HiFi Engine

[oldbury863]

Hi, has anyone else found it impossible to download a manual from this site now?
I have used it successfully in the past but now I get the follwing message every time: (I have tried Chrome and Firefox)

"Proxy Server/VPN Service
154.47.116.3 (psi-net.com)
Sorry but downloads are not possible from cloaking services such as proxies and VPNs.
Please use a standard internet connection to continue."

Cannot contact the site owner either!
Any help appreciated.

[sortedradio]

I just tried it and had no problem downloading a manual.

[Goldie99]

As far as i'm aware, HiFiEngine blocks access via VPNs.

[oldbury863]

I'm not aware that I am on a VPN (!) but this problem has only occurred since I've gone onto fibre broadband.
Just tried using my mobile instead and not getting the error message on that.

[Cobaltblue]

Originally Posted by oldbury863

Im not aware that I am on a VPN (!) but this problem has only occurred since Ive gone onto fibre broadband.
Just tried using my mobile instead and not getting the error message on that.

Are you using your mobile connected to your BB WiFi or are you using the mobiles 3/4G connection?

Cheers

Mike T

[Aub]

Might be a daft question, but how does it know you're using a VPN? Isn't it just blocking IP address ranges that are not from the UK?

Cheers

Aub

[OldTechFan96]

I've been having trouble uploading manuals to HiFi engine. I'm not sure what the issue is.

[Nuvistor]

That IP address appears to be registered to YouFibre Ltd Cheltenham, if thats your provider I would contact them.
https://www.youfibre.com/

[JonSnell]

Originally Posted by Aub

Might be a daft question, but how does it know you're using a VPN? Isn't it just blocking IP address ranges that are not from the UK?

Cheers

Aub

Your VPN tells the receiver that you, for instance, are in the USA or China. The receiver cannot marry up your old IP address that has your region details to the new IP address that a VPN gives you, usually at random. The service that you are using cannot recognise the address and kicks you off.
I am using EE on wireless and I have to log in most everytime to contact some of my clients because they use a secure server that does not recognize my address.

[Maarten]

Sounds like a badly implemented security measure or possibly an attempt to steer clear of (cookie) legislation. If the provider does indeed use some kind of proxy, it's useful to complain about that, but since that's only half of the problem, I'd complain with the site owner as well.

[(awty))]

It's to prevent band members (Broken Records) from using a proxy to reregister and accessing the forum and getting access to manuals.
If you haven't been banned, then just don't use a proxy server or VPN.
If you've been banned forever walk the earth as the unworthy.....or just get someone else to download for you. Most manuals these days are available elsewhere.

[Nuvistor]

It would be interesting to see what the ISP has to say, various thoughts come to mind but all speculation, best to get the correct information.

As for HiFi engine insisting on no VPN downloads, I see it as their prerogative, it's up to them what the rules are.

The ISP may be able to configure a bypass, but again it's their network and they may insist all traffic is treated the same.

Oldbury863, if decide to query your ISP, it would be good know their response.

[Aub]

Originally Posted by JonSnell

Your VPN tells the receiver that you, for instance, are in the USA or China. The receiver cannot marry up your old IP address that has your region details to the new IP address that a VPN gives you, usually at random. The service that you are using cannot recognise the address and kicks you off.
I am using EE on wireless and I have to log in most everytime to contact some of my clients because they use a secure server that does not recognize my address.

So if you hadn't already registered and you're using a VPN, it would think you're in China, USA , etc and you'd register as a new user in that country, assuming all other criteria for membership were met? Not sure why you'd want to do that though.

Cheers

Aub

[wireman]

Originally Posted by JonSnell

Your VPN tells the receiver that you, for instance, are in the USA or China. The receiver cannot marry up your old IP address that has your region details to the new IP address that a VPN gives you, usually at random. The service that you are using cannot recognise the address and kicks you off.
I am using EE on wireless and I have to log in most everytime to contact some of my clients because they use a secure server that does not recognize my address.

I don't think so, they just want to ban people using VPNs or ISPs that don't meet their 'requirements'. If you search for VPN on the website you get this as the first hit and it reveals what they are blocking...

https://vinylengine.com/turntable_fo...?f=36&t=117073

(I'm assuming vinylengine has the same policies).

[knobtwiddler]

Hi-Fi Engine totally forgot my account. Whether I entered username or email, it said 'unrecognised user'. I just re-registered with the same email and name (this minute) and I am back in! (I last went in there a few weeks back, so it didn't delete me due to lack of use!)

[Maarten]

Originally Posted by Nuvistor

Has for HiFi engine insisting on no VPN downloads, I see it as their prerogative, its up to them what the rules are.

Exactly the same goes for the ISP. Without knowing the exact reasons, for all we know both are accidentally misconfigured or being equally silly/pedantic so it does make sense to approach the solution from both sides. Don't forget the internet is meant to be accessible.

Edit: the thread brought up by wireman, suggests its a technical issue on the side of vinyl engine. They seem to work with manually/periodically updated block lists based on IP ranges, which only makes sense if they want a good amount of extra work and user complaints, not if they structurally want to deny access to very specific people or groups of people. As a rule of thumb as a sysadmin, when a technical solution inconveniences valid users, even when it's their prerogative to implement such a solution, one should go back to the drawing board.

[Nuvistor]

Originally Posted by Maarten

As a rule of thumb as a sysadmin, when a technical solution inconveniences valid users, even when it's their prerogative to implement such a solution, one should go back to the drawing board.

That’s reasonable.

[Diabolical Artificer]

Might be a daft question, but how does it know you're using a VPN?

Good question. I once tried to access BBC Iplayer whilst using a VPN, the site knew I was using a VPN which was configured as London Docklands at the time not Katmandu or Ulan Baku.

Andy.