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Using Time Capsule As Second Router For VPN Access

T

touchmanic

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 28, 2007
44
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Hi all,

Complete novice looking for assistance with a little home networking project.

I currently have Verizon FIOS with the stock modem/router (Gateway).

What I am looking to do is to take an old router that I have (Apple Time Capsule), connect it to my current router and then create another network (with its own password etc) with customised DNS settings for access to a UK VPN. The idea would be to use this secondary router/network for VPN but to continue to use the FIOS router for everything else US-based.

So far, I've had no luck. I can connect the Time Capsule via Ethernet to the fios router (in bridge mode) and I get active internet. However, in bridge mode, I can't seem to be able to change DNS settings which I need to do to get the VPN working. When I start looking at other DHCP options I get lost...

Realise this is probably very rudimentary, but any assistance would be great.

Thanks in advance!
 
Sorry, I am probably confusing things so attempting to summarize what I am trying to do again:

- I live in the US, but want to create a custom UK VPN wifi network for my Smart TV and Apple TV to connect. (I want to be able to conveniently view BBC iPlayer and All4 content without having to airplay and tunnel bear to the AppleTV from my phone.)
- I have a Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway modem/router (primary router) and want to keep this WiFi network for every day use
- However, is it possible to connect a secondary router to the aforementioned primary router to create a separate WiFi network fulfilling my UK needs?
- If so, I have an Apple Time Capsule (the flat one) or a Linksys E2500 that I can use to do so. Will either work?
- I ask, as I have read about services like Unblock US that will provide custom DNS settings that will allow your touter to mimic being in the UK. Can I install something like this purely on the secondary router without messing/breaking my current primary router set-up?
- Do i need to consider DD WRT or is that not necessary?
- FYI, these are the only instructions I have seen and think I need more background than this: https://support.unblock-us.com/customer/portal/articles/291527 and

If this sounds feasible, any direction to set something like this up would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
touchmanic said:
The idea would be to use this secondary router/network for VPN but to continue to use the FIOS router for everything else US-based.
Click to expand...

To do that the router (Time Capsule in this case) would need to have a VPN client and the Time Capsule does not, so it won't work. Many routers do though.
 
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touchmanic said:
Thanks - so it is doable with a VPN router? Does the Linksys E2500 look like it fits the bill? https://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Adva...&ie=UTF8&qid=1496249311&sr=1-1&keywords=e2500
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with that router myself, but from searching around it looks like you can run Tomato firmware on that router and setup a VPN client that way. That is a really old and slow CPU router though, so I don't think VPN speeds are going to be very good.

The other thing I'm not sure of is even if you can get the VPN client working, I'm not sure if it will work like you want in conjunction with your FIOS router. Maybe @BrianBaughn can jump in here and help.
 
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Thanks so much - appreciate the help and comments. Might be better served just changing DNS settings in the Apple TV rather than going around it this way.
 
There are instructions out there on how to set up a second router as a VPN client with it's own wifi network using DD-WRT. Your router can be flashed with the DD-WRT software but keep in mind the software for some routers may not include every possible feature.

I have no idea if it works but I may try it to see as I have an D-Link router around here somewhere.
 
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A smart dns service could do the trick, without slowing down your connection, and without the need of 2 routers. I am using Getflix to access French content and it works nicely.
 
The painless way?

- hire a consultant
- get a firewall that supports open VPN
- buy a subscription with a VPN provider (ExpressVPN is in choice geographic locations)
- have consultant establish a persistent tunnel to the UK
- route all traffic for that specific apple TV / airport / whatever over that VPN tunnel

Should take an hour.
 
This is most likely far from ideal, but an easy option I can think of is to use an old laptop/computer connected to your home internet and have the UK VPN always running. You can then a) create a hotspot with it, or b) share connectivity over ethernet to power your router. This should technically work, although speeds might be compromised (depending on the hardware used).

Maybe you can look into some sort of mini PC/Raspberry PI for this.
 
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