topic Re: 4G WiFi issue in Mobile Broadband

4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 19:35:57 GMT

If absolutely anybody can help, I’d be so thankful.

I recently bought a 4G mini WiFi router from EE whilst seeing family for Christmas. I cannot go back to return it, and have absolutely no idea as to what to do. The internet initially worked fine. Brilliant, even. All my browsing was relatively quick, I had access to most things apart from the ability to join online games/calls. This is incredibly frustrating, since I only got the WiFi for that reason!

I’ve spent days trying to fix this. DNS flushing, altering and disabling my firewall, resetting the router, etc. There is something, and I really don’t know what, blocking my connection from interacting online, specifically for games & online calls.

Annoyingly, I now have the problem that it won’t even turn on! After this last reset, it only shows an orange light. Doesn’t matter what I do, how many reboots, resets, etc. it won’t change.

Here are the things I’ve tried:

- DNS flushing

- Allow apps through firewall

- Disabling firewall

- Resetting router

- New cable for router

- New location for router

- Gone through every setting online

- Downloaded a VPN, but the network doesn’t let me enable it! It just loads.

Here are some more technical details:

- This is 100% a network issue. Every device we connect to this network does not work. We change back to the house WiFi, it works.
- I don’t think specific programs matter, if it needs a connection, it probably doesn’t work, or at least doesn’t fully work. For example, Discord will allow messages, but not calls. It cannot get past the RTC connection. Online games won’t even load into the main menu without coming back with some kind of network error.
- All online browsing, including YouTube, works.
- Currently it just comes up as a still orange light. I can’t get past this, so can’t fix the other issue anymore until this is now fixed.
- It’s monthly contract for unlimited speeds/data so in no way have I ran out of data.

My current issue is that now the WiFi does not work. At all. After many resets; I cannot connect. It just flashes an orange light before going into power saving. If someone can help me fix both issues, I’d be really thankful.

!! Also worth noting, I’ve done my research here. I’ve seen it’s not just an EE thing, but definitely a problem other people have had regardless of network.
I also used to work for EE so not entirely clueless about them, but definitely didn’t learn everything I could about them either

Re: 4G WiFi issue

XRaySpeX — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 19:31:18 GMT

Is it on contract or PAYG?

Re: 4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 19:32:48 GMT

Sorry, definitely should’ve added that. It’s an unlimited plan & unlimited speed on a monthly contract for £58.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

XRaySpeX — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 19:38:49 GMT

Look at http://add-on.ee.co.uk/status from a device connected to your mobile router by WiFi to see your data & credit status. Post what it says obscuring your mobile no.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 19:56:20 GMT

I hope this is what you mean! I do apologise if it’s not, the computer connected to the WiFi doesn’t seem to want to load this forum(?)/add on page either!

Re: 4G WiFi issue

XRaySpeX — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 20:00:26 GMT

Yes, that's right. You appear to have unlimited data.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 20:03:15 GMT

Yes, I know I have unlimited data. The issue is not being able to use it for online games, which was the whole purpose of getting it.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

XRaySpeX — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 20:08:56 GMT

I thought you said it's currently it doesn't work at all & is flashing an Orange light. So you wouldn't be able to use it for anything.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 20:26:16 GMT

It wasn’t initially. It then did for about a day, and since rebooting and switching cables, and directly plugging it into the pc, it does now work.

if you could help me work out why it won’t let me connect to forums, online games and calls, I’d be very appreciative.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

XRaySpeX — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 20:47:53 GMT

There's no reason not to connect to forums. What do you mean by calls? Mobile routers don't make calls; they're not phones. Do you just mean making "calls" thro' things like Skype & WhatsApp? They're not really calls; they just use data.

I can understand gaming. EE's mobile network is not really suitable for gaming IMHO.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

Northerner — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 21:20:15 GMT

Hi @oHeidi

Are you in the UK.

What can you not do a your post is confusing.

Thanks

Re: 4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 21:20:26 GMT

As mentioned in my prior post, I talked about the use of Discord for online calls. It’s not typically used by data, usually WiFi, but due to moving to Wales this was my last resort. It’s considered a call, despite not having a registered number/sim.

EEs mobile connection is fine for online gaming depending on the signal, so for some it wouldn’t be a decent option. For my location, it is a decent option.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 21:28:23 GMT

I cannot enter games online. My network is blocking me from interacting with others.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

Northerner — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 21:32:01 GMT

Hi @oHeidi

Your post above is not specific, rather covering random issues which I'm trying to narrow down. Moving to Wales is irrelevant to be honest.

Please bullet point your issues to allow us to understand your problem. Have you deactivate your SIM content lock.

Thanks

Re: 4G WiFi issue

XRaySpeX — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 00:03:31 GMT

1 min you say "EEs mobile connection is fine for online gaming", the next "I cannot enter games online". I find that contradictory.

You are probably finding yourself up against a limitation of EE's mobile network. The EE mobile network uses Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT) resulting in a double NAT, which games consoles often object to, which means you don't get your own public IP address but share it with other users. So you can't be uniquely id'ed on the Net & therefore your LAN cannot be addressed from outside for unsolicited accesses. This is unlike fixed BB.

If this occurs there is nowt you can do to avoid it.

IMHO the EE mobile network is not really suitable for gaming.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 15:15:39 GMT

Because the connection should be fine for gaming? My issue is that I can’t connect. I can’t go onto public forums, or sites like Reddit, cant join online calls, like Discord, teams or Skype, and can’t join online games.

Not sure what is being misunderstood here. I just need help getting online?

Re: 4G WiFi issue

XRaySpeX — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 15:52:35 GMT

Sorry, then I find your posts completely unclear & contradictory.

Just what is your current issue with it & we'll take it from there. NM the history. Please spell out what your current problems are & also what you can successfully do as requested by @Northerner earlier.

Re: 4G WiFi issue

XRaySpeX — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 19:08:25 GMT

Have you removed content lock?

Re: 4G WiFi issue

oHeidi — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 23:57:06 GMT

Apologies if things are unclear, unfortunately the problem hasn’t been consistent and henceforth this thread hasn’t been consistent in the issues.

The reason for mentioning the move to Wales is due to there not being many home broadband services that have coverage for the area, let alone speeds adequate for gaming. As we cannot get home broadband under EE or BT, I opted for the 4G WiFi instead. Regardless of the suitability for online gaming on 4G WiFi, it is better than any other wired connection currently available to me. Hope that is simple enough, and shows how it was not irrelevant at all, due to your comments on how it’s not suitable for gaming.

There is no mature content lock for this registered sim currently.

I managed to get through to EE today, and have been transferred to the Level 2 Tech team.

Their suggestion was to replace the sim, and see if it is a sim error as so many sites do not work, let alone the online gaming. Alternatively, I’ll need a new 4G router.

As specified by the tech team, 4G WiFi should be fine for online gaming as long as the signal strength for that area suffices, in which it does.