Ongoing issues with website failures over the last couple of weeks.

[steveellwood]

I have Superfast 2 Broadband, out of contract as it happens...

Recently, say the last 10 days or so I am getting repeated failures on my home network.

I used to run my own DNS server, DHCP and advert  blocking on a pihole running unbound.

Suddenly, I couldn't get websites to load, my XBOX One to update or my OSMC Vero 4K to connect for updates.

I took out the pihole.
I reset my Vodafone router.
I did a full system reset on my XBOX, with an offline system update. Failed to be able to add a connection.
In desperation, after advice from Microsoft I took my XBOX to my mother's house, much to her 88 year old confusion. Flawless reset and account addition.

For the Vero 4K I used a separate dev build.

Something has happened to my broadband connection.
I have a VPN from Proton using that, suddenly d/l speed drops to zero.
Oh, I uninstalled and reinstalled the client.

I'm unsure what Vodafone has done, but it is something, and I'd like it fixed. I can always take my phone line, broadband connection and  contract mobile SIMs elsewhere if I have to.
I'd rather not.

[Jayach]

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@steveellwood wrote:

I'm unsure what Vodafone has done, but it is something, and I'd like it fixed. I can always take my phone line, broadband connection and  contract mobile SIMs elsewhere if I have to.
I'd rather not.

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You may have to, you are unlikely to get much help from Vodafone.

In your position I would go back to basics, reset the Vodafone router and check that you can do all the thing an average user would do, surf the web, read email, run speedtests etc. If that all works start to add back your extra devices one at a time.

[steveellwood]

Thanks, Jayach.

Router has been reset.
Most services  work - sort of - but being unable to load updates? Being unable to transfer data over VPN?

Not what I pay £40+ a month for.

Exiting is likely soon!

[Jayach]

You could try ringing 08080 034 515 or use live chat https://www.vodafone.co.uk/bbservcd/ and ask then to run tests on your line, but I doubt they will find anything.

If you are/have been running a pihole and and a Vero 4K you must understand how broadband/IP networking works, so what do you think may be the problem? Most problems should show up with the basics.

Try setting the DNS in the router to 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8 in case it is something in your content controls that are blocking them. (not using Vodafone's DNS bypasses the content controls)

[steveellwood]

I suspect the issues are iin choices that Vodafone is making in inspecting (DPI) and blocking network connections.

I'd run my own DNS resolver inside my home network for a couple of years.
No problems experienced with that,

I took all of that out, used Vodafone DNS, used Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1/1.0.0.1) and problems persist.

It's activity deep in Vodafone's transmission network. They do have form for this.

[Jayach]

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@steveellwood wrote:

I suspect the issues are iin choices that Vodafone is making in inspecting (DPI) and blocking network connections.

It's activity deep in Vodafone's transmission network. They do have form for this.

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I've certainly had no experience of that myself, and it is not one of the (many) complaints I am aware of in relation to Vodafone. I was surprised that when I came to Vodafone that sites that many other ISP's block (usually due to court orders) are not blocked here.

I have no problems with VPNs (Nord and PIA) and if they were stopping Xbox updates there would be MANY more complaints on here.

I can't imagine what could be causing your problems, it just seems unlikely to be a general problem with Vodafone.

[steveellwood]

Interesting.
Decided to download debian from Index of /debian-cd/current/amd64/bt-cd
Fired up a torrent client (Transmission) - nope.
No response.
Went and got another torrent client (qBitTorrent) failure, too.
Tried the same with Linux Mint
https://linuxmint.com/torrents/
Won't pick up a magnet link.
.torrent file worked, but only in Transmission.

Fired up a VPN - same effect.
This looks... odd

[Jayach]

Very odd, I've just kicked off a download of Debian from your link, using qBitorrent over Nord, and it is downloading at 7.3MBs, which is all my FTTC connection can handle. I really don't think Vodafone are blocking such things.

[steveellwood]

What on earth can it be?

The problem's reproducible with other VPNs, here too.
Router problem maybe?

When I get chance, I'll take PC, cable etc to my mum's and see what happens there.

[Jayach]

I can't see it being a router problem, not if you have done a factory reset. Hardware failure would, I think, cause far greater problems.

If the Xbox worked at your Mum's I suspect the PC etc will also. 

It is difficult to guess what else it could be, but it does seem specific to your connection, as I don't have the same problems, Have you tried calling/chatting to Vodafone and see if they can check your line? (I know the support is very bad, but it's all we have got)

I think I would factory reset the router and use just one device, either PC or Xbox, and if the problem is still there. factory reset again and try with the other device. If you are unable to get either device to work, then it has to be a router or connection problem.