Using VPN on a specific device in home

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Wheelbarrow01

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#303783 9-Mar-2023 01:03

Maybe a stupid question but you don't know what you don't know right?

I'd like to know if it's possible to setup a single device in my house to run over a VPN, whilst everything else in my house connects to the internet normally.

The device in question is essentially a streaming set top box from another country. I'd like to fool it into thinking I'm still in that country so I can access tv channels streamed to that device. I have no ability to fiddle with the settings within the device (as far as I can tell).

Currently if I want to use VPN on my laptop, I go to the extension tab on my browser, select Nord and connect. That's straight forward and I understand it, but I assume the VPN connection only applies to the laptop and browser I'm connected through?

Is there some way to program a specific LAN port on my router to only connect to the internet via the VPN at all times? That would be the perfect setup if it's possible.

Lias

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#3047874 9-Mar-2023 08:03

Not quite like that. You could setup a permanent VPN connection on the router, but that would then apply to all your devices. While I'm not aware of anything that would do it out of the box with a single router, it would be relatively easy to do it using a second router. Hang another router off your current router, configured for a permanent VPN connection, and hang the streaming device off that.

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Spyware

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#3047882 9-Mar-2023 08:47

Or a nice little RPi project for a rainy Sunday.

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dt

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#3047883 9-Mar-2023 08:48

to test the proof of concept (presenting the device as being in its origin country) if your laptop has a NIC or you have a USB NIC you could plug in, you can do internet connection sharing from your laptop and connect your streaming device to your laptop for internet access then vpn into origin country

Test if it actually works as expected then you can go down the route of setting up a VPN on your router or on a secondary router as Lias suggested

robjg63

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#3047887 9-Mar-2023 08:58

Might this be something that could move into the Private - "Unblocking services discussion" forum?

Plenty of help there.

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robjg63

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#3047901 9-Mar-2023 09:51

Wheelbarrow01:

Maybe a stupid question but you don't know what you don't know right?

I'd like to know if it's possible to setup a single device in my house to run over a VPN, whilst everything else in my house connects to the internet normally.

The device in question is essentially a streaming set top box from another country. I'd like to fool it into thinking I'm still in that country so I can access tv channels streamed to that device. I have no ability to fiddle with the settings within the device (as far as I can tell).

Currently if I want to use VPN on my laptop, I go to the extension tab on my browser, select Nord and connect. That's straight forward and I understand it, but I assume the VPN connection only applies to the laptop and browser I'm connected through?

Is there some way to program a specific LAN port on my router to only connect to the internet via the VPN at all times? That would be the perfect setup if it's possible.

What sort of device is it?

You cant access the DNS settings at all?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Silvrav

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#3047926 9-Mar-2023 10:06

Most devices you should be able to at least define an IP manually when connecting, and from there you can enter a manual DNS address. If you can do this, then you can use a DNS service provider (like Nord) to fool the device to thinking its in its original country.

Do note, that some apps do use their own checkers and adjust their software to detect the use of DNS/VPN services so you might need to test a couple of DNS service provider to find the one that works. Most offer a trial to test their servers before you have to commit.

robjg63

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#3047956 9-Mar-2023 10:46

At least if you can configure the DNS servers, you could look at a 'smart dns' service to make it look like you are somewhere else.

It seems there is a 'smart dns' feature available with Nordvpn, but it appears to only support about 5 USA based services - so not very useful.

Smart DNS just does something via DNS to make it appear you are in the 'local' country for particular services.

The actual internet traffic does not need to go via a VPN so arguably the streaming may be more reliable than with a VPN - depending on the VPN provider I suppose.

There are other smart DNS services that don't cost very much that cater for heaps of overseas content providers.

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freitasm

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#3048006 9-Mar-2023 10:53

There are many ways, depending on the router's capabilities. Some allow you to create multiple networks and with that you can define different DNS or VPN connections to use. Ensure only that device connects to the network and it should be ok.

Other routers will have a VPN client for all connections. In that case you could use the suggestion above with multiple routers, one of them being permanently connected to the VPN.

Are you sure the service is not already covered by one of the many DNS services around? In my case I have define one network/AP ("Streaming") which uses one of such services. All my streaming devices are connected to that SSID. All other networks use the default ISP DNS.

Cost, complexity will vary depending on solution. Please do not name DNS services in public threads. If needed ask for access to the private sub-forum directly to @michaelmurfy. Access is granted only to existing users. New users or users with no post history are not granted access.

shrub

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#3048257 9-Mar-2023 17:55

Pfsense will do this. setup the VPN connection and direct each local device to use this connection. It will completely isolate the VPN traffic.

Main issue you will encounter is most steaming services are aware of vpn ip addresses and are actively sharing + blocking them.

I used to do this for motortrend on demand with a Chromecast and a tablet. It became a frustrating game of whack a mole jumping between vpn providers until I gave up.

lxsw20

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#3048265 9-Mar-2023 19:06

I do this with a Firestick. I have the Nord app installed on it, connect to VPN and i'm away laughing.

dpf81nz

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#3048386 10-Mar-2023 07:43

pfSense would handle this scenario, if you are comfortable with setting something like that up