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+--- Thread: BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? (/showthread.php?tid=7524)
BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? - Haroldfinch - 03-19-2025
Hi Tim,
The BBC are making some changes to the availability of the BBC Sounds App (and maybe the streams) outside of the UK: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/listening-outside-the-uk/outside-uk-changes
What are the chances of a VPN option being built in to the system?
I know there's no guarantee that the access will work with a vpn but it might be worth a shot?
Thanks
RE: BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? - Tim Curtis - 03-19-2025
I'm sure a VPN option could be integrated and its come up before but no one has done any investigation into what packages and configuration are needed to make it a feature.
I don't have any experience with VPN software so maybe another dev will take an interest.
RE: BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? - Nutul - 03-19-2025
a VPN is no magic...
Only thing: you need a server in the UK to connect to...
RE: BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? - TheOldPresbyope - 03-19-2025
The openvpn package is already installed in RaspiOS Lite so we're part way there.
The Linux OpenVPN client appears to be compatible with many public VPN services. However, each service has its own website, collection of VPN servers around the world, and, of course, its own login credentials.
It would seem to me that a moOde VPN configuration screen would have to
- get* the user's chosen VPN service (triggering a download of that service's list of servers behind the scene. This "list" is a collection of .ovpn files to be stored in an openvpn subdirectory.)
- get the user's login credentials for the chosen VPN service
- configure OpenVPN with the credentials
- allow the user to select from a pull-down list which server in which country
- allow the user to start/stop the VPN connection.
Or something like that. No doubt I'm overlooking something (UDP vs TCP comes to mind).
I subscribe to a VPN service and use that service's app on my phone and my tablet to choose the server and start/stop the VPN connection. I've never tried to connect to the service from a Linux box. Looking at the man page, there's a huge number of options for the OpwnVPN client. If I get time I'll try to see what is the minimum I have to do to get a VPN connection.
No way I'm going to attempt crafting the PHP and JS for an interactive moOde screen.
Regards,
Kent
* there are so many of them that I'm not sure a pull-down list is feasible, nor do I think we want to be endorsing any, but each has its own FQDN and procedure for getting the server list, etc.
RE: BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? - the_bertrum - 03-19-2025
And then you find the BBC maintain a list of known VPN end-points and black list them when they can precisely to stop this sort of thing.
RE: BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? - Nutul - 03-19-2025
I re-jump in just to say... would configuring your router to an OpenVPN server, and then choosing that connection, offer the same benefits?
Then, just select that VPN in moOde... I don't know, never tried... could this be done without a reboot?
RE: BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? - TheOldPresbyope - 03-19-2025
(03-19-2025, 05:25 PM)Nutul Wrote: I re-jump in just to say... would configuring your router to an OpenVPN server, and then choosing that connection, offer the same benefits?
Then, just select that VPN in moOde... I don't know, never tried... could this be done without a reboot?
I would think so, at least if the router ran open source software like did-wrt. Not possible on my vendor-supplied cable modem/router/AP.
Regards,
Kent
RE: BBC changes - Chances of a VPN built in? - Nutul - 03-19-2025
(03-19-2025, 05:32 PM)TheOldPresbyope Wrote:That was my thinking... It was definitely possible with one of my old routers... talking about 2006 here... (OMG - already 20 years gone by)(03-19-2025, 05:25 PM)Nutul Wrote: I re-jump in just to say... would configuring your router to an OpenVPN server, and then choosing that connection, offer the same benefits?
Then, just select that VPN in moOde... I don't know, never tried... could this be done without a reboot?
I would think so, at least if the router ran open source software like did-wrt. Not possible on my vendor-supplied cable modem/router/AP.
Now... I still have a free one (I mean, not vendor specific...) but never investigated its software, as I don't need the company VPN access anymore.
Will see, though, as it i's become an interesting topic, for me at least... (but your hands too are itching, Kent, uh...?)