Some websites not loading, VPN fixes it

[Turtle Shed]

Hello all.

I have a Three 5g home broadband router, and I've been very impressed with it. Great speeds* in a location where wired broadband is woeful.

However, for the past week or so some websites refuse to load, usually timing out, PH being one of them. BBC website always fine. Twitter sometimes slow, sometimes not... Wife watches some of the streaming services and they are flaky at times, usually evenings, mornings OK**.

What fixes the problem is running a VPN. I tested with the free version of Tunnel Bear and now have a month paid for of Express VPN. Everything works fine with a VPN in place. However, I shouldn't have to do this.

I know nothing about DNS, but a quick Google suggested I try Google's own DNS service, which I have indeed set up. Same problem.

Thoughts on this problem would be helpful, and I could call Three tech support, but experience has taught me that in all things, PH is the place to start.

• Variable as might be expected with a mobile data connection, but never below 30Mb/s and peaking at 200Mb/s

• Haven't yet checked the streaming in the evening as I only tried the VPNs today, but it seems perfectly fine at present.

[eeLee]

did you try calling 3 tech support?

[sparkyhx]

in my experience running my VPN kills some websites, they basically block the IP thinking its dodgy - Currys, being a prime example that I know I have to switch off the VPN every time I go to it. I have come across others but not regular enough to remember specifics

Wifey had an issue with some websites in particular with Zoom during the early days, which I guessed rightly that was related to the default DNS. It was early days of Covid and I think Zoom were ramping up faster than the DNS could keep up with, but that got sorted by changing default to google.

are you sure the default DNS isn't being overridden? - where did you change the DNS - cos its potentially on your router and in the browser

Edited by sparkyhx on Wednesday 20th March 12:51

[Turtle Shed]

sparkyhx said:

in my experience running my VPN kills some websites, they basically block the IP thinking its dodgy - Currys, being a prime example that I know I have to switch off the VPN every time I go to it. I have come across others but not regular enough to remember specifics

Wifey had an issue with some websites in particular with Zoom during the early days, which I guessed rightly that was related to the default DNS. It was early days of Covid and I think Zoom were ramping up faster than the DNS could keep up with, but that got sorted by changing default to google.

are you sure the default DNS isn't being overridden? - where did you change the DNS - cos its potentially on your router and in the browser

Edited by sparkyhx on Wednesday 20th March 12:51

Thanks, but to clarify, browsing via the VPN is fine, it's when I don't use the VPN that I have problems. PH for example often won't load without the VPN and Alexa has problems too.

I'll speak to Three, though I don't hold out much hope of a resolution.

[eeLee]

it's a bit weird, especially if you use another DNS.

what is set in your browser for DNS? You might want to use Quad9, Cloudflare or similar over DoH. Your device DNS might not be being used here....but Three might also be doing something to your traffic. What is the certificate you get on the sites that are not loading?

[sparkyhx]

Turtle Shed said:

sparkyhx said:

in my experience running my VPN kills some websites, they basically block the IP thinking its dodgy - Currys, being a prime example that I know I have to switch off the VPN every time I go to it. I have come across others but not regular enough to remember specifics

Wifey had an issue with some websites in particular with Zoom during the early days, which I guessed rightly that was related to the default DNS. It was early days of Covid and I think Zoom were ramping up faster than the DNS could keep up with, but that got sorted by changing default to google.

are you sure the default DNS isn't being overridden? - where did you change the DNS - cos its potentially on your router and in the browser

Edited by sparkyhx on Wednesday 20th March 12:51

Thanks, but to clarify, browsing via the VPN is fine, it's when I don't use the VPN that I have problems. PH for example often won't load without the VPN and Alexa has problems too.

I'll speak to Three, though I don't hold out much hope of a resolution.

The VPN may be overriding your DNS which is why it works, but default DNS is not working?

[Turtle Shed]

OK, an update to this.

I found something on the Three forums which related to the same kind of problems:

https://community.three.co.uk/t5/Broadband/FYI-IPv...

This relates to a different model of router but changing my APN settings to manual mode and setting "three.co.uk" as the APN sorted it. I know nowhere near enough about networking to understand this, but I do know that it instantly provided a fix. Looks like it is related to IPv6 and an automatic update that Three did at some point over the last few weeks.

Thanks all, and good to know that I don't need to pay for a VPN to be able to access Pistonheads or Alexa etc...

[sparkyhx]

Turtle Shed said:

OK, an update to this.

I found something on the Three forums which related to the same kind of problems:

https://community.three.co.uk/t5/Broadband/FYI-IPv...

This relates to a different model of router but changing my APN settings to manual mode and setting "three.co.uk" as the APN sorted it. I know nowhere near enough about networking to understand this, but I do know that it instantly provided a fix. Looks like it is related to IPv6 and an automatic update that Three did at some point over the last few weeks.

Thanks all, and good to know that I don't need to pay for a VPN to be able to access Pistonheads or Alexa etc...

good news.............goes to find out about apn