Bell Fibe Sharing

[Blazerbong]

I met a person last night that told me he shares a Bell Fibe plan with someone at a different address.I asked how was that possible.he said that it works by the Internet and that he had changed the the VPN and other settings so it is like the host address.He is a Software Tech so possibly it was no big deal for him.
I just didn't know it was possible.

[wheresmystuff]

he'd need the service menu access on the reciever to do that. Plus I thought you needed the main hub for wireless connectivity.??

[Blazerbong]

I don't really know how it works.He did tell me that it fails once in a while.Perhaps he has access to the service menu somehow.The way I understood it,is he married his internet settings to the host.I know to little about this stuff but the guy seem legit.

[wheresmystuff]

cool would be interested to find out more. I may ask my bro in law for his spare to fool around.

[pr0cess0r]

I did not test it but i know you can connect those receiver bu ethernet cable not only wifi. Then you setup a transparent VPN tunnel and the receiver should be seen like its in the original house.

I also thinked to try it over wifi with 2 unifi unit they make a wireless wire and are not seen byt the equipement.

[zokii1983]

hmmm never thought about it that way

in theory this should work

1.) User on the "server" side needs to have a good plan with bell, 50 mb upload at least
2.) Server side (user who is paying for TV) needs to have DD-WRT router or similar (PfSense for advanced users)
3.) On server side, setup up router in access point mode
4.) On server side, set up OpenVPN server ... Bridge (TAP) and enable DHCP Proxy
5.) On client side, once again user needs to have DD-WRT router or similar
6.) On client side, setup OpenVPN client with settings generated from server

Since router on server side is setup as access point, DHCP server will be main modem it self

On client side, any device including receiver will be able to reach main modem and will see it as local

Not tested, but this should work!!

[zokii1983]

holly shhhh, this actually works (kinda)

Here is the experience .. I have 1 gb down, 50 mb upload
receivers I tested with
VIP2262 - HD reciver
VIP5662W - 4k Reciver
Apple TV


I used my old computer and installed pfsense to setup access point and openvpn server at my condo where I have bell FIBE
at my parents house I had a DD-WRT compatible router, but had to disable encryption on server side, otherwise the best I was getting was 2-3 mb ... once there was no encryption I was getting full 50 mb download

Testing
VIP2262
connects no issues
channel loading little slower but no freezing .. I switched to HD channels .. still solid .. watched for an hour on HD channel, not a single freeze ... changing channels still not at fast at at my condo .. but this is workable

VIP5662W
connects no issues
from what I can tell, this is pure TCP, don't give a f*** about bandwidth receiver
not a single channel works properly .. . I can hear audio, but picture is not stable.. even for 1 second ... definitely no go

Apple TV
This works the best, channel change same like at condo
install the app, and good to go


conclusion... apple TV is way to go if anyone wants to do this
connection was about 10-15 mb for HD receiver (definitely VBR video)
for apple TV it was half that at the best
VIP2262 will do the job, but at peek hours.. you might start seeing some freezing ...
pretty sure apple tv will stay rock solid

I'm lurker at the best on this forum, but if anyone needs help with setup.. send me a message or even better leave comment on this thread and I will reply when I see

[doylet8456]

I’ve been using the Asus RT- AC86u with OpenVPN UDP 1194 flawlessly for nearly 2 years. I attempted to change the router from router mode to AP Mode and follow the mini guide above, but without luck. I can connect to the VPN with another ac86u, but I do not get an internet connection.
Any ideas ?
In the mean time, I did create a 2nd OpenVPN server in the ac86u settings. Using TAP TCP 1195, and I can confirm a wireless arris vip 2502 connects and works like a charm. However, in the IPTV connection status I see, disconnected and I am unable to access adult locked content using the previously setup PIN. Any ideas ?

[doylet8456]

Quick update.
I’ve found a workaround for my issue.
I am running Asus MerlinWRT on both of the RT-AC86U routers.
The server side AC86U is in router mode, OpenVPN server 1 is set as TUN UDP 1194, OpenVPN server 2 is set as TAP TCP 1195. Both are enabled.
On the Client AC86U Client 1 is connected to server 1, I get a 10.0.8.2 VPN address and the public IP of the server side. Client 2 is connected to server 2, so TAP is enabled and I get 0.0.0.0 IP address and no public IP.
The Bell Arris VIP 2502 syncs via WPS with the client 1, boots up and freezes constantly. Once client 2 is enabled, full streaming and connectivity occurs.
Fibe TV HD channels stream at 840-890KB/s confirmed through the client AC86U traffic analyzer. = 6.8mbps.
This method of layered OpenVPN connections does not allow for the android tv and fire tv bell Fibe apps to connect. And I assume if I lose connectivity, I will have to re initialize client 1 then client 2 in sequence.
Overall, the workaround renders a vastly superior bit rate and picture quality compared to the android tv and fire tv. I am happy.

[zokii1983]

just seeing message you sent and I'm glad you resolved the issue .. as I said, I'm (almost) 10 years lurker on the site

The way I approached it was to have main modem lease the IP via VPN
bit different setup tho
on server end I had PF Sense and set DHCP server to modem IP (in my VPN server configuration)
google keywords would be "openvpn external dhcp server"

once this is setup properly and you are in LAN to main modem... unless you setup firewall on client router.. you will be fine

I never tested "typical" vpn setup .. but I guess as long as you can ping main modem it should work

edit:
I don't have my config.. but this is the reference I used

so
server-bridge <gateway> <subnet> <range>

Also, I had to do some additional change .. I wanna say push "route-gateway dhcp" .. but not 100% sure

test and let me know

[doylet8456]

I ended up finding that enabling static routes on both the server side and client side allowed only 1 vpn connection to work. So my official asus workaround is as follows.

Server side ip address - 192.168.60.1
Client side ip address - 192.168.50.1

On server enable static routes in LAN - add 192.168.50.0 255.255.255.0 0.0.0.0 24 LAN
On client enable static routes in LAN - add 192.168.60.0 255.255.255.0 0.0.0.0 24 LAN

Tweak client side vpn settings in GUI
Exclusive DNS
Allow Inbound firewall
Force Internet YES 192.168.60.1

These settings allow my client side to appear in my server side ISP modem as a connected ethernet device 192.168.2.X

EDIT - Now I do have the occasional hiccup on the Arris2502W when watching live tv and restarting a show stutters, on demand stutters and I'm not sure why.

I've tried both UDP and TCP, but both appear to have the same issues.
My connection is a hardline 50mbps.

I do have a newly built 4 port firewall appliance and just installed pfsense. I may try and create a VLAN using the bell vlan properties, which I believe are VLAN 36.

[dishuser]

and what port numbers did you assign for udp and tcp?

[doylet8456]

and what port numbers did you assign for udp and tcp?

UDP 1194
TCP 1195

I picked up a 5662W, registered it and can confirm program restart works 98% of the time.

[zokii1983]

I ended up finding that enabling static routes on both the server side and client side allowed only 1 vpn connection to work. So my official asus workaround is as follows.

Server side ip address - 192.168.60.1
Client side ip address - 192.168.50.1

On server enable static routes in LAN - add 192.168.50.0 255.255.255.0 0.0.0.0 24 LAN
On client enable static routes in LAN - add 192.168.60.0 255.255.255.0 0.0.0.0 24 LAN

Tweak client side vpn settings in GUI
Exclusive DNS
Allow Inbound firewall
Force Internet YES 192.168.60.1

These settings allow my client side to appear in my server side ISP modem as a connected ethernet device 192.168.2.X

EDIT - Now I do have the occasional hiccup on the Arris2502W when watching live tv and restarting a show stutters, on demand stutters and I'm not sure why.

I've tried both UDP and TCP, but both appear to have the same issues.
My connection is a hardline 50mbps.

I do have a newly built 4 port firewall appliance and just installed pfsense. I may try and create a VLAN using the bell vlan properties, which I believe are VLAN 36.

it's bit complicated .. but if it works.. great

bottom line is, make "yourself" local to router and this will work

for me, easiest way to do that was setup OpenVPN conf to use external dhcp and pointed it to bell modem

so essentially when openvpn client connects, it's like another device connected to modem ... if bell router is leasing 192.168.2.x my vpn address will be 192.168.2.x
disable firewall on client and this will work 100%

but from what you writing, it works regardless

[doylet8456]

I recently moved to ubiquiti USG-Pro 4 for better QOS and monitoring on my network. Great stuff. One problem.

I got my ubiquiti usg pro 4 to connect to the TAP 1195 connection. But I'm running into an issue where no traffic is passed through the bridge tunnel. On the config side log shows decompression header error , basically a compression mismatch.

Compression is disabled on the server config, the asus ac86u runs openvpn 2.4, unifi only supports openvpn 2.3.2. Setting all of the comp-lzo options does not fix the mismatch.

Any ideas?

[zokii1983]

I recently moved to ubiquiti USG-Pro 4 for better QOS and monitoring on my network. Great stuff. One problem.

I got my ubiquiti usg pro 4 to connect to the TAP 1195 connection. But I'm running into an issue where no traffic is passed through the bridge tunnel. On the config side log shows decompression header error , basically a compression mismatch.

Compression is disabled on the server config, the asus ac86u runs openvpn 2.4, unifi only supports openvpn 2.3.2. Setting all of the comp-lzo options does not fix the mismatch.

Any ideas?

what's the exact error message?

this is where pfsense/dd-wrt/openwrt come in handy as server/client because stuff is written directly into .config file rather than some fancy GUI that does god knows what

if nothing else, find some old desktop on kijiji and install pfsense on it, or modem that supports ddwrt and in server config disable compression

[doylet8456]

what's the exact error message?

this is where pfsense/dd-wrt/openwrt come in handy as server/client because stuff is written directly into .config file rather than some fancy GUI that does god knows what

if nothing else, find some old desktop on kijiji and install pfsense on it, or modem that supports ddwrt and in server config disable compression

I abandoned the unifi solution for the OpenVPN. I’m back on the Asus AC-86U, and this time I configured the server side router in AP mode like you first recommended in the summer.

Now my devices are actually seen locally and getting an IP direct from the server side IP modem. Only problem now, is I can’t see the client side router and playback stops after 10 seconds in Live TV, rewind the show or pause and it plays fine.

Hmm

I will try and post my setup for both server and client side soon.

[doylet8456]

I abanonded the ap mode for the asus server router. I soon realized that the issue of only getting 10 seconds before the signal is lost and channel stops has to do to igmp proxy being disabled on the asus ac86u, a hardware limitation.

Having the bell 5662W on the server side IP Modem requires the VLAN multicast settings Internet VLAN 35, IPTV VLAN 34 and igmp proxy enabled. The ac86u using the broadcom hardware cannot have both enabled. So I'm out of luck. By the way, I am 3800km away from the physical server side hardware, so adding the pfsense desktop isn't really an option until summer when I visit next.

Weird things is now happening though, my initial workaround is no longer allowing me to connect on the vpn. I will attempt to reboot the server router and or restore settings. I bet moving from router to AP mode back to router has messed something up.

[corynick]

All you need is someone's 'my bell' password and you can access almost all their channels anyway and don't have to do any VLAN crap

[walter]

All you need is someone's 'my bell' password and you can access almost all their channels anyway and don't have to do any VLAN crap

The channel selection available sucks. I just changed to Fibe and was disappointed to discover how limited the channels were on the app.

[doylet8456]

All you need is someone's 'my bell' password and you can access almost all their channels anyway and don't have to do any VLAN crap

Using a simple TUN VPN allows any device to show as on the "Home Network" and loads automatically, providing all subscribed channels. That part is so simple, using only the password would be a mistake IMO.

Using the actual hardware like the Arris 5662 requires a bit more to setup, but it the best option for those technically minded. I have full EPG menus and the quality of the service is actually full bitrate vs the bell fibe app. The difference is noticeable, and worth the extra setup.
By the way, I have able to reinitialize my setup and am back to enjoying my bell subscription while working away from home.

[doylet8456]

To resurrect this aging thread, I am now attempting something similiar with Optik TV. Will follow up with results soon.

[doylet8456]

Unsuccessful so far. Channels freeze after 10-15 seconds. Some error with multicast. Any ideas ?

[doylet8456]

Unsuccessful so far. Channels freeze after 10-15 seconds. Some error with multicast. Any ideas ?

Success. DD-WRT FTW

[zokii1983]

I've set this up for myself with half of hustle last time

at my family place there was an OpenMediaVault installed, I just added OpenVPN plugin

in my house, just connected router to VPN and it worked!

no extra steps really

Server side > OMV > OpenVPN plugin
Client Side > PFSense router

I installed Bell app on TV(s), no issues what so ever
I think it helps that upload speed is now 1.5 gb :okay:


also:

As a test, I've installed OpenVPN app on the TV and added my family VPN config .. again, worked like charm


if VPN is used just for watching TV channels

this can easily be shared with 10+ families (with 1 gb+ upload speed on server side)

[doylet8456]

I've set this up for myself with half of hustle last time

at my family place there was an OpenMediaVault installed, I just added OpenVPN plugin

in my house, just connected router to VPN and it worked!

no extra steps really

Server side > OMV > OpenVPN plugin
Client Side > PFSense router

I installed Bell app on TV(s), no issues what so ever
I think it helps that upload speed is now 1.5 gb :okay:


also:

As a test, I've installed OpenVPN app on the TV and added my family VPN config .. again, worked like charm


if VPN is used just for watching TV channels

this can easily be shared with 10+ families (with 1 gb+ upload speed on server side)


i sold my home in New Brunswick in May 2022. No more Bell services. In Alberta I have Telus, and their Optik TV service works anywhere in Canada with my telus login info. So my dad back in New Brunswick just uses it by logging in. No more VPN's or anything lol.