I recently purchased a Roku, and turned off DirecTV. Pretty happy about that, but got one problem. We'll be spending the next 6 months in Mexico, and I'm told that a lot of Roku won't work down there.

Thinking about using a vpn through one of the many companies that provide that service, so as to 'fool' Roku into 'thinking' that we are situated in the USA.

We'll get a regular modem/router from TELMEX, much like the one that we have here in the USA from our ISP. My thought was to get it working with a vpn here and then just hook it up from there through their equipment.

Here's the real question: Do I need to turn my desktop into a "server" with a Wan side and a Lan side to do that, or is it possible to just install the vpn? Anyone with experience along those lines.

You don't need to buy anything. You need vpn client software on the system that you take to Mexico and run OpenVPN on your home system. If it is a typical system that connects to the internet with DHCP to your local cable company, then you probably have a firewall running on either your PC or in the router or both. You'll need to do a few things:

• Set up a dynamic DNS name from somebody like dyn.com so you can reach your system by name even when its IP changes.
• Set up NAT and forwarding as you would for a local LAN.
• Set up the OpenVPN server on the home system.
• Open port 1194 in the firewall rules for the VPN connection.
• Add forwarding for the VPN interface.
• Run sshd so you can still get in and make adjustments to fix problems. Make sure you don't allow remote root login.

If your home router is doing NAT, then you'll need to forward the VPN connection to the home system.

If either your ISP or the Mexican ISP block port 1194 to force you to their business service you will need to change both ends to use a different unblocked port.

All of this stuff can be tested from your local Starbucks before going to Mexico, and is the more secure way to connect to the internet from public Wi-fi. Just make sure you never click one of those "Certificate changed - connect anyway?" buttons.

Sorry. I guess I wasn't very clear. I don't want a vpn from my computer in Mexico to my computer in the USA. I need a vpn from my computer (where ever I take it) to some point in the USA that will connect me to the internet - similar to a proxy. But a proxy wont work for me, because proxies (so far as I know) won't provide the 'streaming' ability that Roku requires.

I've tried some of those vpns and not all can fool the system. Roku should work in some of the channels there but I'd suspect the bandwidth would be the killer.

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Sounds as if you want to take your desktop to Mexico ?

I have used a VPN service provider once in a while, and they do streaming just fine. There are occassional glitches now and then, but there are glitches now and then with no VPN too

The VPN outfit I used had its own VPN 'client' configuration (keys and IP's etc) for their OPENVPN 'server' which one downloaded. This was used with my distro's OPENVPN client software. It was pretty easy to setup. I went the extra step of firewalling the heck out of my client.

I suggest you just do it - find a service and try it out. There would be nothing to do on your router - in the US or Mexico.

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Thanks. I'm looking at one that sounds simple enough to set up: neclickvpn. Guess I'll just give it a spin, and see how it works.

Are you in Mexico now ? How is it working out for you ?