Troubleshoot Tuesday: APO, FPO, DPO Addresses at Checkout
We love our military folks! Sometimes though, those APO, FPO, DPO addresses can be tricky! The most common issue is caused by the way the address is split up. If you have a “box number” (ex. “PSC 123 Box 456″) please try entering the address on two separate lines, as follows:
Address line 1: PSC 123
Address line 2: Box 456
If this still causes the system to read your address with an error, try also using the full 9-digit (12345-6789) version of your zip code.
If you are still experiencing issues with your APO, FPO, or DPO address after these troubleshooting tips, feel free to contact our customer care department by calling 864-862-4072 or emailing customercare@sabaitechnology.com.
Customer Spotlight Part 2: Yossi, VPN Accelerator
In Part One of Yossi’s Customer Spotlight, we learned how he uses a single Sabai VPN Router to run dual gateways in Israel. Next, we will discuss how Yossi uses a VPN Accelerator to increase the usability of his VPN network.
The addition of a VPN Accelerator to your wireless VPN setup can make or break your ability to watch streaming content, depending on where you live in the world. There are many factors that affect VPN speed and some of them are controllable and some are outside of your control. Here is a short list:
Power of VPN Router
If speed is of major concern to you, order a higher end router like the RT-N66U or the 4200. The more power the router has behind it, the better your speed throughput will be. This is exactly why a VPN Accelerator helps so tremendously.
Add a VPN Accelerator
A VPN Accelerator is a mini computer that handles the VPN part of the network for the router, letting the router focus on directing traffic – it’s intended job! By adding a VPN Accelerator, you can expect the same speeds achieved by running the VPN directly on a computer. If you haven’t tried this, doing a speed test this way is the best way to estimate Accelerator network speeds. Your VPN provider will have directions on its website for using VPN directly on your computer.
Location of your VPN Server
Choose the closest possible VPN server for your needs. If you are in South America, connect to Miami or Santa Fe, not New York. If you are in Japan, connect to San Francisco, not Miami. You get the picture.
Type of Connection
Wired connections are always faster than wireless. If speed on a specific device is critical, for instance your PS3, then connect that device directly into your VPN Router, rather than streaming content wirelessly. This should cause a noticeable difference.
Local Speed
Nothing can increase your local ISP speed. This is one of the factors that is not controllable. Internet speeds are diverse, depending on where you live in the world. Some Asian countries see as much as 100 Mbps while many island nations struggle to get 5 Mbps. Once you add VPN and a VPN Router to your setup, the best we can do is optimize to get as close to your local speed as possible.
VPN Traffic Throttling
If you live in a part of the world that downgrades VPN traffic as “undesirable” there is nothing that you, your VPN, or Sabai can do to overcome that. The only suggestion we can offer is to be sure to try both PPTP and OpenVPN because each works better in some locations than others.
For Yossi, a VPN Accelerator gives him the speed necessary to enjoy Netflix and Hulu Plus content. “I can watch streaming content as well as play streaming content (Pandora, Spotify) whenever I feel like it. It alleviates my dependency on iTunes downloads and makes my Apple TVs a more “complete” device,” comments Yossi. ”It make me feel (at least from the standpoint of content) as if I live in the US.”
If you have more questions about Sabai VPN Routers or the VPN Accelerator, contact Sabai Customer Care by e-mail, chat, or phone. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8 am – 5 pm EST.
Infographic: How To Get American Internet Abroad
Trying to figure it all out? Here is a road map for being able to watch Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, Spotify, Crackle, and more from outside of the U.S.
Ten Shockingly Simple Troubleshooting Tips For Your Wireless VPN Setup
Whether you are setting up your VPN Router from Sabai Technology for the first time, or you suddenly are facing a connection issue, sometimes the simple answer is the best. Try these troubleshooting tips first to see if they help!
- Make sure your VPN Router has power. If not, try a different socket and/or make sure the routers switch is in the ON position.
- Make sure your VPN Router has internet. If not, plug your WAN cable directly into a computer to see if you can connect that way. If not, contact your internet service provider.
- Double check that your WAN and LAN cables are plugged into the correct ports on the back of the router. The WAN port/cable is the same as the “internet” port/cable.
- Try restarting everything, including your modem. Restart the modem first, so that the internet is up and running before the network.
- When starting an OpenVPN or PPTP connection, make sure you click both the SAVE then the START buttons.
- If you are replacing an existing router connection, behind a cable model, unplug the cable modem for one minute and then plug it back in.
- Try switching servers. Some VPN providers change configurations that can break old connections. By getting settings for a new server, you reset your credentials.
- Make sure your computer is set to DHCP and does not have anything manually entered for IP addresses or DNS entries.
- When copying and pasting server information, make sure you don’t have any blank spaces before or after.
- Check the forums for your issue … first! Our tech support has seen it all, and in many cases, we have documented it. Search the blog (there is a search box to your right!), or our knowledge base for the answer to your issue!
If you have tried these things and you still need technical help, you can always e-mail support or, if you are a Sabai Freedom customer, you can make an appointment with technical support!
Sabai Technology Recognized For Its Success In Exporting
U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICES, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC- On March 20, 2013, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Center hosted a luncheon during which Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez celebrated the unveiling of the Charleston, SC, metropolitan area export strategy and awarded the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement award to three South Carolina companies — including Sabai Technology – that have achieved export successes.
The Export Achievement Certificate recognizes small- and medium-sized enterprises that have successfully entered the international marketplace for the first time or that have successfully entered a new market.
Sabai Technology specializes in advanced wireless networking equipment, including consumer virtual private network (VPN) routers that provide a wireless VPN tunnel to a users networked devices. The company was recognized for its reaching out to the global market place by way of Commercial News USA, a “buyer’s guide” publication of the U.S. Commercial Service.
Two years ago, company president William Haynes contacted Denis Csizmadia, manager of the Greenville U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) for guidance on export licensing, finance and marketing. Denis recommended that Mr. Haynes reach out to potential new clients by placing an ad in Commercial News USA. “Sabai Technology is incredibly grateful for the support and encouragement that we’ve received from the Greenville USEAC. Our growth in exports has allowed us to add five new staff positions and has broadened our scope of product to meet the growing needs of our customer base.”
“Sabai’s decision to explore new markets and introduce its products to the global marketplace has made a tremendous impact on the both company’s bottom line and the local economy, proving exports can make a positive difference,” added Under Secretary Sanchez.
Originally distributed by U.S. Commercial Service. The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in more than 100 U.S. cities and in more than 70 countries help companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets. Visit www.trade.gov/southcarolina to learn more.
Sabai Technology Proves Power Trumps Value In Consumer VPN Router Sales
When Sabai Technology refreshed its consumer VPN Router product line in early February, VPN customers noted several big changes. Tried and true Linksys models received spec lifts, new names like NETGEAR and Belkin were introduced, and the Asus brand presence expanded. Refurbished by Sabai Technology with Sabai OS, the company’s proprietary firmware, the seven VPN Router models and popular VPN Accelerator provide a solution for every kind of VPN user.
“We knew customers love Sabai OS and that the new edition would be a hit. But, there was a lot of speculation prior to sale about which new model would be the most popular. Adding the Asus RT-N66U at the very top of the line and then the Belkin Share at $99 meant hitting price points we hadn’t seen before. The big question was whether customers would respond to the value or the power,” comments chief marketing officer Anja Smith.
Almost immediately, the answer became clear. “While we were still in pre-orders, we knew. It was amazing how many customers were responding to the specs on the Asus RT-N66U,” continues Smith. Nicknamed the “Black Knight,” the RT-N66U features a unique look and incredibly high technical specs. Because VPN consumers are typically very concerned with speed – the nature of the connection often slows down local speeds – the fondness for the RT-N66U makes sense. When paired with Sabai OS, the company’s proprietary VPN enabled firmware, this already powerful router becomes a true workhorse.
The RT-N66U performs extremely well in both speed and wireless coverage. Ticking the boxes for dual band and multiple USB ports doesn’t hurt either. This router was made for bandwidth heavy tasks like HD video streaming and multiplayer gaming. Once installed with Sabai OSv5, this high spec router suddenly becomes a consumer VPN Router worth writing home about.
Sabai OS is a proprietary firmware built on open-source software which allows advanced features such as native OpenVPN and PPTP handling and multiple gateway control. The company quietly introduced Sabai OS version one in 2011, while version five of the operating system was released early 2013 to much fan-fare. For the first time Sabai VPN Routers are able to work with a wide variety of VPN providers, allowing the company to help more VPN consumers enjoy true VPN freedom.
Sabai Technology is a VPN networking solution for the every-man, offering easy to use VPN Routers that work with some of the largest VPN service providers in the world. Customers use Sabai’s products to extend their PPTP or OpenVPN account to multiple devices and utilize VPN services on products that aren’t otherwise accessible. For more information, visit http://sabaitechnology.com.
Troubleshoot Tuesday: How Much Speed Do I Need to Stream HD
VPN customers in some parts of the world experience quite an adjustment of speed expectations when moving from local to VPN and again from VPN to wireless VPN on a router. In some parts of the world the choice is 100 Mbps local internet speed that is very limited in content or 2-3 Mbps VPN internet speed with the world at their fingertips. While Sabai Technology and VPN providers across the world are constantly working to improve the accessibility and speed of internet freedom, it helps to know exactly how much speed you need to do certain tasks. Having an idea of speed requirements for things like streaming movies and television shows, provides better perspective on exactly how much of your internet speed you should be prepared to give up on to gain the vast treasure trove of content available in the UK, USA, or wherever you prefer to connect.
Luckily, our friends at Netflix recently published an “Internet Connection Speed Recommendations” guide. These download speeds are the minimum recommended speed for playing movies and TV shows on Netflix streaming.
- .5 Mbps is the required minimum connection speed
- 1.5 Mbps is the recommended minimum connection speed
- 3 Mbps will provide DVD quality streaming
- 5 Mbps provides HD quality streaming
- 7 Mbps provides Super HD quality streaming
- 12 Mbps provides 3D quality streaming
So, what is Super HD? Only the best Netflix picture quality yet! This superior quality video provides beautiful playback on 1080p HDTV’s. To be sure that your Netflix choices stream in the best quality possible, use an HD quality streaming device such as the PS3, Wi, Roku, Apple TV, Smart TV, or Blu-Ray. Be sure to change your video quality setting to Best on the Video Quality page of your Netflix account.
Feel free to visit Netflix for the original article. If you have any questions about how Sabai Technology can help you experience streaming American Netflix while living abroad, feel free to contact us at sales@sabaitechnology.com. Looking for better VPN wireless speed? Try a VPN Accelerator to boost your VPN Router performance!
Troubleshoot Tuesday: Setting Up An External Hard Drive On Wireless VPN
Customers who purchase the Sabai Asus RT-N66U, Linksys E4200, Linksys E3200, NETGEAR WNR3500L, or Belkin N300 Share have access to a unique and helpful network feature. These VPN Routers have at least one USB port and can share a USB printer or external hard drive on the network, so they can be accessed wirelessly. By connecting an external drive to the network, you will be able to store documents, like photos, videos or music on the device and access them via a folder on your desktop. This setup is great for families with lots of digital media.
You will need:
- A Sabai VPN Router with at least one USB drive
- Formatted External Hard Drive with USB Cable Connection
Step One
Leaving your USB External Hard Drive disconnected, log in to your Sabai VPN Router by visiting http://192.168.199.1 in ether Firefox or Chrome. You will be required to log in. Username and password are on the directions that came with your Sabai VPN Router on page one, unless you changed them during setup.
Click on Advanced in the main menu. You may see a warning about advanced settings. Click okay.
Click on USB and NAS > USB Support. Make your settings match the image below:
Once these settings are in place, click Save and restart the Sabai VPN Router with the USB Hard Drive connected. Check this screen again. The USB Hard Drive should now show up under Attached Devices.
Step Two
Back under the USB and NAS menu, click on File Sharing. Pick a username and a password that is secure. Make your settings match the image below:
Click Save.
Step Three
Setting up directory access is a little different on a Mac vs. PC:
Mac:
Open Finder
Click Go > Connect to Server
Search for cifs://12.168.1.1
Click Connect
Your share will appear under the ‘shared’ section of Finder.
PC:
Your share will appear automatically under the Network section, using the name you specified.
You may be prompted for the username and password you selected on the File Sharing page.
All Done!
Now, your files will be available to the entire Sabai Technology network. You can also add files to this folder via drag and drop, just like any other folder on your computer.
Why Dual Band Wireless Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be
Now that Sabai is a hairs breadth away from introducing the long sought dual band wireless on the Linksys e4200 (and adding a second high-powered dual band router to the lineup), let’s focus on what dual band wireless technology actually means for the user.
Dual band means that the router can run both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless frequencies simultaneously. The more common frequency is 2.4 GHz, thus it is the most crowded. This may cause speed issues for highly populated areas, like parts of China or Singapore. If you live in a crowded region, a dual band or 5 GHz capable device might need to be a higher priority.
In addition to being a less crowded frequency, 5 GHz is more powerful. However, this power comes at the expense of range. A 5 GHz network is going to have a shorter reach and, in some parts of the world, isn’t available at all.
Interference can be an issue for either band. On one hand, 2.4 GHz can experience interference from devices such as microwaves and wireless phones. The routers proximity to these electronics should be considered when choosing this frequency. On the other hand, Bluetooth doesn’t play nicely with 5 GHz, and may cause serious disruption to the network on this band.
Many devices, like some Apple products, simply don’t work with 5 GHz, because it is wireless N only. A 2.4 GHz network is wireless G and wireless N, and works with any wireless enabled device.
Because of the various uses and restrictions, many customers think that simply running both frequencies is the way to go. However, Sabai technical support reports that largely, the idea that simultaneous frequencies will increase wireless speeds is a myth. At best the difference is negligible, at worst it can actually bog the network down. Some customers who purchase the e3000, Sabai’s current dual-band offering, end up disabling one of the frequencies to gain speed.
Not sure which way to go? Try prioritizing. When in doubt, remember everything will work with 2.4 GHz. If you live in a crowded area, 5 GHz may be useful either in addition to, or in place of, 2.4 GHz and you may wish to place a higher priority on a VPN Router with either multi-band or dual band capabilities. If you are Mac user who lives in a highly populated area, true dual band is very high priority because some of your devices may not run on the 5 GHz setting, necessitating dual band.
Look forward to exciting announcements in the coming weeks about Sabai OSv5 features and the new VPN Router lineup!
