Hey Broadband and Port Fowarding

Wonder if anyone can help please HB swapped my old TP LInk Archer (in bridge mode) to their new ONT box. This is connected to my Asus. Even though they say that it's not the new box, ever since it's been swapped, I cannot port forward.

What I have noticed is that the public WAN IP shown on my asus is different to the one that 'can you see me' populates. Could this be why?

In reply to a post by jimmybond008:

What I have noticed is that the public WAN IP shown on my asus is different to the one that 'can you see me' populates. Could this be why?

Likely you are on CGNAT for IPv4 which is because the IPv4 addresses have run out and new ISP such as Hey! cannot purchase any. So there is a 'router' in the ISP network that shares the public IP with lots of customers. Some ISPs provide IPv6 at the same time with plenty of addresses, other ISPs will sell you a public routable IP for extra money.

Talk to the ISP and ask about CGNAT and what it stops you doing.

Thinkbroadband's main site has a page that shows you the IP address you are coming from, when it is not the same as the one on your own router, CGNAT is likely. (and the IP on your router could be 10.x.x.x perhaps?)

Ip on my router is 100.x.x.x. IP on TB main site is same as can you see me (87.x.x.x.)

I think this is not resolvable if I stay with HB...

In reply to a post by jimmybond008:

I think this is not resolvable if I stay with HB...

You need to ask Hey! if they have any way to solve this problem.

In reply to a post by jimmybond008:

Ip on my router is 100.x.x.x. IP on TB main site is same as can you see me (87.x.x.x.)

That certainly sounds like Carrier-Grade NAT. Is the address within the range 100.64.0.0 to 100.127.255.255? If so, you won't be able to port forward, you'd need to ask Hey!Broadband for a public IP address. It's likely that they would charge you for one, or they might insist that you're on one of their "business" packages.

Edited by behuk (Thu 07-Sep-23 08:42:40)

For a static ip its £5 p/m apparently..

This is definitely CGNAT. Ask them for a static IP, and ask to have it free. (worked for me!)

Interesting. Im with them and have always had a public IP.
(I use DDNS so no need for static.)

I wasnt aware they did CGNAT. Hope it isnt heading my way!
Do they do it on some packages and not others?

It's probably that they're acquiring customers faster than they are IPv4 addresses. They (F&W networks) have ~15k, and the old ASN (HeyBroadband) is left with just 256, the rest having been migrated to F&W.

When I joined I asked if they used CGNAT and they said they didn't, but it seems they now do. If/when you come to renew, best to ask for a static, just to avoid CGNAT.

Agreed.

I wonder what determines who gets moved to CGNAT....

In reply to a post by Henry8:

I wonder what determines who gets moved to CGNAT....

could be as simple as date of order.

For what it's worth, I just raised a support case with HB because I couldn't connect to my VPN server. They came straight back (within 12 hours) and told me it's likely because they are using CGNAT (my IP was 100.64.nnn.nnn) and they moved me straight over to a dynamic IP. This will do fine for me as I'm hosting on my Synology and I have a Synology DDNS Host name. I haven't had a chance to test it yet but hopefully that will do the trick.

I’ve just had HB installed (order to live service was 10 weeks). Using bridge mode so have an ONT connected to my own router. No PPPoE, just DHCP.
The initial configuration was indeed CGNAT with a private 100.64.0.0/10 assigned. I simply asked for a public IP and the next day it was changed. Interestingly the lease time is very short, only 10 minutes. So no need to pay for a static IP, dynamic is available if that meets your requirements.

Edited by mtis (Wed 11-Oct-23 19:16:57)

The 10.x,x.x is a CGNAT ip like in your house you have 1 connection and share it with all your devices your provider has one connection and is sharing it with lots of customers.