Kaveo
TVs and set-top boxes run different systems, so there is no single way. Start with the system of your device, then look at the options that come with conditions.
Where to start: the system of your TV
- Android TV and Google TV. Kaveo has a step-by-step instruction: VPN for Android TV and Google TV. The app and access are issued in your personal account.
- Apple TV (tvOS). The platform supports VPN apps; the available option depends on the specific app. Kaveo has no separate tvOS instruction in the devices catalog.
- Samsung Tizen, LG webOS and other systems. A VPN client usually cannot be installed on them. What remains is a router, a computer or a separate set-top box, described below.
Way 1: an app on the TV
Works for Android TV and Google TV, which have an app store where an ordinary VPN client can be installed. For Kaveo see the page Android TV and Google TV: it walks you through the steps, and the app is obtained through your personal account.
Plus: the app is installed right on the TV. Minus: other systems usually do not allow this.
Way 2: VPN on a router
This is a general method. Kaveo has no separate router instructions: see the supported platforms in the devices catalog.
It depends on the router model, the firmware version and a compatible way to connect: not every router can act as a VPN client. A manual configuration for such devices fits only if your personal account offers it and it suits your hardware.
Plus: covers all devices on the network at once, and the TV does not need to know about the VPN. Minuses: speed is limited by the router's processor, and changing the country affects every device that goes through it under the routing rules. This way does not guarantee the same country for all devices on the network: the result depends on how the rules are set.
Way 3: sharing from a computer
A laptop connects to the VPN and shares internet over Wi-Fi; the TV connects to that network.
An important condition: a VPN switched on the computer does not guarantee that the shared traffic of other devices goes through the tunnel. A suitable mode and the setup of the particular system are needed, and the result is worth checking, for example by opening the IP check page in the TV's browser if it has one.
Plus: nothing to buy. Minus: the computer must stay on for the whole time you watch.
Way 4: a separate set-top box
A box with Android TV or Google TV connects to the TV as a screen. The app is installed on it following the instruction from way 1, and the TV works just as a display.
Plus: full control and usually a snappier interface. Minus: an extra device and remote.
What to choose
- Android TV and Google TV — use the app on the TV following the instruction.
- Several devices at home — consider a router if it is compatible and a configuration is applicable.
- A one-off viewing — sharing from a computer.
- A TV without a suitable system — a set-top box.
About speed
Stream requirements depend on the service, the format and the codec: different services recommend different values for Full HD and 4K, and one number does not suit any video. Follow what the service itself states and measure speed through the tunnel on your own device. If the video stutters or loses quality, measure the speed on the device itself. When connecting through a router, the result also depends on the router’s performance.
Choosing the nearest available country helps.
Related reading
Plans and 8 hours free without a card: see Kaveo plans.