Whole Network VPN with Mesh Wifi

Site Feedback
1

Hi Guys,

I’m looking for some advice before I upgrade my home network. I’m looking to achieve 2 things:

  • VPN on the whole network to avoid the hassle of setting up and connecting to VPNs on the device level
  • Strong consistent Wifi coverage around the different areas of the house (without needing to route Ethernet cables all around the place)

I’m with virgin media as no other provider gives speed and performance remotely close to that. As a result, I’m locked into using their router due to the non-standard line which doesn’t support being a VPN client, and obviously it would not be performant enough. I want to invest in a Mesh Wifi system but I don’t see any contenders with VPN support and I would imagine that they would also not be performant enough.

As a result, I was thinking of a configuration along the lines of:

Virgin Media (Modem Mode) ↔ Something with VPN support ↔ Mesh Wifi System (Most likely the Google one)

For the node with VPN support, I was considering the Synology RT2600AC . However, its quite expensive and as I won’t be using the actual Wifi onboard either (will use the Mesh Wifi), I’m wondering if there is a more efficient option. Ideally I’m looking for an ethernet only router with VPN client support that has plenty of CPU and Memory to handle the VPN encryption. Could I even stick an old machine in there running something?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

2

Just make sure the router you’re choosing supports a VPN Client. Synology makes a great product there are more cost-effective alternatives though

​

I’m not following you on your second part about a more efficient option. For a few extra dollars, you may pay for a router that supports VPN clients, it will be less complicated to set-up. If you’re talking about setting up your own VPS (at home or colocated), you still need a router that supports it

3

Can I ask, is the VPN for streaming or is it for privacy/streaming?

Also, do you absolutely need a mesh system or could you get away with a high quality router in your home? (If you forego the mesh router you can get a single router unit with a more capable processor to handle encryption)

4

Most mesh routers will not be powerful enough to run encryption on any high speed broadband line and maintain good speed. This takes a fair bit of processing power.

You’d be looking at a pfsense box for full line speed over VPN I think.

(My info may be out of date but do check whatever you’re looking at can run a VPN at your line speed)

5

Both privacy and streaming.

Yeah I do need some extra wifi range, my house is old, big with lots of very thick walls.

I’m not overly constrained on budget, I just don’t want to buy a fancy wifi router with VPN if there is an alternative

6

Yeah mesh router won’t work.

Nice, I’ll look into pfsense.