danb Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 Hello. Recently I have been using Gmail. Do you all think that i will have problem accessing Goggle and Gmail in China? Thanks for your thoughts. Danb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 Hello. Recently I have been using Gmail. Do you all think that i will have problem accessing Goggle and Gmail in China? Thanks for your thoughts. Danb Well, yes! You'll need a VPN for ANY Google feature, including API functions that MANY English-language sites, such as CFL, use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg.D. Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 VPN is an absolute requirement for G anything including the Google Play store if you have an android phone. Weird. The VPN Mr Randy recommended worked for me (ExpressVPN). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb Posted December 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 Hello. Thank you for the replies. In the years past I used google in China for searching the internet. If I had it then it was good and if I didn't have it I just live without when I was visiting. Now it it is a little more important to me. I thought VPN's was used mostly for You Tube and Facebook type things. I never paid much attention to VPN posts. I guess now i will pay more attention to them. I will search for ExpressVPN. I hope it is simple thing to implement and to use and I hope it is free. Thanks again. Danb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 (edited) Hello. Thank you for the replies. In the years past I used google in China for searching the internet. If I had it then it was good and if I didn't have it I just live without when I was visiting. Now it it is a little more important to me. I thought VPN's was used mostly for You Tube and Facebook type things. I never paid much attention to VPN posts. I guess now i will pay more attention to them. I will search for ExpressVPN. I hope it is simple thing to implement and to use and I hope it is free. Thanks again. Danb "You Tube and Facebook type things" can include anything blocked by the Great Firewall, such as Google and Facebook functions which are used by most to virtually ALL English-language websites. For example, I found this html code on the People's Daily English language web site <a href="https://plus.google.com/+PeoplesDailyOnline/posts" target="_blank"><img src="English--People%27s%20Daily%20Online_files/FOREIGN201506300916524319055113078.jpg" alt="google plus" height="20" width="39"></a> <a href="https://instagram.com/peoples_daily/" target="_blank"><img src="English--People%27s%20Daily%20Online_files/FOREIGN201506300917511446401861612.jpg" alt="Instagram" height="20" width="39"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/PeoplesDailyonline" target="_blank"><img src="English--People%27s%20Daily%20Online_files/FOREIGN201506300935253054170867278.jpg" alt="YouTube" height="20" width="39"></a>These little segments would be blocked while in China, and would cause a delay in the time it takes the web page to come up. Most of the web pages seem to function well enough in spite of the blockages, except for the delays while your browser times-out on those references.Proxy servers are fairly effectively blocked, unless you can happen to find one which still works. Yes, ExpressVPN (and most other VPN services) costs money, usually for an annual subscription. But you may be able to find one which offers a free trial, hopefully long enough to get you through your next visit. TOR is a free VPN service which some of our members have touted - you might try that at https://www.torvpn.com/, although I see that now they have mostly subscription plans. On the other hand, if all you need to do is receive incoming gmail - you might try automatically forwarding any incoming mail to another server which ISN'T blocked in China. Any REPLIES (to your email) would have to be sent through that server. Edited December 6, 2015 by Randy W (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnoblett Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 I wonder if Gmail app on iPad would work, or using outlook or the built in email app to connect to gmail. Anything other than browser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 (edited) Access to ANY Google Internet address is liable to be blocked from China. The blockage is through the Internet infrastructure - NOT the browser itself. ANY software accessing these web sites would go through the same infrastructure. Certain internet functions, such as 'pings' and DNS inquiries (when you are using a DNS server outside China) can get through, however - mail connections do not. Even so, yes, there are occasional surprises - you may find a hole-in the-wall (temporary or otherwise). Edited December 7, 2015 by Randy W (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg.D. Posted December 7, 2015 Report Share Posted December 7, 2015 The VPN, for which you can pay for only a month, is also useful for doing banking from China. My bank wouldn't let me connect from China until I installed a VPN and said I was in DC. One month will get you a portable and a phone/tablet install ... can be used simultaneously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 7, 2015 Report Share Posted December 7, 2015 The VPN, for which you can pay for only a month, is also useful for doing banking from China. My bank wouldn't let me connect from China until I installed a VPN and said I was in DC. One month will get you a portable and a phone/tablet install ... can be used simultaneously. I'd like to say that most banks support International access, but I really have no idea how many or which. The Bank of America, for instance, allows Internet access from anywhere (and is not blocked by the Great Firewall). I can withdraw money through an ATM, although the amount is limited and they do charge a 3% foreign currency conversion fee. They have a "SafePass" feature, which allows secure transactions (such as wiring up to $10,000 to myself), usually by SMS, but those in a foreign country can use their SafePass card. No VPN is needed for ANY of my own financial transactions - including TDAmeritrade (stock broker), and several financial institutions I had to access recently for my sister's estate. Your mileage may vary, of course - check with your own bank about any restrictions they may have on foreign access to your account. As far as I know, China's Great Firewall does not restrict these in any way, although a secure connection may appear to be a VPN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb Posted December 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 Hello. The past few years it has been a hit and miss with me being able to access with my computer my Credit Union account when I am in China. My B of A account doesn't seem to have a problem. ATM wise i don't normally have any problems with either of them. So I just signed up and installed ExpressVPN. Question I have is how do I know if it is active or even working? I have the icon on my desk top and on the bar at the bottom of my screen. Danb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 You need to double click the icon to start the software. I usually suggest that you choose 'TCP OpenVPN' for best results in China. It'll tell you Connected or Not. You can go to a site such as https://www.iplocation.net/find-ip-addressto check your apparent IP address and location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan1984 Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 You need to double click the icon to start the software. I usually suggest that you choose 'TCP OpenVPN' for best results in China. It'll tell you Connected or Not. You can go to a site such as https://www.iplocation.net/find-ip-addressto check your apparent IP address and location. Or just try to open Facebook or Twitter or Google. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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