I travel both domestically and internationally using a Beryl AX. It’s time to add a VPN because I find myself trying to watch TV (eg. sports) limited to a certain city…or a web site limited to the US or a state. I keep seeing ads from NordVPN and I’m tempted, but not sure their web sites aren’t known/blocked if someone uses them to act like they are “local”. Is NordVPN ok or is there a VPN that would be better.
As other mentioned, you want to host your own VPN (WireGuard or tailscale) . I would do both as fail safe measure. Commercial vPN are routines blocked by content providers like Netflix or local cable providers detect that you are not access the content from your home.
The easily solution is tailscale with exit node on a Onn google TV box that can be had at Walmart for $20. Tailscale sometimes does work in some coffee shops or free public WiFi if they block certain ports.
Hotel WiFi generally works ( at least in the U.S.)
As long as you can follow simple direction, you should be good to go with tailscale
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Create an account on tailscale.com
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Follow the direction from here to setup tailscale on Onn Google TV.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Tailscale/s/Mh4lEpljkr
The key is to register all tailscale devices, setup exit node on the Onn device, and prevent the box from going into sleep mode, run the tailscale app on startup, and lastly, prevent auto update all app which will turn off tailscale tunnel -
Setup tailscale on Beryl AX. Glinet does not recommend tailscale and WireGuard running at the same time. So you need to turn off one.
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Install tailscale on your phone to use tailscale directly.
Max throughput on Onn is 60mbps locally. Slower if you are far away. But good enough for streaming.
If the content is limited to your home, you could set up a VPN tunnel to your home router if it’s capable.
If you want a free solution (and more private) you can host your own VPN server at the home location to connect back to.
See this page: Digital Nomad VPN Tutorial using Wireguard or Tailscale
I use my home as my VPN endpoint, I have 10 gigabit with a static ip
As noted by someone else, the easiest route is Tailscale at your home network acting as an exit node.
Wireguard is superior when it works but may not work in some remote locations due to multiple NAT layers or blocking of the service itself.
Tailscale too can be blocked by an intelligent firewall on your remote network (an employer may do this but hotels usually won’t).
Anyway, while I agree with Tailscale, I don’t agree with previous posters device to host it. Personally I would find the cheapest Apple TV you can. Tailscale is supported natively and is available in the apple App Store. It’s a 2 minute setup to get Tailscale running as an exit node and it is ROCK SOLID on Apple TV and consumed minimal power - with the benefit being you have an Apple TV device as well. The other posters device will “run” Tailscale, but it’s a mediocre device.
The other alternative is a raspberry pi 4 on you home network.
On a pi you can host Tailscale, pihole or adguard, and wireguard server.
There are several detailed YouTube videos on these making it an easy setup.
Ease but costliest - Apple TV
Most funtional all around - pi4
Cheapest - a cheap device to host Tailscale like the other posters suggested.
Edit - don’t waste your time on any commercial vpn as most streaming services are now blocking them ad people use them to get cheaper plans or to do exactly what you want to do - and the streaming services don’t like that.
I’m a us resident in colombia currently. I am using the wireguard vpn service and I am able to watch sports and hulu without issues. Definitely worth doing it.
I have a Slate and have resorted to using an Apple TV. It’s the only device that has been mentioned that doesn’t have GPS. I turn on Nord on the Slate and luckily they have VPN location options for a place pretty close to where I actually live in the US. The Apple TV has had no issue, so far, with me watching YTTV and all other apps while in Germany / Ireland / France.
Yup. I use Tailscale and have also setup wireguard server too. Both have merit
If I’m going the VPN route, I want the ease and flexibility to look like I’m from the country/city where the server is located rather than setting up my own.
That’s exactly what setting up your own VPN does. As long as you set it up in the desired country/city of course.