Facetime issue

[craigdub]

Is anyone else having problems speaking to home with FaceTime, for the last few weeks, when trying to call the UK, or indeed anyone calling me, i answer the call however i just get a "connecting" message, then the line falls dead.
Have tried a couple of different routers but with no change.

[tenfour]

Hi Craig,

FaceTime is actually blocked out here in the GCC. Not sure why exactly, but that's why it doesn't work. Granted, there was a period recently where it seemed to work, but the powers at be have 'rectified' that.

You can however, use a VPN service to circumvent the block (albeit I couldn't possibly condone such an activity).

Skype, on the other hand seems to work OK, so this is always my fall-back.

[GT03ROB]

It may be blocked in UAE but not here in Kuwait so can't be the whole of the GCC.

[El Capitano]

Weirdly for me it's never worked even with a VPN turned on. So I think it's more to do with Internet service provider on how they block it?

It's annoying really... But as said, Skype works.

[craigdub]

Same for me, worked very well until recently, but never been able to get it working with VPN.

Couple of friends have replaced routers and had it work again, reluctant to spend few hundred dingbats if its a blanket ban now.

[tenfour]

Well I'm able to use FT on either 4G or WIFI (any WIFI) as long as I've got my VPN switched on (GurardMyIP if it helps).

The trick I find is making sure that FT is not on standby in your phone when you switch to VPN. Make sure there are no apps in the background, switch the VPN on and you should be good to go.

I'm using a standard Etisalat router in the house, btw.