On Fri, Jan 24, 2020 at 09:59:55AM +0000, Chris Green wrote:
I have a Kobo eReader which connects to a local network by WiFi. It uses the connection to download books (surprise) and also to do other things with my library on-line account.
All very well when I'm in the UK but for (stupid?) reasons known only to themselves the Kobo/Overdrive/Library software and connections work only when the Kobo is connected to a UK IP address.
So, when I'm trotting around the world, or more likely when I'm sitting in my little boat in France, I can't get the Kobo to update even though I have books available at the library. What makes it even sillier is that I *can* read the books on my laptop, even when connected from France, so it's not an issue about "you can't read that book in France" it's just a quirk of the eReader software.
Anyway, down to the question, what's the simplest way to get a connection to the eReader such that the library/Overdrive software will think it's in the UK?
I can see that it *could* be done with two VPN aware routers, one in the UK (I have Drayteks at home which can do VPN) and one here on the boat. However that does seem a rather heavyweight solution just to connect a single WiFi device. (and I don't have a VPN capable router here at the moment though in the longer term I could bring one out)
Is there any other way of doing it (VPN or not, ssh maybe)? I already use an ssh proxy occasionally to allow my laptop to seem to be in the UK so I can connect to my NHS Doctor site (silly restriction again!). However I can't do this (so easily) with the eReader because it's basically a 'closed' system with just the eReader software in it.
Any bright ideas anyone?
I see I asked something similar a while ago, I still haven't got around to doing anything though! Sorry for the repeat but any further ideas would still be useful.
I was going to try TunnelBear VPN but then realised it needs a smart phone (unless there's a laptop version) and I don't use a smartphone any more.