More and more people are now using mobile data on their phones to download and watch videos, and they often find that their data allowance isn’t enough, while buying extra data packages is too expensive. For people who use a lot of mobile data, what can you do when you run out?
Here’s a tip for everyone: there’s now a technology online called data-free access, which can be set up on a VPS server so your phone can achieve unlimited internet access. You can also let others use it, or even sell data access to make a little extra money. Follow along and learn how this technology works!
Let’s first understand why a phone can access the internet without limits through data-free access. It works by using a VPS or cloud server to set up an OpenVPN service, then configuring a header/domain proxy to route through a free HOST provided by telecom operators such as China Telecom, China Unicom, or China Mobile. It’s just like your phone is connected to WiFi, but in fact it’s using the server’s data traffic.
Pretty amazing technology, right? Just follow the tutorial below step by step to learn how to build a data-free VPS server.
Step 1: Choose a suitable server
Some servers do not support this, so be sure to choose a standard VPS as your data-free setup server. Here’s one VPS I recommend that supports this setup: register and top up 1 yuan to claim a VPS: http://vps.zzidc.com/tongji/vps.html
Step 2: Activate the server
Activate it under “My Orders.” You’ll be prompted for real-name verification, so go complete that. I don’t need to teach you how to fill in your personal information, right? Usually, the submitted information is approved within 10 minutes. There may be a verification phone call in the meantime, so make sure to answer it. Just say you plan to build a website for fun—don’t say it’s for setting up data-free access.
After verification is approved, activate it under “My Orders”
Select the operating system: CentOS 6.7 64-bit
Set the system password; you’ll need this password later to connect to and manage the server
At this point, you can see on the management page that the status is shown as “Activating”
After the installation is complete, you’ll be notified by email. That’s all for this part for now.
Step 3: Start setting up data-free access
Now let’s talk about how to connect to the server and use commands to install and set up OpenVPN
First, install the 2 pieces of software you’ll need later. Search for and download them yourself:
1. Xshell 5
2. Notepad++
Open Xshell 5 and select – File – New
Then select the login prompt and enter the username and password
The default username is root
The password is the one you set earlier when installing the operating system
Save and connect
The following information will appear
Then we can start using SBW’s one-click script
Copy and paste the following code into the window with your mouse and press Enter
wget http://sbwml.cn/vpn6;chmod +x vpn6;./vpn6
Enter the authorization code: sbwml.cn
Wait for the installation to complete, about ten minutes or so
When you are prompted to enter an account and password, set them yourself and remember them, as they will be used when connecting on your phone
After setting it up, it is basically done. When the image below appears, right-click and copy the download link provided there to download it
After downloading, extract the files inside and use Notepad++ to open OpenVPN.ovpn
Note: The default free-data code shown in the image is for China Mobile. I will provide the codes for China Unicom and China Telecom at the end of the post. Replace the red-boxed part in the image with the free-data code suitable for you and save it
Send this file to your phone using QQ
Next are the steps on the phone
On Android, search Baidu to download and install openvpn. On iPhone, download it from the AppStore. You need to apply for a US-region Apple ID first, because this app is only available in the US AppStore.
After installation, open the original file you just sent in mobile QQ, open it with another app, and select
Copy to OpenVPN
Copy to OpenVPN
Then a green + sign will appear. Tap it, enter the account and password, turn on Save, then turn on the one below as well. If VPN appears in the status bar, it means the connection is successful.
Finally, use Baidu on your phone to search for IP and check whether the current IP matches the server IP. If the IP is the same as the server IP but the free-data function does not work, it means your free-data code is invalid. Here are a few free-data codes below; try them yourself to see whether they work.
China Unicom free-data code:
http-proxy-option EXT1 “Proxy-Authorization: Basic
MzAwMDAwNDU5MDpGRDYzQTdBNTM0NUMxMzFF”
MzAwMDAwNDU5MDpGRDYzQTdBNTM0NUMxMzFF”
http-proxy-option EXT1 “Proxy-Authorization: Basic
MzAwMDAwNDU5MDpGRDYzQTdBNTM0NUMxMzFF”
MzAwMDAwNDU5MDpGRDYzQTdBNTM0NUMxMzFF”
http-proxy-option EXT1 “Proxy-Authorization: Basic
MzAwMDAwNDU5MDpGRDYzQTdBNTM0NUMxMzFF”
MzAwMDAwNDU5MDpGRDYzQTdBNTM0NUMxMzFF”
http-proxy-option EXT1 “Proxy-Authorization: Basic
MzAwMDAwNDU5MDpGRDYzQTdBNTM0NUMxMzFF”
MzAwMDAwNDU5MDpGRDYzQTdBNTM0NUMxMzFF”
#http-proxy-option EXT1 “Proxy-Authorization:Basic
YWs0NDc5OjZjOGJlMmRkYzU3MjM4MmYxNzMyMmJiMjlhNDNkZjJi”
YWs0NDc5OjZjOGJlMmRkYzU3MjM4MmYxNzMyMmJiMjlhNDNkZjJi”
http-proxy xiami.openml.top 8143
China Telecom free-data code:
remote cdn.4g.play.cn 80
http-proxy-option EXT1 “POST
http://cdn.4g.play.cn/HTTP/1.1”
http://cdn.4g.play.cn/HTTP/1.1”
http-proxy-option EXT1 “Host: cdn.4g.play.cn”
http-proxy-option EXT1 “X-Online-Host:
cdn.4g.play.cn”
cdn.4g.play.cn”
http-proxy fz2.mianvpn.com 80
Note: For China Telecom, in the second set of code, the IP address on the last line needs to be replaced with the server IP address and port.
That’s probably about it. I’ve personally tried it, and it really works!