Thanks.
I can set them up fine, I just don't have a vpn "server name" setup to enter the details for it.
That's why I asked whether there was anything that was free for this. I know you can set them up on certain routers, but I believe you would still need to pay a provider for a "server name" (VPN connection).
Ah, sorry I don't know how to do that part of it.
Ivacy here. Plenty of international servers and the ones in Europe especially are pretty quick. I paid $72US for five years. Works out at about £1 a month. A caveat is their bespoke software doesn't allow port forwarding by default. Set up your links manually and it'll bypass it. Fortunately Ivacy has lots of guides how to do this.
You don't need to use a VPN service provider to create a VPN - all you need it the technology to create the endpoints and establish the link between them. We do it all the time in business to, for example, create secure links between offices without having to buy expensive leased lines, facilitate secure access back to home base (the company) for our "road warriors." (Though I prefer other mechanisms for the latter such as Citrix or similar remote access.)
If you create a VPN endpoint in your home, institute some mechanism to "find" your home network such as a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) name registration, and utilise client device with either the right software or apps to create VPN endpoint, you can make your own VPN for nothing to "connect back home" from elsewhere.
It's an opinion; but I think a lot of the hype about VPN Services is a bit "snake oiley." There are good uses for a VPN Service, such as evading geo-locking, but the idea that using a VPN Service make using the Internet "safe" is laughable. All an Internet based VPN Service does is change where your traffic ingress/egresses the public Internet from where you are to somewhere else. (As a consequence, it could even make it slower if it ends up traveling further.) But I confess, I've done little research into VPN service providers, so maybe I'm missing something fundamental about the service offering.
Does Dynamic DNS cost anything though? There must be a cost in there somewhere?
I have a couple of DrayTek routers that I know have the facility to create a VPN, but I imagine there is a cost somewhere in there when setting up a VPN.
Again, this is purely so I can access my home network when out from say a mobile device / laptop, not to change my location.
Yes, DDNS providers usually change, though I believe it's a relatively modest fee often bundled in the cost of registering a DNS domain name.
It's only necessary because domestic ISP's generally do not offer fixed IP addresses. If you can get a fixed IP address, then DDNS would not be necessary.
For "accessing home whilst out and about" hassle free, something like TeamViewer would do the job for remote controlling a PC without all the VPN, DDNS, etc. though I'd have to check to see if the link is encrypted and how easy it is to do file transfers.
Yeah I guessed that’s what you’d be paying for in some capacity, the public IP that creates the secure tunnel.
Funny you say about TeamViewer as that is exactly what I use at the moment. It’s functionality over the phone isn’t great.
RDP on the other hand is at least better on the phone, but obviously only works when on the local network and not over mobile data for example.
What options are there in terms of getting a fixed IP? Is it a case of speaking with my ISP and them setting one up, which I presume they will charge for? If so is it a monthly charge / data charge / yearly fee?
Pretty much. It would not surprise me if there are ISP's that simply refuse to do it. I've never tried.
Shame that it is so hard to find really. If someone came out with a free one it would be amazing.
Plusnet is £5 for a static IP address, assuming you're on the right package and you can get free DDNS providers/not read all the thread.