hipper
join:2009-04-21
| New ISP, No VPN - any clues?
Hi guys, I'm a VPN novice, so I hope I can explain my prob well enough for you experts  Firstly, I use a mac/safari - not sure if it changes things.
I live in a country where many websites are blocked, so to gain access to my favorite sites in the UK I need a VPN. I used to use mobile broadband and had no problems with Hotspot shield, but got landline broadband because of speed issues, I had to change ISP providers. From that day, I can't get a reliable VPN set-up. Have tried 3 now and the same problem seems to occur.
It does log in and I get temporary access to whatever sites I like, but after 5-10 minutes I lose internet connection (although the VPN is still connected). I also lose internet immediately if I open more than 1 window at a time.
I have tested on a friends connection (he runs VPN on same ISP without a problem) so it doesn't appear to be the ISP provider trying to block it.
I've done many things on the advice of the VPN tech team... emptied cache/cookies... check that I'm on 255.255.255.0, reduce the MTU value to 1400, checked that no firewalls are running, disable power saving.... etc
My mac is plugged directly into the connection in the wall... would going wireless help? (maybe a strange question, but I'm out of ideas).
I'd appreciate any (non-destructive) suggestions you could make... I really do need to get it running smoothly.
Thanks in advance
Hipper |
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rjs1003
join:2002-12-04
united kingd
1 edit | Given that you get a few minutes of access we can rule out IP address settings, MTU and things like that.
By "lose internet connection" I assume you mean through the VPN tunnel - is local access to local sites (eg your ISP's pages) still OK?
Did your change of ISP also mean you have a change of router? (or cable modem) I would be suspicious of that first of all... might be worth seeing whether a command line ftp session also gets killed off after a few minutes, or long slow downloads fail?
Also, you seem to have tried this multiple times... what do you have to reset to make it start working again? Just the PC? Or do you reboot anything else?
Edit: another thought - can you tell us what kind of VPN you're using? IPSec? PPTP? Other...(please specify!)
Bob |
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hipper
join:2009-04-21
| Hi Bob, thanks for taking the time to reply.
Yes, when I lose the internet, it is via the vpn tunnel - my local internet connection is still fine.
To fix it, I need to log out of the vpn and log back in again (for my next 5 minutes of surfing Don't need to do a mac re-boot.
It's a PPTP vpn. Would you recommend a different type?
ok, routers are where I get a bit confused. I was on mobile broadband wih one particular ISP and Hotspot Shield worked ok... then switched to another ISP no vpn's seem to work for long... have tried Banana, Hotspot and Liberty.
ISP came and installed the new line and I have a simple plug in the wall... so, I'm guessing "yes" I'm using a different router. Thats why I wondered if a Wi-Fi router may somehow fix the problem.
Again Bob, thanks very much for your help
Hipper |
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rjs1003
join:2002-12-04
united kingd
| I guess another thing to try which might confirm things is - can you jsut set a ping running from the command line through the tunnel. While the ping is running does the tunnel continue to work? (ie if there is data transferred every second with no gaps is that enough to keep it open?)
Bob |
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hipper
join:2009-04-21 | will give it a try when I get home tonight, thanks
Hipper |
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