iPad How To: Enable VPN to watch Cablevision LiveTV outside your home

[RRoD420]

I have an iPad 2 with 4.3.3 not jail broken & an iPhone 4 Verizon with 4.2.8 jailbroken.

I setup the VPN on Windows 7 and can connect to the home network on both IOS devices.

However, when I start the optimum app on the devices it says "Network connection needed". Im guessing I need the VPN patch.

Can you please upload it and let me know if it would work on both the iphone4 and ipad2?

Thank you

You need to patch the optimum app with the jailbreak detection patch and vpn detection patch to bypass those restrictions, you need a jailbroken device to install these patches. If the iPad 2 is at 4.3.3 just go to www.jailbreakme.com in safari and run the jailbreak. My VPN patch: http://www.fileserve.com/file/KR9HWNM/FixOptimum_vpn.deb

 

[anukfdo]

Thanks for the .deb files. I got the app to work over wifi at home but its not working over the VPN. I installed the VPN .deb file in the same folder as the jb .deb file. Is that correct?

I am able to browse the web and other internal network devices on my iPhone over the VPN. But the optimum app says no network connection.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[RRoD420]

Thanks for the .deb files. I got the app to work over wifi at home but its not working over Vthe VPN. I installed the VPN .deb file in the same folder as the jb .deb file. Is that correct?

I am able to browse the web and other internal network devices on my iPhone over the VPN. But the optimum app says no network connection.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

I've been testing it all day from different locations, I noticed if I have a weak signal or not enough bandwidth it says 'no network connection'. Make sure you have the VPN logo on top to show you are connected to the vpn and try a better 3G area or someone else's wifi.

 

[bbduff]

Haven't gotten a chance to test yet but I think I need to flash my router with dd-wrt. Once I do that, I think i'll have more success because my brother got his VPN connected (w/o internet access, but still connnected which I can't do) and the only differences between his and mine are the routers we're using - his is more advanced.

I'll report my findings once I get a chance to sit down and mess with all this. I'm hellbent on getting this to work!

 

[anukfdo]

tested via wifi, 3g & 4G mifi and no luck on running the optimum app via vpn.

I am also having trouble running the optimum app on my jail broken ipad 2 4.3.3. Added the jb .deb file but cannot find the optimum.plist file on the ipad. Any ideas?

 

[RRoD420]

Haven't gotten a chance to test yet but I think I need to flash my router with dd-wrt. Once I do that, I think i'll have more success because my brother got his VPN connected (w/o internet access, but still connnected which I can't do) and the only differences between his and mine are the routers we're using - his is more advanced.

I'll report my findings once I get a chance to sit down and mess with all this. I'm hellbent on getting this to work!

All you need to do is forward port 1723 to your PC's IP address in any router, shouldn't need any special config.

tested via wifi, 3g & 4G mifi and no luck on running the optimum app via vpn.

I am also having trouble running the optimum app on my jail broken ipad 2 4.3.3. Added the jb .deb file but cannot find the optimum.plist file on the ipad. Any ideas?

So you install the .deb file for jb detection, then use iFile and browse to:
/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/
edit: Optimum.plist

replace CVCrDVR with Optimum.

The only reason this is necessary is because the iPhone app is named differently than the iPad app.

 

[bbduff]

All you need to do is forward port 1723 to your PC's IP address in any router, shouldn't need any special config.


That's whats so freakin frustrating - I've followed tutorials that are exact to your instructions yet I just can't seem to connect to the VPN. Once I try to access the VPN from my iPhone, a window pops on and says 'your name and password may be' and it shows the name of my login already entered. I touch password to enter my password that I use to log on to my account on windows which I gave access to when creating the VPN, and then when I hit enter, that window disappears and the vpn status bar (where it shows connecting, authorizing, etc with the spinning loading circle) shows disconnecting for a second then disappears and turns the VPN switch off.

I started from scratch with my brother on the phone, and we followed the exact same steps. Once we got to the point of trying to connect to our own VPNs, his connected and mine would do what I described above. The only difference is our routers. I didn't change any firewall settings or anything. I set single port forwarding to internal and external port 1723 to my comps IP and everything.

Maybe my router needs to be resent for the change to take effect? I'l start from scratch again. If its no good, i'll reset the router. If that's still no good, I'm gonna flash the router with DD-WRT. I agree with you - it shouldn't need any special config, yet my phone won't connect to the VPN following the steps listed.

Any thoughts on why this is occurring? Any other port need to be opened? Any other router setting or Win 7 settings need to be changed?

 

[anukfdo]

So you install the .deb file for jb detection, then use iFile and browse to:
/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/
edit: Optimum.plist

replace CVCrDVR with Optimum.

The only reason this is necessary is because the iPhone app is named differently than the iPad app.

I cannot find this file on my ipad 2 running 4.3.3 jailbroken.

/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/Optimum.plist

What I see is
/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/myOptimum.plist

The content is

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
"http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Filter</key>
<dict>
<key>Bundles</key>
<array>
<string>com.cablevision.iOTV</string>
</array>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>


Any ideas?

 

[RRoD420]

I cannot find this file on my ipad 2 running 4.3.3 jailbroken.

/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/Optimum.plist

What I see is
/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/myOptimum.plist

The content is

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
"http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Filter</key>
<dict>
<key>Bundles</key>
<array>
<string>com.cablevision.iOTV</string>
</array>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>


Any ideas?

remove and reinstall the optimum app

 

[bbduff]

Just to provide full details, I just started over from scratch and followed your steps exactly. When I switch the vpn slider to on, the status bar appears underneath the slider, shows connecting, starting, authenticating, disconnecting, not connected, then disappears. Sometimes it won't show authenticating and go from starting right to disconnecting. Sometimes a window pops up saying 'You were disconnected my the communication device. Try reconnecting. If the problem continues, verify your settings' - it usually says that after getting stuck on the starting or authenticating process for 10 or 15 seconds. I have verified the settings and all is as you and other tutorials say. I've tried to connect to my VPN with wifi on and on 3G and got the same results.

That's where I am so far. Gonna try rebooting the router to see if that has anything to do with the port forwarding taking effect even though several places don't list that as a step (as well as the manual not saying that needs to be done). I doubt it will work afterwards but I need to try. Then I guess its DD-WRT time unless anyone has suggestions. Maybe I can mess with firewall settings even though, again, that wasn't mentioned anywhere I could find info on this.


UPDATE: After the rebooting the router, now when I slide the VPN slider to on on my iPhone, it says connecting, stays there for about 10-15 seocnds, then a windows pops up and says 'The PPTP-VPN server did not respond. Try reconnecting. If the problem continues, verify your settings and contact your administrator' Well I've verified my settings and then contacted myself and told myself I have no idea what the hell is wrong with this.

 

[Coleman2010]

Just to provide full details, I just started over from scratch and followed your steps exactly. When I switch the vpn slider to on, the status bar appears underneath the slider, shows connecting, starting, authenticating, disconnecting, not connected, then disappears. Sometimes it won't show authenticating and go from starting right to disconnecting. Sometimes a window pops up saying 'You were disconnected my the communication device. Try reconnecting. If the problem continues, verify your settings' - it usually says that after getting stuck on the starting or authenticating process for 10 or 15 seconds. I have verified the settings and all is as you and other tutorials say. I've tried to connect to my VPN with wifi on and on 3G and got the same results.

That's where I am so far. Gonna try rebooting the router to see if that has anything to do with the port forwarding taking effect even though several places don't list that as a step (as well as the manual not saying that needs to be done). I doubt it will work afterwards but I need to try. Then I guess its DD-WRT time unless anyone has suggestions. Maybe I can mess with firewall settings even though, again, that wasn't mentioned anywhere I could find info on this.


UPDATE: After the rebooting the router, now when I slide the VPN slider to on on my iPhone, it says connecting, stays there for about 10-15 seocnds, then a windows pops up and says 'The PPTP-VPN server did not respond. Try reconnecting. If the problem continues, verify your settings and contact your administrator' Well I've verified my settings and then contacted myself and told myself I have no idea what the hell is wrong with this.

try setting it up the VPN as L2TP instead of PPTP. I've notice PPTP doesn't connect on some routers.

 

[RRoD420]

All you need to do is forward port 1723 to your PC's IP address in any router, shouldn't need any special config.


That's whats so freakin frustrating - I've followed tutorials that are exact to your instructions yet I just can't seem to connect to the VPN. Once I try to access the VPN from my iPhone, a window pops on and says 'your name and password may be' and it shows the name of my login already entered. I touch password to enter my password that I use to log on to my account on windows which I gave access to when creating the VPN, and then when I hit enter, that window disappears and the vpn status bar (where it shows connecting, authorizing, etc with the spinning loading circle) shows disconnecting for a second then disappears and turns the VPN switch off.

I started from scratch with my brother on the phone, and we followed the exact same steps. Once we got to the point of trying to connect to our own VPNs, his connected and mine would do what I described above. The only difference is our routers. I didn't change any firewall settings or anything. I set single port forwarding to internal and external port 1723 to my comps IP and everything.

Maybe my router needs to be resent for the change to take effect? I'l start from scratch again. If its no good, i'll reset the router. If that's still no good, I'm gonna flash the router with DD-WRT. I agree with you - it shouldn't need any special config, yet my phone won't connect to the VPN following the steps listed.

Any thoughts on why this is occurring? Any other port need to be opened? Any other router setting or Win 7 settings need to be changed?

This has happened to me a few times where I have spotty 3G signal, I don't think this is the same thing because you're probably in your house trying to connect. And you are turning off wifi and then connecting vpn right? Mine wont connect to vpn if im already on the same network, im sure you already know this to test. I'm also now noticing that im losing internet connection through the vpn its like hit or miss. sometimes its perfect sometimes i have no internet so optimum is gonna say no network connection. I just connected on 3G and had no internet access now im connected through my companies wifi and it does have internet access and optimum working. Safari has to be able to reach a website thru vpn for optimum to play live tv.

update

I just rebooted my router at home and it's more stable now, try rebooting the router.

 

[bbduff]

I can't find anywhere to set up an L2TP VPN in Win 7 without using 3rd party programs.

I did try rebooting the router, and after I did that, now every single time i try to connect to the VPN, it says connecting for 10 - 15 seconds and then a window pops up and says 'The PPTP-VPN server did not respond. Try reconnecting. If the problem continues, verify your settings and contact your administrator'. 100% of the time now.

I am at my wits end with this at this stage. I have to go to the next plan with this I believe and flash the router. I have nothing to lose!

 

[anukfdo]

remove and reinstall the optimum app

Copied the file from my iphone and it works on the ipad now. The syntax was the same.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
"http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Filter</key>
<dict>
<key>Executables</key>
<array>
<string>Optimum</string>
</array>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

VPN access work via windows 7 but the app doesnt load. is there a working vpn .deb file?

 

[RRoD420]

The VPN patch I used on my iPhone didn't work on my iPad 2, but this one does:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=X3HNXNEI

Install that VPN patch on your iPad and power cycle/respring. If you're getting no network connection, check safari and try to browse to a site while connected to VPN. I noticed whenever I connect the first time over VPN there is no internet access, I shut off VPN wait 5 seconds and turn it back on and I have internet access. I don't know why, but if that's the only glitch it's perfect.

 

[nattienat7]

I can connect to my VPN but i don't have an Internet connection if "send all traffic" is on . Only time I can access the Internet when connected to VPN on my phone is when I turn off "send all traffic", doing this let's me log in to the optimum app but it wont let me watch live tv. Any ideas ?? Ive tried this on windows xp with netgear wdnr3400 and on windows 7

 

[RRoD420]

I can connect to my VPN but i don't have an Internet connection if "send all traffic" is on . Only time I can access the Internet when connected to VPN on my phone is when I turn off "send all traffic", doing this let's me log in to the optimum app but it wont let me watch live tv. Any ideas ?? Ive tried this on windows xp with netgear wdnr3400 and on windows 7

I have that problem the first time it connects, I connect - no internet access through safari. I turn off vpn wait a few seconds, turn it back on - I have internet access and optimum app allows live tv. everytime, i don't know why. If you turn off send all traffic, then its using the same connection it's using to connect to vpn. Send all traffic has to be on and you have to be able to get to a website.

 

[Coleman2010]

I have that problem the first time it connects, I connect - no internet access through safari. I turn off vpn wait a few seconds, turn it back on - I have internet access and optimum app allows live tv. everytime, i don't know why. If you turn off send all traffic, then its using the same connection it's using to connect to vpn. Send all traffic has to be on and you have to be able to get to a website.

Sorry I can't help. I don't know how to setup VPN on a windows box.

 

[nattienat7]

I have that problem the first time it connects, I connect - no internet access through safari. I turn off vpn wait a few seconds, turn it back on - I have internet access and optimum app allows live tv. everytime, i don't know why. If you turn off send all traffic, then its using the same connection it's using to connect to vpn. Send all traffic has to be on and you have to be able to get to a website.

Actually you were right! Connects just fine the second time. Now the only other problem is i can only watch live tv for about 5 seconds when im on VPN. any ideas? thank you for your help


UPDATE!!=Just reinstalled patch for VPN and it is working great now!!! Thanks again

 

[nattienat7]

Someone I know is claiming their optimum app Allows him to watch live tv outside of his home network and he is not jailbroken, is this at all possible ???

 

[RRoD420]

Someone I know is claiming their optimum app Allows him to watch live tv outside of his home network and he is not jailbroken, is this at all possible ???

I can't understand how. Cablevision made the app do checks and block VPN, it has to be patched, on a non-jail broken device you can't install .deb files or unsigned packages. It's not possible. Call his bluff or tell him to show you how and let us know

----------

Actually you were right! Connects just fine the second time. Now the only other problem is i can only watch live tv for about 5 seconds when im on VPN. any ideas? thank you for your help


UPDATE!!=Just reinstalled patch for VPN and it is working great now!!! Thanks again

It has to be windows 7 then, we're both experiencing the same thing. Sometimes connect and then try my trick hours later and it won't get Internet access. Reboot the pc and works right away. I wonder what's causing these issues, I mean it works great but you have to jump through a few loops.

 

[bbduff]

Finally

Woohoo! I've finally got it to work a couple days ago!

Flashed my E1000 router with DD-WRT which gave my router many more features. Created a PPTP-VPN in the router and assigned a user name and pass. Then in Win 7, I set up the new connection to connect to a workplace VPN. I gave it a static IP, and entered the user name and pass to connect it and that worked no problem. I then, on the iphone, the settings i entered were the same as all the tutorials - I entered the main IP coming into my house as the server, the same user name and pass as the workplace VPN (which was the same that I used to log in to my account on Win 7, which I'm not sure is necessary at this point - don't know if the user and pass registers as the account login or the workplace VPN log in since I made them the same) and sure enough, it worked!

Now the question is, who upgraded to the latest version, 2.0.2, and what features did it screw us with? I'm never upgrading unless they force me to!

 

[RRoD420]

I saw the new updated 2.0.2 in the App Store. I didn't update, it most likely will kill the VPN hole.

 

[kalex]

It will most likely be only usable version in near future as these douchebags (cablevision) always block older apps from working

 

[Cscottrun]

Could someone post a step by step guide of how to get this working for an iPad 2 and windows 7? I'm not computer illeterite but some of this stuff is a little passed my skill level without a guide/tutorial. I am up at school so this would be really useful and appreciated.

Edit: and could someone post a previous version of the app. I just formatted my iPad to iOS 5 and started fresh so I can only download the newest version of the app from the app store.