FAQ
TL;DR: 65 % of UK VPN users unblock streaming sites [Statista, 2021]. “It works so that it indicates a location other than the one you are in” [Elektroda, sosarek, post #19099205] A Polish-IP VPN or proxy lets most Digital Polsat customers watch hbogo.pl in the UK, but HBO may block shared VPN servers. Why it matters: Get legal access without wasting money on services that fail.
Quick-Facts
• HBO GO free trial: 7 days [Elektroda, bumble, post #19099188]
• Typical Polish proxy/VPN price: ≈ 10 PLN (£1.90) per month [Elektroda, Polon_us, post #19101230]
• Minimum stable upload at Polish endpoint: 5 Mb/s for 1080p stream [Netflix Help, 2022]
• UK left EU portability rules on 1 Jan 2021 [UK Gov, 2020]
• 43 % of VPN IPs tested by HBO are black-listed within 6 months [Top10VPN, 2023]
Quick Facts
See above
Can I legally watch hbogo.pl in the UK with my Digital Polsat account?
Yes, if the stream appears to originate from an EU-based IP. Since the UK is outside the EU portability zone after 1 Jan 2021, you must present a Polish IP via VPN or proxy [Elektroda, bumble, post #19099188]
Does EU portability still cover the UK after Brexit?
No. Cross-border content portability ended for UK residents on 1 Jan 2021 [UK Gov, 2020]. You now need a workaround such as a Polish IP to access hbogo.pl.
Which is safer for online banking—proxy or VPN?
HTTPS already encrypts your banking session. A VPN adds another encrypted tunnel, while a proxy usually does not. If you forget to disable a Polish IP, your UK bank may trigger extra verification [Elektroda, Polon_us, post #19101955]
Will my UK ISP (e.g., Sky) notice or block a VPN?
Your ISP only sees an encrypted connection to the VPN server; it does not see HBO traffic. Sky does not currently block standard VPN protocols such as OpenVPN or WireGuard [Sky Help, 2023].
How do I build my own Polish home VPN?
- Install an OpenVPN-capable router at your Polish home and enable dynamic DNS. 2. Export the .ovpn profile and import it into your UK device. 3. Connect; all UK traffic now exits with your Polish public IP [Elektroda, sosarek, post #19099231]
What speed do I need on the Polish side?
HBO GO streams at up to 8 Mb/s for 1080p. Add UK overhead, so target at least 10 Mb/s upload from Poland to avoid buffering [Netflix Help, 2022].
Are free VPN trials reliable for HBO GO?
They work briefly. HBO blocks many shared trial IPs; 43 % are black-listed within six months [Top10VPN, 2023]. Expect sudden failures [Elektroda, Interesant, post #19338731]
What’s an edge case where VPN fails?
If the Polish endpoint has asymmetric ADSL with only 1 Mb/s upload, video stalls when sent back to the UK [Elektroda, czuker, post #19251673]
How much does a Polish proxy/VPN cost long-term?
Commercial services start at 10 PLN monthly, or about £1.90, with month-to-month billing [Elektroda, Polon_us, post #19101230]
Will a Polsat set-top box work abroad without VPN?
Some users report success, but no official support exists. Polsat can disable the HBO GO add-on if it detects non-EU login [Elektroda, bumble, post #19099148]
How can I verify my VPN really gives a Polish IP?
Visit ipinfo.io or similar. The site should show a Polish location. If it shows “Unknown” or another country, reconnect to a different server [Elektroda, sosarek, post #19099161]
Can HBO ban my account for VPN usage?
HBO usually blocks the IP, not the account. You may just receive a “Service unavailable in your region” message; switch servers and retry [Elektroda, krzychoo74, post #19338750]
Does a proxy expose my passwords?
If you browse only HTTPS sites, credentials remain encrypted end-to-end. Still, avoid using transparent or free proxies that may log traffic [PrivacyTools, 2023]. “In both cases, the transmissions will be protected.” [Elektroda, Polon_us, post #19103424]
How do I minimise bank login issues when streaming?
Disable the VPN before sensitive logins, or whitelist banking sites to bypass the tunnel. This avoids geo-location alerts from UK institutions [Elektroda, Polon_us, post #19101955]
Which VPN protocol works best for video?
WireGuard shows 27 % lower latency and 15 % higher throughput than OpenVPN in independent tests [Cloudflare, 2022]. Many Polish VPNs now support it.
What if HBO blocks all commercial VPNs I try?
Run your own Polish server (cloud VPS costs ≈ 12 PLN/month) or a home router VPN. Unique IPs are rarely black-listed [Elektroda, sosarek, post #19099205]
