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

Hi, I'm new here and I have a few thoughts.

1) For people with the v1.0 that is no longer working, can you just change the version value to 1.0.2 in the plist for the app? If cablevisions' servers are just checking the version number, this may work. I would try this myself but I just moved from CT to CA and do not have a VPN setup back in CT to try it. A family member back in CT will set one up for me once it is confirmed that a VPN will work again, but I'm not going to put him through the hassle of setting one up if it isn't working.

2) I have a copy of the v1.0 ipa on my computer and on my jailbroken iPad 2 (iOS 4.3.3). If someone can instruct me on how to remove the DRM and whatever else is saved in the file that can be traced back to me, I'll gladly share. I do not want the file floating around if can be traced back to me.

3) Can anyone recommend a good free PC based VPN to use that works well with the iPad? Thank you.

I really want to watch my Mets out here, even if they are a bunch of bums.
 
Last edited:
Just tried it and modifying just plist file didn't work for me. It could be that I'm doing it wrong so i'm not 100% sure
 
kalex said:
Just tried it and modifying just plist file didn't work for me. It could be that I'm doing it wrong so i'm not 100% sure
Click to expand...

Did you remember to respring and/or reboot? I'm not an expert on this stuff, but it might require it.

Also, I think there are two plists that need to be changed. I remember definitely seeing two when looking at it last night. One in the main folder of the app and the other in one of the subfolders.
 
falcore000 said:
Hi, I'm new here and I have a few thoughts.

1) For people with the v1.0 that is no longer working, can you just change the version value to 1.0.2 in the plist for the app? If cablevisions' servers are just checking the version number, this may work. I would try this myself but I just moved from CT to CA and do not have a VPN setup back in CT to try it. A family member back in CT will set one up for me once it is confirmed that a VPN will work again, but I'm not going to put him through the hassle of setting one up if it isn't working.

2) I have a copy of the v1.0 ipa on my computer and on my jailbroken iPad 2 (iOS 4.3.3). If someone can instruct me on how to remove the DRM and whatever else is saved in the file that can be traced back to me, I'll gladly share. I do not want the file floating around if can be traced back to me.

3) Can anyone recommend a good free PC based VPN to use that works well with the iPad? Thank you.

I really want to watch my Mets out here, even if they are a bunch of bums.
Click to expand...

I have a jailbroken iPad 2 with iFile installed from cydia and the new version of the optimum.app 1.0.2. I went into ifile Applications/Optimum/Library/Preferences/com.cablevision.iOTV.plist/ then selected Text viewer. It's showing my version number as <plist version-"1.0"> It is not the 1.0 version. It is 1.0.2. So I don't think the app is reading the plist to decide if it connects or not.

I'm wondering if there is a different key or string that could be modified in the 1.0 version to match 1.0.2. I just don't know where to look.
 
I was looking at the v1.0 Optimum.app file vs the v1.0.2 and noticed it added the function "Reachability connectedviaVPN" in the code. I tried deleting it from the v1.0.2 Optimum.app file to see if that would work, but it just caused the app to crash on load (even after rebooting). I'm pretty sure that's the reason why it won't work over VPN anymore. Also, the v2.0 also has this same function in the code so I'm guessing it still won't work over VPN.

I had an idea though. I compared it to the TimeWarner app they have a similar VPN check in their .app code, so I was thinking what if we just add the com.cablevision.ioTV string to the FakeTimeWarner jailbreak tweak that came out a few weeks ago to see if that would work. I'd try it myself but my brother-in-law has not yet set up a VPN back East for me to connect to out here in California. Note: com.cablevision.ioTV may have changed to a different name in the v2.0 app, I haven't had the time to look at the code in detail since I'm at work.
 
falcore000 said:
I was looking at the v1.0 Optimum.app file vs the v1.0.2 and noticed it added the function "Reachability connectedviaVPN" in the code. I tried deleting it from the v1.0.2 Optimum.app file to see if that would work, but it just caused the app to crash on load (even after rebooting). I'm pretty sure that's the reason why it won't work over VPN anymore. Also, the v2.0 also has this same function in the code so I'm guessing it still won't work over VPN.

I had an idea though. I compared it to the TimeWarner app they have a similar VPN check in their .app code, so I was thinking what if we just add the com.cablevision.ioTV string to the FakeTimeWarner jailbreak tweak that came out a few weeks ago to see if that would work. I'd try it myself but my brother-in-law has not yet set up a VPN back East for me to connect to out here in California. Note: com.cablevision.ioTV may have changed to a different name in the v2.0 app, I haven't had the time to look at the code in detail since I'm at work.
Click to expand...
I have VPN setup at home. Send me a PM and I'll help you test it.
 
Same here. If u need help let me know

Do u happen to have a link to guides on how to look inside the code on ios apps?
 
Apparently I don't have enough posts yet to send PM's, so I have to boost this for. Coleman, I'll send you a PM once I get the privilege, hahaha.
 
kalex said:
Same here. If u need help let me know

Do u happen to have a link to guides on how to look inside the code on ios apps?
Click to expand...


Kalex - I don't know of any guides, I got into the jailbreak thing only 6 months ago. Most of my coding knowledge comes from what I learned in C++ turbo programming in high school (over a decade ago), so its very basic, a bit out dated, but pretty much all code languages are based somewhat on C, so its a somewhat applicable.

The way I found the function was opening up the .app file in iFile and then using the search feature for "VPN". Pretty basic but it works. Unfortunately this isn't the source code for the app, so a simple edit like "Reachability connectedviaVPN = false" won't work here. The function "Reachability connectedviaVPN" in the .app code is just the header for the function (i.e. the app calls that function), but the function is universally built into iOS so it can't be overwritten in the .app file. I was hoping that by deleting the header in the .app file, it wouldn't try to run the function, but clearly it is which is why it kept crashing on me after I edited it. If we had the original source code, we could override it, but I doubt cablevision is going to give that up.
 
Anyone want to try this quick patch I made to see if you can get VPN working again?

http://db.tt/XAdbxal

I hooked into the Reachability class for the app and had the connectedViaVPN method return false.

Let me know if it works since I don't have cable vision.
 
milk242 said:
Anyone want to try this quick patch I made to see if you can get VPN working again?

http://db.tt/XAdbxal

I hooked into the Reachability class for the app and had the connectedViaVPN method return false.

Let me know if it works since I don't have cable vision.
Click to expand...

Download fails for some reason. Is it for iPhone or iPad version? There are two now.
 
Doesnt work

slavany said:
Download fails for some reason. Is it for iPhone or iPad version? There are two now.
Click to expand...

testing now. it appears that 1 of 2 things are happening.

the first time i installed the deb file, it respring, and then prevented me from connecting to my vpn. (actually any vpn, i tried 3 different ones.)

i uninstalled the deb, and reinstalled.

the 2nd time i can connect to vpn, but when i launch the optimum app, it says

"Network connection Needed - A network connection is needed to use this application. Please check your connection and try again"

This is while actively connected to the vpn.
 
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