Wrong IP-based location - services think I'm in Croydon (I'm not!)

[rsherhod]

Any IP-based location services think I'm in Croydon, when I'm not. Thankfully I am in the UK, so it shouldn't impact content services. However, it's definitely a problem because Google Maps puts me no where near my home by default.

I'm a new Vodafone Full Fibre customer, connecting from a desktop PC (so no GPS) over wifi to my Ultra Hub. I am NOT using a VPN connection.

I've seen discussions on here about this issue, and it seems to be down to Vodafone's IP addresses and whatever databases location services are using for lookup. That's not much of an answer though, since it's clearly Vodafone's problem - even if it wasn't, try telling that to Google!

So, can anyone help with this?

[Stumpy21]

Like @Cynric ., in 25 years of being connected to various IPs my location has rarely been reported correctly. That is why I have Google etc blocked from obtaining my location in the browser settings, I just enter my postcode if I use Google maps etc. no inconvenience.  I believe our location is being obtained from the location of the Vodafone server we are connected to ?

Sounds like Virgin may be better at disclosing peoples locations, though personally I am quite happy if sites I connect to only know my exact location when I want them to !

[Jayach]

I wonder if it's because Virgin, owning their own network, know exactly where their subscribers are, however ISPs who use Openreach or other AltNets and are issuing dynamic addresses are less aware of just who has each I.P. address at any one time.