iPad 2 VPN access with iOS 7.1

Hi All

i use StrongVPN and have been struggling with this issue for 6 months now. I contacted StrongVPN back in March and they suggested this was an Apple only issue. I saw a post about SurfEasyVPN and thought I'd give it a try. I installed it today and it works.

i used Ookla to do a speedtest and StrongVPN downloads at <0.5Mbps while SurfEasy downloads at >6Mbps.

i've used StrongVPN for years and don't want to switch provider if I can help it. However, the test I've run points to StrongVPN being at least part of the problem. I've shared my findings with them and asked for their help. Hopefully they'll step up and provide a solution. If not, SurfEasy seems to work (you can download and test it yourselves as its initially FOC, BUT, there are usage based fees on the backend, so check it's right for you before sign up).

Thx

Craig

Great news! thanks for doing another confirmation test. I pay yearly for Surfeasy, and they've been good so far. Their tech support claimed there were no problems with iOS7, and you're the second confirmation.

Thanks again.

PS - Tunnelbear works as well I understand

Thanks for posting the original fix. The ball is now with StrongVPN and so far as I can see they need to fix the issue or lose subscribers. If it were my annuity revenue at risk I'd get right on it, so fingers crossed 🙂

Hi Guys,

I just contacted Strong VPN to get an up to date feedback. You will see below suggestions made by them after I referred them to this thread.

I am rather lost with some of the technical procedures, but I felt if I post them here them someone who is adept at these things can test the solutions they have recommended and then report back to us if any work. I can then get back to them with the result.

Below is a copy of the Chat Box correspondence.

ME

The last 3 pages of this Apple thread give the most up to date information. They have agreed that it is not the iOS, since the iOS works with the other vpn providers?

Vano (Technical Support)

you should test 3 options - l2tp, pptp and pptp with encryption set to None. use Server IP instead of server address in all cases.

ME

How do I access these options ? Are they in your configuration items on your client screen or are these accessed on the ipad itself.

As this has been reported by many Ipad users, does Strong have an agreed Procedure for fixing it please.

Vano (Technical Support)

iOS (iPhone / iTouch / iPad) PPTP setup instructions: http://strongvpn.cc/setup_ios_pptp.shtml

iOS (iPhone / iTouch / iPad) L2TP setup instructions: http://strongvpn.cc/setup_ios_l2tp.shtml

Vano (Technical Support)

try to use other lcoation in Uk instead London

Hi Guys,

I am POSTING HERE to TRY AND HELP YOU ALL but SEEM TO BE BLOCKED FROM POSTING A CURE WHICH WORKS

Like many others I have been badly affected by the 80% drop in speed with the VPN connected since the 7.1 upgrade, with only 1mb available and normally 5mb.

I consulted my VPN provider Strong and had excellent Technical back up from Alexander S and Luba Supervisor.

Upgrade to 7.1.2 was done just prior to the following.

We initially went through all the L2TP set up options, coming back with the same problem when we ran a speedtest. The breakthrough came when we set up another account using the "Special Open/IPSec" version with the "Client choice" set at UDP. Since this set up the Ipad2 has run at its full normal VPN speed and the programmes selected have run normally on the Pad screen. When I first tried to send the iPad picture to the AppleTV box it was reluctant to work, but after several attempts it finally connected (I imagine it needed to open a router port or something) and has worked faultlessly since.

The comments below from the Tech Guys were taken into the decision and we went ahead and tried it, for me it has worked fine.

we already tested that ipsec works fine on ipad 2, with openvpn package

it only depends on your network

in some networks it may be blocked

if connection doesn't pass though with different vpn servers, then protocol is definitely blocked.

Well done Strong Team and I hope this post helps other iPad2 VPN users.

Hi Gromit,

From my text above.

The breakthrough came when we set up another account using the "Special Open/IPSec" version with the "Client choice" set at UDP.

This is a different account than the original L2TP PPTP.

The Strong guys opened a new account SpecialOpen/IPSec and this procedure was instigated from their end. Once it was loaded I tested it 1. to verify its speed and 2. to see if it would connect to my choice of TV.

If you are in any doubt, the staff who set me up I am sure will help you.

Regards

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

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

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.:(

can you tell us which VPN service you use?

I use a company called TV abroad, I only use VPN to get a local UK proxy.

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

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.

iiOS 8 solved the vpn slowness issue in my ipad3 which happened after installing iOS 7