VPN slows gradually

[Winds]

I've used ExpressVPN and NordVPN and both services gradually slow over the course of minutes or even seconds when connected to the R3. I measure ~800mbps download without a VPN connected. When the VPN is connected, it slows down to ~20mbps download. Upload speed seems unaffected.

 

This happens on my Windows 11 PC (wired/Wi-Fi) and my Android phone (Wi-Fi). I'm using the apps on the respective devices as they're more convenient for me than the R3's hybrid VPN.

This has been a problem for months and I've gone through endless troubleshooting. Please for the love of God help me.

[Netduma Fraser]

That's expected through OpenVPN due to hardware limitations, switch to Wireguard and that will get you 100Mbps. 

Otherwise use HybridVPN to apply the VPN only to specific services/applications you want behind it and then the rest of your device can use your full speeds.

[Winds]

I get ~600 to 700mbps and then it slows down to 20mbps. Is that normal?

[Netduma Fraser]

Using OpenVPN? I would say the more unusual part is that it's that high in the first place, 20Mbps is about the max you should get with OpenVPN and 100Mbps with wireguard

[Winds]

I was getting a stable 600-700mbps using ExpressVPN up until a few months ago.

[Netduma Fraser]

Then I would say it is highly likely that it was set in a way where either the speedtest isn't being covered by the VPN or the device itself wasn't covered properly

[Winds]

The speedtest showed the ExpressVPN IP address. It was also consistently 150-200 mbps slower than my connection without the VPN enabled.

[Netduma Fraser]

I don't see how that has happened really and certainly not expected so I can't really advise on how to get back to a state that shouldn't have been possible in the first place

[Winds]

I still consistently get 100mbps using ExpressVPN over my phone's mobile network, so obviously, it's possible. I can screenshot it if you'd like.

[Netduma Fraser]

14 hours ago, Winds said:

I still consistently get 100mbps using ExpressVPN over my phone's mobile network, so obviously, it's possible. I can screenshot it if you'd like.

You're not using the VPN on the router or on the router WiFi in that scenario so it's not really relevant. As I said slower speeds through OpenVPN is expected through the router so I can't help you to improve that.

[Winds]

Again, I used to get 600mbps with a VPN when connected to the router and now I don't. Something with the router is limiting that speed. I was using my mobile network speeds as proof that higher speeds were possible through OpenVPN and as comparison to the current speeds I'm getting through the router. I thought that would be obvious.

[Netduma Fraser]

That's fine but I've told you through the router the 20Mbps speeds you are getting is expected with OpenVPN so I can't help you achieve more than that. If you want more than that then you'll have to use Wireguard to achieve 100Mbps. 

What's the phone you have out of interest?

[Winds]

To clarify in case it wasn't apparent, I was getting 600 Mbps through my r3 router with expressvpn enabled. This was a stable bandwidth over the course of multiple years. Only recently has the bandwidth started being a problem.

 

My phone is a Samsung Galaxy s24 ultra.