Wii Smart DNS Services Compared
The Nintendo Wii was released in 2006 and was originally intended to compete with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360. Primarily a games console, the device also has internet connectivity, offering users the ability to access several streaming media apps, including the likes of Netflix and the BBC iPlayer.
Many of the streaming media apps available on the Wii are only accessible if the user is based in a certain part of the world. Meanwhile, other services offer different content depending on where a customer is located. A user's location is determined automatically through their internet settings, with no option to change regions manually. As a result, depending on their region, certain services and content may be off-limits.
Fortunately, the Nintendo Wii console is also compatible with Smart DNS technology, which offers a way to circumvent automatic region detection techniques. Indeed, by utilising a Smart DNS service, Wii owners can switch their internet region at will and gain access to a huge range of geographically restricted content.
Best Smart DNS Services to use on Wii
» View the Step-by-Step Smart DNS Setup Tutorial for Wii
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- 1 Month: $4.90
- 3 Months: $12.90
- 12 Months: $39.90
- 24 Months: $49.90
- Life Time: $150
- Amazon Fire TV,
- Android,
- Apple TV,
- Boxee,
- Chromecast,
- Google TV,
- iOS,
- Kindle Fire,
- LG Smart TV,
- Mac OS X,
- Nexus Player,
- NOW TV Box,
- Panasonic Smart TV,
- Philips Smart TV,
- PS 4,
- PS3,
- Roku,
- Samsung Smart TV,
- Sharp Smart TV,
- Sonos,
- Sony Smart TV,
- Toshiba Smart TV,
- WDTV,
- Wii,
- Wii U,
- Windows,
- Windows 10,
- Windows Phone 8,
- Xbox 360,
- Xbox One,
30 Days Moneyback Guarantee
- 1 Month: $4.95/Mo
- 6 Months: $4.58/Mo
- 12 Months: $4.16/Mo
- 24 Months: $3.29/Mo
Smart DNS
Smart DNS allows users to access region restricted content from anywhere in the world. To achieve this, a customer's connection to a website or service is sent via a proxy server located elsewhere. The benefit of this re-routing process is that the user's web connection is made to seem as if it is coming from the proxy server.
This process can be used to trick many of the streaming services on offer to Wii users. For instance, a Netflix customer based in the United Kingdom may wish to access the content library for the United States and would be able to do so by connecting to a Smart DNS proxy server in North America.
DNS re-routing only occurs when using a website, service or app supported by the Smart DNS provider the customer has chosen. All other internet activity, including web browsing and email, is unaffected. Advantages of the technology include its excellent range of compatibility, its easy setup and the fact that it does not cause slowdown.
Once you have found a suitable Smart DNS service and registered for an account, you will be given a set of numbers, or DNS settings, which are intended for use during the setup process. In order to adjust the DNS settings on your Nintendo Wii, follow the step-by-step guide below:
- Turn on your console and click the 'Wii Options' button in the bottom left of the screen.
- Select 'Wii Settings', scroll to page two and then choose 'Internet'.
- Open the 'Connection Settings' menu and click on the network connection you want to setup. The active network will be highlighted in red.
- Select 'Change Settings' and keep scrolling right until you reach the 'Auto-Obtain DNS' option.
- Click 'No', then go to 'Advanced Settings'.
- Enter the DNS settings previously given to you by your provider and then click 'Confirm'. You may also wish to write down your previous DNS settings, in case you ever decide to switch back.
- Press 'Save', followed by 'OK' and wait for the test to finish. Then return to the main menu.
Before continuing on to the next step, it is important that you restart your console.
IP Address Entry
The final part of the setup process involves getting your IP address added to your Smart DNS provider's "white list", or database of approved addresses. In some cases, this can be done by signing in to your Smart DNS account using the Wiis Internet Channel and clicking a link. Other services, however, require manual entry.
If this is the case with your provider, the easiest method is to use a computer or mobile phone on the same network as your Wii console. Search Google for "what is my ip" and copy or write down the number shown. From there, visit your Smart DNS provider's web page and follow the instructions provided for adding IP addresses to the database.
At this stage, you are now ready to make use of Smart DNS. You can double check that the setup process has been successful by logging in to your client area, from which you can also adjust region settings. It should be noted that your IP address may change from time to time and in this event, the IP address entry process must be repeated.
Note: Certain streaming media apps, such as Hulu Plus, may only become available to download and install if the location settings are changed on the Wii console itself. This can be done from within the system settings menu.