@evanevery 

So now they are asking for me to install teamviewer on my PC so they can see why my M8550 is not establishing a tunnel.

Not sure what they are expecting to accomplish with remote access cause the instant I hit "connect" they will lose all connectivity.  As soon as the M8550 (through which my PC is getting internet access) tries to open the VPN, they will lose all visibility.  I'm not sure why they wouldn't understand this...

Perhaps its just another generic "we need remote access" request from a Tech Support which is not actually considering what they might accomplish?

I raised this question to them and haven't heard back.  I also told them I would do this REGARDLESS if they could simply tell me what value it might provide. Still waiting...

They also asked what router I was using - which I clearly provided in my first posting and ALSO in the report I used to open my support ticket.  This isn't my first rodeo.  I always try to provide as much info and detail as possible so folks don't have to ask for it later.  Yet they always seem to ask anyway...  Anyone else of tired of Tech Support which doesn't read ALL the information you provide?

If anyone is having any better luck here, please keep us posted!

  @evanevery Did you ever come across the Cello C160 aka KuWFi C160? Seems to have L2TP VPN support but doesn't look terribly trustworthy.

  @evanevery

Not sure what they are expecting to accomplish with remote access cause the instant I hit "connect" they will lose all connectivity.
That is actually quite hilarious 

 I can't say that I have been terribly impressed by the performance of the support agents so far. They sent me the beta firmware that could not be installed even though you had already received newer ones. When I contacted them again with the error report, they sent me the same firmware version again.

  @evanevery 

Surely with remote access if a tunnel is not built, they will not lose the connection?  Like I say mine just keeps flashing up "connecting" and no more.  

I'm shocked at the lack of testing resource behind this, like you say.  I'll run that firmware up tomorrow morning UK time and try it.  

I'm not confident that it will work, and has probably broken other stuff too. I might even try the server tomorrow with the RJ45 in WAN mode, see how that fairs up.  I bet that is broken, or has never worked too.  

At least with my AMIT (GEM route Pro 420), they gave me a fix that only allowed PPTP dial in all them years ago when I lived in a remote location and could get a public IPv4 address with H3G, then Apple in the wise wisdom decided to do away with PPTP (yes security I know, but it's like it is all about control).  

I think I will probably end up sending it back, for the money I can get a 5G Draytek without the need for silly power saving cures, and is guaranteed to do "what it says on the tin"!  

  @Pete_8550 

(Anybody wonder why the "remember me" button on the TP-Link community web site log in page doesn't work and we still have to log in EVERY TIME?  <sigh>)

Sure, I would expect their remote access to work just fine untill the moment I hit "connect"...  (Once I hit "connect" my PC can't see anything on the other side of the M8550.  This includes both the VPN and the Internet).

If all they want to witness is a total loss of connectivity (inc their remote session) when I hit the "connect" button, I don't think that gains us much.

I'm guessing this is probably because pretty much everybody is using open source router software (that they don't fully understand) and are trying to tweak it to work with their individual hardware (which they don't fully test).

  @evanevery 

That didn't go well!  

I thought that rather than keep removing the sim card out of my company phone to test, I'd initially use the WAN connection, and guess what, the dictionary definition opposite of consistency, what a joke.  I was going to upgrade the firmware and make sure all was "okay" before I went down the route of dial out / in, etc.  

The GUI even reported it wasn't online when it was, and within a couple of minutes it would just drop out.  I haven't chanced upgrading the firmware as reading everything "advanced" about this "router", can you even call it that at this stage is a complete joke, and that is what they market this thing on.   Even if it fixed tht issue, there is going to be a million and one bugs, and reminds me of my AMIT (badged GemRoute 420) years ago.  Even the half hearted attempt of my request they gave me a firmware version that done PPTP at least back in the day.  

I feel like I have had the right p155 taken out of me in regards to this, it is factory reset with the latest official firmware and all boxed up and ready for returns.  I'm not going through that ball ache, like you said "Why should I?"

  @Pete_8550 

I'm with you...

I have no problem working with Tech Support if they would please not waste my time.

- One would think they should be able to test the sucessful import of a config text file without any of our assistance.  (Apparently not)

- Please stop throwing BETA firmware at us if you haven't tested it to see if it actually fixes anything (like a proper text import for example)

- Please read all the information I have carefully gathered and posted and stop asking for it multiple times.  Its pretty apparent the folks reading the tech support messages are only reading the very last reply...

- There are so many glaring problems with the user interface and no one (but actual customers) seems to notice/care.

- If they are going to ask for customer help in FIXING THEIR PRODUCTS, they should value our time and should only ask us to provide meaningful things.  (Otherwise, I'll be happy to negotiate a consulting rate)

If I don't see some simple progress here in very short order (like properly importing data from a text file), I'll just step away for a month or two and come back later to see if they have actually accomplished anything.  (I'm out of the country for several weeks starting next Friday - and I told them this...)  I'm sure there are other customers that they can take advantage of who are more compliant than myself...

Still wondering why the "Remember Me" button on the web site Log In page doesn't work...  Perhaps the same people who are NOT testing the web pages are the ones NOT testing the hotspot firmware?

  @evanevery 

I wish you all the best of luck.  If I find anything suitable in the meantime I'll update you.