VPN, no-ip, and iPhone remote access

[CedarTree]

Hello. I have a VPN set-up on my router which works fine for accessing Blue Iris when I log into the VPN from outside the home. Trouble is that the iPhone closes the VPN connection after some time. And I would like to get push notifications through Blue Iris, which of course would not work once the VPN turns off periodically. Note that I also have a DDNS (no-ip) service so I tried putting in that ddns.net address into the WLAN settings of the iPhone app with no luck so far. Suggestions to either keep the VPN alive OR (better yet) to log into BI from outside the home without using port-forwarding. Thanks!

 

[CedarTree]

My latest attempt was to use BI's gmail function (high priority) and then somehow get my iPhone to notify me just for high-priority emails, but gmail isn't doing a good job (BI sends the email just fine). Again, my goal is to get notified when an Alert is triggered whether or not I am home. SMS texting seems to be spotty - sometimes gmail will send SMS text 3 mins after the alert, and sometimes 12 hours later!

 

[iwanttosee]

Use Tailscale instead of VPN.

 

[wittaj]

My latest attempt was to use BI's gmail function (high priority) and then somehow get my iPhone to notify me just for high-priority emails, but gmail isn't doing a good job (BI sends the email just fine). Again, my goal is to get notified when an Alert is triggered whether or not I am home. SMS texting seems to be spotty - sometimes gmail will send SMS text 3 mins after the alert, and sometimes 12 hours later!

The problem isn't gmail, it is your mobile service provider. Go to your sent folder in gmail and you will see the SMS was sent immediately, but when it shows up on your phone is another story.

All mobile providers are constantly modifying their spam algorithms and these "automated" emails coming out of a VMS system become a casualty.

It is this reason why most of us have gone to the Pushover app instead of SMS. More reliable and doesn't require a VPN or portforward to get images with an alert from BI.

J

Thread 'Send Pushover notifications with pictures and hyperlinks'

Sep 21, 2021

I've figured out how to send Pushover notifications with pictures and hyperlinks from Blue Iris Actions without using external scripts.

This approach uses curl and the Pushover API, and provides functionality similar to that recently described for Telegram <link>.

EDIT (5/16/2022) - For those who prefer a TLDR version of this thread, I’ve appended a copy-paste-ready API Reference section, and a Testing section to the end of this post. I’ve also added links to key topic posts that have appeared later (e.g., custom sounds, emergency...

• jaydeel
• Replies: 695
• Forum: Customizing

• 
• 

 

[CedarTree]

Use Tailscale instead of VPN.

Thanks - what specific service do I need / do I have to pay money? Thanks!

 

[tangent]

Thanks - what specific service do I need / do I have to pay money? Thanks!

Tailscale · Best VPN Service for Secure Networks

Securely connect to anything on the internet with Tailscale. Built on WireGuard®️, Tailscale enables you to make finely configurable connections, secured end-to-end according to zero trust principles, between any resources on any infrastructure.

tailscale.com

or

ZeroTier | Global Networking Solution for IoT, SD-WAN, and VPN

ZeroTier is the best global networking solution and overlay for IoT infrastructure, SD-WAN, VPN, and remote access.

www.zerotier.com

both have a free tier.

 

[CedarTree]

Wow - that's perfect. It also connects automatically when I'm off my home wifi!
I'm now using push notifications, unless you all would recommend something else?

 

[CedarTree]

Oh and PS... now that I can VPN, how to connect to BI in general using the BI app on my iPhone (and ideally, using the no-ip name so that I don't have to update the IP address)? As of now, Tailscale isn't letting me into the BI app (but I'm getting notifications). But if I connect to my router's VPN, I can reach the BI server through the app.

Perhaps it's a firewall issue but clearly, when using the Tailscale VPN, BI can reach my iPhone, but why can't my iPhone app easily connect to the BI server?

 

[CedarTree]

To close the loop - I just changed the WLAN address within the BI app to the Tailscale IP address from within the TS app. Thanks all!