Need an internet provider that will allow a laptop access to VPN connection. Does anyone else work from home?

[cece]

Arghhhh

We swapped ISP providers today from BT to Talk Talk. All went well till DH tried to use his work laptop to access his VPN network, some message came up about the firewall. He phoned Talk Talk and apparently they don't allow VPN connections! So looks like we will have to cancel and move again.

Apart from BT which other ISP providers allow these sort of connections?

It is a real pain as now he has to go into the office tomorrow (and until we sort this out) in order to work. He normally works at home and only goes to the office for the odd meeting!

Thanks for your help...

I think Talk Talk are lying to you!!!

I used to be an Operations Manager for an ISP, and although we will not support VPN's we didn't block them, and I doubt any ISP would as 90% of customers will be using their connections to VPN into the office.

Is your internet connection working?

If Yes, tell your husband to call his internal IT support while he is at home and someone should be able to help him set up his VPN on Talk Talk.

Ah thank you!

He did phone his technical support at work and they told him to phone Talk Talk! LOL

The internet connection is working fine on my PC as you can tell because I am on here. In fact it is really fast and I am very pleased with it - it's just this problem with his VPN! I'll get him to try again tomorrow. Thanks

Is there a Talk Talk business package and a home one? If so they 'might' block it on the home one to make you pay more for the other. I googled and found that Talk Talk customer services do not know if they block VPN or not. It depends who you ask

Your VPN client. Does it have a settings page and does it need to be told you have a new ISP and therefore a new IP number. I think not, but something to look at.

In changing ISP what else changed?

New router? Perhaps it has its firewall turned on (though that will generally only affect incoming connections so probably not that)

I assume your router connects to your landline and is not a mobile broadband (dongle plugged in the back - works anywhere) package?. Some of the mobile broadband suppliers send all their customers through a proxy. Thus making VPN and some other services difficult/impossible since all the customers appear to have the same IP.

You might want to write to the ISP since that might get a more sensible reply and if you do have to change you need to get it on record that their service is unsuitable and that they didn't tell you. Otherwise they will charge you for the whole contract period. (18 months?)

I don't really understand what VPN is but I have no problems accessing my network at work via my laptop with tiscali as ISP. I still needed to download the appropriate software to allow it to run but no big problem (couldn't have been if I managed to do it...) But perhaps we have a different set up to other employers - I work for a university so pretty much everyone uses remote access sometimes

DH phoned his techie support and they said Talk Talk is not suitable for his VPN connection. I am also having trouble with my wireless connection today. I think Talk Talk will have to go! I am very fed up atm. Wish I had stayed with BT - just sooo much more expensive though. Guess you get what you pay for...

I use virgin and I can access a VPN. Though I wouldnt recommend them for any other reason .

I also use Virgin and access a VPN 4 days a week. Can take a few attempts to log in sometimes, and bizarrely I have to hold my wireless box thing in the air whilst it connects to the network (not the technical term - basically work laptop not wireless, so we have to plug something into it!). How frustrating for you - would not be happy having to go into an office as I am so used to working from home most of the time.

I have spent 2 hours on the phone to their so called customer services... Needless to say I am still unable to get a wireless connection for my PC today let alone anything as fancy as DH's laptop and his VPN connection...

I can see me cancelling my order tomorrow... Just can't face another phone conversation with them tonight!

I work from home via a VPN and I have BT Broadband - very happy with it too

I also use Virgin and use a VPN connection for work. It's normally fine (just been on it, how sad is that)...

.. I have a friend with TalkTalk and the VPN would not work for him until I enabled uPnP on the router... have you checked to see if this is enabled/disabled... also note that sometimes you need to upgrade the software on the router to the latest version to support newer clients and services

opinionateddad - how would I enable the uPnP on the router??

TalkTalk have a weird setup on their DNS servers which can affect vpn connections. The easiest way to get round the problem is probably to use someone else's DNS server like www.opendns.com/

If you're on windows XP there's a registry change which can sidestep the problem. I'll look it up if you want to try it.

I have Sky and I'm fine to connect to office via VPN.

We have Tiscali and dh connects to his work's VPN fine.

cece - you need to open the router via Internet Explorer (type the ip addess) and find upnp in the options... if it is not enabled then turn it on...

opinionateddad - thanks for th esuggestion but it didn't work! This is driving me crazy. I can't use my PC wirelessly either - have to have it connected by cable to the router...

I think I will phone them later and cancel. I have tried 7 different customer services people and not one of them has been able to get me wireless or DH onto his network!

I use VPN, both plusnet and sky support it

did you upgrade the routers firmware to the latest version?!?... I had to do this the other day on a friends belkin router as he had the same problem on talktalk also...

If this does not work the I would give up.. I have used Sky for 2 years now and never experienced this issue

"did you upgrade the routers firmware to the latest version?!?"

Um no idea what you are talking about! Could you point me in the right direction...? Thanks

When your dh connected he got a message about the firewall? Did talk talk supply new modem (usb or router/ethernet).

Its just it sounds like norton's firewall popping up, saying new network, shall I trust it or not or what. And its possible its blocked the network if you answered wrong. Not that I would recommend trying this, he could quickly switch off the firewall on the local box and try the vpn.

Really need more details of setup and error messages and vpn being used to give more ideas.

Can he access the internet using his laptop?

Plusnet and BE fine with VPNs. Plusnet do have a firewall on their systems, that needs to be set to low for some VPNs (you set it by logging on).

Thanks for everyones advice. His emplyers are now going to pay for a separate braodband for his work so he can continue to work from home. Wildfish - he works for a government agency (has confidential stuff to send) so security is very important - hence he needs to be keep up with the security. I did suggest that to him but apparently it is a no no!

Was going to suggest Pipex, which I'm able to use my VPN with for working from home. But sounds like you've found a solution; hope it works out.