Is having a VPN worth it?

[otherclive]

Decided to try the Proton VPN only to find out that I could not install it on either the Panasonic or Samsung TVs. However I then found out that if that is the case then installing the VPN on the router was the next best option. Sadly the Plusnet router does not support VPN which means a new router.

Although at present most of our devices are only Wifi 6, I think the way forward is a Wifi 7 OPenVPN router with Ethernet speed at least 2.5GB. Probably will not be cheap, but we have burnt our fingers once too often with budget buys. The TP-Link Archer BE550 seems to fit the bill. Asus do come highly recommended, but after sales or support is diabolical!

I thought one of your posts above said that your usage did not warrant a VPN. What’s changed to make you shell out for more expensive kit? 2.5gb fir two people, what are you streaming or gaming?

 

[Buckman]

I thought one of your posts above said that your usage did not warrant a VPN. What’s changed to make you shell out for more expensive kit? 2.5gb fir two people, what are you streaming or gaming?

Our choice as we are entitled to look at all options. Our router is only wifi 5 so why not go the whole hog with aFTTC Wif7, OPENVPN and 2.5GB Ethernet ports router even if we do not use the VPN facility at present. Sort of future proofs us. We do a lot of streaming.

 

[Woodentop]

PEBCAK!

Er - PEBKAC? Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair....

 

[Sam Vimes]

As Julie Andrews once said in that obnoxious flim and song...... 'Lets start at the very beginning'.

You need to consider your current broadband speed. If you're on FTTC then maybe you're lucky and can get speeds of 76Mbps. Which is more than enough to stream content to your house if there's just two of you.

Of course if you have lots of people in the house all trying to stream different things simultanously then a faster external broadband connection and subsequent internal Wifi connection could have some benefit.

So if 76Mbps is your broadband speed then speeding up anything in your house isn't going to make that any faster.

Having Wifi 7 does bring other benefits beyond speed but you'll need each device on the wifi network to have the capability to support that. So, TV, Phone, Table, Laptop and so on.

Same with having some 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports - do you have any device that can accommodate that speed. If not its just a waste of money.

If you're not particularly network or computer savvy then I think trying to run OpenVPN on route or PC is going to be a headache for you.

FWIW:

I used to stream Standard Definition BBC iPlayer over a 6Mbps link with not problem - well except when it rained and we lost the connection.

Even Netflix only requires 15Mbps for 4K video.

 

[Buckman]

As Julie Andrews once said in that obnoxious flim and song...... 'Lets start at the very beginning'.

You need to consider your current broadband speed. If you're on FTTC then maybe you're lucky and can get speeds of 76Mbps. Which is more than enough to stream content to your house if there's just two of you.

Of course if you have lots of people in the house all trying to stream different things simultanously then a faster external broadband connection and subsequent internal Wifi connection could have some benefit.

So if 76Mbps is your broadband speed then speeding up anything in your house isn't going to make that any faster.

Having Wifi 7 does bring other benefits beyond speed but you'll need each device on the wifi network to have the capability to support that. So, TV, Phone, Table, Laptop and so on.

Same with having some 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports - do you have any device that can accommodate that speed. If not its just a waste of money.

If you're not particularly network or computer savvy then I think trying to run OpenVPN on route or PC is going to be a headache for you.

FWIW:

I used to stream Standard Definition BBC iPlayer over a 6Mbps link with not problem - well except when it rained and we lost the connection.

Even Netflix only requires 15Mbps for 4K video.

Thanks for a very informative reply and certainly food for thought. One of the reasons for WiFi 7 is future proofing. My laptop accommodates Wifi 6 although current router is wifi 5. However a new router does not have to have 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, but again trying to future proof as technology changes so quick. Not much difference in cost.

Our main TV is 4K or UHD capable and is connected via ethernet cable so not sure if 2.5GB is required? We also have a 4k Max Firestick which supports Wifi 6E and that routes its signal to another 4k TV in the home via HDMI connection.
Our current Plusnet router has shut itself down on a couple of occasions for no reason. On unplugging and plugging in again not issue for a couple of days or even weeks and then it shuts down. Plusnet cannot help as cannot phone them when route shuts down. Easier to do my little switch on and off routine. One of the reasons why we are thinking of a new router. The VPN was very secondly, but thought might as well have the option in case sometime in the future we may need it.

 

[Buckman]

I just found out that it appears that at present there are no WiFi 7 routers with a modem as modem needs to be purchased separately so looks likes it needs to be a Wifi 6 router / modem.

 

[otherclive]

I just found out that it appears that at present there are no WiFi 7 routers with a modem as modem needs to be purchased separately so looks likes it needs to be a Wifi 6 router / modem.

Arriss and Netgear make combined Wifi7 routers and modems, but at this early stage in its introduction I’d await until the technology becomes more commonplace and less costly.

 

[GUMPY]

Er - PEBKAC? Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair....

Either is good

Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard
Is the one I used when in that line of work.
There are others.

 

[GUMPY]

I just found out that it appears that at present there are no WiFi 7 routers with a modem as modem needs to be purchased separately so looks likes it needs to be a Wifi 6 router / modem.

How much stuff is actually WiFi 6 ?
Although my network is, most of the devices are still WiFi 5, the only one I know that is WiFi 6 is my new phone. My wife's phone released May 2025 isn't.
One of the reasons I run most of my stuff ( TV, streaming devices etc ) over gigabit ethernet cable.

 

[Buckman]

Arriss and Netgear make combined Wifi7 routers and modems, but at this early stage in its introduction I’d await until the technology becomes more commonplace and less costly.

Do you have links to the ones with built in modems? Thanks.

 

[Hutch]

I am I the only one confused about this WiFi 5/6/7 stuff, and why would I want a VPN on a TV system.
Please reply in idiot speak.

 

[otherclive]

Do you have links to the ones with built in modems? Thanks.

They both cost $599 and one can run 200 devizes at 4/8K concurrently. Can be seen on the respective company websites.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Thanks for a very informative reply and certainly food for thought. One of the reasons for WiFi 7 is future proofing. My laptop accommodates Wifi 6 although current router is wifi 5. However a new router does not have to have 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, but again trying to future proof as technology changes so quick. Not much difference in cost.

Our main TV is 4K or UHD capable and is connected via ethernet cable so not sure if 2.5GB is required? We also have a 4k Max Firestick which supports Wifi 6E and that routes its signal to another 4k TV in the home via HDMI connection.
Our current Plusnet router has shut itself down on a couple of occasions for no reason. On unplugging and plugging in again not issue for a couple of days or even weeks and then it shuts down. Plusnet cannot help as cannot phone them when route shuts down. Easier to do my little switch on and off routine. One of the reasons why we are thinking of a new router. The VPN was very secondly, but thought might as well have the option in case sometime in the future we may need it.

I can accept the intention of future proofing but it seems to me that you would be buying and expensive sledge hammer to crack walnuts you don't have now or need in the future.

Having a faster (although Wifi 7 has other benefits) router will only improve things on your side of the router and if you can move data around your house now then Wifi 7 isn't going to make any difference speed wise.

Your TV doesn't need much bandwidth, nor your laptop, nor your phone. Its only if you're into a situation where you have many people sending loads of data around your internal network that it could be a benefit - but as I said before, every device would need to be compatible.

If all you're trying to do is replace a dodgy Plusnet Router then buy a basic FTTC router for about £30. But be prepared to get into it to set it up to work with Plusnet.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I am I the only one confused about this WiFi 5/6/7 stuff, and why would I want a VPN on a TV system.
Please reply in idiot speak.

Wifi 5, 6, 7 are just successive generations of Wifi - much like phones and 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. Each iterration brings beneifts but not everyone needs them.

Worth noting that they are backward compatible - so Wifi 6 or 7 will work with Wifi 5 devices but at the lowest common denominator as it were.

I would think a VPN in front of a TV could cause more problems. Suddenly Netflix or Amazon or whoever your account is with don't know where you are and can't deliver the service you want. Unlike a VPN on a PC which you could control or turn on/off.

 

[Buckman]

They both cost $599 and one can run 200 devizes at 4/8K concurrently. Can be seen on the respective company websites.

I have checked and cannot find any WiFi 7 routers with built in modem, however even if correct, the price is a lot more than I am willing to pay.

 

[Buckman]

I can accept the intention of future proofing but it seems to me that you would be buying and expensive sledge hammer to crack walnuts you don't have now or need in the future.

Having a faster (although Wifi 7 has other benefits) router will only improve things on your side of the router and if you can move data around your house now then Wifi 7 isn't going to make any difference speed wise.

Your TV doesn't need much bandwidth, nor your laptop, nor your phone. Its only if you're into a situation where you have many people sending loads of data around your internal network that it could be a benefit - but as I said before, every device would need to be compatible.

If all you're trying to do is replace a dodgy Plusnet Router then buy a basic FTTC router for about £30. But be prepared to get into it to set it up to work with Plusnet.

Thanks will just stick with wifi 6 FTTC as cheaper than WiFi 7.

I would think a VPN in front of a TV could cause more problems. Suddenly Netflix or Amazon or whoever your account is with don't know where you are and can't deliver the service you want. Unlike a VPN on a PC which you could control or turn on/off.

Good point about using it only on laptop as it is only 2 or three websites where I am getting message that it cannot be viewed at your location. They are news websites before anyone asks. Also I was looking for an US sitcom, but cannot access it from the UK although a few years ago it was aired on Sky.

 

[otherclive]

I have checked and cannot find any WiFi 7 routers with built in modem, however even if correct, the price is a lot more than I am willing to pay.

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