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Moving to Dubai - Advice on how to set up my home network for accessing the UK sites

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F1nchy

Regular Contributor
Hi guys

We're moving to Dubai in a couple of months and I'm looking at how best to set up our devices and home network to be able to access UK (and maybe US) sites that might have issues because of the IP address being outside the UK.

The easy option is to use something like Tunnel Bear or Hide My butt and just switch their VPN option on on the relevant device when we need to connect to a UK/US site (like BBC Iplayer on the iPad). However, I also have three Squeezebox devices (two Touch's and one Radio), and I'd like to use Spotify for those, either with a US or UK account. The problem with that is that (from what I understand) Spotify will not work outside the relevant country (ie UK, US, Australia, depending on your account) so as soon as the Squeezebox shows a Dubai IP address it'll be rejected. I also have a Pure Siesta internet radio (bedside alarm clock radio) which may have problems with UK radio stations.

I also have a homeserver running WHS 2011 which has Sickbeard and SABnzdb+ running on it for downloading TV shows via usenet. I not entirely sure but I believe that should work ok (it's set up for an htpps connection).

I have also read that Skype is blocked in Dubai (for financial reasons, as the telcos want you to pay them for services), so if that's correct that'll need to go through a VPN.

Another issue is that we'll be buying a new telly out there, hopefully one with some sort of Smart TV built in, so that'll permanently need a UK IP address for BBC, ITV, players, etc.

What I'm wondering is would it be worth me having one device set up to use a paid VPN service and having all devices using that one device as a proxy for internet connection, so everything is going through the VPN? My router is an Asus RT-N66U so I don't know if that would be an option, or I could use the Homeserver as the proxy server (it's a HP Proliant Microserver so not very high powered but has a gigabit connection to the Asus router).

I believe Tunnerbear lets you have one PC and two mobile devices connected per account, so that could occasionally be limiting, and Hide My butt appears to have IP addresses that change regularly, so that may not be an option (although I may be wrong on that).

Am I trying to complicate things unneccessarily here? I'd just like to keep my browsing safe and secure and not have it blocked/managed by their sometimes over zealous filters (I found a number of things blocked when I was out there just because their content was not acceptible, even though it was entirely fine - I'm not looking to access porn or anything like that!) Having it all going through a VPN service should hide my IP address so I don't have any issues.

Thanks for looking in....!
 
Yes, with all those devices, you would be better off having your router terminate the VPN tunnel. I'm not sure whether these services allow this, however.
You could try with the RT-N66U with a service that supports PPTP. VyprVPN is one that I know supports PPTP.
 
Dual Gateway VPN

Look at the dual gateway setup that Sabai Technology offers. Depending on the MAC address of the device connecting it either routes local or VPN. If you need to change the routing the software lets you do it very quickly by just unchecking a box.

It is my understanding that they are developing it to run on the N66U in addition to the routers it is presently available for.

Just remember when you are running on a VPN and connecting on servers thousand of miles distant your download speed is slower when you check it using a Speed Test. The VPN also brings the throughput down.

Sabai also offers an Accelerator that offloads the VPN processing to help reduce the slowdown that running a VPN causes.

Sabai is a first rate outfit will excellent after the sale support.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Hmmm, yes, with everything going through a VPN it could cause speed issues, so I think it's rather have only certain ones always through it and others I can change when needed. So if I use a service that has my router going to a VPN/proxy type service it's going to put everything through that isn't it? I don't really want usenet downloading going through that (I usually schedule it for overnight on the Homeserver, but it can be quite large downloads).

I've tested Tunnelbear's US VPN server (from here in the UK on a Virgin 60mbps down/3mbps up line) and that seems really slow (.5mbps according to Speetest.net!) Not sure any streaming services would be much fun at that speed.

So is it worth me looking at setting up the WHS as a kind of web proxy for the IP TV, Squeezeboxes and internet radio to go through with that then pointing to a VPN service (but the WHS itself not going through the proxy), and then I can switch a VPN service on and off as and when on the laptops and iPad (UnoTelly looks a good option for that, or maybe HideMayAss if I can configure the WHS to work with it).
 
Dual Gateway

The purpose of the dual gateway router option is to allow you by device to select which devices connect locally and which go through a VPN. You can accomplish the same thing by using two or more routers.

I have a VPN connection routed through Miami, which is 1,200 miles from where I am.

When I Speedtest to a server on my local ISP's network my base speed is 5Mbps +.

When I Speedtest to Miami my download Speedtest drops to 3.75Mbps.

When I connect to my VPN server in Miami my Speedtest drops to 3.4Mbps.

I have no problems streaming video using my Roku.

The VPN provider you select will make a huge difference. I get much better throughput using Strong VPN than with HMA.

You also need a router with good processing speed and lots of memory. I get the above VPN speeds using an E3000 with an Accelerator from Sabai. Using a 54G running DD-WRT and on the same route on a good day I am lucky to get 2 Mbps.
 
I thought VPN would be slow, too. But VyprVPN PPTP is fast enough for streaming web video. I haven't timed it, though. I have a 10/1 DSL connection.
 
Thanks, I'll do a bit more research.... I guess I'm trying to avoid getting a new router as I paid around £140 for the Asus RT-N66U which isn't cheap for a home router! Was really hoping I could make do with just that!

I imagine I won't really know which is the best service until I get out there, but at least the free TunnelBear gives me half a gig of data a month so I can still access other VPN sites outside Dubai.

Looks like I'll have to go with the UK Spotify as it needs a US credit card or a US Paypal account, but in a way that may be easier if other services are UK (ie all the UK TV/radio channels) as I won't need to change the radio and TV devices depending on the service.
 
Streaming on a VPN connection

I thought VPN would be slow, too. But VyprVPN PPTP is fast enough for streaming web video. I haven't timed it, though. I have a 10/1 DSL connection.

The real challenge in streaming video comes when using a set top box such as a Roku. With their limited processing power and memory, a steady connection is a must. Something that is tough when you are using a VPN over a route thousands of miles long.

Our ISP provides a very steady connection speed so people with just a 1.5Mbps
connection can stream Netflix in the USVI (No VPN required for Netflix). Pictures are not HD but they look fine on a small to medium sized flat screen TV.
 
No Roku, but I do also have an Apple TV. It's jailbroken and I use it mainly with XBMC streaming from the WHS, but it would be useful for Youtube and a few others (Netflix if we decide to get that). That's not an essential though. We have a media player PC (a cheap Acer Revo R3700) which has XBMC and that's the main TV media player. I tend to use XBMCBuntu on that but it dual boots to Windows 7 with XBMC, BBC Iplayer on it, but when in Windows it should be easy enough to change over.
 
Hi. If you are having problems with the internet restrictions. I might be able to help you out. I was able to bypass the Internet filters from my country. I've been looking for answers regarding internet restrictions wherein I can't open some sites. Until my friend recommended me this http://www.sunvpn.com/. It really worked.
 
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There are loads of alternative VPN services, and plenty cheaper than that one. I've been using Tunnel Bear for its ease of use (a client you just turn on and off) for $4.99 unlimited use, and Hide My butt for use on my various PCs and router. Think I'll be switching to airvpn.org when my HMA annual sub ends.
 
Do you moving to Dubai permanently? I mean are you going to keep your home in UK or will cancel renting it/sell it? If you you are going to keep it the easiest way without subscribing for any commercial services is to arrange a VPN connection between your place in Dubai and your home in UK.

I'm traveling a lot in countries where some internet access restrictions apply. My solution is the following:

I am using RT-N66U home router running OpenVPN server and OpenVPN clients on my laptop and mobile phone. When I want to access "restricted" I just connect to my home router through the VPN tunnel re-routing the traffic through the tunnel.

If you do not keep your place in UK you may consider to install the router in the home of your parents, relatives, etc.
 
You're a bit late on this one mate... we moved a year ago! No home in the UK and folks' BB isn't fast enough. I've got by with a VPN service and DNS redirection service so far.

Edit: My post #10 was in relation to one someone posted selling a VPN service, but it looks like that post was removed (probably as it was spam).
 
You're a bit late on this one mate... we moved a year ago! No home in the UK and folks' BB isn't fast enough. I've got by with a VPN service and DNS redirection service so far.

Edit: My post #10 was in relation to one someone posted selling a VPN service, but it looks like that post was removed (probably as it was spam).

Sorry, it is my fault. I saw that the date of your post#10 is few weeks ago and never noticed that the thread started more than one year ago. :)
 

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