Routing WiFi through VPN

VPN Forum
1

(I’m not sure which flair was more applicable, Help or Question. They both seemed fitting)

To preface, I am going to do my own research into the subject in the coming days. However, I still want to pose the question and get any input and advice to help point me in the right direction.

This has also been posted on another subreddit, but I figure putting this question in more than one place increases the odds of getting responses.

As you might expect, I have a home wifi network. It comes with the typical modem/router, and I use it for both web-browsing and streaming. If I were only using my computer, I’d likely just find a suitable VPN to download onto that device.

However, I tend to use streaming devices hooked up to my TV, and herein lies the problem; I want to be able to stream shows and movies offered in the US, and id like to be able to do so from the TV (roku). How exactly can I set up my wifi, or any connection in the home, where that connection is run through a VPN?

This explanation is likely going to be difficult to stomach, I apologize on advance for my very poor descriptions and terminology: For example, is there a device that connects to, or through, a modem/router that’s capable of sending the network through a VPN? My very basic idea is that it would either run the data through a VPN (before the router) and output the vpn-data to the router, or take the existing wifi signal and sending that through a VPN, then outputting it to the whole house.

Essentially, I’d like to be able to have the wifi I output to my whole home to have already gone through a VPN. There is, undoubtedly, a much simply way of describing this. Again, I apologize for not yet being familiar with the terminology. I’m always more and more tempted to simply :pirate_flag: my content, but it is, admittedly, often very convenient to stream.

Thank you for any and all input/advice.

2

Totally doable.

You can find a router that supports Wi-Fi six and Openwrt. Install a new firmware and then install a package that works for your VPN host.

It’s pretty easy and extensively documented online. I will say though, I would separate your networks out into a clean network and a VPN network. There are a lot of websites that will treat VPN users definitely or have additional requirements.

3

So you can really do it with network but you’ll need a Openwrt compatible device. For instance. I have the “Slate AX” running Openwrt (which is a community driven, open source router firmware).

As long as you’re able to connect your 1 openwrt device to the Internet, you’re good.

For instance. I have the “Slate AX”, anytime it connects to the Internet, it will connect to its VPN host. I also have it set up to create two different Wi-Fi networks. Let’s say one is called “home” and one is called “VPN”. Anything that connects to the VPN Wi-Fi network will be routed through the VPN software running on the router. Anything that connects to the home network, will only be using your home internet. (Also through the router, but not with the VPN)

So for instance, if you have a device that was doing a lot of torrenting that you want the VPN for, only have that device connect to the VPN network. And you can have your computer/phone connected to the VPN network, but you’ll also have the Home network to fall back on in case some websites are giving your VPN an issue…

4

Would you happen to know, offhand, how it would work with a European (swisscom) device?

When you say separate my networks, do you mean have one network/router that’s my default, non-vpn network, and a separate router connected to the default that runs through a VPN? Essentially 2 different networks in the home, e.g. showing up as “home” and “home-vpn”?

5

So, the Slate AX… if I understand correctly, is that a device you have that can connect to any existing wifi network/signal, and then outputs it’s own network signal(s)? Meaning I could connect it to my preexisting network, and it would then output its own “network” on top of the existing home-wifi network?

edit: punctuation

6

100% correct.

I will even regularly take Slate to hotels. It doesn’t even need to be directly plugged into ethernet port. I will connect my device as a Wi-Fi client and then it re-broadcasts out two different networks.

If you need any specific help, feel free to chat me.

7

Thank you so so much. I see the Slate AX online.

How easy, or straightforward, is setting up the Slate with a VPN? Does it have its own bios/software that has a way of installing or routing a VPN? Essentially, what can I expect once I receive it and am ready to start setting it up?

edit to add: although you say it doesn’t need to be, I’m assuming it can be connected directly to the router I have at home?

8

I don’t remember it being too crazy of an install. But it’s also not listed as one of the official supported firmware on the website. So maybe you could get a different Openwrt compatible router with an easier more direct install.

The native firmware on the router (Slate AX) itself is actually based upon Openwrt. But is a closed source, branded firmware so I usually avoid that.

The Slate AX with its branded version of Openwrt is also able to do everything I mentioned just by installing a single package.