around in the router configuration settings.

As for picking a VPN, i'm sure there are a ton out there that are good, but I use NordVPN and have had great experience with it, and usually you can find a really good deal on the price if you sign up for an extended time period.

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This sounds easy enough.

The absolute easiest and most consistent way to get around blackouts is to use a Smart DNS service like Unlocator or one provided by your VPN provider like NordVPN or ExpressVPN have.

You're given a DNS code to manually type into your WiFi settings on your TV box. Once you add that, MLB.TV just works consistently.

With a normal VPN, it's inconsistent and you've got to find a good location to use that'll get around the blackout. With this, there's no configuring your router, no setting up a laptop specifically for this. You just add the smart DNS code to your Apple TV or Roku and you're done.

So for clarification, will I need a Smart DNS service on top off of the VPN? Or can I use that without a VPN?

texasaggie2015 said:

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So for clarification, will I need a Smart DNS service on top off of the VPN? Or can I use that without a VPN?

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You can use it without a VPN as long as you're on Wi-Fi. I found it more convenient to just get NordVPN (it has smart DNS feature included). I can use my VPN on the go and smart DNS on my home Wi-Fi devices.

If you go the laptop route it would probably be easiest to just connect your laptop to the VPN then connect the laptop to your tv over HDMI and stream it from there.

A VPN is still going to potentially present problems. MLB.tv will block known VPN exit points, and the list keeps growing. Mine used to work, but started being blocked for the 2022 season. You might find one that works, just be aware that it may not, and that it may stop working at some point.

I gave up and got Directv stream to watch games.

kb2001 said:

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A VPN is still going to potentially present problems. MLB.tv will block known VPN exit points, and the list keeps growing. Mine used to work, but started being blocked for the 2022 season. You might find one that works, just be aware that it may not, and that it may stop working at some point.

I gave up and got Directv stream to watch games.

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I had this issue with my VPN as well - super inconsistent. The smart DNS through my VPN provider works just fine, though.

One thing I can't figure out is that on on my phone via wifi, I can have the NordVPN app running, then connect to MLB tv just fine. But when I set my router to connect to the same NordVPN site, MLB tv on my firestick still says blacked out.

As kb2001 alluded to -- MLB is militant about going after the proxies and VPNs. I'd give any workaround at max a few months.

aggolfer said:

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One thing I can't figure out is that on on my phone via wifi, I can have the NordVPN app running, then connect to MLB tv just fine. But when I set my router to connect to the same NordVPN site, MLB tv on my firestick still says blacked out.

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Why don't you install the Nord app on your firestick and try that? Or put your phone in airplane mode, connect to wifi, and then try. That'll ensure data isn't leaking out thru your LTE connection

Haven't tried but should work with Nord:

Log in. Click a random game. Turn on the VPN. Switch to the Rangers/Stros.

Don't vpn to a game nearby initially.

jwag said:

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Don't vpn to a game nearby initially.

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It has worked in the past, but was able to use a different way to get games last year. But I think this was my issue this go round.

aggolfer said:

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One thing I can't figure out is that on on my phone via wifi, I can have the NordVPN app running, then connect to MLB tv just fine. But when I set my router to connect to the same NordVPN site, MLB tv on my firestick still says blacked out.

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FireTv sticks/devices don't like VPN services.

I had my router set up with a VPN everything in the house worked but the fire stick.

Also MLB TV used to block casting from your device to your TV (have no idea how they knew when I was doing that) but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. So you can just run the Nord VPN on your laptop or tablet and stream it to your TV.

Thanks everyone for the info.