I just set up OpenVPN on my router and everything seems to be working well. However, when I'm not home, I don't get images with my push notifications from the Blue Iris app unless the VPN connection is activated on my phone. Is this how it's supposed to behave? Doesn't seem practical to have the VPN activated on the phone all the time. The only other option I can think of for alerts is to turn off push notifications and use text messages (SMS) with images? If you use a VPN, how do you get your images with your alerts?
VPN users -- How do you get Images with your Alerts?
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the only way ive really found to have it work consistently is to forward a port, which is never recommended, but nothing else has ever worked for me.
from what i can tell, the image isn't 'pushed' to the phone or anything. a push message is sent to the phone with a path (i think), then the app tries to access that path and download the image for the notification relative to the WAN IP: port you have set in the app settings.
edit: i should note i dont currently use a port forward, just noting thats the only thing that seems to work for using Pushes to the app via WAN without constant VPN connection.
from what i can tell, the image isn't 'pushed' to the phone or anything. a push message is sent to the phone with a path (i think), then the app tries to access that path and download the image for the notification relative to the WAN IP: port you have set in the app settings.
edit: i should note i dont currently use a port forward, just noting thats the only thing that seems to work for using Pushes to the app via WAN without constant VPN connection.
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Yeah, although I was very happy with the push notifications, I don't think it's worth the risks associated with port forwarding. I think I'm just going to go back to SMS messages with images. Besides having a 5 - 10 second delay, they've worked for me in the past.
I get alert image locally and when on VPN. Have the same local ip in both WAN and LAN setup in ios BI app.
I have a VPN profile setup that automatically starts VPN when not at home on local wifi.
As far as BI app myserver address is always the same at home or away on cell data or any other wifi.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I have a VPN profile setup that automatically starts VPN when not at home on local wifi.
As far as BI app myserver address is always the same at home or away on cell data or any other wifi.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Auto-Connect your iOS-Device to a VPN when joining an unknown WiFi
How to create an iOS profile for iPad and iPhone that automatically connects you to different VPNs (e.g. Meraki, FRITZ!Box and Streisand)
thomas-witt.com
How to Enable Always-on VPN on an iPhone or iPad
VPNs on an iPhone or iPad still have a big problem.
www.howtogeek.com
All descibe the process of an on demand profile for VPN. I used the first link to generate a profile for a L2TP VPN setup on my Ubiquity Router. Can OpenVpn be setup in a similar fashion?
Works great and good WAF as she does not have to do anything to access BI app home or away. Seamless access.
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handinpalm
Getting comfortable
I set up 2 alerts, the BI Push notification and SMS/MMS with alert pic attached. That way I have redundancy in case of 1 failure. I always look at the SMS/MMS pic. I find my SMS message lags the BI push notification by 1 or 2 seconds. I set up different alert tones for each camera with the BI push notifications, so I can tell where there is movement w/o even looking at pic.
I have a wireguard VPN server setup as it's much faster than openvpn and I do get alert images without portforwarding with no issues I do have wireguard always active but it has settings to exclude or include specific apps(android only) and is not sending data when not needed
make sure DATA SAVER is off in your phone settings under Connections ..
I had the same problem, this is what fixed it.
I had the same problem, this is what fixed it.
I've setup telegram alerts - It works great and i can get all the images for all alerts on it. I sent the group to remove everything after 7 days so i can get a bit of a history on it too 