Perhaps I didn't make it clear what is screwing me up technically. A few years ago Sprint, Verizon and others would allow incoming connections to a cell phone modem. They no longer allow that unless they specifically setup the account to allow that. So you can't buy a USB 4G dongle, hotspot, etc and establish a remote connection to it. By default all incoming connections are firewalled. That used to be possible with a generic cell phone account. I did it 3-4 years ago with a Verizon and Sprint have both blocked remote connections to cell devices. Sprint really clamped down on that recently after a hacker proved that he could remotely control a Chrysler car via the cell phone link to the built in cell system (engineered in conjunction with Sprint). Sprint at first denied that they were doing that but after I gave them the IP address and location of the router that was blocking port requests they fessed up. I have since been told by Netgear that Sprint implements this in their 4G devices by programming the sims in a certain way. A "Mobile Originated" Sim is the standard issue for a Sprint 4G device/phone. If they issue a "Mobile Terminated" sim for the device then that device can be setup to allow incoming connections.
The suggestion to look at a cloud service has me thinking. Perhaps I should forget about the cell companies cooperating and setup each remote site as a client and have it maintain a connection to a server. Once a VPN tunnel is established I think we can remotely control whatever devices are on the client end of the VPN connection also. I wonder how much data is required to keep a VPN tunnel alive on a cell network? I think we should test that. I know that Teamviewer will work to a remotely connected cell network connected device. So it appears that this should be possible via a central server. Adding a Linux box as Rafael mentioned could simplify some of this but it sure would be nice to not have another computer to maintain. Hmmm.... this is sort of what I was thinking but they actually using Teamviewers VPN! http://superuser.com/questions/402223/how-to-route-internet-connection-through-teamviewers-vpn Thanks for the ideas guys.. Dave On 10/18/2015 4:39 PM, Tom Easterday wrote: > This is why you should buy/operate your own equipment and just buy a data > plan for the modem, IMHO. > -Tom > >> On Oct 18, 2015, at 4:25 PM, Dave Cole<linuxcncro...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Thanks guys. >> >> When I boil it all down, the real problem I am having is dealing with >> the cell phone companies. They like to "control" the customer >> even when they don't know what they are doing. >> >> I'm crossing Sprint off my list. Next up is AT&T. I've got another >> guy chasing solutions with Verizon, which is probably best since I have >> some latent hate for Verizon >> due to past issues. >> >> Jeff Epler turned me onto Ting a few years ago (very good advice), >> unfortunately Sprint has Ting in handcuffs and won't let them expand >> into industrial data markets. >> Like I said, Sprint is big into controlling their customer, even if it >> is their own MVNO like Ting. >> >> Dave >> >> >> >> On 10/17/2015 6:40 PM, Jack Coats wrote: >>> if you need real encryption, put in a netscreen 5 on each end and get a >>> signed certificate for them. When working for IT at a bank, we used them >>> for our wire transfers for international wires, It can be hard core >>> encryption. Once set up, it is dead easy to use. Netscreen 5 refurb is >>> $125 or so on Amazon. New $600. Owned by Juniper Networks now days. >>> >>> On Sat, Oct 17, 2015 at 5:26 PM, Jack Coats<j...@coats.org> wrote: >>> >>>> i used sprint for primary internet for a while. Last few years I have >>>> Exede satellite feed. it is about $100/mo for 15GB, and $10/G additional >>>> use, Other plans are available. It is pretty solid. I'd still go for a >>>> wired feed to keep costs down. (No DSL or cable available) >>>> >>>> On Sat, Oct 17, 2015 at 3:20 PM, Dave Cole<linuxcncro...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I need a fast connection as we want to be able to do remote video and >>>>> also do debugging of the PLC control remotely via the comm link with the >>>>> help of a remote video camera. >>>>> >>>>> One problem that I am having is that Sprint wants to control what device >>>>> I use. They literally offer one device at a time and the last one was >>>>> a 4G router that only supports VPN Passthrough even though they were >>>>> "sure" that it would support a site to site VPN connection. >>>>> I don't want to have two remote routers or boxes in the cabinet. Cost is >>>>> not a problem. The Netgear 6100D I have used is $200 and that is >>>>> considered very cheap. $600 would not be out of line if it can do what >>>>> we want and has a fairly wide temperature range. This device will be in >>>>> a box mounted outside. >>>>> >>>>> I can't use OpenVPN because there is no PC or server at the remote site. >>>>> >>>>> A GSM solution with AT&T would be ideal if they have sufficient coverage >>>>> since swapping out the 4G router would only require swapping the SIM >>>>> card instead of going through the ridiculous device activation routine >>>>> that Sprint and Verizon requires. >>>>> >>>>> I think that AT&T will be my next call. I've pretty much run out of >>>>> patience with Sprint. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> >>>>> Dave >>>>> >>>>> On 10/16/2015 11:50 PM, Tom Easterday wrote: >>>>>> You didn't say what kind of throughput you need nor what your budget is >>>>> but one option is something like a Cisco RV320 on each end with 4G modems >>>>> attached. You can see a review of the router here: >>>>> http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/lanwan-reviews/32317-cisco-rv320-dual-gigabit-wan-vpn-router-reviewed?limitstart=0 >>>>>> There is also a you tube video on configuring the modem: >>>>> http://youtu.be/RXerRGEZFEI >>>>>> I recommended the RV180 for a friend's business that needed sts vpn >>>>> (over public internet, not over cellular) and it worked well for him and >>>>> he >>>>> said it was easy for them to set up and use. >>>>>> There are of course other more diy setups using cell phones with >>>>> tethering and using OpenVPN or such on your own processors. But you have >>>>> to be careful as carriers may try to limit or block always on use of >>>>> tethering and data plans may not fit your requirements. Or you get some >>>>> cellular wifi hotspots and use them with OpenVPN. >>>>>> See: >>>>>> >>>>> http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/other/security/security-howto/30353-how-to-set-up-a-site-to-site-vpn-with-openvpn >>>>>>> On Oct 16, 2015, at 3:08 PM, Dave Cole<linuxcncro...@gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> Key points - need help with a data cell phone connection to remote >>>>>>> equipment via a VPN. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Guys, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I'm working with some remotely located equipment and I need to >>>>> establish >>>>>>> a comm link to it. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> We have decided to go with a cell phone data connection. We want to >>>>> be >>>>>>> able to remotely access this equipment via a "site to site" VPN. >>>>>>> This is different than a client/server VPN connection that people >>>>>>> oftentimes use to connect back to corporate headquarters for email, >>>>> file >>>>>>> sharing etc. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The remote equipment is ethernet based but it is not a generic PC, it's >>>>>>> a PLC. So I need the remote cell phone modem/router to do all of the >>>>>>> work of encrypting the data, establishing the VPN tunnel, etc. It >>>>> needs >>>>>>> to be a VPN Router with a 4G modem built in that supports a "site to >>>>>>> site connection" and not just be a Router with VPN passthrough. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sprint sells a Netgear 6100D 4G router that is suppose to do this. I >>>>>>> bought it and then Sprint told me that they will not support remote >>>>>>> access on this device! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I've been talking to >>>>>>> "experts" at Sprint and they want me to use a Sprint approved 4G >>>>>>> cell/router that only supports VPN pass through after I have told them >>>>>>> over and over that I need to do a site to site VPN with their 4G router >>>>>>> acting as a VPN endpoint. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sadly, they don't understand the requirements. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Ironically, TP Link sells a "wired" VPN router for about $60 that does >>>>>>> what I need, so I could "stack" routers to do what I need, but I really >>>>>>> don't want to have two routers in the remote control box. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> There are some really brilliant people on this list so I am hoping that >>>>>>> someone can give me some advice/direction etc. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thank You! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Dave >>>>>>> >>>>>>> --- >>>>>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. >>>>>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Emc-developers mailing list >>>>>>> emc-develop...@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Emc-developers mailing list >>>>>> emc-develop...@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers >>>>> --- >>>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. >>>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Emc-users mailing list >>>>> Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >>>>> >>>> -- >>>>> <> ... Jack >>>> The Four Boxes of Liberty - "There are four boxes to be used in the >>>> defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury and ammo. Please use in that order." >>>> "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart"... Colossians 3:23 >>>> "Anyone who has never made a mistake, has never tried anything new." - >>>> Albert Einstein >>>> "You don't manage people; you manage things. You lead people." - Admiral >>>> Grace Hopper, USN >>>> "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - >>>> Ben Franklin >>>> >> --- >> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. >> https://www.avast.com/antivirus <https://www.avast.com/antivirus> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> _______________________________________________ >> Emc-users mailing list >> Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net <mailto:Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >> <https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
