Level 1

44 points

iPad 2 VPN access with iOS 7.1

I updated one of my iPads to iOS 7.1. The upgrade went smoothly but now when I connect to a VPN service (strongvpn) the performance is terrible and I can no longer stream videos through the VPN. My other iPad which I have not updated yet continues to work fine with the VPN as does my iPhone 4s which has also been updated to 7.1. I have used the ookla speed test and get about a 40Mb/s download speed when not connected to the VPN this drops to under 1Mb/s when I run the test after I connect to the VPN . The other iPad and iPhone get about 12Mb/s download speed via the VPN.

I have tried turning off other features like cellular data, Bluetooth etc but nothing changes. I even went so far as to completely reset the iPad and start from scratch but whatever I try I cannot get any improvement in the download speed when connected through the VPN so streaming video is impossible.

I have been in contact with Strongvpn but they have no idea what is going on. All my other devices continue to perform well - just this iPad since it was updated.

Has anyone else who uses Strongvprn successfully updated their iPad 2 without issue?

Thanks in advance for any tips or feedback

Posted on Mar 13, 2014 6:32 AM

142 replies

tvmaster

Level 1

24 points

Sep 10, 2014 8:36 AM in response to den1s

It's nice to see that StrongVPN was entirely blaming Apple for this until, lo and behold, we did some tests and found that other companies like SurfEasy and Tunnelbear worked just fine.

I'd be asking for a refund, personally. It's amazing in this day and age how many tech firms just don't want to do any work for their customers until you send them a photograph proving the crime was theirs.

Kinda like the NFL....lol

den1s

Level 1

0 points

Sep 10, 2014 9:27 AM in response to tvmaster

I think like most people no one knew the answer.

They have been very helpful in working with me on this and spent some 3 hrs working together trying various setting options, and only charged the difference in cost between the 2 types of account to do the change over.

Its working well on mine and it would be good if others can report back to help us all.

Regards

eddie123

Level 1

0 points

Sep 18, 2014 5:21 AM in response to den1s

I'Ve just upgraded my iPad 2 to IOS 8 and my VPN download speed has increased from 500mb to over 3 GB. So obviously it was an IOS issue. Still extremely disappointed with Apple that they did not admit they had an issue. Left so many people with VPN issues for so long. Very poor supplier performance.:(

den1s

Level 1

0 points

Sep 18, 2014 12:37 PM in response to eddie123

Do you now attribute the solving of the old VPN speed problem to just upgrading to iOS 8. ?

Has it gone back to the speed it ran at when iOS 7 was in use before they upgraded to 7.1 ?

Can you give us the details please.

Regards

eddie123

Level 1

0 points

Sep 18, 2014 12:49 PM in response to den1s

Definatley IOS 8 solved my problem. I have been testing VPN on almost a daily basis since upgrading to 7.1.

After the upgrade of my iPad, iPhone and IPod touch the speed is much improved. Is it as fast as IOS 7, I can't say as I never had a speed issue, so had no need to test it.

GromitD90 Author

Level 1

44 points

Sep 23, 2014 8:32 AM in response to tvmaster

Since I started this thread I thought I should also supply an update. I was able to upgrade by ipad2 to IOS 8 yesterday and run a couple of tests. I use Comcast as my local ISP and StrongVPN as my vpn provider.

I used OOKLA speed test to check download and upload

Results were IOS 7.1.2

Download Comcast - 42.2Mb/s Upload Comcast 11.6 Mb/s

Download StrongVPN - 1.2 Mb/s Upload StrongVPN 1.24Mb/s

Upgraded to IOS 8 and results were:

Download Comcast - 40.5Mb/s Upload Comcast 11.5 Mb/s

Download StrongVPN - 20.42 Mb/s Upload StrongVPN 10.6 Mb/s

I also used the ipad to stream videos last night over the vpn and had no issues. So I would declare the issue fixed.

I am disappointed at both Apple and StrongVPN in their lack of communication and response to this issue.

den1s

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2014 12:39 PM in response to GromitD90

Hi Gromit,

Thanks for the post.

Can you clarify which version of StrongVPN you are back to using please. ? Is it PPTP, L2TP or OPEN Vpn. ?

Is this the same Vpn package and download speed you get now on iOS8 as you got before on iOS7 ? Or is there any difference ?

Thanks

GromitD90 Author

Level 1

44 points

Sep 23, 2014 2:53 PM in response to den1s

I don't have any StrongVPN app on my ipad - I just use the credentials they sent me for my account and enter them manually - so there is no version info.

I am configured for PPTP.

I still have an ipad with retina (generation after ipad 2) which I never upgraded to IOS 7.1 or later - it is still running IOS 7.0.6 and has never had a VPN issue. I just ran the same performance test with it and when connected to the VPN, again using PPTP, I got a download speed of 29 Mb/s and an upload of 10Mb/s.

So IOS 8 doesn't appear to boost vpn performance over 7.0.6.

I would say that things are back to the way they were.

Crispy A

Level 1

0 points

Sep 24, 2014 6:42 AM in response to GromitD90

Gromit - thanks for keeping us updated with this and I have found it very useful to follow the thread. I too have now found Strong back to what it should be following an upgrade to iOS 8 on my iPad 2. Only problem now is having to put up with the 'clunky' behaviour of iOS 8!!!

Thanks again.

den1s

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2015 7:38 AM in response to Crispy A

Hi Guys,

As you know I shared the frustration with you regarding the VPN issue, which I found resolved until now by using Strong OPEN Vpn --- until now.

4 days ago even this FIX fell over and refused to connect on the iPad. SO I BIT THE BULLET AND UPGRADED THE iPAD TO THE LATEST IOS.

The issue I have now is that the Pad itself will connect to VPN using PPTP on UK server but not on OPEN. This is of no major problem because I have 2 accounts, one of each type.

The main problem now is that:

Both BBC and ITV players will connect and run on the pad but will not switch on AIR PLAY on the Apple TV box, it tries and some sound comes through, but display wise all you see are the Apple Tv Tiles. I have updated the Apple TV to the latest software so that it is up to date with the Pad. Other Channels like 4 On Demand and 5 On Demand operate OK, so it may just be the BBC and ITV apps although they are the latest. Does anyone else have this problem ??

Apr 15, 2014 2:29 PM in response to RocketDog007

Apple is not here. This is a user to user technical support forum. Send feedback to: Apple - Feedback

You won't get a response, but they do read the feedback sent to them.

Cheers,

Jun 6, 2014 1:41 AM in response to den1s

Hi Den1s,

Apple have a feedback form where you can report the bug - hopefully if enough people do this they will do somethign about it: http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Mar 14, 2014 4:43 AM in response to GromitD90

Using ipad3 and vpn with Privateinternetaccess,ios7.1 rendered vpn useless.This update is a total mess.

Mar 14, 2014 7:45 AM in response to GromitD90

Hello, I have the same problem with VPN access after upgrade to ios 7.1

I hob to fund the solving as soon as possible .

Mar 16, 2014 1:55 PM in response to GromitD90

As I anticipated this (iPad restore) made absolutely no difference. Symptoms remain the same: iOS7.1 on iPad vpn speed is reduced to a fraction of the expected speed.

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iPad 2 VPN access with iOS 7.1