Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > Travel Technology
Reload this Page >

Use VPN when on Cell Data?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Use VPN when on Cell Data?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 17, 2014, 6:21 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Connecticut
Programs: AA LT plat; Delta Gold; Marriott LT titanium; Hilton Silver
Posts: 292
Use VPN when on Cell Data?

I recently began using a personal VPN (Cloak) for public wi-fi locations. I am in the US. Recently used my iPhone's personal hotspot feature so I could access the internet on my wi-fi only iPad. I noticed that the VPN came on automatically.

Do others utilize a personal VPN when connecting through your cellular device (in my case, AT&T)? What are the pros and cons of doing so?

Thanks.
dougef is offline  
Old Jul 17, 2014, 7:00 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,934
One pro is that you can access "banned" sites when in places where there is internet censorship such as China. Another pro is that if your VPN IP address matches up, you can access content from sites which limit access to IP addresses to certain regions.
KIXman is offline  
Old Jul 17, 2014, 7:05 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: LGA/JFK
Posts: 37
pros:

tethering cellular to another device for "free" hotspot, instead of paying for separate data for separate devices.

look up different vpn apps if that's what you are into.
bones718 is offline  
Old Jul 17, 2014, 8:15 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
Doesn't a VPN add some overhead to the data carried? If so, one con would be more of your data plan used than if you weren't using a VPN.
djk7 is offline  
Old Jul 17, 2014, 8:56 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PEK and BOS
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,530
Originally Posted by djk7
Doesn't a VPN add some overhead to the data carried? If so, one con would be more of your data plan used than if you weren't using a VPN.
That certainly seems to be the case with me: heavy use of VPN due to being in China. 70% of my data is just for the VPN...so I have to keep switching it on and off, a bit of a pain.

tb
trueblu is offline  
Old Jul 18, 2014, 6:17 pm
  #6  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,300
i use it but there are some troube with my vpn client i dont know how.
ToGo is offline  
Old Jul 19, 2014, 1:07 am
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
Extra data consumption caused purely by the fact that you're connected to a VPN is not substantial. What you're actually trying to do over that connection will be far more relevant to your level of data consumption, but that consumption would be the same whether you're connected to VPN or not.
javabytes is offline  
Old Jul 19, 2014, 8:18 am
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
Originally Posted by javabytes
Extra data consumption caused purely by the fact that you're connected to a VPN is not substantial. What you're actually trying to do over that connection will be far more relevant to your level of data consumption, but that consumption would be the same whether you're connected to VPN or not.
This is what I'd have thought too.
gfunkdave is offline  
Old Jul 19, 2014, 2:06 pm
  #9  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,300
the problem is some provider block traffic and or use a proxy server do down convert the images.
ToGo is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2014, 12:54 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1.050MM, PersonalCar 0.275MM
Posts: 1,718
Also possible that by using a VPN, your VPN software could compress the payload data being transmitted and received, more than making up for the additional protocol overhead, and therefore could actually reduce the amount of data that your cell phone carrier will charge against your account.
pshuang is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2014, 12:59 pm
  #11  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,300
normaly it ilegal to manipulate the data beween the webserver and the client.
ToGo is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2014, 1:27 pm
  #12  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
I only use a VPN (Tunnelbear) when I need to access a betting site back in the UK when I am in the US.
Silver Fox is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2014, 9:35 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: on the Llano Estacado
Posts: 2,652
An interesting YouTube provides fairly definitive proof that Verizon is throttling NetFlix (and who knows what else), and that accessing them through a VPN improves performance SUBSTANTIALLY.
deubster is offline  
Old Jul 22, 2014, 7:36 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,227
Originally Posted by deubster
An interesting YouTube provides fairly definitive proof that Verizon is throttling NetFlix (and who knows what else), and that accessing them through a VPN improves performance SUBSTANTIALLY.
Arstechnica has a very good article about this. Makes me glad I don't have Verizon!
HDQDD is online now  
Old Jul 22, 2014, 8:00 am
  #15  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Well, I still find the approach to mobiles in the US monopolistic and, compared to what I am used to in the UK where I can get a SIM a lot easier than the US, mobile companies archaic. I am sure they know what they are doing.
Silver Fox is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.