purevpn support recommends that I turn off my firewalls. Really.

Another one of those: you can't make up stuff like this.

On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 8:30 AM, PureVPN <enquiry@purevpn.com> wrote:
Name: Ken
Country: US
Email: ken
Feedback: The Windows program seems to drop the connection with no indication. I notice that it happened if I happen to look at the purevpn Window, which is not often after I've started the program. Obviously, that makes the use of your service random and therefor unacceptable. Right now it is unconnected and "Web Protection" is Inactive. However, if I close the program you display a message at the bottom of my screen stating that it is still running. What the heck?
__________________________________

from:PureVPN Support <enquiry@purevpn.com>to:ken
date:Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 5:37 AMsubject:Re: Uservoice Feedback

Thanks for contacting us. It is to inform you that the message you see in the taskbar shows that PureVPN program is still running and it is not closed, as it will be minimized and will be in the taskbar of your system. In order to close the software you will have to right click the PureVPN software from the system tray and then exit it from there.
________________________________

from:Ken  to:PureVPN Support <enquiry@purevpn.com>
date:Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 7:02 AMsubject:Re: Uservoice Feedbackmailed-by:gmail.com

I just powered up.  Purevpn is not running in Control Panel list but your program has opened waiting for me to click connect button.  I closed the program without connecting and the "still connected" message appears briefly then fades out.  Purevpn was NEVER connected.  The message is in error.
______________________________________________

from:PureVPN Support <enquiry@purevpn.com>to:Ken
date:Thu, Mar 12, 2015 at 11:31 AMsubject:Re: Uservoice Feedback

Thanks for your reply. You are requested to share with us the screenshot of it so we will check it and will proceed accordingly.
__________________________________________________

from:Ken to:PureVPN Support <enquiry@purevpn.com>
date:Thu, Mar 12, 2015 at 11:51 AMsubject:Re: Uservoice Feedbackmailed-by:gmail.com

This morning I had a long chat with Albert.  I thought things were ok but the connection dropped after about 30 minutes.  I used ABC and L2PT.
_______________________________________________

Note: purevpn live chat transcript on connection options. - "long chat with Albert" THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
_______________________________________________

from:PureVPN Support <enquiry@purevpn.com>to:Ken
date:Sat, Mar 14, 2015 at 10:30 AMsubject:Re: Uservoice Feedback

Thanks for your reply. You are requested to try connecting with server address ocar1.pointtoserver.com and also disable the firewall of your router, modem and system if any then try to connect VPN and check. Also share the results with us.
_________________________________________________

from:Ken <ken>to:PureVPN Support <enquiry@purevpn.com>
date:Sat, Mar 14, 2015 at 12:01 PMsubject:Re: Uservoice Feedbackmailed-by:gmail.com

​Thanks but there is no way I am going to disable the firewall of my router, modem and system.  What the heck is that?​  No way!
_________________________________________________

Business opportunity: beat the sports blackouts.

Maybe such a service or product already exists but I have not seen it yet.  Both of these failed miserably:

unlocator.com

purevpn.com

Cruise back through recent posts to wallow in details but the basic problems were:
- they do not work, certainly not consistently
- they do not address the sports blackout in the USA.

Here's what can make money for someone:
- address specific U.S. sports: NCAA basketball tournament, NBA, MLB.
- let the user specify his (it's going to be guys almost exclusively) home market.

For instance, here in New York Major League Baseball (MLB) with it's mlb.tv streaming video package will blackout the Yankees and Mets.  If I'm willing to pay for a subscription to mlb.tv, why wouldn't I just subscribe to MLB Extra Innings, its TV version.  Two basic reasons, which also apply to the NBA (don't know about NCAA):
1. MLB Extra Innings package: many channels NOT HD.  Wednesday, March 4, 2015
2. using the Internet version of the sports package, the user has the possibility to cut some of the cord and downgrade from an outrageously overpriced TV package to something less expensive or to nothing.

Most of the cord cutting stuff that's written seems geared towards beings from outer space who have no interest in sports.  The big boom in TV viewing is not movies but live sports.  That's what drives up the money, it's from those huge TV contracts.  The sports leagues receive mega money.  Then much of the cost is spread to "cable" customers, especially to pay for ESPN whether they watch it or not.

Currently to get the local sports teams from Verizon FIOS I must subscribe to a combo of HBO and Showtime, which, if I'm lucky, provide maybe one watchable movie a month.  I'd rather dump them both and pay less but I cannot without losing the New York teams.  I could if I switched to Cablevision and I tried that but the Cablevision installer insisted on performing his installation in a town in which I did not live, so after a full day of consternation I cancelled my order even though it would have been $30 less per month than Verizon.  At least Verizon could keep track of where I lived.

That's when I started looking at alternatives and tried subscribing to the packages that provided all the games for the NBA and MLB, but which unfortunately, black out the local teams.  You can see how this circle was formed.

So come on.  How about some semi-smart person using the existing, though far from perfect, technology being wasted by the services mentioned at the top of this post?  Those services apparently cater to paranoid people, not red blooded American guys who don't really worry so much about their messages being read but who want their sports provided their way.

purevpn fails again to beat the blackout.

I started the ABC option as recommended by purevpn during a "chat" documented in the previous post, which should invoke the Oscar option, which should have me seem to be in LA.  However, the Knicks game, which happens to be in LA, is blacked out.  Of course in the ten minutes I tried this the first connection failed and I had start over again.
________________________________

whatsmyip.org

Your IP Address is 199.244.117.30

Host Name & User Agent

Your Host Name:

unknown-client.static.huge-dns.com
________________________________

I have no idea what any of this means but purevpn is not doing the one simple thing I wanted: get me around the sports blackout.

purevpn live chat transcript on connection options.

Name: Ken Registration E-mail / E-mail: KEN Are you Existing Customer Yes Country / Location: USA

Albert Thu, 03/12/15 07:14:28 am America/Los_Angeles Hello Ken. How may I help you? Ken 07:15:46 am You had sent me protocols. I'm connected with L2TP. Albert 07:16:32 am Okay great Ken 07:16:38 am Please open PureVPN SoftwareClick on Protocol and select Protocol as L2TP Click on Personalize selection and click on browse all serversScroll it down In Dedicated IP Subscriber Box please type server address usca1.pointtoserver.com In Preshared Secret please type 12345678 and click on connect Albert 07:16:50 am Thats great. now please open website www.wimi.com and let me what IP address and location you are getting Ken 07:18:02 am Your IP Address Is:199.244.117.13Proxy: No Proxy DetectedCity: Los AngelesState/Region: CaliforniaCountry: Us - us flagPostal Code: 90001Time Zone: ETC -08:00ISP: Hugeserver Networks Llc Latitude: 34.052230834961 Longitude: -118.24368286133 You had me enter a CA server. Albert 07:18:35 am Which country do you want to connect to, so i may suggest you the best server address, and you will not get disconnection issues also Ken 07:18:50 am usca1.pointtoserver.com This is too involved, especially for different purposes. Today, I wanted security. Later I may want to break the NBA blackout, so speed and a non-New York address, not simply fastest in USA, which would probably be local. Albert 07:21:11 am I will provide you few server addresses, which will be best for your needs Ken 07:21:57 am Why isn't NBA an option? Albert 07:22:02 am you may use oscar1.pointtoserver.com whenever you want to access NBA or USA streaming websites sg4.purevpn.net for gaming purpose and low ping Ken 07:22:20 am You've got so many, including multiples for Netflix. I want to watch games, not play games. Streaming video. Albert 07:22:55 am Sir then oscar1.pointtoserver.com will be best for you that will be best for you while you want to stream Ken 07:23:34 am Where is it? Away from New York? Albert 07:23:44 am yes, its away from new york Ken 07:23:55 am Where? Albert 07:24:21 am United States, California, Los Angeles Ken 07:24:33 am OK. Is it in the drop down or must I enter it? Albert 07:25:13 am Sir, you have to enter this server address manually or if you will choose ABC go from the purpose it will let you connect with the same oscar1.pointtoserver.com Ken 07:26:01 am OK. ABC. Why not add something for what I described Other people must have my requirement. Plus, each would need to direct to a non-local server. So someone in LA cannot use oscar1.pointtoserver.com. Albert 07:27:33 am I apologise for the inconvenience, but i will forward your suggestion to the concerned department Ken 07:28:08 am OK. So ABC for the NBA games. What about max security? Albert 07:28:44 am For max security you may choose purpose maximum anonymity Ken 07:28:56 am What server? Albert 07:29:20 am You may choose any server and software will automatically take you to the best encryption Ken 07:29:45 am For ABC, what protocol? Albert 07:30:40 am you may choose same L2TP protocol, it will provide you 256 bit encryption Ken 07:30:53 am OK. When would I use PPTP? Albert 07:31:48 am Sir, you may choose PPTP protocol anytime PPTP provides security upto 128 bit Ken 07:32:24 am What is TV Watching - USA? Albert 07:32:36 am Sir, that will let you access streaming usa websites Ken 07:32:41 am Are all these purposes defines someplace? Albert 07:32:46 am yes Ken 07:32:58 am Where? Albert 07:33:47 am Sir, if you will choose TV watching USA, it will connect you to the USA server Ken 07:34:10 am No, where are all the definitions? Albert 07:34:55 am Sir, it is defined on our server end Ken 07:35:31 am Link? Albert 07:35:57 am Sir unfortunately we dont have link for that Ken 07:36:29 am I suggest that you make that info available to subscribers. Albert 07:37:04 am Sure, we will do this , i will forward your suggestions to the concerned department Ken 07:38:17 am OK. I'll try your recommendations. Eventually, I want my Andriod 5 tablet to use purevpn but I do not have time for that now. Thanks, Albert. Duration: 24m 11s

purevpn log: Maximum Anonymity/Security/Privacy

Purpose: Maximum Anonymity/Security/Privacy

Protocol: Automatic

Connect to the fastest server around the world.

Windows 7

purevpn program:

Bottom of screen: "Support & Packages", Support tab: that's where the log is.

03/12/2015 07:48:31 Connected to vlus-ukl.pointtoserver.com with PPTP Protocol

Web Protection: Inactive
_________________________________

Connection still active after 45 minutes.  Let's see how long it lasts.
_________________________________

Not long.  Connection failed at 9:00.  One hour and twelve minutes.  Better than some days.

purevpn - reconnected with max security but NOT web protected.

Reconnected.

Protocol: Automatic

Purpose: Maximum Anonymity/Security

Prefered country: Canada (USA not an option)

Web Protection: Inactive

In red.  The purevpn Windows program states in red that my web protection is inactive.  This is immediately after and continuing after I connected with its max security.  What the heck is that?

The connection is up six minutes as I post this.  Bye.

purevpn log

03/11/2015 09:52:38 Connection lost to usny.pointtoserver.com
03/11/2015 08:42:47 Connected to usny.pointtoserver.com with L2TP Protocol
03/11/2015 08:42:02 Connection lost to usny.pointtoserver.com
03/11/2015 08:41:33 Connected to usny.pointtoserver.com with PPTP Protocol

purevpn log and suggestions to improve its Windows program.

purevpn.com

Show the protocol, especially when connection is set to automatic.

Make your log accessible.  I stumbled onto it under "Support & Packages".  Why is it there?

Yesterday morning:

03/10/2015 10:13:16 Connection lost to usny.pointtoserver.com
03/10/2015 09:32:22 Connected to usny.pointtoserver.com with PPTP Protocol
03/10/2015 09:21:15 Connection lost to usny.pointtoserver.com
03/10/2015 08:10:02 Connected to usny.pointtoserver.com with PPTP Protocol

What the heck is that?  In Window 7.

Then in the afternoon:

03/10/2015 18:01:59 Connection lost to vlsa-ussf.pointtoserver.com
03/10/2015 17:58:20 Connected to vlsa-ussf.pointtoserver.com with PPTP Protocol
03/10/2015 17:27:29 Connection lost to usny.pointtoserver.com
03/10/2015 16:31:48 Connected to usny.pointtoserver.com with PPTP Protocol
03/10/2015 16:25:14 Connection lost to hulu.pointtoserver.com
03/10/2015 16:24:13 Connected to hulu.pointtoserver.com with L2TP Protocol
03/10/2015 15:21:00 Connection lost to usny.pointtoserver.com
03/10/2015 15:10:03 Connected to usny.pointtoserver.com with PPTP Protocol

Notice usny in the server URL.  When choosing US fastest it makes sense that purevpn would connect to the closest. However, that will probably not break the sports blackout for the local area.  purevpn still does not have a selection for MLB or NBA.  Both block local games and nationally televised games.

Come on.

purevpn live chat transcript: Windows 7 program disconnecting.

Name: Ken
Registration E-mail / E-mail: XXX
Are you Existing Customer Yes
Country / Location: USA

  Hummer Tue, 03/10/15 09:28:08 am America/New_York

Hello Ken. How may I help you?

  Ken 09:28:51 am

Windows 7 program lost connection after about 90 minutes.
It happens often.
Set to Automatic, fastest U.S.

  Hummer 09:30:18 am

Please try switching between protocols i.e PPTP/L2TP then try again

  Ken 09:30:57 am

What does automatic use?

  Hummer 09:31:13 am

It may select any protocol

  Ken 09:31:16 am

I don't know what I'm switching from.

  Hummer 09:31:25 am

You may switch to PPTP and check

  Ken 09:31:59 am

Check what?  Wait an hour and wait for the connection to fail again? This is silly.
I connected with PPTP

  Hummer 09:33:10 am

You will hopefully not get any disconnection now
 

  Ken 09:33:41 am

Why/ It might have been using PPTP before.


  Hummer 09:34:21 am

No it first try OpenVPN protocol

  Ken 09:34:50 am

Why doesn't your software show that?
Also, if the connection fails, it should change the icon, maybe to red to get my attention. Otherwise, it could fail and be down for hours unless I happen to notice the original message.
Is there a link where all your purpose items are defined?

  Hummer 09:37:59 am

once the VPN disconnects it will show in the notification in the task bar

  Ken 09:38:11 am

Briefly.

  Hummer 09:39:02 am

Please share which feature you want to know
so we will describe that addon briefle

  Ken 09:39:27 am

Difference among multiple Netflix.

  Hummer 09:39:45 am

NetFlix is basically a webpage of US
 
  Ken 09:40:00 am

You have nothing for U.S. sports: MLB and NBA.

  Hummer 09:40:24 am

You can access MLB and NBA with our service

  Ken 09:40:39 am

Using what purpose?
I'm just guessing.

  Hummer 09:41:01 am

You may select any purpose as HULU streaming
or connect VPN using the server address oscar1.pointtoserver.com

  Ken 09:42:29 am

oscar1.pointtoserver.com What the heck is that and how would anyone know to use that for baseball or basketball?

  Hummer 09:43:39 am

You may use any US fastest server as well from the purpose to access US based webpages

  Ken 09:43:55 am

I'm in New York. Which Netflix should I use?
 
Hummer 09:44:13 am

You may select US

  Ken 09:44:41 am

Why different ones for Netflix, Hulu, ABC, etc.?
Why multiples for cricket?

  Hummer 09:45:26 am

We actually created different DNS according to the users need

  Ken 09:45:43 am

I need baseball and basketball.
MLB and NBA.

  Hummer 09:46:22 am

Yes we have noted this and do not worry we will add this purpose as well in our software

  Ken 09:47:17 am

Thanks. Another time I'll chat about Android 5 on my Nexus 7 tablet, which still does not connect. Bye.

Duration: 19m 22s
Chat has been opened from website: http://www.purevpn.com/

flashrouters.com sends message 18 of a thread offering help for a returned router.

You can't make up stuff like this.

http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/2015/03/purevpn-increasing-aggravation.html

PureVPN: increasing aggravation.​  Friday March 6, 2015​

flashrouters.com, a hardware partner of purevpn.com, proved to be a bust.  I wound up returning its specially configured for purevpn $200 router (still waiting for acknowledgement, to say nothing of credit) because it could not perform for the one reason that I got it: Roku 3 breaking the NBA League Pass blackout.  flashrouters, based in New Jersey, would not call a New York phone number that I supplied to deal with technical problems but insisted on piling onto an unreadable 15 message mess of an e-mail thread even after I sent two separate fresh messages imploring them to at least exchange messages on a new thread.  They would only communicate through "text messaging" mode.  Two sides frantically typing when a conversation would be so much more efficient.  purevpn is the same.  Just bang away at the keyboard.  Hey, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone!  140 years ago.  Why are we typing in real time rather than talking?
___________________________________________

This morning I received message number 18 from flashrouters.com:

FlashRouters Support (FlashRouters.com) Mar 9, 3:04 AM

Hello Ken, I just wanted to check in to see how you have decided to proceed with this unit. Hopefully the VPN connection stabilized for you. Be sure to let us know if we should be on the look out for a return as well and we would be happy to offer a refund as soon as we receive the unit back in our offices. Regards, Jake L. FlashRouters Support Team ________________________________ My reply: Jake, Thanks for asking but your message is a pathetic reminder of just how messed up flashrouter is.  I returned it almost a week ago and sent a message asking for acknowledgement and refund and received neither.  Maybe you can work on that and send a separate message. I am responding to number 18 in this thread.  I sent two messages trying to start new threads but only received replies to this. _____________________________________ Oh, below is the message about the returned router that Jake knew nothing about: from: Ken to: support+id16168@flashrouters.zendesk.com date: Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 10:17 AM subject: Fwd: Delivery Status Notification (Failure) mailed-by: gmail.com Yesterday you received the router that I returned.  Please test it for the defect that I described in detail. Please credit my account in full. ​__________________________________​ Dear Customer, This notice serves as proof of delivery for the shipment listed below. Tracking Number:1ZX8W6650366931454 Service:UPS  GroundWeight:2.90lbs Shipped/Billed On:0​3​/03/2015 Delivered On:03/03/2015 13:12 Delivered To:CARLSTADT, NJ, US Signed​ By:MALICKLeft At:Front desk _________________________________ Below is my message asking for a new thread, ignored by flashrouter, then forwarded to purevpn, the software company in this. from: Ken to: support+id16168@flashrouters.zendesk.com, support@flashrouters.zendesk.com date: Mon, Mar 2, 2015 at 3:30 PM subject: new thread mailed-by: gmail.com I cannot follow your messages in the other thread.  Too many copies of old messages.  Use this. Or, just call me and tell me what I should do: 914-nnn-nnnn ____________________________________ from: Ken to: support+id16168@flashrouters.zendesk.com date: Mon, Mar 2, 2015 at 3:52 PM subject: Fwd: new thread mailed-by: gmail.com I do not have a sign in at your website. The fact that you refuse to speak on the phone makes me think that you are kids.  This whole thing is silly.  I'm heading to UPS.  You should pay for the shipping but it's not worth my wasting any more time. Please do the right thing and refund all my money, including that absurd contribution. __________________________________ from: Ken to: enquiry@purevpn.com date: Mon, Mar 2, 2015 at 4:12 PM subject: Fwd: new thread mailed-by: gmail.com Ignored. ____________________________________