Thread: UK VPN provider that works with the Playbook?

Has anyone found a UK VPN provider that can be configured with the Playbook? Neither UKproxyserver.co.uk nor Foxyproxy are compatible unfortunately.

If your looking for a free solution there are not that many that are worth it. You can take a look at https://www.vpnreactor.com/ from what it looks like they have a pretty decent service. They even have a PlayBook tutorial, and a server located in the UK. Hope this helps.

Thanks ICE. Free is not necessary. I am prepared to pay for a reliable, fast service.

Originally Posted by rafiki

Thanks ICE. Free is not necessary. I am prepared to pay for a reliable, fast service.

Ok take a look at the link I posted and post back your thoughts.

I took a 3 day trial plan. I have it set up on the PB and PC. Setting up the PC was a doddle, the PB not so easy. The video tutorial was almost incomprehensible but the detailed instructions below the video were long but comprehensive and I got it working OK. At first I couldn't stream BBC iPlayer but I noticed that the written instructions told me to enter the sstp server but, of course, the UK server was required. Once changed it all worked OK. I'll report again when I've used it more. Thanks for the pointer ICE.

Originally Posted by rafiki

I took a 3 day trial plan. I have it set up on the PB and PC. Setting up the PC was a doddle, the PB not so easy. The video tutorial was almost incomprehensible but the detailed instructions below the video were long but comprehensive and I got it working OK. At first I couldn't stream BBC iPlayer but I noticed that the written instructions told me to enter the sstp server but, of course, the UK server was required. Once changed it all worked OK. I'll report again when I've used it more. Thanks for the pointer ICE.

Cool let us know.

Hmmm. Problems. As I said yesterday I connected OK first time. However when I restarted the PB this morning the VPN profile was gone! I re-entered the parameters and checked and re-checked them against the instructions. When I clicked save/connect the spinning green circle just sits there for hours. No connection. My PC is connected and is working.

Copying and pasting this to VPNreactor support now.

Originally Posted by rafiki

Hmmm. Problems. As I said yesterday I connected OK first time. However when I restarted the PB this morning the VPN profile was gone! I re-entered the parameters and checked and re-checked them against the instructions. When I clicked save/connect the spinning green circle just sits there for hours. No connection. My PC is connected and is working.

Copying and pasting this to VPNreactor support now.

Hello rafiki, check out Managing VPN Profiles - User Guide - BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet - 2.0

As ice2921 mentioned above, that VPNReactor PlayBook Tutorial looks pretty good, maybe re-checking your settings, and saving them again.

Thank you.

Thanks grimreaper. Yes I have checked again and again the written instructions (that worked OK first time). I even got my wife to read the settings out for me then check them herself. Still no joy I'm afraid.

I'm also baffled why the original profile was lost when I shut down. I did save and connect and checked the profile was listed. Now it isn't.

Originally Posted by rafiki

Thanks grimreaper. Yes I have checked again and again the written instructions (that worked OK first time). I even got my wife to read the settings out for me then check them herself. Still no joy I'm afraid.

I'm also baffled why the original profile was lost when I shut down. I did save and connect and checked the profile was listed. Now it isn't.

There have been other reports of the PlayBook dropping WiFi connections after a reboot for no reason. I do not think there was ever formal fix for it either. The good thing is that you should not have to reboot very often on the PlayBook. Let us know what support says.

Problem is ICE the PB won't save ANY VPN profile now!

Originally Posted by rafiki

Problem is ICE the PB won't save ANY VPN profile now!

What about your WiFi profile? If you remove it and add it will it save?

Originally Posted by ice2921

What about your WiFi profile? If you remove it and add it will it save?

Hmmm. Not sure if I want to risk doing that at the moment. If I lose the WiFi too I am left with a brick!

Originally Posted by rafiki

Hmmm. Not sure if I want to risk doing that at the moment. If I lose the WiFi too I am left with a brick!

Hi rafiki, go to your BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi, go to Saved Profiles, and delete the current profile you use to connect to that wireless network (and no you won't brick it) then reattempt adding the WiFi SSID make sure it's saved in your PlayBook.

Check out these links I have provided for you;

• Connect to a Wi-Fi network using BlackBerry PlayBook
• Change, delete, or reorder saved Wi-Fi networks

Also, I found a great (Solved) thread via BlackBerry Support Community Forums

• No WIFI Saved Network on PLAYBOOK (VPN Profiles)

Keep us posted if you require any further help.

Thank you.

As noted elsewhere on this forum the problem solved itself with the upgrade to OS 2.1 Beta. After the upgrade the VPN profile reappeared and worked first time! What was causing it to be hidden in 2.0 I know not.

Originally Posted by rafiki

As noted elsewhere on this forum the problem solved itself with the upgrade to OS 2.1 Beta. After the upgrade the VPN profile reappeared and worked first time! What was causing it to be hidden in 2.0 I know not.

That is interesting that you were having issues with VPN using the Official BlackBerry PlayBook OS2.0, but as soon as you upgraded to OS2.1 Beta, it worked.

I guess for what it's worth, I'd say just enjoy your PlayBook, issue is now gone

Just make sure that the VPN profile has been saved properly

Thank you.

More than that grimreaper. On OS 2.0 I made the VPN profile and save and connected fine the first time. After a shutdown and reboot the profile had disappeared and even though I could re-enter the profile details it woud not save or save/connect. After upgrading to OS 2.1, without any input from me, the profile was there and worked first time!

Originally Posted by rafiki

More than that grimreaper. On OS 2.0 I made the VPN profile and save and connected fine the first time. After a shutdown and reboot the profile had disappeared and even though I could re-enter the profile details it woud not save or save/connect. After upgrading to OS 2.1, without any input from me, the profile was there and worked first time!

It was most likely the OS reload that fixed it. It would be interesting to see if it happens again if you ever revert back to the previous OS.

StrongVpn is the best service I have heard of in the field. In one year's use I have never experienced any unscheduled downtime, and any maintenance is advertised by email many days in advance. Service is first rate, and support is 24/7 - though I have never needed it. I would recommend StrongVPN without hesitation, and have done so to many of my friends.

Please use the following settings to setup the IPSEC VPN:

• Go to Settings
• Security

Add New VPN Profile

Now we need to actually setup the VPN using using the proper settings

• Server Address: cnipsec.vpntraffic.com
  Gateway Type: Cisco Secure PIX Firewall VPN
  Authentication Type: XAUTH-PSK
  Group Username: ipsec
  Group Password: ipsec
  Hard Token: leave unchecked
  Username: Enter your VPN Username
• Password: Your VPN Password

Click save and connect You should now be connected to the vpn.