The Pi is cool but if you have a PC/laptop you can probably just run a VM for messing around. If you don't have a computer then the cost of the Pi is just the beginning, with the need for a keyboard and mouse, HDMI mini adapter, SD card (I just use the TV for the monitor when needed, plugging in with HDMI).

You can get a kit like this but, well, it's $200.

Honestly it's probably cheaper to get a VPS when OVH has their VPNs on sale for $2 a month for 12 months. But you'd probably need a PC to SSH to it (you can do it on mobile but it doesn't sound like fun).

[–] liv 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Sorry to be ignorant but do VPS do ad blocking? I was daydreaming about a raspberry pi if I won lotto because a) I used to like trying to build my own computers and b) pi-hole to block ads for non tech savvy people in the house.

[–] Dave 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

With a VPS it gets a bit more complicated, I probably wouldn't try to do pi-hole on a VPS though I think it would technically be possible. Regardless, I think your major blocker will be that you mentioned your router doesn't let you change the DNS server. pi-hole is a DNS server from the point of view of your router. You need to be able to change the DNS server for it to work. And if you can change your DNS server, then Adguard free plan might be an easier and cheaper (but less fun) way to get that.

I thought you might be able to pick up a really old Pi for cheap, I have pi-hole running on an original Raspberry Pi model B, but there aren't that many and even the ones that are there are more than I thought they would be (e.g. I can see a Pi 2 for $40).

People often use old laptops as a server, if you have one of those lying around.

[–] liv 2 points 1 year ago

Yes and no, I'm still using my 2014 laptop as, well, my laptop!

All this is super interesting. I'm filing it away in the back of my mind.