I R an idiot. Could use VPN help.

Stopsignhank

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I used to know computers fairly well, but time has passed me by. Let's put it this way, I remember when the new monitors came out with the orange letters instead of the green letters.

I want to have a home VPN, but I do not know what is a good VPN. Of course there are many different opinions, but I value ATOTs opinions. Can you all recommend a good, fast VPN? it does not have to be the cheapest. I have Frontier FiOS and pay for the 50 Mbps service and that is what I seem to get according to the speed test I just ran.

I am also going to get a new router. My current router was supplied by the cable company and that was 3 different companies ago, so it is at least 5 years old and I am going to get a new one. This one from Best Buy seems to have good reviews. NETGEAR - Nighthawk AC1900 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 5 Router Or I could get one from Costco. I honestly don't want one that is too techy, I am the home tech guy and I hate when someone in the family hands me their iPhone and says "make it work.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Moved from OT.
admin allisolm
 
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Stopsignhank

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I have looked at this forum for recommendations, but kind of got more confused. As far as VPNs the toip 3 choices are Private Internet Access, but someone here said it was slow for them. Express VPN or StrongVPN. Any one have experience with these, or use a better one?

As far as routers, I have looked but the discussions quickly turn more technical than I need. Flashing Tomato to my router sounds like some weird porn fetish. Not that I am judging, if you are into then then more power to you.
 

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
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I've heard of one. Dot one. Dot one. Dot one. ;) But it's not fully ready yet. :(

Flashing Tomato to my router sounds like some weird porn fetish.
It just means installing a new OS to your router's flash drive.

It's a lot like flashing your motherboard's BIOS. You know about that, don't you? (Don't answer that. :eek:)
 
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lxskllr

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Why get a new router if your old one is giving you everything you're paying for? I'd wait til it breaks. Waiting on tech will almost always get you better stuff at a lower price.

For viewing video, a quick and dirty approach is trying Tor. The streamers may have Tor exit nodes blocked, and it may not provide sufficient bandwidth, but ya never know til you try. If you have to login for something, don't do it over http. If you do, the exit node can capture your login credentials, and they may be hostile.
 
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Mayne

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opera browser has it built in...worth checking out.
 

Stopsignhank

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Looking into this some more, my router does seem fine. It is only about 3 years old and gives me the download speed I need.

I am looking are Private Internet Access but it looks like there may be issues with Netflix or Hulu. Have you had problems with that?

What I am really trying to do is the be able to local MLB team. They are blocked because their rights are owned by one cable company. I will not say who, I will just say their name rhymes with Rectum. In answer to the question of, will I ever subscribe to Rectum, I will once they find to get me back Vin Scully's last year before he retired.
 
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mxnerd

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Like what Mayne had said, did you try Opera's built-in VPN?
 
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mxnerd

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Well, here seems the VPN recommended that will work with Hulu/Netflex

https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/hulu-vpn-blocked-5-best-vpns-that-work-with-hulu/

==

There are 2 ways to use/setup VPN.

1. you run VPN software (Windows, OSX, iOS/Android Apps, etc) on individual devices (PC/tablets/smartphones)
you get individual control on each device.​
2. You configure the VPN (usually OpenVPN client function inside your router.
Your router either have to have built-in OpenVPN client, or you have to flash it with DD-WRT, Tomato or OpenWRT (LEDE), etc.) or in ExpressVPN case, it provides ExpressVPN Apps for routers (ExpressVPN's own firmware for specific router models)​
2nd method's setup affects everyone behind the router.
 
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VirtualLarry

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There's a 3 option: Use a primary router, with the WAN connected to your ISP/modem, and then get a secondary VPN router, and flash it (yes) with 3rd-party firmware (if necessary to get a VPN/OpenVPN client), and then install your VPN credentials into that secondary router, and then connect it's WAN port to the LAN port of your primary router, and run the VPN through that. If you leave wifi enabled on both routers, then you can manually switch between SSIDs, for non-VPN or VPN usage. Simple. (kind of, if you don't mind flashing).
 
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Stopsignhank

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Thanks MX and Larry. The more I look at this and with your help I think I have learned what I need to do. I am really doing this to get around the geographic restrictions so that I can watch the local MLB team on TV. I can get a package from MLB.com and run that through a Roku to my TV. Then I can use a VPN to get around the geographic restrictions. The more I looked at it seemed like I do not want to run everything through the VPN. So Larry's solution is the way to go. Then I will hook up the Roku to the second router, and if I feel like doing anything else private from my computer I can hook it up to the second router.

If I do this I don't need to worry about Netflix or Hulu, but I am not sure if PIA can help me get around the geographic restrictions. I say something from a couple of years ago that said they were not going to help with that.
 

mxnerd

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The way VL suggested is called split tunneling, some VPN providers provide this function, some don't.

The ones that provide this split tunneling function, I have no idea how they implement it. Either through router's built-in client or via individual device's software.

VL's way is easy to implement and understand.
 

mxnerd

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I didn't think that my method was really "Split tunneling". Is it?
Well, it's not, but kind of achieving the same goal . :)

Usually split tunneling is done by adding routing rules. But that's too complex.

It's best if VPN providers provide the function and do it for you.
 
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Stopsignhank

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I thought I would write up what I did for others in my situation.

During my research I found that there are many different types of VPN and they are not all the same. Since I am trying to hook up a roku I could not just download a VPN on my computer. I had to hook up a VPN on a router. I was not exactly sure how this was going to work and I found that Netflix and Hulu do not play well with VPNs. I found that ExpressVPN seemed like it would work best for me. It has different features, it works with Netflix and Hulu and has Tunneling. Which means that some things can go through the VPN and others just go through your normal internet access. You see you don't want eveything to go through the VPN. The VPN will slow things down and a VPN can cause problems trying to log onto your bank account.

Now what to do about a router? There are many different types and some work better with VPNs than others. Then there different types of software to flash onto the router. There is a website called Flashrouters that you can buy the router from and they will set it up for you, for a minor fee. I figured it was worth it considering I am not going to do anything super secret with the VPN. I just want to change my geographic location so I can watch the local baseball team.

I signed up for Express VPN first then gave my information to flashrouters. They set it up and I got it 2 days later. I plugged this router into my current router and it worked with no problems. Then hooked up the Roku and signed up for an account to watch the baseball team. It was pretty simple to do it this way and works very well. Everyone in the house is still going through the main router and the Roku is going through the VPN router. Of course if I feel like running my computer through the VPN I just have to change the wifi network on my computer.

Hopefully this will help someone as dumb confused as me in the future.
 
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