Surfshark VPN

ljw2k

Known around here
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
1,486
Reaction score
2,260
Location
United Kingdom
Hi all, please bear with me on this as Networking is not my thing and know very little about it. I have Installed a VPN ( Surfshark ) onto my devices but now When on my mobile phone on the outside lan I can not access BI server.
Would a router with a built in VPN be better than a downloaded software VPN I'm confused.
 

biggen

Known around here
Joined
May 6, 2018
Messages
2,539
Reaction score
2,765
That’s for hiding your IP when surfing the web, not for accessing your LAN from the internet. Yes, you need a router that supports VPN.
 

ljw2k

Known around here
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
1,486
Reaction score
2,260
Location
United Kingdom
Thanks will the router come with a free for life VPN or would I have to sign in to the routers VPN with the details I have now on the paid one?
 

bigredfish

Known around here
Joined
Sep 5, 2016
Messages
17,011
Reaction score
47,456
Location
Floriduh
Two completely different kinds of VPN

The service you pay for is to hide your identity while browsing porn IPcamtalk

The VPN you need to securely remotely view your cameras is free. OpenVPN. Comes installed on many Asus roiuters and I have it setup on 3 Netgear routers. Its not a service you subscribe to, it's a client/server software.
 

Mike A.

Known around here
Joined
May 6, 2017
Messages
3,825
Reaction score
6,377
It will be built into the firmware (or added to) of the router. There's no subscription or added fees like in the case of your outgoing VPN.

Same acronym, opposite direction...

The VPN service that you have now encrypts OUTGOING traffic from your device(s) to the Internet.

The VPN used for accessing your cams runs on YOUR network and encrypts traffic coming from outside devices INTO your local network.
 

SouthernYankee

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Feb 15, 2018
Messages
5,170
Reaction score
5,320
Location
Houston Tx
Not sure which router will work in the UK. The normal method is to keep router from your internet provider. But you set the ISP modem/router to bypass/ pass-though/ bridge mode so it is only a modem. I use an ASUS router all newer ASUS routers support OpenVPN.


-----------------------------------------------
My general VPN post
There are two types of VPN, do not get them confused.
The type depends on where the traffic conversation (traffic) originates

1) origination: local home network, destination the internet.
This type of VPN is purpose to hides your activity from the internet, it is outbound, it normally costs a monthly fee to use. Direction is from your home PC to the internet, going to your bank, google, porn sites,,,, this not what you want. This VPN uses a VPN server that is in the middle of your communications.

2) Origination: the internet world wide web, destination: your home network.
This VPN type is used to provide a secure connection onto your local network, in bound to you local home network, from your office computer, your cell phone in your car, tablet at the coffee shop.. This is what you want, it does not have a monthly fee and is normally completely free. OpenVPN is this type of VPN.

If you home internet provider is a cellular network, then DDNS (dynamic Domain Name System) may not work, the DDNS is needed for most Inbound VPN services (OpenVpn) to get your home IP address (it is not static) so OpenVPN may not work for you.

A video on the paid VPN.
------------------------------------------------------
Hacked VPNs
-----------------------------------------------------
 

bigredfish

Known around here
Joined
Sep 5, 2016
Messages
17,011
Reaction score
47,456
Location
Floriduh
Many come with pre configured VPN “services” the kind described above type 1.

Far fewer come with OpenVPN the client server capability you need.
 

bigredfish

Known around here
Joined
Sep 5, 2016
Messages
17,011
Reaction score
47,456
Location
Floriduh
I have two of these running for our HOA NVRs. It has OpenVPN built in

 
Last edited:

bp2008

Staff member
Joined
Mar 10, 2014
Messages
12,666
Reaction score
14,005
Location
USA
Don't buy an EdgeRouter if you aren't a networking expert ;)

An Asus router is a great choice. I use one myself, although I put custom firmware on it which ironically makes VPN setup much harder. The Asus stock firmware has a great OpenVPN server built in.
 

ljw2k

Known around here
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
1,486
Reaction score
2,260
Location
United Kingdom
Quick one please will this be ok?


Have bookmarked this one also like Looney suggests
 
As an eBay Associate IPCamTalk earns from qualifying purchases.

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
15,521
Reaction score
22,657
Location
Evansville, In. USA
Quick one please will this be ok?


Have bookmarked this one also like Looney suggests
FYI: The second one has a built-in DSL modem.
 
As an eBay Associate IPCamTalk earns from qualifying purchases.

Mike A.

Known around here
Joined
May 6, 2017
Messages
3,825
Reaction score
6,377
The 66U I believe is a single-core processor. The 68U is dual-core. Also various other differences which mean that the latter will be a little faster overall. VPN speed probably will show a difference in throughput since that's relatively processor intensive but I don't know how much practically speaking.
 

ljw2k

Known around here
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
1,486
Reaction score
2,260
Location
United Kingdom
Ok guys really need your expert help here as I am out of my depth........

I have purchased an Asus router which has OpenVPN
I have set the router up putting my Cable Modem into Modem mode ONLY
I have the Modem and the new Asus router on the same home network , IE 192.168.0.1 for the Modem and 192.168.0.2 for the new Asus Router.
I have set the router up and Enabled the VPN and sent the config file to my PC where I set the OpenVPN on my PC .
I have done the same with my Phone.

NOW I think it is all working correct as I can not log into my cameras when I'm on my WAN on my phone nor can I log in to the Blue Iris app on my phone. How do I enable this safely to enable me to log into BI App from my phone?

Sorry this might be easy for some people but Networking is not my forte.
 

Mike A.

Known around here
Joined
May 6, 2017
Messages
3,825
Reaction score
6,377
Do you connect to the VPN OK?

Lots of bits and pieces involved. Let's start by making sure that you have a connection to the VPN first.

Also, do you have Internet access to the cams and BI server blocked on the router?
 

ljw2k

Known around here
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
1,486
Reaction score
2,260
Location
United Kingdom
I am connected to the VPN on my PC and says I am connected in the Router
I think the router is blocking BI server from outside wan
I can connect to BI from my home lan
 
Top