Ok we have been using RD with a VPN for about 5 years, usually with Kodi etc. We moved to Stremio about a year or so ago and all was fine up until about a week ago when I kept on getting "Source Error" on my streaming box, which is a Thomson 270, a version of the Onn box.
If I change the VPN destination everything works again, but only for a few days.

Now here's the thing, if I use the same set up of Stremio RD and VPN on my android phone I get absolutely no blocks and no issues at all. The same goes for my PC.

So the issue is only happening on the Thomson.
Does anyone have any ideas why?

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[–] Tippy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 hour ago

I experienced something similar with RD and Kodi last year. I suddenly started getting errors attempting to reach RD on my google TV. Using a VPN, everything worked fine, but without the VPN I'd always get errors. Using a VPN with a debrid service can also be iffy, and I got dinged by RD for the VPN switching IP automatically (despite the VPN I was using supposedly being on their whitelist).

What I determined after some digging and testing was that my ISP started blocking RD traffic in their locked down router settings (one of several ISPs that now do this), and my fix was to finally ditch their garbage router for one that I have control over.

Your situation isn't identical, and I know little about that brand of streaming box, but it could possibly be an update or setting interfering or the manufacturer intentionally trying to prevent users from using their devices to access "pirate" services. Might be worth trying some searches with your model of thomson and your ISP to see if others are having similar problems with that hardware recently.

[–] Zedstrian@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

If you use Torrentio with Stremio, Torrentio blocks VPNs, though I don't know why a VPN block would be impacting one platform but not another.

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 3 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

The service that ~40% of internet users need a VPN to use safely blocks VPNs?

[–] Zedstrian@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

Seems like the solution is to just change VPN servers until you find one with an IP that isn't blocked. Otherwise, the Torrentio configuration page shows the following message, and Torrentio itself can't be used in Stremio:

[–] D_C@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

We do use torrentio, but we have also been using it from the beginning. And we've had the streaming box for about 8 months...

[–] Zedstrian@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 hour ago

At least with Proton VPN, it seems that some VPN servers are blocked while others aren't. Trying with one server worked, while another resulted in a 403 Forbidden error.

[–] D_C@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago

Oh, and the VPN is on the approved list.

It can't be the ISP because everything works on my phone and PC.